HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES AT WILLARD BAY
Willard - Willard Bay State Park hosts Fantasy at the Bay, a drive-through holiday light display
November 18 to January 1. Display hours are 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and
5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5 per vehicle. Utah State Park passes
are not valid during the hours of the light display.
The Cottonwood Campground is filled with animation, lighted trees, roadway lights, and
displays. A concession service offers hot chocolate, hamburgers, chili, scones, s'mores and other
items around a large campfire. The Box Elder County Centennial Train runs every Saturday and
Monday nights. There will be a horse drawn hay wagon on selected nights for an additional cost.
To reach Willard Bay State Park, take exit 357 off I-15. For more information, please call
Willard Bay State Park at (435) 734-9494 or Fantasy at the Bay at (435) 734-9297.
UTAH AVALANCHE CLASSES OFFERED
The snow has started falling, and that means it has started sliding. Early season avalanche conditions can be some of the worst of the year due to large temperature gradients across a low snowpack. To help educate local backcountry users, the Utah Avalanche Center listed all the local avalanche education courses in Utah. The first educational event is this week.
In the greater Salt Lake Area, there is everything from free introductory talks to intensive, five-day certification courses from national organizations such as AIARE and AAI. Below is a condensed list of local offerings. The most up-to-date info can be found on the Utah Avalanche Center web site at http://www.utahavalanchecenter.org . Mouse-over Education, then Avalanche Classes, then click on Utah Courses.
The Utah Ski & Snowboard Event Calendar, hosted by FreeRide Magazine, has a calendar view with the avalanche educational events and ALL the local ski & snowboard events to help you plan your winter, or even just your week! Go to http://www.freeridemagazine.com , click on Calendar and Press Releases, and then Calendar View. Text views are also available, broken down by category such as Demo Days, Clinics, and Competitions.
Already, the UAC seems to already be updating the Avalanche Advisory, or "Bulletin," on a daily basis, and sending out the daily e-mail. To receive a tailored Bulletin via e-mail on a daily basis, go to the UAC web site and click on your geographic area on the map, scroll down to the bottom, and sign up!
Introductory
Nov 17, Avalanche Awareness Talk (UAC-Logan), Logan Ranger District offices, 6:30pm, FREE
Nov 29, Introductory Avalanche Talk (UAC), REI Salt Lake City, 7:00pm, FREE
Dec 1, Avalanche Awareness Talk (UAC-Logan), Logan Ranger District offices, 6:00pm, FREE ("for snowmobilers")
Dec 7, Beacon Workshop (UAC-Logan), USU Outdoor Recreation Center, 4:00-6:00pm, FREE?
Dec 7, 10, Avalanche Workshop (University of Utah), $108
Dec 8, Avalanche Awareness Class (Swiss Guides), White Pine Touring, 6:00-8:00pm, $10
Dec 8, Introductory Avalanche Talk (UAC), Hansen Mountaineering, Orem, 7:00PM, FREE
Dec 9-10, Basic Avalanche Awareness (Exum), $99
Dec 13, Introductory Avalanche Talk (UAC), REI Salt Lake City, 7:00pm, FREE
Dec 14, Introductory Avalanche Talk (UAC), South Valley Unitarian Church, 7:00pm, FREE
Dec 15, Avalanche Awareness (USU), USU Outdoor Recreation Center, 6:00pm, FREE?
Dec 17, Avalanche Field Session (USU), USU Outdoor Recreation Center, 9:00am, FREE?
Dec 20, Introductory Avalanche Talk (UAC), Wasatch Touring, 7:00pm, FREE
Jan 10, Science of Avalanches Lecture (Bruce Tremper), REI Salt Lake City, 7:00pm, FREE
Jan 11, 14-15, Avalanche Awareness (U of U), Park City Library, $195
Jan 12-Feb 2, Backcountry Avalanche Class (U of U), $212
Jan 13-14, Basic Avalanche Awareness (Exum), $99
Jan 25, Feb 4-5, Avalanche Awareness (U of U), $195
Feb 10-11, Basic Avalanche Awareness (Exum), $99
Mar 10-11, Basic Avalanche Awareness (Exum), $99
Level 1
(Level 1 courses are typically one or two nights indoors, following by two days outdoors)
Dec 9-11, AAI Level 1 Course, Salt Lake City REI and Alta, $175
Dec 16-18, AIARE Level 1 Course (Swiss Guides), White Pine Touring, $220
Jan 6-8, AIARE Level 1 Course (Swiss Guides), White Pine Touring, $220
Jan 6-8, AAI Level 1 Course, The Canyons, $175
Jan 12-15, AAI Level 1 Course, Wasatch Touring and Alta, $180
Jan 13-14, Level 1 Course (UAC-Logan), USU Outdoor Recreation Center, cost unknown
Jan 14-16, Level 1 Avalanche Workshop (UAC), Brighton, $200
Jan 20-22, Level 1 Course (Exum), $180
Feb 10-12, AIARE Level 1 Course (Swiss Guides), White Pine Touring, $220
Feb 18-20, Level 1 Avalanche Workshop (UAC), Brighton, $200
Mar 10-12, AIARE Level 1 Course (Swiss Guides), White Pine Touring, $220
Level 2
Dec 12-13, AAI Level 2 Course, Alta, $215
Feb 4-7, AIARE Level 2 Course (Swiss Guides), White Pine Touring, $395
Feb 24-26, Level 2 Course (Exum), $215
Mar 4-5, AAI Level 2 Course, The Canyons, $215
Level 3
Jan 30-Feb 3, AIARE Level 3 Course (Swiss Guides), White Pine Touring, $599
Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC)
Taught by: UAC forecasters
Web site: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/index.htm
Phone: 801-365-5522
Sign up: Black Diamond Store, 801-278-0233
Utah Avalanche Center - Logan
Web site: http://www.avalanche.org/~uac/BRAIC/
Phone: 435-797-0457
White Pine Touring & Swiss Guides
Accreditation: AIARE
Taught by: Freddy Grossniklaus, owner Swiss Guides, IFMGA/AMGA guide, former ski school director, former member of Swiss National Education Team, and professional ski instructor at Deer Valley
Phone: 435-649-8710 (White Pine)
Web site: http://www.swissrockguides.com or http://www.whitepinetouring.com
E-mail: freddy@swissrockguides.com or rcarlan@whitepinetouring.com
Level 1: cost $220, 2 hr. evening session followed by 2 days instruction
Level 2: cost $395, 4 days of instruction
Level 3: cost $599, 5 days of instruction
American Avalanche Institute (AAI)
Taught by: Mike Ruth
Web site: http://www.avalanchecourse.com
E-mail: mymruth@qwest.net or aai@wyoming.com
Phone: 435-649-4527 or 307-733-3315
Exum Utah Mountain Adventures
Web site: www.exum.ofutah.com
Phone: 801-550-3986 (EXUM)
E-mail: tysonjulie@earthlink.net
REI Salt Lake City
Phone: 801-486-2100
Hansen Mountaineering (Orem)
Phone: 801-226-7498
University of Utah Academic Outreach and Continuing Education
Taught by: Francis Hardesty, Bruce Christenson or Kirk Nichols
Web site: http://www.utah.edu
Phone: 801-585-3204
WEEKEND ACTIVITIES AT ANTELOPE ISLAND STATE PARK
Syracuse - On Friday, November 25 at 2 p.m., join park staff to view the Friends of Great Salt
Lake's film Lake Affect. This video presents a comprehensive look at Great Salt Lake's
ecosystem.
On Saturday, November 26, join the park naturalist on a waterfowl walk along the Davis County
causeway at 11 a.m. Participants should meet at the marina and are encouraged to bring field
guides, binoculars, and spotting scopes.
At 2 p.m., join the park naturalist at the Visitor Center for a Junior Ranger Program where
participants interview a unique migratory bird that is a little out of its element. While this
program is aimed at children six through 12, all ages are welcome. At 4 p.m., join park staff in a
discussion about the bison of Antelope Island. Participants should meet at the visitor center.
On Sunday, November 27, hike or snowshoe with a ranger along the White Rock Loop trail.
Participants identify tracks and learn about Great Salt Lake's ecosystem. Meet at the White Rock
Bay trailhead beginning at 2 p.m. Bring sunscreen, appropriate equipment, and plenty of water.
For more information, please call (801) 773-2941.
Silver Ski Passes available
Ski Utah has 8 Silver Passes available for the upcoming season. The Silver Pass is a non-transferable pass to all Utah resorts which allows the holder to ski/ride 30 times at every resort in Utah. That's right, 30 days at Alta, 30 days at Deer Valley, 30 days at Snowbird, you get the idea. The cost for this amazing pass is only $2000. If you are interested in purchasing this one of a kind pass, please contact Kris Shaw at Ski Utah at kris@skiutah.com or 801-534-1779.
The Canyons Resort Opens Saturday for the 2005/2006 Season
Park City, UT - This Saturday, November 19th marks the beginning of the winter season at The Canyons Resort. "We've had perfect temperatures this past week for making snow," explained Tim Hagan, Vice President of Mountain Operations for The Canyons. "The coverage is great on the areas we'll be opening Saturday," he added.
The Canyons will be running three lifts, in addition to the Cabriolet and Flight of The Canyons gondola this weekend. The Cabriolet will open at 7:00am, with the gondola opening to the public at 8:30am.
So far this season, The Canyons has received over 30 inches of snow and is reporting a base of approximately 18 inches. Saddleback Express and High Meadow will be open to skiers and snowboarders accessing the following trails: Upper Kokopelli, Painted Horse, The Meadows, and Meadow Way. The Sweet Pea lift will also be open for our Ski School learning area. Several terrain park features will be open on Sweet Pea, as well .
The Canyons Season Pass office and main lift ticket windows are now located at the bottom of the Cabriolet in the log building known as "Base Camp." Base Camp is open daily from 8am until 4pm.
Lift ticket prices for opening weekend are as follows:
Full Day Adult: $39
Full Day Junior/Senior: $24
Half Day Junior/Senior: $24
Season Pass prices and online sales are available at http://www.thecanyons.com .
Updated snow conditions are available by calling The Canyons Snow Phone at (435) 615-3456.
The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah is the largest single ski and snowboard resort in Utah and
one of the five largest in the United States. Located just four miles from Park City's historic Main
Street, The Canyons offers 3,500 acres of diverse terrain over eight separate mountains,
accessing 146 trails. Additional details are available at http://www.thecanyons.com .
UPCOMING UTAH STATE PARKS EVENTS
November 26 Wasatch Mountain State Park - Midway
Astronomy Night Hike and Stories of Light: Join park staff at 7 p.m., (weather permitting) for a
short half-mile hike above the Heber Valley, then learn stories of the night sky through stars,
planets and constellations. Sturdy shoes and warm clothes are recommended. For more
information, please call (435) 654-1791.
Wild Turkey Hunting Applications Available by Nov. 29
Applications to hunt wild turkeys in Utah next spring will be available by Nov. 29. Hunters can
obtain an application from hunting license agents statewide, Division of Wildlife Resources
offices and the DWR's Web site ( http://wildlife.utah.gov ).
Hunters who have a major credit card can apply on the Web site. "I'd encourage hunters to apply
this way," said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife
Resources. "Applying on the Internet is the easiest, fastest and most convenient way to get your
application in."
Hunters who don't have a major credit card must mail their application in. "Hunters are reminded
that it will take a few days for the application to arrive in the mail," Tutorow said. "I'd encourage
them to obtain an application as soon as they're available, and to mail it back as soon as possible."
To be entered in the draw for permits, applications must be received through the mail no later
than 5 p.m. on Dec. 27, or through the DWR's Web site no later than 11 p.m. on Dec. 27. Draw
results will be posted by Feb. 1, 2006.
A total of 1,560 Rio Grande wild turkey permits, and 487 Merriam's wild turkey permits, are
available to public hunters for the upcoming season. Hunters can learn how many permits will be
available for each of Utah's wild turkey management units by obtaining a copy of the 2006 Utah
Wild Turkey Hunting Guide. The guide should be available at DWR offices, the DWR's Web site
and from hunting license agents by late November.
Utah's 2006 wild turkey hunts will be held in April and May.
2005 Hunter Success and the Future of Wild Turkeys in Utah
Hunters took 751 Rio Grande wild turkeys in Utah in 2005, for a success rate of 62 percent.
"That's a very high success rate, and we're really excited about it," says Dean Mitchell, upland
game coordinator for the DWR.
Merriam's wild turkey hunters found good success in 2005, taking 209 Merriam's turkeys for a
success rate of 47 percent.
Mitchell says most of Utah's wild turkey populations are flourishing because of aggressive efforts
by the DWR to bring turkeys to Utah from out-of-state, to trap and transplant turkeys within
Utah, and to improve turkey habitat.
Conservation groups have pitched in, too, with groups such as the National Wild Turkey
Federation and the Utah-based Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife providing much of the funding
for the DWR's wild turkey work.
In the past 12 months, 957 turkeys have been moved within Utah to help existing turkey
populations and start new ones. No turkeys have been brought into the state over the past 12
months. "Utah's wild turkey populations have increased to the point that there are plenty of birds
to trap and relocate within the state, so we no longer need to go outside the state to find birds,"
Mitchell said.
Mitchell says Utahns shouldn't expect to see the state's Merriam's turkey population grow much
more. Most of the suitable habitat in Utah that Merriam's turkeys prefer -- ponderosa pine, mixed
with aspen and oak trees -- already has Merriam's turkeys in it.
The sky's the limit, though, when it comes to the number of Rio Grande turkeys Utah can
support. Rio Grandes prefer streamside habitats consisting of cottonwood river bottoms that are
usually adjacent to agricultural areas, and Utah has plenty of these.
For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt
Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
Fish Advisory Issued for Green River in Desolation Canyon
A fish consumption advisory has been issued by state and local officials for the Green River in
Desolation Canyon, where elevated mercury levels have been found in channel catfish.
Officials from the Division of Wildlife Resources collected the fish as part of an ongoing
investigation of mercury in fish tissues. Elevated mercury levels were found in eight out of 10
channel catfish collected from the Green River in Desolation Canyon.
Fish consumption advisory signs will be posted at access points to the Desolation Canyon portion
of the Green River stating that:
· Adults should limit their consumption of channel catfish taken from the Green River in
Desolation Canyon to no more than two 8-ounce servings per month; and
· Women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children
should not eat more than one 4-ounce serving per month from channel catfish in the Green River.
A 4-ounce serving of fish is approximately the size of a deck of cards.
Eating more than these amounts over a long period of time could result in an intake of mercury
that exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health recommendations, according to an
analysis completed by the Utah Department of Health. Any health risks associated with eating
fish from the Green River in Desolation Canyon are based on long-term consumption and are not
tied to eating fish occasionally. There is no health risk to other recreationists, including those
swimming and boating.
Officials from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Utah Department of Health, Utah
Division of Wildlife Resources, Southeastern Utah District Health Department and Tri-County
Health Department worked in partnership to issue this advisory.
Information about the advisory has been distributed locally, and is available at:
http://www.deq.utah.gov/issues/Mercury/fish_advisories.htm and each of the agencies' Internet sites.
More information about the health effects of mercury can be found at:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts46.htm ;. A map of Utah highlighting the site where the fish were
tested for mercury and the test results can be found at
http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/documents/mercury_sample_sites_8-10-05.pdf.
A copy of the Health Consultation on the Evaluation of Mercury Concentrations in Fish from
Desolation Canyon, Green River, Utah for 2000 and 2005 can be found at
www.health.utah.gov/enviroepi .
Additional sampling of the Green River above and below Desolation Canyon will be conducted
in 2006 to evaluate if this fish advisory should be expanded.
Buddy Program Available for Blue Ribbon Coalition
A great way to support BRC and their efforts to protect recreational access has been initiated the
"Buddy Program" that lets members sign up their friends in a special membership category
called "BRC Buddies" at $10 each instead of the full individual membership rate of $20.
They have nearly 1,500 BRC Buddies so far and has proven to be very popular.. This program is
due to expire at the end of this year.
They are also offering this reduced rate membership to non-member subscribers on our "Alert
List."
Buddy members save 50% on a one-year membership! The following year they will be able to
renew at the regular price.
Prospective Buddies click on the link below to go to our secure Buddy Program site to sign up
using your credit card:
https://www.sharetrails.org/index.cfm?page=527
Or print out this alert, and send it with your $10 check to:
BRC Buddies
BlueRibbon Coalition
4455 Burley Drive, Ste. A
Pocatello, ID 83202
Wildlife Board Meeting Minutes posted
Big game hunting rules for Utah's 2006 seasons are among the items the Utah Wildlife Board is
expected to approve at its Nov. 22 meeting in Salt Lake City.
An agenda for the meeting is pasted and attached.
Utah Wildlife Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 22, 2005 * 9:30 A.M.
DNR Auditorium, 1594 W. North Temple, SLC, Utah
AGENDA
1. Approval of Agenda ACTION
* Dr. Jim Bowns, Chair
2. Approval of Minutes ACTION
* Dr. Bowns
3. Old Business (Action Log) CONTINGENT
* Dick Diamond, Vice-chair
4. Division Update INFORMATION
* Jim Karpowitz, DWR Director
5. Bucks & Bulls Proclamation & Rule R657-5 ACTION
* Craig McLaughlin, DWR Big Game Program Coordinator
6. Lifetime Hunting & Fishing License Rule R657-17 5-yr. review ACTION
* Craig McLaughlin
7. Big Game CWMUs & Permit Numbers ACTION
* Ron Hodson, DWR CWMU Program Coordinator
8. Conservation Permit Numbers ACTION
* Alan Clark, Wildlife Section Chief
9. Dedicated Hunter Program Rule R657-38 & Fees Rule R-657-42 ACTION
- Jill West, DWR Volunteer Program Coordinator
10. Hunter Education Program Rule R657-23 nonresident blue card fee ACTION
- Lenny Rees, DWR Hunter Education Program Coordinator
11. Minimum Hunting Age Proposed Changes ACTION
- Lenny Rees
12. Variance Requests ACTION
* Judi Tutorow, DWR Licensing Program Coordinator