The Hole-in-the-Rock Road near Escalante, Utah, is the route used in 1879 by Mormon pioneers on the way to settle the Four Corners region. Huge cliffs descending to the Colorado River blocked the way, so they blasted a slot through the rock where wagons could be lowered 1,000 feet down the the canyon bottom. This passage was named Hole-in-the-Rock, and evidence of the incredible event still remains. Lake Powell now occupies the bottom of the canyon where much of this accomplishment took place, but the road still exists and can be traveled year round by vehicle and by bike.
Utah skeleton is not Everett Ruess
Outdoor enthusiasts and history buffs alike were astonished last spring when the remains of Everett Ruess were found. DNA tests revealed that the skeleton found in a grave on Utah’s Comb Ridge belonged to the vagabond writer, which solved a decades-long mystery. But the University of Colorado at Boulder issued a press release on Wednesday, October 21, revealing the test results were incorrect.
Rock climbing Castleton Tower’s North Chimney
Castleton Tower is a place that is one of the “must climbs” of the country. It’s a perfect sandstone tower right out of a Roadrunner cartoon that rises up from the desert floor near Moab. Spring is a good time to go and tackle the tower as mild temperatures keep the climb comfortable, especially while ascending the North Chimney route.
Canyoneering in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
When it comes to outdoor adventure in Southern Utah, there is nothing quite like canyoneering through a sandstone slot. Canyoneering gets you down into the earth, where you are forced to touch and interact with the rock, sand and water. Canyoneering is dirty, wet, sometimes dangerous,
Hiking in Arches National Park
When Utah’s red-rock desert is mentioned, one of the most common images that pops into people’s heads has got to be Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. It is the single most iconic image in all of Utah. From commercials, to promotional tourist publications, to the Utah State license plate, Delicate Arch is everywhere. So it’s no wonder that Arches National Park sees some of the most tourist traffic in the state. There’s good reason for the droves of people who flock to Delicate Arch at sundown to take pictures, as it remains the most awe inspiring landscape in the west. And spring is, like everywhere in Southern Utah, an ideal time of year to make the pilgrimage.
Utah ski resort improvements for 2009-10 season
All 13 Utah ski resorts will have new upgrades to show off to visitors for the ’09-’10 ski season. SkiUtah.com compiled all of the improvements and changes that have been made during the off-season, that will give skiing tourists and locals alike a memorable experience when they come to enjoy Utah’s world-famous powder. In addition to improvements to Utah’s resorts, there is also a huge improvement for Utah visitors in the form of re-vamped liquor laws, but that’s another story. Below is a list of all the ski resort upgrades, courtesy of Ski Utah.
‘The Edge of Never’ film review
“The Edge of Never” is the story about Kye Petersen. Kye is the son of extreme skier, Trevor Petersen, who died in 1996 while skiing the Exit Couloir on the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix, France. The idea was take Kye to that place, where the boy would ski the slope that took his father’s life. There is a mythological plot at work here, about a young man who dares to ski the labyrinth of snow and ice that killed his father. “The Edge of Never” is also a story about family, despite that fact that it’s taking place amidst the carnival of big-mountain skiing.
Dogs in the Woods in Mill Creek Canyon
There isn’t much in life that’s happier than watching dogs run free in the woods. Before being let loose, they remain calm on their leashes, yawning in anticipation. But as soon as the sound of the leash unclicking is heard, they’re off, bounding wildly into the brush, neck and neck like racehorses as they playfully bite each other’s legs and roll over one another along the way.
Hiking Chesler Park in Canyonlands
When I first moved to Salt Lake City, a co-worker told me that Chesler Park in Canyonlands National Park is the most beautiful place in the State of Utah. When I finally made it down there with my wife, Callista, I saw first hand what he meant. Of course there is the usual red-rock formations…
Salt Lake area ski swaps for 2009
Ski swaps are a great way to buy all the ski and snowboard gear you need for the winter season while saving money at the same time. There are usually thousands of new and used skis, boots and poles to choose from, and money earned at most swaps go to benefit a charity organization.