Utah Offers Accessible Powder for All

Visitors from across the nation and around the world come to Utah every winter to enjoy some of the World’s greatest skiing and snowboarding adventures. Powder enthusiasts vary from families on vacation to “ski bums” to athletes in training. But did you know that the state that lays claim to “The Greatest Snow on Earth®” is also home to numerous adaptive sport programs?

Every ski and snowboard season, people with disabilities also converge on Utah’s mountain tops to enjoy some of the finest winter adventures that Mother Nature has to offer. For people with a hearing/vision loss, a spinal cord injury or intellectual disability, Utah has an array of adaptive winter programs that have been helping people of all ability levels carve their own turns in the white mountainsides. A one-hour drive from the Salt Lake International Airport will get you to three distinct, exciting, affordable and adaptive organizations. All of these organizations have decades of experience in helping people with disabilities enjoy their winter vacations to the slopes.

How do these programs get thousands of people with physical and intellectual disabilities on ski runs every year? With the help of highly-trained staff and community volunteers that have a passion for getting people onto Utah’s famous powder. Each program also has top-of-the-line adaptive equipment that includes mono-skis, bi-skis and Nordic sit-skis. The programs have also formed a special partnership with local ski resorts that go the extra mile to help people and their adaptive equipment on and off the lifts as well as set aside extra space so the adaptive programs and their participants can have their own area to practice runs and techniques.

Headquartered at Snowbird, Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS) offers several adaptive skiing opportunities including downhill and cross-country skiing. Let their staff set you up with the appropriate training and adaptive equipment before hitting the beginner run, Chickadee. If you plan on doing more than one day of skiing, book an on-site stay at The Cliff Lodge & Spa where they have fully accessible rooms. Be sure to book your ski lessons and rooms early as spaces fill up fast! Contact them through their website or call (801) 933-2188.

Started in 1985, the National Ability Center (NAC) takes their skiing and snowboarding programs to the Park City Mountain Resort where participants learn techniques and gain skills to ski independently and/or with their family and friends. Be sure to also ask about their equipment rental, sled hockey programs and new shuttle service from Salt Lake to Park City. Lessons fill-up fast, so book early and plan on staying at the NAC’s private lodge and ranch that is located five minutes from down-town Park City, filled with good shopping, entertainment and dining. Call (435) 200-0987 or visit their website for more information.

Last, but not least, is Common Ground Outdoor Adventures. Located in Logan, Common Ground enjoys the mountain life without the crowds of the city. Have the whole family come and check out Common Ground’s newest program: the Beaver Adaptive Ski Evolution (B.A.S.E.) program at Beaver Mountain. When you’re not taking an adaptive ski lesson, ask the staff about guided nature tours at nearby migratory bird pathways and nature centers. For more information call (435) 713-0288 or visit their website.

Whatever you choose, you and your family will be sure to have a fun time surrounded by gorgeous snow-covered mountains while creating memories for a lifetime.

Antelope Island State Park and its Stunning Sunset Evenings

Sand and birds and sky and a silver inland sea surrounding you from horizon’s edge to horizon’s edge; jagged rocks reaching into the mirror-like waters reflecting the sky and its colors back to the sky and making the only edge of distance the silhouettes of far-off mountains; no sound save the call of seagulls – this is the picture I found at Bridger Bay on the north coast of Antelope Island. As the sun sets behind the distant peaks, it seems to intensify the Great Salt Lake’s colors. In an almost grandiose last gasp like a yawn before sleep, the sun reminds lucky viewers of its glory and power to create unparalleled beauty, each beam reaching skyward one last time as the blanket of night competes for dominance. But it’s not a battle, really. In this magical hour, a symphony or dance commences in which each, day and night, compliment the other in a perfect harmony and transcend each other, more magnificent than either one alone.

I took my boys, of course. We brought our bikes and rode on the beach, often stopping to admire the show.

As the blanket of night envelopes and dominates the sky, the colors recede to the distance and unifies to a sliver of fiery orange just above the horizon, a grand finale before the memories of yesterday and the dreams of tomorrow lulls the earth to quietude.

I recommend a blanket, good crackers, something tasty to drink, and a nice cheese. Maybe you’d prefer peanuts, popcorn, and a tall soda. Whatever your pleasure, it’s a good show.



Two thumbs up!



http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/antelope-island

10-05-2009!!!

Achtung! Winter sports enthusiasts, winter continues to tantalize and tempt us with more of what we like.... need I say it...... SNOW!

Sharpen your edges and wax your bases because winter is coming!

Winter is officially off to an early start in Utah! On September 30th, a snowstorm blanketed our mountains with nearly a foot of fresh powder. Skiers and snowboarders, it's already time to get ready!

Goblin Valley State Park and Other Dreamscapes

Spontaneous weekend getaways are often my favorite trips because they aren’t weighed down in planning and forethought. It’s just, “Hey, the housework is caught up, the weather’s nice, and it won’t stay that way for long… Let’s load up the car and go camping someplace unique, someplace interesting, someplace we haven’t seen before.” Then you just go and hope for the best.

Last weekend, that’s what I did. I’d never visited Goblin Valley State Park, so I decided that this little trip would be to fix that problem. Since I don’t have much family in Salt Lake City, it takes a while to find someone who’s willing to take care of the dog and it’s a little pricey to bring Fido to the kennel. So, I decided to bring my dog, Cookie, along. She doesn’t get out of the city very often, so I tend to think that some of the best times for her are our little trips into the wilderness.

It’s a short three and a half hour drive from Salt Lake City to Goblin Valley State Park, but in that distance, the landscape couldn’t change more dramatically. The high Wasatch Mountains surrounding urban sprawl gives way to mesas, buttes, and red "varnished" cliffs in distant, remote desert. After a short drive over the mountains on Highway 6, comes Helper and then Price. In this vicinity, things begin to change QUICKLY. There is definitely a reason some people refer to Price as the “Gateway to the American Southwest.”

Before we arrived at Goblin Valley, I imagined a tiny “garden” of strange rock formations. I couldn’t have been more wrong (except for the idea about the rock formations). As I pulled up to the overlook, I was amazed that the vista appearing before me sprawled over what appeared to be several miles. I thought to myself, "Here is another example of the 'weird and wonderful' that makes Utah such a special place." Here is a place nature has made over eons that the most vivid and wild imagination would be unlikely to dream up. My kids were gawking at it; they were captivated in a way I haven’t seen before. So the kids, Cookie, and I walked to a trailhead and started to make our way into the bizarre valley of goblins or smurfs or rock mushrooms or various other ideas your imagination might concoct to describe this city or community of rock dreams like melting candles and Salvador Dali paintings.

The trail, which begins just past the parking lot and overlook picnic area intersects with numerous other trails heading in all directions. So once you make your way in, the choice is yours. Which of the thousands of other worldly features seem to be beckoning you? I have to believe that no matter which way a hiker goes, their imaginations are stricken with awe, confusion, wonder, and disbelief. I overheard a hiker saying, half-jokingly, “It’s a government conspiracy, this place.” One thing is certain about Goblin Valley State Park, it’s not subtle.

Camping amidst the landscape surrounding Goblin Valley was equally fascinating. The area’s remoteness means the stars have almost nothing to compete with: no light pollution, no air pollution, no noise pollution, no television (unless, of course, you’re traveling with one). When you look, they remind you of how brilliant they can be and you remember being a child with wide eyes again pondering place and existence.

The silhouettes of sandstone dunes surrounding our campsite beckoned a friend of mine and I to take a midnight stroll into the surreal desert. Cookie accompanied us as we walked along a path, up and up, higher and higher, into a narrow canyon until we reached the top when some sort of feline scurried from behind a bush. I saw a long, ringed tail and glowing eyes peering back at me and then quickly vanish.

After gazing over the canyon’s rim in the desert’s deafening silence for a difficult to determine amount of time, we ambled back to our tents. I tucked myself into my sleeping bag, enjoyed the cool, desert breeze blowing through the tent mesh, and staring into the universe until its peace ushered me to sleep.

Foothill Cultural District's Diverse Attractions

Utah Office of Tourism staff members were invited to tour the Foothill Cultural District in Salt Lake City, UT. Being a Salt Lake City resident and a person who has visited some of these sites in the past, this tour was surprisingly interesting, enjoyable, and downright entertaining. My previous visits to some of these places were mostly brief, on different days, and years apart. To visit all of these places on one day is a much different experience. It opened my eyes to our great attractions.

The Hogle Zoo’s diverse array of wildlife from all over the world includes over 1,000 animals. The area’s rich and interesting history is highlighted at This is the Place Heritage Park and Fort Douglas Military Museum. The Olympic Cauldron Park commemorates the XIX Olympic Games with a photo gallery and a film that chronicles the games from the opening to closing ceremonies. Red Butte Gardens houses a dazzling color spectrum with its many flowers, indoor and outdoor gardens, intoxicating fragrance wafting on the air, and stunning views of the Salt Lake Valley and the Wasatch Mountains. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts has an extensive collection, including 17,000 pieces and spanning more than 5,000 years.

The world-class Museum of Natural History, currently under construction, is scheduled to replace the existing museum in early 2011. The Museum of Natural History features a LARGE collection of dinosaur fossils, an exhibit called " Range Creek: An Anthropology of Place", which sheds light on the Fremont Tribe who lived in Range Creek Canyon (remote canyon in Eastern Utah) from 500 A.D. to 1300 A.D, and much more.

For more information on the Foothill Cultural District, discounts, information on the attractions, photo tours, and travel planning, go to: www.foothillcd.com

When The Greatest Snow on Earth® Melts... SCUBA Dive Utah!!

When most people think about scuba diving, their next thought is usually not Utah. With an average annual rainfall of only 15 inches, one wouldn’t think of Utah as much of a diving destination. However, Utah’s mountains receive substantial amounts of precipitation (60 inches/year), enough to generate flows of water to create many rivers, streams, and lakes. Therefore, the state has many dive-worthy lakes and rivers… yes….rivers. The active geothermal energy in Utah has created a couple of very interesting unusually warm dives, as well.


I recently went diving at Cisco Beach, on the east side of Bear Lake. Before this dive, I hadn’t been diving for over ten years, so I was happy to run into a search and rescue diver and Divemaster whom we’ll simply refer to as Dan. He was more than happy to take me under his wing and provide me with a sense of knowledge and security. His presence had the effect of easing my nerves and making the dive a much more comfortable/enjoyable experience.

The surface temperature is approximately 68 to 69 degrees, but as you descend into the lake about 30 to 35 feet, there is thermocline, or layer of quite drastic temperature difference (reduction). In this case, the temp drops to around 50, which necessitates the use of a full wet suit, hood, and boots. I noticed some of the divers were even using dry suits. I found the full wet suit to be adequate. At the surface, the water seemed comfortable, even warm. However, I won’t deny that I could DEFINITELY feel the thermocline. It wasn’t unbearable, but it took me a few minutes to acclimate to the drastic temperature shift. As long as I kept moving, I felt okay.

On the beach, I heard other divers talking about a boat wreck off Cisco Beach, which I never found. The most striking feature was a large cliff band at 25 to 30 feet down. Upon reaching the cliff’s edge, a vertical drop-off descends into blackness as far as the eye can see. I found it slightly unnerving. However, I followed Dan as he took the plunge deeper into the void. At around 65 feet, our maximum depth, it gets really dark. I estimate the visibility was around five feet. Being quite out of practice and beneath 65 feet of frigid water in near pitch darkness had me yearning for the light. I tapped Dan on the shoulder and pointed up. He seemed to understand and was more than willing to oblige. We returned to between 30 and 40 feet, a depth with which I felt much more comfortable.

During the dive, I spent the majority of the time reacquainting myself with maintaining neutral buoyancy, observing my gauges, and, generally, feeling comfortable with my equipment. I was, however, able to spot several large carp and to admire the underwater landscape strewn with steep rock faces covered in a somewhat creepy layer of sludge.

If you have an interest in diving, there are numerous dive shops throughout Utah that host regular dive certification classes, rent and sell the necessary gear, and host organized dives at the best dive sites throughout the state as well as to the premier dive sites throughout the world.

For a complete listing of Utah dive shops: http://www.utahdiving.com/

Photos courtesy of: http://www.utahdiving.com/ving.com/

Desolation Canyon River Trip, 7/17 - 7/21, 2009

Being a father, an outdoor recreation enthusiast, and a staff member at the Utah Office of Tourism, I try to share my love of the outdoors with my boys as frequently as possible. My most recent adventure/expedition involved floating over 90 miles down the Green River from a few miles south of Ouray to Green River, UT. Before leaving, I read numerous descriptions of this float as an ideal family river trip, which did a bit to assuage my fears of the area's incredible remoteness. I also read numerous warnings pertaining to how small issues and little injuries in this area can present very big problems. As a private rafter, the preparations for this trip are very important and quite time consuming. An extensive first aid kit, enough food, clothing, water, bug spray, and sunscreen to last a minimum of five days, tents, bear spray (yes, this area is also bear country and they are commonly seen here), blankets, rain gear, raft repair kit, ropes and throw bags for river mishaps, flashlights, silverware, bowls, treats for the kids, planning for your vehicle to be shuttled from the put-in to the take out, and countless other little things are all necessary. With kids, the preparations are a bit overwhelming. I joked with one of the people in our group how I can now understand the appeal of paying one of Utah's rafting companies for a guided, all-inclusive trip. In retrospect, the effort was more than worth it.

The Desolation Canyon float begins at Sand Wash several miles south of Ouray, UT. The area between Sand Wash and the start of Desolation Canyon is flat water, so day one is a constant, slow going paddle. The water was surprisingly warm, yet just cool enough to be refreshing against the temperatures, which were soaring around 100 degrees. The kids and I had a lot of fun just playing in the water throughout the day and floating alongside the raft. We ended the day at the head of Desolation Canyon.













After packing the next morning, we began our adventure through "Deso." The rapids begin shortly after entering the canyon and continue throughout the day. In fact, there's another rapid every mile or so, sometimes less, all the way through the canyon. Most of the rapids are class II, just bouncy and splashy enough to make the kids laugh and get a little wet, and mild enough for "this parent" to stay worry-free. The canyon itself offers grand and soaring scenery. At every bend, one is humbled and awed by the beauty found here. The center of the canyon is extremely deep, rising nearly 5,000 vertical feet from the river to the top of the Tavaputs Plateau at 10,000 feet. Along the way, I pointed out several groups of Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep to the kids and other parents in our group.

The second night on the river was a welcome relief from the mosquitos. They become almost non-existent after entering Desolation Canyon. I am assuming they aren't able to breed as well in the swifter river water. I was awakened late that night by an almost musical thunderstorm. The canyon's walls seem to amplify the cracking thunder magnificently.... and then the rain trickling down our tent's rainfly .... and the sound of the crashing rapids on the river ..... It was all very soothing, but I did ocassionally apprehend the coming day's bigger rapids and hoped I wouldn't regret bringing along my little people.

Our third day was another beautiful, sunny day and somewhat freshened by the previous night's rain storm. As we floated downstream, the rapids did increase in size somewhat and the kids loved it. During flat stretches, my youngest was asking, "Why is this part boring, Daddy? I want more rapids." I thought to myself, "That's my boy." We continually reviewed our river map in order to know when it would be time to get the kids off the boat for the biggest rapids in the canyon. There are just three of them I didn't feel comfortable having them aboard for. They are easily walkable on the river bank, so we took turns walking the kids to the rapid's ends to be picked up by the adults finishing their runs through. Without the kids aboard, not having that worry, the Joe Hutch Canyon and Three Fords rapids are a blast. We were hootin' and hollerin', and laughin', and having a good ol' time.














As day three came to a close, we entered Gray Canyon, which we would finish on day four. Most people spend at least five or six days to complete the run because there are so many hikes to petroglyphs, pictographs, and other points of interest, which I will return for. With the high temps, it didn't seem like those hikes would have made the munchkins too happy. The landscape changes quite a bit in a Gray Canyon. It becomes much more "southwestern" in appearance. The surroundings are dominated by tall mesas, buttes, much less vegetation and noticeably different color, though equally impressive in grandeur.

Since we were ahead of schedule, we found ourselves repeating rapids. We stopped after a few of the rapids and "portaged" or carried our "duckie" or inflatable kayak back and tried different routes through (just to prolong the excitement).

We camped our final night at Swasey's Beach, which is where we paid to have our car parked for us. We talked about how we couldn't believe it was already over. It didn't seem like four days and nights had passed so quickly. My kids both asked me. "When we are going to come back, Daddy?"

Tavaputs Ranch and Range Creek, UT

Utah Office of Tourism staff visited the Tavaputs Ranch on June 22nd and 23rd. The ranch is located in a remote area of the Book Cliffs on the Tavaputs Plateau to the southeast of Price, UT. The ranch is accessible by vehicle, but if you plan to visit, plan on taking your time as the road is a bit rough, there are many steep switchbacks, the wildlife, such as elk and deer, are plentiful, and the spectacular views will certainly demand your attention and beckon a few stops. The Tavaputs Ranch is perched around 9,000 feet above sea level with billion dollar backyard views into Rock Creek Canyon and the more distant Range Creek Canyon.















We were afforded a tour of the ranch and the Tavaputs Plateau with Butch, a nationally known
cattle rancher who, along with his wife, Jeannie, owns the Tavaputs Ranch. Around every bend, the scenery that unfolds inspires and awes a person. On that point, we all agreed.

Back at the Tavaputs Ranch, we were made to feel like we were part of Butch and Jeannie's family. Each time we walked into the kitchen, delicious smells of home cooked food and warm, big smiles made us all want to move in and take up the ranching life. They provide guests with three square, very delicious homecooked meals daily. To summarize, the hospitality at Tavaputs is fantastic.















There are several log cabins on the ranch, which provide a cozy night's rest, that is if you can take your eyes off the brilliance of the starry universe. Light pollution in this area is nil. So, this is a stargazer's playground.














Not to be overlooked: the Tavaputs Plateau is directly above the anthropological treasure, Range Creek Canyon. Jeannie gave our group a guided tour through Range Creek on day two. While there, we were given talks from the canyon's two lead archaeologists and shown numerous petroglyhps, pictographs, pit houses, and graineries. The archaeologists explained that Range Creek is one of the most exciting and best currently active archaeological sites in the world, that nowhere else has so much undisturbed and intact Native American artifacts and ruins.

In a nutshell, our trip to Tavaputs was simultaneously relaxing, spectacular, and fascinating (even a bit thrilling with consideration to the drive).

http://www.tavaputsranch.com/

Ogden/Snowbasin Land Winter Dew Tour

Utah lands Winter Dew TourExtreme » The event at Snowbasin will draw top athletes, network television coverage.

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_12827613

Utah's National Parks Like Jewels on a Necklace

Utah's National Parks Like Jewels on a Necklace: http://tinyurl.com/l9tt42

SLTRIB:Small-town rodeos have a big impact: http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_12763615

22 free things families can do in Cedar City: http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20090705/NEWS01/907050317/Cedar-City-offers-low-cost-entertainment-opportunities

SJ Mercury: Traveling southern Utah's parks — with a dog. http://www.mercurynews.com/travel/ci_12749686?nclick_check=1

Standard-Examiner breaks down the importance of tourism to the state: http://www.standard.net/live/news/177113/

Sundance Film Festival added $92 million to Utah economy and created 2,000 jobs in '09: http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_12613576

Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel grand opening on June 25. Expansion adds 164 rooms to the Ruby's Inn property in Bryce, Utah! #brycecanyonnationalpark
http://www.brycecanyongrand.com/