Here are the top outdoor news stories in Utah for the week of December 18, 2015:
DRAFT EPA PLAN PROMISES CLEAN AIR FOR UTAH NATIONAL PARKS
The Environmental Protection Agency may finalize a proposal included in a draft plan issued on Wednesday, December 16 that would require the installation of industry-standard pollution controls on the state’s two oldest and dirtiest coal-burning power plants. This action could have a dramatic effect on air quality in Southern Utah’s National Parks, including Bryce Canyon, Arches, Zion and Canyonlands. Protect Our Winters (POW) applauds the draft decision. Full story.
MAN DIES IN YANKEE DOODLE CANYON
A man in his 20s fell off a 40-foot cliff in Yankee Doodle Canyon, located in Washington County near Leeds. According to KSL, the unidentified man slipped while canyoneering. He was with three friends who called for the rescue. Crews had to set up a 600-foot, high-angle rope to hoist the body out. Full story:
PHIL LYMAN SENTENCED TO 10 DAYS IN JAIL FOR RECAPTURE CANYON ATV RIDE
The Salt Lake Tribune reports that San Juan County Commissioner, Phil Lyman, has been ordered to spend 10 days in jail for organizing an illegal ATV ride in the closed Recapture Canyon outside Blanding. The canyon is home to sensitive archeological sites, where Lyman led up to 50 ATV riders into the canyon in protest of BLM policies. Full story.
HENRY MOUNTAIN BISON HERD DEEMED “GENETICALLY PURE”
Also from KSL, scientists have determined that the bison herd that lives in the Henry Mountain in Southern Utah is genetically pure. This is important because most bison around these day are hybrids that have been contaminated with cattle genes. Full story.
PARK CITY RESORT’S QUICKSILVER GONDOLA DEDICATED
On Friday, Park City Resort officially became the largest ski area in North America after the dedication of the Quicksilver Gondola, which connects the former Park City Mountain Resort with the former Canyons Resort into one behemoth ski area. The gondola traverses Pine Cone Ridge and stretches 6.5 miles, end-to-end. Full story:
STORM DROPS 50 INCHES ON UTAH SKI RESORTS
Of course the biggest outdoors news in Utah this week is that a major storm system delivered Christmas early with a massive 50-inch dump over the course of 4 days. Powder Magazine aggregated some Lee Cohen photos of people pigging out on powder at Alta. Enjoy.