3:10 PM | Updated: 5:27 pm BY CARLYSLE PRICE SALT LAKE CITY – A 32-year-old man’s hand was stuck in a crevice on a rock wall in Little Cottonwood Canyon Sunday At approximately 1 p.m., the man’s hand was caught on Lizard Head Wall in Little Cottonwood Canyon, and he was “inverted,” according to Det. Arlan Bennett with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Bennett said the man wedged his leg into the mountain while falling, but there’s no estimate on how far the fall was. Bennett said the rescue was still underway at the time of publication, and the man’s condition was not immediately known. “We’re now working to try to get him out of the situation and get him to the hospital,” Bennett said. Salt Lake County Search and Rescue were able to get the man off the mountain, where he was taken to the hospital by helicopter in critical condition, according to Bennett. This is a breaking news story. It may be updated.  (435) 631-9555 - info@townlift.com Adam Lenkowski Mar 5 Photo: Utah Snow Ensemble model output total snowfall through Friday // UofU Dept Utah – As the last storm system just barely exited the area yesterday another stronger winter storm is already impacting California and making its way to Utah The Monday-Tuesday storm ended up dumping 24” of snow in Little Cottonwood and about 12” in Big Cottonwood while the Park City area mountains drew the short end of the stick and only received about 5” of snow is taking a similar southerly track as we saw with the storm earlier in the week there is a weak atmospheric river providing abundant moisture streaming across southern California currently The first phase of this storm starting later this afternoon will be warm possibly favoring the Deer Valley area early on Things change however on Thursday evening as the colder air and main low-pressure center arrive and this is yet again the part of the storm that should tilt the odds in favor of the Cottonwoods with snow persisting through at least Friday afternoon Cold overnight temperatures in the teens will linger into the weekend as skies clear Satellite imagery showing the approaching low-pressure center and atmospheric river moisture over California // College of Dupage NEXLAB To keep up with realtime conditions, check out our webcams on TownLift Contact: adam@townlift.com Read more from Adam Lenkowski Submit a news tip, Share a photo or video, or contact TownLift with your local Park City news and feedback 2 days ago     Full time     $20.00 - $22.00 hourly 3 days ago     Seasonal     4 days ago     Seasonal     4 days ago     Full time     $45,000 - $60,000 yearly 10 days ago     Seasonal     $5,500 - $6,800 yearly Post A JobView All Adam Lenkowski Feb 11 TownLift Oct 27 TownLift Oct 15 Add Your Organization Don’t miss a beat in the Park City community—get the daily scoop delivered straight to your inbox. Completely free, unsubscribe anytime. police log, police siren, flashing lights, blotter Get Todays News Today Sign up for our TownLift Daily Newsletter and get today's top local news stories in your inbox TownLift is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Park City and Summit County Utah with Breaking Local News & Community Updates info@townlift.com SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — This report will be updated throughout Saturday as new weather and traffic information becomes available Refresh your browser for the latest version High traffic volumes headed up both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons late Saturday morning are expected to cause significant delays during the downhill commute the Utah Department of Transportation reported heavy uphill traffic on both SR-190 and SR-210 Authorities warned that downhill traffic could experience long delays with periods of completely stopped traffic during the afternoon and evening Officials also noted that while upper-level canyon roads remain snowy lower-level roads are beginning to clear up After hours of rain-and-snow mixed showers icy conditions developed on Bangerter Highway in Salt Lake County Taylorsville police advised travelers that the newly formed ice led them to shut down a portion of southbound Bangerter from 4700 South to 6200 South drivers were advised to exit the highway before reaching 4700 South "Please drive carefully and remember to slow down," they urged The Utah Avalanche Center has issued an Avalanche Warning for all of the state's mountain ranges due to high danger with the exception of the Salt Lake area mountains where the avalanche risk was classified as extreme and the Southwest mountains – remains in effect until 6 a.m Officials of the Utha Avalanche Center reported that strong winds and heavy snowfall have created widespread areas of unstable snow making both natural and human-triggered avalanches highly likely at all elevations Little Cottonwood Canyon was closed for avalanche mitigation Initially thought to be reopened by 8:30 a.m. The UAC has urged travelers and recreationists to stay clear of avalanche-prone areas and avalanche runouts Terrain steeper than 30 degrees should be completely avoided Authorities said the warning may be elevated from high to extreme depending on the weather trends throughout the morning and early afternoon hours The ongoing winter storm heavily impacted the state Saturday morning and hazardous road conditions well before dawn Mountain snow will continue to affect mid- and upper-elevation routes throughout the day while a rain-snow mix in the valleys has created slick especially along the Wasatch Front and south toward Cedar City Saturday morning's snow is expected to turn showery by midday across much of Utah conditions on lower elevation routes will improve but remain wet The precipitation is expected to clear by 3 p.m. The following routes will remain under a Road Weather Alert through 3 p.m An updated visitor use study commission by the Central Wasatch Commission demonstrates the proximity of Big and Little Cottonwood and Millcreek canyons are a big draw attracting roughly 3.2 million visitors per year in an area spanning roughly 80,000 acres Arches National Park — one of Utah’s beloved national parks — receives about 1.8 million visitors per year Central Wasatch visitors are quite satisfied with their experiences These data and findings serve as a base of information that can be used to inform the decisions of the USDA Forest Service the many entities represented on the Central Wasatch Commission and other stakeholders interested in the future of outdoor recreation in the Salt Lake Valley A team led by Jordan Smith, director of the Institute of Outdoor Recreation & Tourism and professor in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University conducted the multiyear data collection and analysis for the CWC’s Visitor-Use Study and has updated the data sets illustrating annual visitation to “third sites,” or ski resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons to more realistically reflect visitation to ski resorts Skiing is the most common outdoor recreation activity in both Big and Little Cottonwood canyons There are an estimated total of nearly one million national forest visits (985,704) involving skiing in Big Cottonwood Canyon with nearly as many (955,573) in Little Cottonwood Canyon Skiing accounts for 67.9% and 72.8% of all recreational visits to the national forest recreation sites within Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons Hiking/walking is also a common activity in these canyons with over 507,000 visits involving the activity in Big Cottonwood Canyon and over 333,000 in Little Cottonwood Canyon The Central Wasatch provides a diverse spectrum of recreation opportunities and receives many visitors Perceived crowding across all site types is generally low which likely reflects people’s expectations for the kinds of sites they visit the types of activities they participate in and the capacity of the area to accommodate more visitation A substantial portion of the visitation to both Big and Little Cottonwood canyons comes from general forest area visits This includes all visitation to undeveloped areas in the national forest excluding congressionally designated wilderness General forest areas are commonly used for hiking despite reports of high volume traffic during ski days visitor satisfaction came in at 4.7 for the Wasatch-Cache-Uinta National Forest while satisfaction ticked up a little for the trio of canyons at 4.8 very satisfied when it comes to the recreational opportunities provided within these canyons,” Smith said in a video detailing the survey That satisfaction is also driving repeat visits “One thing that is particularly surprising is the frequency in visitation,” Smith said The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Forest as a whole roughly receives 35 visits per year per visitor For Big Cottonwood Canyon that jumps to 45.3 visits per year per visitor; Little Cottonwood Canyon sits at nearly 56 visits per year per visitor while Millcreek gets 61.4 visits per year per visitor The report does note that Millcreek is a particular favorite among locals FILE- Lake Blanche sits at an elevation of 8,300 feet up Big Cottonwood Canyon at the base of Sundial Peak amid glacier carved deposits BY TAMMY KIKUCHI SALT LAKE CITY — Officials don’t allow dogs in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons This is because the canyons are watersheds for the Salt Lake Valley streams and lakes of watershed canyons and the toxins can be deadly for people and wild animals One hiker spoke with KSL NewsRadio and shared her interaction with dogs and their owners in Big Cottonwood Canyon over the weekend who says she’s a dog owner and wishes to remain anonymous was hiking when she said she heard dogs barking She said she followed the sound and found five people with four dogs She informed them that dogs aren’t allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon They are especially not welcome in the water because the canyon is part of the watershed Most of the people were nice but embarrassed about being caught She later ran into a sheriff’s deputy and relayed the story to him “I would have fined them,” the deputy reportedly told her “Well $700 a pop,” the deputy reportedly told her  She also told them they can’t swim in canyon lakes She laments that the problem seems to be growing The hiker said she also finds people swimming in the canyon’s lakes If you are caught swimming in a lake or hiking with a dog in one of the watershed canyons in the county, you could be subject to a Class B misdemeanor and a $650 fine for first-time offenders the offender could face a Class A misdemeanor and up to a year in jail.  Dogs are also not allowed in Bell Canyon Creek and tributaries and Parley’s Canyon See the full list watersheds in Salt Lake County where no dogs are allowed but also where dogs are welcome Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here A solo splitboarder was killed in an avalanche on north-facing Davenport Hill in the Silver Fork drainage of Big Cottonwood Canyon Two solo backcountry travelers died in separate avalanches in the Wasatch Mountains since Saturday Both incidents occurred during a period when the Utah Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche warning due to heavy snowfall and strong winds The avalanche danger for the locations and dates of both accidents was rated as high Our condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims We extend our gratitude to the search and rescue teams from AirMed and members of the Utah Avalanche Center for their efforts in these tragic events For current avalanche conditions and forecasts visit the Utah Avalanche Center The TownLift News Desk specializes in delivering concise Our expertise is in covering local stories that matter most to the Park City community Post A JobView All Don’t miss a beat in the Park City community—get the daily scoop delivered straight to your inbox Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Sign up for our TownLift Daily Newsletter and get today's top local news stories in your inbox TownLift is a web and mobile-based Entertainment & News media outlet providing Park City and Summit County Utah with Breaking Local News & Community Updates To receive new posts and to support my work please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber Share Opposition to the proposed gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon has always hit me as a little bit stupid, particularly when it’s framed as some great mission to save the environment. Check out this excerpt from a recent lawsuit filed against UDOT to stop construction, per The Salt Lake Tribune: the lawsuit [to throw out UDOT’s environmental study as flawed] says the proposed gondola through the canyon would “affect the natural habitats of golden eagles and other fauna; contaminate and endanger a critical watershed; disrupt recreation areas unrelated to resort skiing such as climbing and backcountry skiing; and permanently alter the breathtaking views of the canyon.” You know what the most disruptive thing you can possibly build into the wilderness is You know what permanently altered the view of that breathtaking canyon the road punched through its gut in the 1940s What do you suppose has a higher chance of “contaminating and endangering a critical watershed” – thousands of individual oil-leaking or a gondola with 22 towers that each occupy a few hundred square feet of land Anyone who’s serious about protecting the environmental integrity of LCC ought to be advocating that they close SR-210 permanently and replace it with low-energy low-impact alternatives such as the gondola and The road could remain open to emergency vehicles and When protesters are not complaining about imaginary environmental impacts, they are complaining about the lift’s price, ignoring the astronomical expense of road maintenance and avalanche mitigation. The gondola will cost an estimated $728 million, which sounds like a lot until you realize that mountain roads cost more than $4 million per lane per mile to build – and that’s in 2014 dollars There’s also the cost to the individual of purchasing and outfitting vehicles that can manage extreme winter weather on steep terrain – the gondola would mostly negate the need for such Monster Truck One-Upmanship as it would move the resorts’ base down to around 5,000 feet (from 7,760 feet at Snowbird and 8,530 feet at Alta) “The first realization was that we would be empowered by understanding the rules of the game.” Coon said MVCC] “scraped together a few dollars to hire a consultant,” who showed them that Aspen Corp would have to obtain many permits for the ski resort but MVCC would only have to prevail on defeating one Administrative and legal challenges delayed the project for 25 years “ultimately paving the way to victory,” with the water rights issue as the final obstacle to resort development These activists are still so proud of themselves besides stopping something that could have been transformative for the entire region What could have been an extra ski resort in a state that desperately needs more skier capacity is instead “open space” that is zoned for the development of exactly five homes American imperative to spend unhealthy percentages of their income on personal vehicles tricked out with military-grade terrain-scaling features recasts the most obvious fix to the traffic and visual clutter that mars one of America’s most gorgeous canyons as an engine that would instead destroy it like Americans’ obsession with air-conditioning or ketchup that looks absurd with even a little distance Little Cottonwood Canyon was never meant to accommodate thousands of vehicles per day It was never meant to accommodate vehicles at all SR-210 holds the highest avalanche hazard index of any road in North America Removing personal cars from that road is such an obvious solution that it rates alongside toothpaste application as Things That Shouldn’t Have to Be Explained It looks as though just about everyone who intends to buy an Epic Pass is buying an Epic Pass and Vail is running out of people who don’t intend to buy one but should buy one The mountains aren’t getting any bigger (one-off expansions accepted) It’s the Netflix problem on snow – when just about everyone who is likely to subscribe to your service subscribes to your service Vail, like Netflix, has been swiveling its binoculars overseas. As with a content creation company, Vail is going to hit some cultural obstacles. Just as what’s funny to Americans doesn’t always land in Italy, America’s roughneck version of skiing doesn’t always appeal to Euros, who ski with an espresso in one hand and a newspaper in the other, leisurely reading as they skate down the piste. Ikon can somewhat justify that premium with a beefier lineup that includes 32 western North American destinations to Epic’s 11 But Ski Tourist Bro isn’t going to need 32 choices Vail Mountain and Park City and Heavenly are just as good as Copper and Deer Valley and Palisades Tahoe from an average skier’s point of view adjusted for inflation based upon 2007 (pre-Epic Pass) rates Vail must be lined up on the steps of Harvard Business School on graduation day to capture these brilliant minds This is not, by the way, some broke-ass buddy who crawls out of the bottle to beg for a couch every three years, but a dude with a solid job and the ability and desire to travel. But here we are, in December 2023: when someone asks me where they should ski on their ski trip to one of America’s great ski towns, home to two of America’s greatest ski resorts, I tell them to go ski somewhere else. Make that make sense. Below the paid subscriber jump: why is the Forest Service regulating chairlifts?; New England to get a real ski village at last; a potential tax break for private New York ski areas; a Brodie revival; New England ski deals; & much more. The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast is a reader-supported publication Share Opposition to the proposed gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon has always hit me as a little bit stupid, particularly when it\u2019s framed as some great mission to save the environment. Check out this excerpt from a recent lawsuit filed against UDOT to stop construction, per The Salt Lake Tribune: the lawsuit [to throw out UDOT\u2019s environmental study as flawed] says the proposed gondola through the canyon would \u201Caffect the natural habitats of golden eagles and other fauna; contaminate and endanger a critical watershed; disrupt recreation areas unrelated to resort skiing such as climbing and backcountry skiing; and permanently alter the breathtaking views of the canyon.\u201D What do you suppose has a higher chance of \u201Ccontaminating and endangering a critical watershed\u201D \u2013 thousands of individual oil-leaking Anyone who\u2019s serious about protecting the environmental integrity of LCC ought to be advocating that they close SR-210 permanently and replace it with low-energy When protesters are not complaining about imaginary environmental impacts, they are complaining about the lift\u2019s price, ignoring the astronomical expense of road maintenance and avalanche mitigation. The gondola will cost an estimated $728 million, which sounds like a lot until you realize that mountain roads cost more than $4 million per lane per mile to build \u2013 and that\u2019s in 2014 dollars There\u2019s also the cost to the individual of purchasing and outfitting vehicles that can manage extreme winter weather on steep terrain \u2013 the gondola would mostly negate the need for such Monster Truck One-Upmanship as it would move the resorts\u2019 base down to around 5,000 feet (from 7,760 feet at Snowbird and 8,530 feet at Alta) \u201CThe first realization was that we would be empowered by understanding the rules of the game.\u201D Coon said MVCC] \u201Cscraped together a few dollars to hire a consultant,\u201D who showed them that Aspen Corp \u201Cultimately paving the way to victory,\u201D with the water rights issue as the final obstacle to resort development What could have been an extra ski resort in a state that desperately needs more skier capacity is instead \u201Copen space\u201D that is zoned for the development of exactly five homes recasts the most obvious fix to the traffic and visual clutter that mars one of America\u2019s most gorgeous canyons as an engine that would instead destroy it like Americans\u2019 obsession with air-conditioning or ketchup Removing personal cars from that road is such an obvious solution that it rates alongside toothpaste application as Things That Shouldn\u2019t Have to Be Explained and Vail is running out of people who don\u2019t intend to buy one but should buy one The mountains aren\u2019t getting any bigger (one-off expansions accepted) It\u2019s the Netflix problem on snow \u2013 when just about everyone who is likely to subscribe to your service subscribes to your service Ikon can somewhat justify that premium with a beefier lineup that includes 32 western North American destinations to Epic\u2019s 11 But Ski Tourist Bro isn\u2019t going to need 32 choices Vail Mountain and Park City and Heavenly are just as good as Copper and Deer Valley and Palisades Tahoe from an average skier\u2019s point of view some broke-ass buddy who crawls out of the bottle to beg for a couch every three years but a dude with a solid job and the ability and desire to travel in December 2023: when someone asks me where they should ski on their ski trip to one of America\u2019s great ski towns home to two of America\u2019s greatest ski resorts Below the paid subscriber jump: why is the Forest Service regulating chairlifts?; New England to get a real ski village at last; a potential tax break for private New York ski areas; a Brodie revival; New England ski deals; & much more UTAH Water rushes in Big Cottonwood Creek in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Tuesday BY ERIC CABRERA Utah — A major project to connect the water supplies of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons with a new pipeline  has begun the 84 million dollar pipeline will connect Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon water supplies together while earthquake proofing the pipes themselves General Manager for Metro Water Annalee Munsey says the project is more than linking the two water plants together It also helps conserve additional drinking water in emergency situations it’s been serving the public for 75 years,” Munsey said A sample of the new pipe was on display at the ground breaking event Munsey says the new connection will help conserve enough emergency drinking water for 100,000 Salt Lake Valley residents annually Employees and Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski signed the pipe on site before it joins the rest of the pipeline SALT LAKE CITY — Utah transportation officials on Wednesday finalized a future transportation plan for Little Cottonwood Canyon picking a plan that includes a gondola amid backlash from conservation groups and local communities The Utah Department of Transportation entered its "Gondola Alternative B" as the official record of decision which is considered the final step in the environmental impact statement The plan also includes other steps like tolling and increased bus service that will be implemented well before the construction of a future gondola "This decision will help improve transportation in Little Cottonwood Canyon now and into the future," Josh Van Jura The agency says it is now expected to cost $729 million to implement everything after revisions were made to an initial estimate of about $550 million A little more than a quarter of the cost is associated with tolling snow sheds and improvements to Wasatch Boulevard It's also expected to add $4.4 million in operation and maintenance costs every winter with an additional $3.3 million every year should summer service be included said Wednesday that she's "disappointed" but not surprised UDOT is moving forward with including that portion of the project She added that she's happy UDOT will focus on more buses and tolling first "I continue to stand with the majority of residents who are opposed to a massive half-a-billion dollar gondola permanently marring Little Cottonwood Canyon," she said in a statement "We believe commonsense solutions can solve the problem I will continue to work collaboratively with UDOT and stakeholders to make sure commonsense solutions prove we do not need a costly and unsightly gondola in our cherished canyon." The plan UDOT selected will be implemented in three stages with the first changes noticeable over the next few years In a video explaining the decision Van Jura said planning for the first phase will begin "immediately." This includes plans to increase bus service up the canyon with new resort bus stops and a "mobility hub" by a gravel pit near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon This first phase also includes new tolling measures and roadside parking restrictions The changes are projected to be implemented in the fall of 2025 which is when 10- to 15-minute bus service up the canyon will be available could be provided by the Utah Transit Authority a private vendor or a "hybrid solution" of the two The new bus stops will include lockers and bathrooms for skiers and snowboarders the mobility hub will add about 1,500 parking stalls by Big Cottonwood Canyon though the hub will serve other UTA routes along with the two canyons A new tolling fee would likely be between $25 to $30 per day during peak traffic days The funding for this phase was included during this year's legislative session which will be implemented sometime after funding is secured includes plans to widen and improve Wasatch Boulevard Van Jura says that's because projections indicate that road usage will increase by 45% by 2050 which will double the travel time on the road An artist rendering of a snow shed included in the second phase of the Little Cottonwood Canyon plan (Photo: Utah Department of Transportation)The second phase also calls for new snow sheds to address avalanche safety concerns These will cover a pair of common slide paths which is expected to reduce closures tied to avalanches Crews would also make improvements to parking at the White Pine Lisa Falls and Gate Buttress trailheads while adding a new area called "The Bridge." A gondola from the mouth of the canyon up to Alta is in the final phase of the plan The plan calls for a base with 2,500 parking spaces at the mouth; each gondola cabin will hold up to 35 people the bus service up the canyon will be discontinued and the mobility hub will focus more on Big Cottonwood Canyon The Wasatch Front Regional Council, which voted in May to include all three phases in its 27-year regional transportation plan estimates that this may not be implemented until the 2040s UDOT's Little Cottonwood Canyon project was first announced to the public in 2020 as the agency looked for ways to cut about 30% of the vehicles that use the canyon Officials said that they projected that it may take 80 to 85 minutes to travel through the canyon by 2050 based on trends It ended up receiving about 50,000 public comments over the past few years — the most in the agency's history Van Jura said the plan was selected after "thorough research public outreach and the careful review" of those comments "Gondola Alternative B" emerged as UDOT's preferred plan in August 2022 besting other proposed options like widening state Route 210 through the canyon or implementing a cog railway system that had been proposed Other options were estimated to exceed $1 billion Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said last year that she was "very concerned" about the environmental impacts of a gondola in the canyon Salt Lake City holds the water rights to Little Cottonwood Creek as part of its water supply Others against the plan argue that it would cost public taxpayers while benefitting private resorts on top of numerous environmental concerns executive director of the environmental nonprofit Save Our Canyons told KSL.com in May that he expects there will be "many legal challenges" tied to the gondola Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski called UDOT's decision to include the gondola "disheartening," adding Wednesday that it had gained "overwhelming community opposition." UDOT officials contend that the gondola offers the "highest travel reliability," arguing that it has "low impacts to the watershed along with low operations and maintenance costs." Van Jura told KSL Newsradio's "Dave and Dujanovic" Wednesday that funding "has not been identified" for the second and third phases; however UDOT could look for funding from the Legislature or the federal government Wilson said she's encouraged that UDOT will begin with smaller steps first I'm happy to see this (record of decision) issued so we can put it behind us and we can move onto phase one," she said "I'm actually anticipating that the public is going to respond with being willing to hop onto those buses — and we're going to prove we never needed that gondola." by | Feb 3 A project years in the making is crystalizing on the eastern bench of Salt Lake County and could bring hundreds of units and hotel rooms near the mouth of Big and Little Cottonwood canyons A planned development on 21.5 acres that would add hundreds of housing units and roughly 60,000 square feet of commercial space in Cottonwood Heights could start construction as early as this year The project, known as the Wasatch Rock Redevelopment The development is the site of a gravel pit and it’s located just to the south of the Interstate 215 bend and the overpass that extends over Big Cottonwood Road The project is also a short distance to the north of Big Cottonwood Canyon It was initially approved by the Cottonwood Heights City Council in 2021 after two years of planning and discussion though a handful of details have not yet been finalized The Wasatch Rock proposal would turn a former gravel pit into the following:  The condo building location and use are approved, but other parameters of that building, like the number of floors and number of units, have yet to be finalized and voted on, according to the minutes from a Cottonwood Heights Planning Commission meeting on Jan During that meeting the city’s community and economic development director outlined each phase of the development’s building process The first phase is to construct the seven-story apartment complex before moving onto building four of the commercial pads followed by the remaining two commercial sites Johnson said the project’s developer, Rockworth Companies wants to start construction on the apartment complex this year He added there’s no timeline available for when the full project could be finished.  a development associate with Rockworth Companies told the planning commission that Rockworth plans to apply for building permits on the apartment complex Nemelka said the condo building is projected to be 12 stories tall with three levels for parking and nine levels for residential units She added that the total number of condo units has not been spelled out and the number would be determined based on the market Though the maximum height allowed for the condo is up to 300 feet Nemelka said Rockworth is planning on keeping the condo building well below that height.  The condominium is the main aspect of the project that’s still up in the air as city staff was still assembling a technical analysis and staff report for the building could be presented during a planning commission meeting in February.   After the planning commission makes a recommendation on the condo building Johnson said it will then go to the city’s Architectural Review Commission for review the final step is to the city council for approval.  Email Jacob Scholl The Delta Center overhaul is officially underway — and the arena we all know will look much different next year At the foot of the North Temple bridge at 600 West where Downtown transitions to the west side Three buildings near the Utah Governor’s Mansion in the Lower Avenues will be torn down in the coming weeks as part of a larger effort to rebuild.. The Granary continues to attract attention from national developers as Seattle’s Lake Union Partners will be expanding to the west of its Evo.. You must be logged in to post a comment Site built by John Battenfeld (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Cottonwood Heights officer Lance Bess helps with tire inspection as people line up to participate in the free and voluntary Cottonwood Canyon’s sticker distribution kick-off event to comply with traction devices required during severe weather this winter on Thursday The Utah Department of Transportation is partnering with local law enforcement from Cottonwood Heights and Sandy to increase traction law enforcement blue Subaru already kitted out with a ski rack pulled out of the October rain and into one of the two lines of cars passing through the Utah Department of Transportation’s Cottonwood maintenance shed Thursday A big man in a neon yellow “Cottonwoods Crew” vest knelt by each tire. One by one, he looked them over. Then he produced a small gauge. Placed atop the tires, it consistently registered a tread depth exceeding 5/32nds of an inch. So, he grabbed a UDOT snowflake sticker from a stack piled on a nearby table slapped it inside the car’s front window and sent the driver on his way The entire process took little more than a minute It could save drivers hours in the Cottonwood canyons The stickers are a key cog in UDOT’s multi-agency plan to step up enforcement of the tire traction law in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon. Officially unveiled Thursday, the $400,000 initiative also entails instituting traction checks in both canyons — at times ahead of storms — and increasing ticketing for illegally parked cars By cutting down on accidents, spinouts and stuck cars, the agencies involved hope to improve the flow of traffic on the oft-congested State Route 190, which leads to Brighton and Solitude Mountain Resort, and SR 210, the avalanche-prone access to Alta Ski Area and Snowbird. Yet they caution that until they work out the kinks, powderhounds should plan to face delays. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) People line up to participate in the free and voluntary Cottonwood Canyon’s sticker distribution kick-off event to comply with traction devices required during severe weather this winter on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. The Utah Department of Transportation is partnering with local law enforcement from Cottonwood Heights and Sandy to increase traction law enforcement. “We ask people to be patient. Be kind to each other,” Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said. “This is new, and we’re not trying to hold people up. We’re trying to make sure they get to the canyons faster.” Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brown said, “is a little trickier.” When traffic through that canyon backs up, it gums up the major intersection of Fort Union and Wasatch boulevards. He said the checkpoint will at first be positioned at the avalanche gate near the canyon’s mouth to start, but its location will likely need to be tweaked. “Trying to find the sweet spot,” Brown said, “is going to be kind of big.” Ski traffic extending into neighborhoods, in part, spurred officials to address congestion in the canyons. Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski said her phone “was hot” during the 2022-23 ski season, when Utah saw a record 903 inches of snowfall at Alta. Residents were fuming about leaving their homes to drop off their kids or go to work and not being able to return due to the backup of canyon traffic into their neighborhoods. So on Feb. 13, 2023, officials from Sandy, Cottonwood Heights, Salt Lake County and UDOT gathered to hammer out a solution. A year later, legislators gave the plan some heft. They approved directing up to 2% of the state’s Cottonwood Canyons Transportation Investment Fund to pay for safety and traction-related initiatives in the canyons. That comes out to about $400,000, according to Carlos Braceras, UDOT’s executive director. Braceras said the Sandy and Cottonwood Heights police departments will each receive $180,000 to pay overtime to their officers who work the traction checkpoints. The remaining $40,000 will go to the staff of Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera to increase patrols and ticketing of cars parked illegally in the canyons, which has also been deemed a factor in slowing traffic. (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) People travel along Albion Basin Road in Little Cottonwood Canyon to check out the freshly fallen snow on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. UDOT will begin checking for traction devices prior to big storms, not only while they are in effect. “For the longest time, we just didn’t have the resources to give the parking tickets,” Rivera said, “and now we’ve made it a priority because we do see where it impacts public safety.” Also this year, Braceras said UDOT will experiment with preemptively requiring traction-law compliance. A major gripe of canyon drivers has been that UDOT doesn’t enact the traction law until the roads become dangerous. By then, cars ill-equipped to handle slippery and snowy conditions are already in the canyons and are likely to disrupt traffic when they try to get out. Braceras said his agency doesn’t want to “cry wolf” and degrade the potency of the law by requiring traction devices when they aren’t needed. But the agency will take preventative steps when its fleet of forecasters indicates conditions will become dangerous. “We’ll screw up,” Braceras admitted. “So we will have times where we’ll say, ‘We’re going to implement the traction law,’ and people will say, ‘Wait a minute, it never snowed.’ And we’ll have times we wish we did it. “But we’re going to step out more than we have been.” Without the traction stickers, though, all that effort may just create more headaches for canyon drivers. A UDOT Cottonwood canyons sticker can be obtained for free between now and Feb. 28 from a multitude of tire and auto repair shops around the Salt Lake Valley. Eligible vehicles must be compliant with UDOT’s traction law standards with one exception: Instead of 2/32nds of an inch of tread, vehicles must have 5/32nds of an inch of tread. Other requirements are as follows: Automobiles with the sticker displayed in their windshield will be waved through the checkpoint without having to stop. At issue, however, is that because both highways are two-lane roads, they’ll still have to wait for any stickerless cars ahead of them to be inspected before they can be on their way up the mountain. It’s for that reason that, to a person, officials emphasized how critical it is for anyone who has even an inkling they might drive up the canyons this winter to get their vehicle checked. Some, including Solitude General Manager Amber Broadaway, hinted that they may provide perks for people who have a sticker. “We are going to work internally to figure out how to support our staff and recognize our visitors who obtain the UDOT sticker,” Broadaway said in an email to the Tribune. “We encourage all winter mountain enthusiasts of the Cottonwoods to support this important program. “And,” she added, “we remain hopeful that all the rental car agencies out of SLC airport will get on board with this program, too.” On that front, Brown had good news. He said all but two rental agencies based out of the Salt Lake City International Airport planned to participate in the sticker program. Resorts will post participating rental car agencies on their websites, he said. Still, it would be prudent for Cottonwood canyons resort visitors to ensure their vehicle has a sticker before taking it off the lot. The entire process is likely to take less than a minute. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune Both canyons have two ski resorts at the top And both canyons see roughly the same number of cars during the ski season But only one is at the heart of two sweeping transportation proposals that could run taxpayers north of half a billion dollars and permanently change how people interact with the canyon nothing remotely close is being discussed for Big Cottonwood Canyon which even over the past fall weekend saw an average of 10,000 cars each day The busiest ski days typically bring between 5,800 and 7,700 The Utah Department of Transportation has implemented some smaller scale traffic and safety mitigation efforts restricting parking in certain areas and expanding it in others a spokesperson for the department said outside of these operational changes no long-term projects are being talked about Little Cottonwood Canyon is far more exposed to avalanches than its neighbor — there are 64 slide paths in the canyon alone and over half of state Route 210 is threatened by avalanches Little Cottonwood Canyon closes several times each year due to avalanche conditions and its exposure during a dangerous snowpack is a driving factor for the current transportation proposals But the number of cars and subsequent accidents in Big Cottonwood can cause traffic Just ask the throngs of people stuck in their cars last winter after a truck collided with oncoming traffic sending both vehicles over the edge and into the river “We have an absolute disaster on our hands It’s a mess,” said Brighton Mayor Dan Knopp do we look at a short-term solution with a long-term solution or do we just keep kicking the can down the road?” Knopp says he supports the gondola, a $592 million, 8-mile long project currently being proposed an enhanced bus service and extra lane that would cost $510 million Spokespeople for Brighton and Solitude say neither resort has an official position on the matter UDOT wrapped up the public comment period for the environmental impact statement in September and now faces the daunting task of sifting through a record-breaking 13,000 submissions before it issues its recommendation Some of Knopp’s support for the gondola stems from its ability to keep Little Cottonwood Canyon open in some cases reducing the spillover effect that many are worried could happen should either of the proposals take shape “Every time that a stumbling block to go up Little Cottonwood happens Some have also voiced concern that if UDOT implements a toll in Little Cottonwood it could result in more people going up Big Cottonwood instead UDOT officials have said if tolling is implemented Regardless of what happens in Little Cottonwood stakeholders in Big Cottonwood hope a similar debate over their canyon happens soon “We haven’t been able to talk about the other canyons at all So hopefully now it’s time that we can start to do that,” Knopp said noting that in November the Central Wasatch Commission will begin looking at targeted transportation solutions for Big Cottonwood Canyon executive director of the Central Wasatch Commission and former Salt Lake City Mayor telling the Deseret News the commission believes “pretty strongly that they need to really be looking almost as carefully .. and the connections to the valley transportation system to be able to make it all work.” the Central Wasatch Commission released its “pillars for transportation,” outlining six principals the body would like to see eventually implemented into broader transportation solutions in the area The commission lays out several changes it hopes to see immediately — things like variable tolling limited access for single occupancy vehicles “None of the proposed transportation alternatives in the (environmental impact statement) will be fully effective” unless these smaller-scale solutions are implemented first But it stops short of calling for a project in Big Cottonwood on par with what’s being talked about in the next canyon over Key to the commission’s document is a “holistic” approach to transportation a point reiterated during a meeting with the Deseret News and KSL editorial boards Monday compared the situation in the canyons and surrounding roadways to a balloon — “when you compress one corner “The decisions made in Little Cottonwood Canyon are going to have significant effects on Big Cottonwood Canyon,” Becker added is the targeted approach UDOT is taking is more effective than attempting to curb traffic in the central Wasatch in one fell swoop a process that could go beyond the $1 billion mark and might not even make it through the early stages of the NEPA process NEPA refers to the National Environmental Policy Act a law passed in 1970 that dictates how government agencies assess the environmental impacts of proposed projects ‘Well the hole is too big to mend,’ and so you bite off pieces,” Robinson said “They’ve bitten off a piece that’s a very important one whatever is decided will fit well into a tapestry of the other canyons.” the debate over Little Cottonwood acts as a guinea pig for stakeholders in Big Cottonwood who are able to gauge what solutions the public supports what solutions can withstand the NEPA and public comment process “I wouldn’t say that anything that works there will work in Big Cottonwood Canyon,” said Sara Huey “But there is an advantage to being able to see that process play out in that unique environment The guinea pig analogy also works for UDOT Although each canyon has a unique topography and says there is a benefit in tackling one canyon at a time “Anything that happens in Little Cottonwood Canyon we’ll absolutely look at it and see what the effects will be in Big Cottonwood Canyon as well and account for that,” he said it’s really important to look at projecting into the future .. but also look at what’s happening real time and be able to make those adjustments.” Though in the coming years Knopp will have to settle with the smaller he wants to see UDOT bring the train back into the debate “What could conceivably happen is there’s so much pushback against the gondola and everybody with a brain realizes that cars and buses are not the real solution year-round access to both Summit County and Little Cottonwood — whether that means tunnels or a gondola — would alleviate congestion in the canyon “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what needs to happen We got to make a transportation process that comes over at the top ends of those canyons.” a spokesman for UDOT incorrectly said Big Cottonwood Canyon averaged 8,300 cars during the weekend of Oct Big Cottonwood Canyon actually averaged 10,000 cars during that weekend SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Transportation's decision to move forward with a gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon has sparked more litigation as two more lawsuits were filed against it Monday the city of Sandy and the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy filed a joint lawsuit in federal court seeking to vacate the record of decision that UDOT filed in July They are also asking the court to require UDOT to file a new environmental impact statement and federal record of decision that includes more on possible impacts to Little Cottonwood Creek The three entities want the new statement to meet the standards required in the Wilderness Act of 1964 Their lawsuit also names the Federal Highway Administration and U.S asserting that the agencies treated the canyon highway as "a regular road through a nondescript setting" and not one that is next to a "critical drinking water source protection area." also filed a separate lawsuit in federal court against UDOT and the Forest Service arguing that it violates the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws The group is seeking for UDOT's record of decision to be paused "until the UDOT has fully complied with federal law." UDOT's plan calls for three phases to handle traffic in Little Cottonwood Canyon starting with increased bus service and tolling which could begin as early as 2025 which has sparked the most intrigue and controversy is an 8-mile gondola that would deliver riders to Snowbird and Alta ski resorts when it is constructed Both lawsuits filed Monday follow one that a pair of nonprofits and a group of residents filed in federal court last week which seeks to pause the entire project until it fully complies with the same laws outlined in the new litigation Representatives of the group argue that the project also is too expensive and there are "far cheaper commonsense solutions" to the canyon's traffic problems UDOT spokesman John Gleason said the state agency is aware of the lawsuits and officials are currently reviewing them and therefore "cannot comment on specifics." The lawsuit that Salt Lake City and Sandy filed focuses almost entirely on water The canyon provides a "significant source of drinking water" for residents across the Salt Lake Valley The cities say both cities have invested in watershed stewardship projects for more than a century which they fear could be undone by the transportation project safe drinking water is not something we take for granted — and we will take every step necessary to ensure this resource is considered and protected for residents throughout the valley," said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall in a statement adding that UDOT's record of decision "failed" to properly "evaluate water resource impacts." The lawsuit states that the overall project may help to "debottleneck" the canyon in the winter but it would encourage more traffic throughout the year which they say would have "a large array of environmental impacts." These include risks to water quality increased demand on limited water supplies as well as noise and air quality pollution they wrote that the environmental impact statement didn't include any possible impacts made to state Route 209 Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski said this route accounts for nearly half of the traffic leading into the canyon "With the addition of a 2,500-stall parking structure at the mouth of the canyon the influx of additional traffic would have a serious detrimental financial and public safety impact on the most environmentally sensitive area of Sandy," she said in a statement The plaintiffs claim that similar missteps were made at a handful of places in the canyon like the Twin Peaks and Lone Peak wilderness areas They also argue that the federal agencies made "numerous legal and factual errors" in accepting the record of decision "Federal defendants in some cases diminished in violation of the law," the lawsuit states Save Our Canyons cites similar federal laws for its case against UDOT and the Forest Service saying that the plan was carried out in a "fundamentally flawed and arbitrary process" under the National Environmental Policy Act The lawsuit states that the planned gondola towers would "irreversibly" scar the canyon and two wilderness areas The plaintiff claims the Forest Service also "failed to take a hard look at the impacts" of the project when accepting the record of decision All three lawsuits filed this month seek to reverse UDOT's record of decision and have the process redone the plaintiffs are seeking for the statement to be redone with a deeper focus on water impacts before it can move forward because they say the actions can have "potentially significant direct and cumulative impacts" on the water quality and supply in the canyon Save Our Canyons is seeking to prevent UDOT and the Forest Service from "taking any further actions in furtherance of this project" until "UDOT has fully complied with federal law." Gleason said UDOT is working to implement the plan by the start of the 2025-26 winter but the rollout could be delayed by legal challenges The federal agencies included in this lawsuit have yet to comment on it Spencer Cox said last week that the state is "very confident" about how the Little Cottonwood Canyon planning process played out in response to the first lawsuit He added that the state is looking forward "to having (our) day in court to discuss what happened in that planning process," as well The summer's melting snowpack is creating raging rivers that are running high The state's snowpack this winter was about 150 percent higher than the historical average and double the previous year which was the driest on record dating back to 1874 hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City Large parts of the Salt Lake City metro area sits near the foothills of the towering Wasatch Range The creek that runs out of Little Cottonwood Canyon is under flood watch through Thursday afternoon with meteorologists warning that the water is “high “The warm temperatures that we’ve been getting have increased the snow melt and pushed the flow up to near flood stage,” said David Bonnette with the National Weather Service “The whole creek will be up to the banks.” Because of the warm temperatures over the past few days in Salt Lake County the snow in the canyon is melting quickly and filling Little Cottonwood Creek The watch issued says: “Damage is possible in valley areas adjacent to the creek.” Bonnette said there are not a lot of houses at risk but that people should stay away from the banks of the creek which could possibly erode He warns residents to stay out of the water — and to watch their dogs and children nearby who could be at risk of drowning in the dangerous conditions in an area that’s popular to hike “It’s definitely not a good place to be,” he added The water levels will peak midday Thursday and should lower after that as a cool storm system moves in — slowing how much melting snow runs into the creek There is also a warning for the Duchesne River in central Utah from the town of Hanna to the town of Myton It will remain in flood stage through early next week The Little Cottonwood Creek is expected to approach flood stage Thursday (tomorrow) afternoon. The creek will be running high, cold, and fast. Please use caution if you live or recreate near the creek! #utwx pic.twitter.com/88cti6z68K The Little Cottonwood Creek is expected to approach flood stage Thursday (tomorrow) afternoon. The creek will be running high, cold, and fast. Please use caution if you live or recreate near the creek! #utwx pic.twitter.com/88cti6z68K Car lights blur around an iconic curve in Big Cottonwood Canyon A recent report shows the Wasatch Canyons get twice as many visitors annually as Arches National Park Photo: Outdoor Recreation Use of the Central Wasatch Utah – The outdoor recreation opportunities offered in the canyons of the Central Wasatch are some of the most iconic in Utah visitors enjoy boundless opportunities to escape the city heat and immerse themselves in nature amid an almost surreal mountain landscape of dramatic rocky peaks and wildflower-specked meadows people flock to the same mountains to ski deep powder in legendary terrain It is no secret to that Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons have also suffered from the relatively recent massive flocking to these areas which has put pressure on infrastructure and forced outdoor-industry leaders and transportation officials to solve a pressing dilemma about how to manage crowds and traffic in the canyons What you might not know though is this: The Cottonwoods receive close to two times the amount of visitors per year as Arches National Park that is correct; the canyons of the Central Wasatch (including Mill Creek Canyon) receive roughly 3.2 million visits a year receives roughly 1.8 million visitors per year The numbers come from a recent study conducted by The Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism at Utah State University which details the findings of a year-long survey effort designed to better understand the visitors and visitor experiences offered within Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and Millcreek Canyon Results also show visitors frequently recreate in the canyons perceived crowding across all site types is generally low – a surprising statistic for those who sit in hours long traffic The report says this likely reflects people’s expectations for the kinds of sites they visit serve as a base of information that can be used to inform the decisions of the USDA Forest Service Skiing is the most popular outdoor activity in both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons there are nearly one million national forest visits (985,704) for skiing and Little Cottonwood Canyon sees a similar number (955,573) Skiing represents 67.9% of all recreational visits in Big Cottonwood Canyon and 72.8% in Little Cottonwood Canyon hiking and walking is also a popular activity in these canyons with over 507,000 visits in Big Cottonwood Canyon and over 333,000 in Little Cottonwood Canyon which spans a large area in northern Utah and extends into parts of southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest covers several key regions Cache Valley as well as areas surrounding Salt Lake City Putting the Cottonwood’s numbers into perspective on a whole the study says the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest received roughly 9.4 million visits between October 1 roughly 3.2 million occurred within the Central Wasatch which accounts for slightly more than one-third of all forest visits across the entirety of the UintaWasatch-Cache during the same time Big Cottonwood Canyon was the most heavily used canyon within the Central Wasatch Little Cottonwood Canyon received nearly as many recreational visits Millcreek Canyon received 434 thousand recreational forest visits Marina Knight began her career in journalism working for The Stowe Reporter in 2003 where she was a staff writer and later the publication’s Web Editor She covered the Winter Olympic Games in 2006 and 2010 and has worked as a freelance writer covering outdoor topics as well as art criticism Knight was Editor-in-Chief of SkiRacing.com She has won multiple awards from the New England Newspaper Association for environmental reporting In her free time you’ll find her in the mountains Danielle Miles Feb 13 carried and injured in a serious avalanche into south-facing terrain in between Lisa Falls and Jepson’s Folley carried and injured in a serious avalanche into south-facing terrain in between Lisa Falls and Jepson's Folley Utah — A backcountry skier was airlifted to the hospital after triggering an avalanche on Sunday The Utah Avalanche Center (UAC) says conditions are ripe for more The avalanche happened in the Lisa Falls area of Little Cottonwood Canyon It was unintentionally triggered by a skier and occurred at an elevation of 11,200 feet on a southeast aspect known for its challenging terrain Witnesses reported that the avalanche was a soft slab type The avalanche spanned 100 feet in width and ran a vertical distance of 1,500 feet the avalanche gathered a significant amount of snow creating a debris field described as D2.5 in severity ventured into the avalanche path without communicating with the group ahead The slab released as the skier ascended a couloir Thanks to the quick response of the observing party and the deployment of the skier’s airbag Intermountain Lifeflight and Utah DPS conducted a hoist rescue saving the skier’s life amidst the unstable conditions and subsequent natural avalanches acknowledged the poor decision-making that led to the incident the skier admitted to being lured by the prospect of fresh snow and disregarding the clear signs of avalanche danger This event served as a stark reminder of the risks associated with solo tours in severe terrain and the importance of patience and communication with others in the backcountry an avalanche forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center 4-6 feet of snow has accumulated in the Upper Cottonwoods “We have this persistent weak layer to this weak layer faceted ground the ground from early season snow,” she told KSLTV “If you add a lot of weight or change or load it tends to stress it out and overload it.” more than 30 avalanches were reported in the Salt Lake City area alone Sunny skies are forecast for the next few days but the UAC urges skiers to avoid avalanche terrain Contact: dani@townlift.com Dani Miles is local to Park City and spent the first 15 years of her career in outdoor marketing She now enjoys writing local news and instructing at the Ski School at Park City Mountain you’ll most likely find Dani playing on the floor with some combination of her dogs and young kids Read more from Danielle Miles Rebecca Brenner Apr 14 Marina Knight Mar 26 TownLift Mar 9 (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Little Cottonwood Canyon on Wednesday Environmental groups and outdoor enthusiasts are trying to prevent construction on the controversial gondola through Little Cottonwood Canyon A new lawsuit filed Monday claims the Utah Department of Transportation cut corners during its study of the area and possible solutions for its long-standing transportation woes alleges UDOT did not live up to federally outlined standards when the department issued its Record of Decision (ROD) that found an eight-mile-long gondola through the canyon would be the best way to alleviate the area’s transportation issues UDOT released the ROD in July, which ended a years-long saga of numerous public meetings and tens of thousands of public comments over what to do in Little Cottonwood Those who filed suit, including groups like Friends of Alta are seeking to have the ROD and UDOT’s environmental study — known as a NEPA study which stands for the National Environmental Policy Act — thrown out The lawsuit also seeks to prevent UDOT from starting any construction relating to the gondola project until another NEPA study can be completed Much of the lawsuit is based on claims UDOT did not fully investigate the impact of the gondola’s construction and operation in Little Cottonwood. For example, the lawsuit claims UDOT did not properly analyze the impact a gondola would have on animals like golden eagles, which are federally protected birds the lawsuit says the proposed gondola through the canyon would On Tuesday, John Gleason, a UDOT spokesperson, said in a statement that the department is still reviewing the lawsuit. UDOT is in the process of implementing the first phase of its plan to improve transportation through Little Cottonwood, which involves expanded bus service and new tolling through the canyon. Phase 3 would be building and opening the gondola, though that is likely years, if not decades, away from starting Gleason added that Phase 1 of the project is supposed to be completed by the 2025-2026 ski season but the lawsuit could cause a delay in that timeline we do not know the full impact the legal challenge will have on our implementation of improvements such as bus service and tolling,” Gleason said in the statement Tuesday “We will continue to assess potential schedule impacts to Phase 1 as we work through the legal process.” Current gondola plans would call for 22 towers and three loading stations one at the mouth of the canyon and stations at Alta and Snowbird resorts The total price tag to construct the gondola is $728 million (Courtesy of Stadler Rail) This image shows what a cog railway might look like in Little Cottonwood Canyon A $1 billion proposal to run such a line from La Caille restaurant to Alta Ski Resort is being considered among traffic-solution options by the Central Wasatch Commission Editor’s note: This story is available to Tribune subscribers only Thank you for supporting important local journalism The idea for a cog railway serving a busy Utah recreation destination came into sharper focus this week when proponents unveiled possible alignments and cost estimates that suggest rail could help solve the growing transportation quagmire in Little Cottonwood Canyon A nine-mile rail line to Alta is the latest high-capacity transit option under consideration for the canyon that sees up to 3 million visitors a year coming to enjoy two world-renowned ski areas and year-round recreation in an alpine setting just outside Salt Lake City the system could move 3,000 passengers an hour up the canyon The run would take 19 minutes to Snowbird and another six minutes to reach Alta Trains could easily move more passengers than cars considering only 1,000 vehicles can travel up the canyon per hour even in the best of circumstances Allegra told the Central Wasatch Commission Monday “This is a vision for the future,” he said We believe it accommodates all of the key issues in these canyons that the community has been asking for During his years as UTA’s CEO, Allegra oversaw a huge expansion of passenger rail Draper and the Salt Lake City International Airport as well as the extension of FrontRunner commuter rail and construction of the Sugar House streetcar But his tenure also was marred by a number of controversies excessive bonuses and pay and sweetheart deals with developers With about 100 in operation around the world cog railways are employed in steep terrain and are particularly common in the Alps The most famous one connects Zermatt with the Swiss national rail system The rail is equipped with cogs that engage a cogwheel on the locomotive so the train can maintain traction. Stadler, whose U.S. operations are based in Salt Lake City, is a leading designer of cog railways and is helping rebuild the one up Colorado’s Pikes Peak Cog rail recently emerged as an option for Little Cottonwood just as UDOT is settling on a path forward on its transportation plan which doesn’t even cover the equally crowded neighboring Big Cottonwood Canyon Most stakeholders insist UDOT’s final vision must take a regional approach said Central Wasatch Commission executive director Ralph Becker A canyon rail system tied to regional transit could ease congestion not just in the canyon “If — and it’s a huge if — but if rail could work it may very significantly reduce vehicular traffic,” said Becker a former Salt Lake City mayor and avid skier familiar with both canyons and their problems It also means ease of use and convenience for the passenger who’s going into the mountains.” The nine-mile line would run from a terminal below the mouth of the canyon near the famed La Caille restaurant to Alta’s Wildcat base area trains could make “whistle stops” at recreational destinations other than the Snowbird and Alta such as the White Pine trailhead and Lisa Falls The Stadler team outlined two potential alignments One travels along the north edge — or uphill side — of the highway and the other along the south side The cost of installing a single track with sidings would be $345 million for the north-side alignment and $267 million for south side of the road according to Stadler’s consultant Newell Jensen The north-side option would be more costly because it passes through various avalanche paths necessitating the need to construct sheds to keep the track free of slide debris would skirt around all but the White Pine slide path “There’s a possibility that there would be an avalanche shed in that particular location,” Jensen told the commission this line can stay relatively free of avalanche sheds.” These cost estimate were far lower than those projected by UDOT whose analysis places the rail away from the existing highway the Stadler proposal incorporates roadway in places where it has been widened to three lanes “We took advantage of a reduced existing roadway prism to keep the cost of our concept down,” Jensen said “the philosophy being that the rail system can take a lot of the carrying capacity of the highway so there’s not as much need for additional passing lanes.” Total costs include an additional $30 million for a 1,500-stall parking structure near La Caille and five trains at $62 million which is necessary to integrate it with TRAX Then tying into TRAX via 9400 South would cost yet another $400 million Becker is not alone in wondering whether the high-capacity transit options under consideration could just wind up making Little Cottonwood even more crowded and necessitate massive parking structures near its mouth “Our concern is that we’re looking at basically a fully functioning road plus another 3,000 to 5,000 per hour [riding trains or gondolas] You could conceivably surpass the canyon’s capacity in just a few hours under some of these options,” said Carl Fisher executive director of the environmental group Save Our Canyons “You can’t really separate land use and transportation What do these high-capacity options do in terms of driving development in these canyons the numbers of people and the amount of development that those people will require.” Save Our Canyons has been pushing for expanded bus service, but the group could get behind rail if it eliminates all but essential vehicle traffic in the canyon and connects to regional transit, according to Fisher. Alta Mayor Harris Sondak was alarmed that the train’s pathway would virtually brush against various homes in a neighborhood situated along the creek between the two ski areas. “I don’t have a great sense of how it goes up the Bypass Road and through to the Peruvian,” said Sondak, who serves on the commission. “My concern is how is this going to come into my town. A train going by someone’s home every 10 minutes is going to piss them off.” To avoid running the line past homes, the line could terminate at Snowbird Village and Alta-bound skiers could travel the last mile by shuttle bus or gondola. Or the rail could be tunneled under town. That’s what the Swiss would do. SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Big and Little Cottonwood Creek have been rising towards flood level as Utah's record snowpack continues to melt Both of the brooks that run through through Salt Lake City's Wasatch Mountain Range have been witnessed flowing high and rapidly in the past few days though officials said they have managed to stay below their flooding stages of 800 cfs By Monday morning, Big Cottonwood Creek was flowing at 560 cfs and Little at 480 cfs While Little is not forecasted to breach its action stage of 700 cfs peaking just under 640 cfs in the early morning of Monday The 2023 winter snowpack was record-breaking for the Beehive State Whereas Utah normally sees a snowpack peak of around 15 inches of water this winter season's peak was 30 inches At this rate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not expect Utah's snowpack to be completely melted until early June SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Officials are stressing the dangers associated with climbing after an individual fell 300 feet to their death in Little Cottonwood Canyon Members of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team said that this incident happened over the weekend of June 3 at the Great White Icicle--arguable one of the most popular climbs around Salt Lake Deputies said that after making it to the top of the climb a decision was ultimately made by the pair to not tie knots at the end of their ropes in order to avoid getting stuck and disrupting the natural water flow The first climber to start back down on the five sets of rappels reportedly knew where the first rappel station was "The partner above tried to signal to them that they had gone too far but was inaudible due to the noise from the water," sheriff's records stated The other climber was eventually able to make it down to their partner who was noticeable injured No information was divulged to clarify whether the accident took place as the climber was mid-rappel or post-rappel the victim died as a result of their injuries "This was a very sad accident that happened to a well prepared very experienced party," officials said "It is a good reminder to add medical and rescue skills to your tool box." (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Deaf Smith Canyon trailhead in Cottonwood Heights is pictured on Monday Residents fear losing access to the trail due to a dispute with a family planning to build a home where the trail begins on Golden Oaks Dr Cottonwood Heights • A few ragged sandbags mark the way to a trailhead that starts on a quiet cul-de-sac in Cottonwood Heights no trespassing and private property signs and the words “NO HIKING ACCESS” might dissuade some but for decades locals tramped up the rugged trail that winds its way up Deaf Smith Canyon The area is better known for Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons — along with their ski slopes Deaf Smith Canyon offers shade and seclusion To reach the beloved canyon hikers have had to cross through private property and break the law (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A private property sign lies crumpled on the ground at the start of the Deaf Smith Canyon trailhead in Cottonwood Heights Locals in Cottonwood Heights are fearful that Deafs will be closed off despite assurances from the property owner that he wants to maintain public access They are worried that the ultimate plans won’t provide access to the trail’s south fork be placed on a steep hillside and disturb local wildlife “My preference is that we do everything we can to safeguard this quality of lifestyle by working with landowners to secure all the foothills from the 26 acres that were purchased with help of Utah Open Lands all the way across the hillside who lives near the Deaf Smith Canyon trailhead and hikes it nearly every day Mikell and other residents have mounted fierce opposition to the plans to build a home near the trailhead “I hope that this council starts to look at ways that we can fund the preservation of our foothills because it’s not just Deaf Smith Canyon,” Mikell said “It’s everything between Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon that we should be preserving.” (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The pipeline trail Deaf Smith Canyon trailhead in Cottonwood Heights is pictured on Monday The controversy over Deaf Smith Canyon began with an application to consolidate three lots to build one roughly 5,000-square-foot home At a Cottonwood Heights Planning Commission meeting Kade Huntsman assured the public that he planned to maintain public access “and I’ve hiked that canyon since I was 5 or 6 years old Huntsman told the commission he wanted to consolidate the three lots to avoid damaging the hillside and didn’t plan to build “a giant mansion.” The planning commission ultimately approved the plans with the condition that public access be preserved Huntsman’s property is at the end of Golden Hills Canyon Road — a private road with multiple signs dissuading hikers from crossing At the end of Golden Oaks Drive there’s a separate trail path also on private property a former Cottonwood Heights City Council member filed an appeal of the commission’s decision and a hearing officer will decide the case in early June “People have been walking and using that canyon since the mining days,” she said Cottonwood Heights residents launched an initiative to Save Deaf Smith, and planted signs in their front yards. On their website, organizers wrote the easement proposed by the homeowner would have “a much steeper incline, requiring construction to make it accessible.” They also wrote it would “impede access to the Willow Creek drainage.” (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) One access point for the Deaf Smith Canyon trailhead in Cottonwood Heights begins at the end of the sidewalk on Golden Oaks Dr., pictured Monday, April 29, 2024. Residents fear losing access to the trail due to a dispute with a family planning to build a home where the trail begins. At a town hall on April 25, roughly 100 residents gathered to tell their mayor and the City Council how much they loved hiking up Deaf Smith. But it became clear that even with public access maintained, residents were still worried about the impact of building near the trailhead. “I just found the road from Deaf Smith Canyon,” said resident Scott Cuthbertson, “my three girls and I, we hike it regularly. That’s one of the reasons why we came to this area: access to our magnificent outdoors.” “I would love to see a legal access point for the public to go out there,” one Cottonwood Heights resident said at the local meeting last month. “It’s about as beautiful as Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon. It’s a massive area and I just think that we need to provide that to our community, to our children and to the people that come to live here.” (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The pipeline trail to Deaf Smith Canyon trailhead in Cottonwood Heights is pictured on Monday, April 29, 2024. Residents fear losing access to the trail which begins on private property. “It’s a very narrow canyon,” another resident said. “There’s a reason those individual properties were never developed and they’re not very developable. If they get combined into one property and that property owner decides to fence their property, it cuts off more thoroughfare for wildlife.” After more than an hour of public comment, it was clear that nearly everyone in the packed hall wanted access to the canyon preserved. For his part Huntsman continues to promise there is a plan for public access. “We’ve given a big piece of land so that the legal trail can be used,” Huntsman said over the phone, “instead of the private driveway that’s been trespassed across for years.” “We’re a little frustrated because we did the right thing,” Huntsman said, “...we worked with the city, we created access to the legal part of the trail and it just kind of is all blown up.” (Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Curtis Harris and his son Edison take a break in front of Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Friday guttural sigh after wrapping up her hike to Gloria Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Friday a Riverton resident who hikes at least once a week and has a season pass to Alta Ski Area was imagining a gondola carriage floating over the trail right in her sightline while she and her friends trekked toward the White Pine parking lot “I’m standing here and I don’t want to see it happen,” she said from the parking lot I hate to see all the trees that we’re gonna lose (Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Amiel Richter climbs down from the granite boulder hillside near Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Friday It was Musselman’s first peek at the renderings which depict haul lines strung across some of the canyon’s most recognizable views and towers rising up next to its iconic granite rock faces And to her surprise — yet not unlike many of the people who viewed the sketches for the first time Friday — they moved Musselman to soften her stance (Utah Department of Transportation) A rendering of a snowshed from Tanners Flat Campground in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Utah Department of Transportation) A rendering of a proposed gondola near Snowbird Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Utah Department of Transportation) A rendering of a proposed gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Utah Department of Transportation) A rendering of a snowshed in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Utah Department of Transportation) A rendering of a proposed gondola near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon (Utah Department of Transportation) A rendering of a snowshed near White Pine Trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon “Initially it doesn’t look as bad as what I thought it was going to be,” said Musselman who said she thought the gondola would be more intrusive I still know that we’ve got to take some land away to build that and to get in and out of those different areas and locations The drawings had the opposite effect on Curtis Harris of Lehi Harris lives in an area near Thanksgiving Point that is dealing with its own issues stemming from rapid growth so he said he can empathize with community members who have strung anti-gondola banners up and down Little Cottonwood Canyon Road and State Route 210 “I’m sensitive to the idea of what they’re going through as a community,” he said better for the environment and a lot easier to actually utilize and access the outdoors.” Harris had coaxed his 13-year-old son away from his video games to join him on a short hike to the majestic Lisa Falls which was running at full force thanks to the runoff from last winter’s record snowpack he pulled his eyes away from the water to look at the renderings soured him some on the project: a gondola cabin hovering like a spaceship over a secluded picnic area that “I could see that impacting going up and trying to do a picnic and having people coming over[head] the whole time,” he said “That kind of kills the vibe of sitting in the outdoors.” Harris said he thought having the gondola in place might encourage him to use the canyon more often He said the traffic congestion in the winter which can turn a 20-minute trip into an hour or more regularly deters him from skiing at Alta or Snowbird Tolls, expected to be in the $20-30 range, will be implemented on SR 210 to encourage carpooling and siphon more people to the gondola. The gondola is expected to run only during the ski season initially, but service could eventually extend into the summer. Cables would remain up year-round. The renderings released by UDOT aren’t as glossy as some of the images produced by Gondola advocates, many of which have accompanied news stories on the project. They have the same effect, though. Amiel Richter of Midvale, a recent transplant from Seattle, said most of what he knew about the gondola was that locals seemed to be against it. He also knows that, even though he moved to Utah for the skiing, he has a hard time justifying sitting for a combined three hours in traffic to ski somewhere when so many other resorts are nearby. So what did he think of the gondola after stopping to look at UDOT’s images at the end of his hike above Lisa Falls? (Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Visitors to Lisa Falls in Little Cottonwood Canyon take a pause before continuing their hike along the trail on Friday, July 14, 2023. “I don’t hate it, honestly,” Richter said. “It’s kind of unique. It just makes it feel like a way bigger skier destination. The skiing’s right there in your face. And it has that bougie kind of vibe.” Hannah Blodgett of Holladay agrees with that assessment, but has a different spin on it. An Alta pass holder who has to fight the downhill traffic every time she takes her three kids to the slopes, she said she’s still strongly opposed to the gondola. One glance at the renderings, though, and she was certain the gondola will hold a certain appeal for certain people. ”People from out of state are probably gonna think it’s cool, right?” she said. “I just think there’s gonna be a lot of upset locals.” (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Families begin their hike to Donut Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Thursday The Forest Service is floating the possibility of enacting fees at trailheads Fees could be at different places around the Uintah-Wasatch-Cache National Forest Northern Utahns who enjoy the outdoors should expect to open up their wallets under a plan for recreation fees on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Many popular trailheads, fishing spots, picnic areas and campgrounds that are currently free, would carry a $10 fee, according to the proposal Last month, the Forest Service released a comprehensive proposal to set new fees on 119 recreational sites in heavily trafficked areas, such as Big and Little Cottonwood canyons and the Mirror Lake Highway less-visited places like the Cottonwood Campground and nearby Devil’s Kitchen outside Nephi The 2.2-million-acre national forest is among the busiest in the United States Stansbury and Bear River mountains and western Uinta Mountains “We do understand that this is an imposition We’re not doing this just to generate funds It really is a way for us to better manage the recreation facilities that we have all up and down the Wasatch Front,” said Forest Supervisor David Whittekiend “We think it will give us a better opportunity to provide a quality recreation experience with great sites that are well maintained.” (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Traffic flows up and down Big Cottonwood Canyon at the Mill B North and South trailheads on Thursday Forest Service is floating the possibility of enacting fees at trailheads and other recreation sites across the entire Uintah-Wasatch-Cache National Forest The proposal is open for public comment through Sept. 7. The Forest Service has released an interactive online story map where you can see every site affected and submit site-specific comments provides a treasured respite in nature for thousands of Utahns and tourists streams and lakes make the Wasatch Front a desirable place to live and visit especially in the tech and financial sectors But excessive use is straining the Forest Service’s capacity to manage these lands, which also provide critical water sources for hundreds of thousands of people. While some funding is appropriated by Congress, the Forest Service also has the authority to impose fees under the 2004 Federal Land Recreation Enhancement Act These fees can only be collected at locations with developed amenities Uinta-Wasatch-Cache officials believe the new fee program would raise an additional $1 million a year “It would absolutely enhance what we’re doing right now,” Whittekiend said “It would also allow us to improve our operations on our developed recreation sites where we can hire more individuals to work on them We can invest money through projects to improve the infrastructure it allows us to do a better job of working on visitor information and services.” Officials looked at what Utah state parks and other recreation areas charge to determine that $10 was the appropriate fee Where the new fee will see the biggest bite are the busy trailheads in Little and Big Cottonwood Canyon where parked cars often overflow onto the sides of the highway (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) A hiker heads up the Mill D North Fork trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Thursday White Pine and other popular trailheads would be obliged to pay the fee or carry a pass every time they head up to alpine destinations like Red Pine Lake no fee would be required at undeveloped trailheads such as Butler and Mineral forks and Grizzly Gulch “We have to have a minimum of amenities to be able to charge a fee at a site Any of those that currently lacks those amenities we would be putting those things in,” Whittekiend said “So say if you have to put in garbage cans or interpretive signs we would we would look to bring those sites up to standard to be able to charge a fee Whittekiend said the Forest Service is exploring the addition of amenities to trailheads or picnic areas that are currently without we would look to bring those sites up to standard to be able to charge a fee,” he explained Whittekiend said 95% of the fees paid remain with the forest and would largely go toward maintaining the sites. And they can be leveraged into grants to improve trailheads, day-use sites and campgrounds, and build new trails. Revenue from America the Beautiful passes go almost entirely to the forest or park where the visitor buys the pass, regardless of where they actually use it. Mill Creek Canyon, just outside Salt Lake City, would not be covered under the forest’s proposed fee program. That popular national forest destination, which has been subject to a fee for 30 years, is overseen in partnership with Salt Lake County. No increases are proposed for any of the forest’s many campgrounds that already charge fees, which are run by concessionaires. But those that the forest operates and are currently free, such as Vernon Reservoir in Tooele County, Elk Camp near Cascade Springs and Cottonwood under Mt. Nebo, would see a $10 a night fee. this pavilion in Little Cottonwood Canyon was a favorite venue for taggers who covered it and surrounding granite boulders with graffiti Community groups are coming together to address the vandalism and litter plaguing the natural and historic area at the mouth of the scenic canyon where Salt Lake County residents get their drinking water and enjoy nature To address the plague of graffiti in Little Cottonwood Canyon one group has drafted a plan to reclaim damaged sites and prevent future vandalism The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation will host a public meeting Thursday to explain the severity of the problem and share its plan aggressive graffiti removal and limiting youths’ access to spray paint The presentation will include a West Valley City gang detective who will describe the role of graffiti in gang culture and how the tagging is a worse crime than mild vandalism “This is not just an eyesore,” said Serena Anderson “It’s an invitation for crime to live in these locations.” Graffiti in Little Cottonwood not only disrupts visitors’ experience of nature but it also imperils the supply of Salt Lake City’s water Ground zero for tagging is the boulder-strewn area surrounding an old pavilion in the lower canyon upstream from the Temple Quarry Trail “In areas where graffiti dominates the natural setting and empty and broken alcohol containers were also commonly found,” states the foundation’s draft report “What goes on the land within the watershed ends up in our water supply — from forest to faucet.” the pavilion was removed last year and nearby rocks scrubbed clean but problems persist and taggers have spread into the rock fields above The foundation is seeking to raise $25,000 to implement its graffiti plan through a GoFundMe page. It proposes to disrupt access to one graffiti-infested area by fencing off, at a cost of $10,000, a pipeline vandals use to cross Little Cottonwood Creek to reach the former pavilion site. The group also wants to revegetate the patch left bare by the pavilion’s removal. “We want to plant stinging nettle in front of that rock field,” Anderson said, “and other native plants that will hinder the ability to climb up there.” Thursday’s meeting is set for 7 p.m. at Sandy City Hall, 10000 S. Centennial Parkway. WEATHER 9:42 AM | Updated: 10:27 am A dog walker makes their way through a snow storm in Cottonwood Heights on Tuesday BY KENNEDY CAMARENA SALT LAKE CITY — Snow falling in Utah brought on road restrictions and a couple backcountry closures due to avalanche dangers According to the Utah Department of Transportation, there are two backcountry closures in effect as of 10 p.m Areas included in the backcountry closures are LCC Hellgate Gazex and LCC mid canyon North side “All terrain north of Little Cottonwood Creek from Gate B to Snowbird Entry four Extends 1,000 meters into Big Cottonwood,” UDOT said in a description of the areas closed “All terrain north of Little Cottonwood Creek Please stay east of Cardiff Bowl and areas underneath Cardiff.” Both backcountry closures will be in effect until 6 p.m According to the Utah Avalanche Center avalanche dangers are high in the mountains of the following areas: high avalanche danger quickly evolves around the dial this morning with both human triggered and natural avalanches becoming very likely,” Craig Gordon said in his report on UAC when talking about the Uintas UDOT stated on its X page that approved traction devices are required for all semitrucks in the following areas: Approved traction devices are required for all vehicles in the following areas due to snow UDOT also stated on its X page that traction devices are required for all drivers who choose to travel on State Route 190 in Big Cottonwood Canyon Kennedy Camarena is a digital content producer for KSL NewsRadio.  historic intrigue and brunch in Little Cottonwood Canyon this summer Richard Markosian the scope of Little Cottonwood Canyon’s grandeur needs to be limited to two of its most interesting features the history and the geology and  the Albion Basin At the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon I bike to the Temple Quarry Park All of the granite from which the Salt Lake City Temple was constructed came from the giant boulders here at the base of the canyon Visible still are drill holes made by the pioneers and a plaque explains that a small town once existed here solely for the purpose of housing the hundreds of workers required to supply the granite for the construction of the Salt Lake Temple Two to five ton granite blocks were first transported by Mormon pioneers using specially made tank-like wagons pulled by a team of oxen but the process must have required tough men using counter-levers Pioneers employed this method until finally a train line was extended to Little Cottonwood Canyon from Salt Lake City Along the Quary Park mountain bike trail these rail lines can still be seen By 1880 the Temple walls were up and work at the quarry ended but more granite drilling would continue in years to come overhead and on the left if one looks closely is the entrance to a  massive tunnel in the granite cliff wall This tunnel leads to a secret vault which contains the LDS Church’s private library and most precious artifacts It is rumored that Joseph Smith’s mystical tools such as his “Seer Stone,” as well as his “Urim and Thummim” are all located here Young Joseph used these tools to translate the Golden Plates into the Book of Mormon. It is said that most of the tunnel contains letters, records and microfiche, and original transcripts of the BofM as well as the papers they don’t release to the public. (Perhaps the papers explaining why the town of Iosepa was abandoned in 1917 are located here I’m struck by the smell of car brakes permeating the air at the same time as the grade of the hill causes my legs to burn Little Cottonwood Canyon is the steepest of the seven canyons near Salt Lake City and so I stop to dunk my head in the ice cold waters of Little Cottonwood Creek for relief (more on this coming soon in our September issue of Utah Stories Magazine) The reason the canyon and its chutes are so steep is that Little Cottonwood was carved by a giant alpine glacier, back when Lake Bonneville was still covering most of the Great Basin region By geological standards the canyon is very young I bike to the area known as the Seven Sisters, then head to the Albion Basin and the Town of Alta. The Alta Lodge serves up great hospitality and a delicious Sunday brunch buffet On display are endless wildflowers and more stunning views After breakfast we stroll along the Albion Basin past the rope tow There we meet a nice grey-haired lady named Barb and her dog Sunny She says the community and town of Alta are very close-knit Only residents of the town are permitted to have dogs in the watershed Barb’s dog Sunny is a 9-month-old German Shepherd who jumps up on us how the water for the town is acquired and stored in old mining shafts “It’s very interesting and certainly worth seeing if you can get a tour,” she tells us Barb also tells us where to find wildflowers The wildflowers are small, but on close inspection they are impressive: Wall Flowers, Forget-me-nots, geraniums and bluebells are everywhere in the basin. The view from Alta Lodge reveals alpine majesty at its best a lush green hill with a large streak of white snow that skiers are still hiking up to enjoy The Albion Basin offers numerous summer hiking routes The end of August and September are the best times to hike and not need to worry about snow The Alta Lodge offers advice for the best routes to take depending on conditions but there are trails to mountain lakes and old mining areas  Even an easy stroll through the Albion Basin offers an amazing assortment of wildflowers and amazing alpine views.§ there’s a tiny shop where time never truly stops Fankhauser Jewelry has been restoring rare and luxury watches that others deem unfixable From century-old heirlooms to high-end Swiss timepieces this hidden gem is where collectors and enthusiasts turn when the impossible needs fixing yet mass-produced prints dominate its walls Despite having more fine artists per capita than any state Why does Utah overlook its own artistic talent Bikram Yoga Sugar House has offered the classic 26-pose hot yoga practice in a 104-degree studio With certified instructors and a dedicated community it remains a go-to spot for those seeking the structure and intensity of traditional Bikram yoga in Salt Lake City Aker Restaurant brings an elevated dining experience to Salt Lake City blending Japanese and Latin flavors in the historic Boston Building (Lennie Mahler | Tribune file photo) A majestic mountain goat navigates rocky terrain near the summit of Mount Timpanogos in Provo Utah mountain goats have shaggy white coats and derpy faces unlike the type of goats that live on farms But even if they don’t have the fearsome reputations of moose or bears and you should follow a few guidelines if you want to safely watch them scamper on steep rocks this spring Goats can be jerks but mountain goats are less likely to be jerks if they haven’t been given food or salt that could make them aggressive toward humans For safe goat-watching this month and in April, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says two spots are particularly popular with the animals: Rock Creek and Little Cottonwood Canyon DWR is hosting a free viewing event near the Upper Stillwater Dam in the Rock Creek area Biologists will be there to answer goat-related questions “Participants can usually see 10 to 30 mountain goats and other wildlife from Rock Creek Road, which runs through the canyon where the goats spend their winter months,” said Tonya Kieffer-Selby, DWR Northeastern Region outreach manager, in a news release on the agency’s website “The Uinta Mountains are the largest contiguous block of mountain goat habitat in Utah and mountain goat populations in the Uintas are doing well.” Attendees should wear warm clothes and bring water and face masks and social distancing will be required The event could be canceled if COVID-19 restrictions change or the weather is bad so call the Vernal DWR office the day before at 435-781-9453 to receive any updates Wildlife officials won’t be holding a formal viewing event in Little Cottonwood Canyon this year because the usual spot gets crowded easily a good goat-watching spot is the north park-and-ride lot at the mouth of the canyon Encounters between wildlife and humans have increased in Utah in recent years, according to DWR, especially as the state’s population grows and development expands. In October, a hiker survived being stalked by a female cougar in Provo’s Slate Canyon for six minutes. In a viral video he shot, he walked backward away from the animal while calling it a “stupid kitty cat.” peacefully passed away of natural causes on July 14th 2023 with his loving sweetheart Kate Kunz by his side Ric loved and doted on his younger sister Jamie Lavenstein and his younger brother Kelly Kunz Ric helped his father Homer Kunz in the potato fields Ric learned to whistle from a fellow worker He would whistle to the cows to help them relax and let down their milk before he milked them Ric learned to hunt in the Big Hole Mountains He would drive an old jeep up into the mountains and hunt for food to be cooked by his mom Doris Bennion it didn’t have any brakes; stopping the jeep was always an adventure for Ric Ric loved to eat his mom’s cooking especially the enchiladas Grandma Dora Love taught Ric to can fruits He and Kate would work tirelessly in the kitchen to create these wonderful delights and share them with family and friends They often hosted dinners down at the patio on Little Cottonwood Creek Ric participated in every sport and played the slide trombone in the marching band Ric was unsure of what career he wanted to pursue His Uncle Ralph and Aunt Lorraine Self introduced Ric to podiatry and he never looked back eventually earning a doctorate in podiatric medicine Ric opened a podiatry practice in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake City He treated his patients with deep kindness and respect Towards the end of each patient’s appointment Ric would wrap up their time together with a short foot massage as he listened intently to whatever the patient wanted or needed to tell him He cared so deeply about helping each patient heal and improve their lives They loved to pack up the RV and travel through Idaho and Montana fly fishing Ric and Kate loved each other very deeply and Tyler are Ric’s children from a previous marriage to Mary Jane Ogden Gordon He spent countless hours helping them practice sports and Emily (Jason) are Ric’s stepchildren from his current marriage with Kate Ric has 17 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren He loved to play with his grandchildren on the swing set in his backyard and at his cabin in Idaho He loved to take the grandchildren on 4-wheeler rides and pick huckleberries All are welcome to participate in the celebration of life by sharing a special moment or experience you’ve had with Ric Love you guys so much and again I’m so sorry for the loss of Ric You taught me how to work hard and be accountable for my actions You always supported me and gave me a lending ear whenever I needed one You could be rough around the edges but you had a big heart and I’m so grateful I got to witness it I appreciate everything you did for me and the love you always showed my children You treated them like your own grandchildren and shared bits of your heart with me and mine I will always remember your delicious thanksgiving dinners sitting outside with you listening to the creek or staring out at the Tetons and listening for birds (you’d try to match their whistles) Thank you for being a big part of my life I loved learning more about your dad and his younger life and interests We hope you feel a lot of peace and joy today as you reflect on his life and influence on yours Loved our competitive racquetball games; he tried to teach me how to fly fish--I failed Loved hunting and fishing and the outdoors Any sporting activities he could help with he stated he never knew anyone who could plant his cops in as straight a line or work as hard as dad Many father's would cherish such respect from their children I had a foot problem and of course went to Ric His office demeanor was much different than the typical guys outdoor demeanor I was thoroughly impressed with his sincere interest in resolving my problem and the considerate and kind way he treated me I later learned this was the same for all of his patients His reason--our son just recently returned from his mission; and he would rather we help him instead Many wonderful joint family memories and the cousins having fun together We use cookies to analyze user behavior in order to constantly improve the website for you. Learn more 2023) - VeryHealthyWater™ of Highland Utah is pleased to introduce its new distributor of alkaline water ionizer purification systems Chuck will help people in Salt Lake County acquire high quality home drinking water filter systems to eliminate reliance on bottled water VeryHealthyWater Introduces New Alkaline Drinking Water Distributor Sandy Utah To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/152700_365a99cc748ebbf6_001full.jpg Chuck joined the VeryHealthyWater™ team as an Enagic Independent Distributor Enagic® is a leading manufacturer of alkaline water ionizers since 1974 with an impressive product line that includes residential and commercial grade water ionizers that produce five types of water Chuck will assist homeowners acquire high-quality drinking water purification systems that easily install on the kitchen countertop or underneath the sink The product line is sought after by individuals and families seeking to improve the quality of their tap water by removing contaminants and ionizing the water to produce alkaline drinking water The water purifier systems also produce other types of water at the touch of a button to be used for beauty Commercial applications for the water ionizers include restaurants dairy farms and other enterprises that use water for drinking or cleaning Restaurants find the technology particularly helpful by using the ionized water in cooking to enhance the flavor of food as well as the cleaning and sanitizing waters to reduce cost and eliminate the use of harsh chemicals in the restaurant the surrounding areas include the communities of Draper In addition to supporting the local market in person Chuck provides an online store to support thirsty customers wherever they may be so long as they have a computer tablet or smart phone to reach his website VeryHealthyWater™ company spokesperson states: "Chuck brings great sales and customer support expertise to help the company expand its Utah operations and to help the company deliver on its vision of eliminating plastic bottles that pollute the environment while at the same time helping families upgrade the quality taste and convenience of their drinking water." https://veryhealthywater.org/chuck-bello-alkaline-water-ionizer-distributor-sandy-utah/ is a water filter and alkaline water ionizer distributor business serving customers around the world for more than 14 years Contact Info:Name: Robert HilkeEmail: bob@veryhealthywater.orgOrganization: VeryHealthyWater™Address: 5513 W 11000 N #426, Highland, UT 84003, United StatesWebsite: https://VeryHealthyWater.org To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/152700 SOURCE: Plentisoft Sign Up Company Profile Multimedia/Internet/Online Services Publishing/Informational Services SALT LAKE CITY — Yet another storm system rolling through Utah on Wednesday afternoon will bring heavy snow to the mountains and set up a possible difficult commute the day after TRACK THE STORM: Get real-time weather by downloading the FREE Utah Weather Authority app Valley rain and mountain snow are forecast to begin late Wednesday afternoon and carry on throughout the evening and into the following morning The valleys could begin to see snow as colder air moves in Thursday night The National Weather Service forecasts up to 3 feet of snow for the Upper Cottonwoods with 1-2 feet expected across other mountain ranges with possible valley snow as conditions get colder on Friday morning The snow and rain blast will be a thing of the past by the weekend as temperatures rise and the sun reappears Mountain passes and the upper canyons will see heavy road snow throughout the storm according to the Utah Department of Transportation Drivers should expect traction laws to be enforced on canyon and mountain roads Temperatures will drop low enough for snow in parts of southern Utah along Interstate 15 to turn to slush during the early morning hours on Thursday The following roads will experience weather-related travel concerns during the storm: an overnight storm is bringing snow and hazardous road conditions to much of Utah on Sunday it is one of the first impactful storms to hit the state this season The National Weather Service said lake effect snow showers moved through the Tooele Valley early Sunday although accumulations did not gather on paved surfaces Scattered light snow showers are expected to develop across much of Utah in the afternoon as colder air moves into the area snow totals were reported in the following areas: Drivers attempting to head up the Cottonwood Canyons are urged to use caution with wet and slushy conditions reported on both SR-190 and SR-210 Patchy ice is expected when temperatures drop on Sunday evening.The Utah Department of Transportation said the following roads could see weather-related hazards throughout the day: At UKC/UKH we are all experienced internet users and as such we understand why some people want to use Ad Block to remove annoying and distracting advertising that proliferates on some web sites We don't feel that UKC/UKH should be considered as such a site We have developed a site that has subtle and appropriate advertising; we don't use pop-ups we don't force you to read adverts before you can see content and we don't use third party ad servers dishing up totally inappropriate advertising We have worked incredibly hard over the years to make sure that we keep a good balance between advertising and editorial content Please could you consider disabling Adblock when visiting UKC/UKH Dave Pegg used to be a British climber but moved to the US after putting up various grit E7s Here he describes the great bouldering found in Utah and highlights a few of the top spots There are lots of reasons to make a climbing vacation to the state of Utah: If you visit Utah, bring a crash pad. The state has some of the best bouldering in the America. Here's a visual tour of the best areas - Joe's Valley, Little Cottonwood Canyon, Big Bend, and Ibex. All photos are from the new guidebook Utah Bouldering, available from Rock and Run Salt Lake City (SLC) is a sort of American Sheffield That's why Jerry Moffatt goes there on his holidays Lots of climbers live in SLC because there's so much good climbing nearby Little Cottonwood Canyon is just 15 minutes from downtown SLC Little Cottonwood is a beautiful place to boulder slicing into the 12,000-foot peaks of the Wasatch mountains halfway up the road to the famous ski resorts of Snowbird and Alta Purists praise Little Cottonwood's smooth granite for its solidity My only gripe is the lack of good footholds Chris is my buddy (and the guidebook author) so I had to include a couple of shots of him a explosive little number that Chris calls "the best boulder problem at Joe's Valley." Praise indeed -- many people consider Joe's to be the best bouldering area in the state Joe's is about two and half hours southeast of SLC and gold streaks and is covered with a solid patina It looks and climbs like European limestone (I'm thinking Ceuse and Siurana not Water Cum Jolly here!) There's a huge variety of holds - pockets and edges frags and sprags - and they're often so good that you can monkey up steep stuff without using your feet Big Bend is a historic area (God probably bouldered here back in the day) Consequently it has some of the hardest problems - and stiffest grades in the state The locals just love to sandbag and have the place wired (chief local and author of the Big Bend section of the guidebook - beware his grades!) was downing cans of beer in between running laps on Hellbelly a brilliant- "V11" -- that both Klem Loskott and Fred Nicole failed to repeat Big Bend is near the town of Moab in the east of the state you should bring a rope and a rack and climb a desert tower like Castleton or those in Canyonlands National Park bring a written excuse.) Indian Creek is nearby too - bring tape for your hands Moab itself is famous for ice-cream eating tourists as well as Jeep and whitewater rafting tours Support the local economy by buying a Cocopelli vase for your mantelpiece Last year I spent a week camping alone at Ibex while working on the book and got very gripped Ibex has lots of highballs and is in the middle of nowhere (ie This part of the state should be called the "big empty" since there are no people two random dudes (and I do mean random) showed up in a truck Finally I could get a spot on the Red Monster 25-degree overhanging wall stacked with testy highballs: Ju (V7) Some people consider it the best bouldering face in the USA Shane and Jerry had just started climbing and were totally maxed out - pulling some great facial expressions - on everything they tried In this week's Friday Night Video we follow Shauna Coxsey as she attempts to make the 3rd ascent of Mito Sit (8B+/V14) in.. "In the vast Sierra wilderness far to the southward of the famous Yosemite Valley there is a yet grander valley of the same.. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fall colors pop along the Cascade Springs Scenic Backway Peak fall color season in Utah is almost here and it could be a better-than-usual season for “leaf-peepers.” That’s because one of the greatest impacts to how vibrant fall colors will be is “good moisture,” and this year followed by “good spring rains,” Katie Wagner an associate professor of horticulture with Utah State University “we had some really good monsoonal rains that came through in August,” Wagner added The other key ingredients for bright swaths of red orange and yellow leaves across the Wasatch Range are sunny days and cool temperate nights — which most of Utah has been getting in recent weeks (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fall foliage near Midway the best time to see them in northern Utah is from the end of September through early October fall colors usually peak in late October or early November That matches current predictions from smokymountains.com which tracks fall foliage for travelers across the country It also matches general outlines from the National Weather Service’s Salt Lake City office “It’s always going to be a little bit later in southern Utah which is nice,” Wagner said “So if people are interested in looking for color over multiple weekends they may want to be hanging out in these northern Utah areas now and then heading to southern Utah in a few weeks.” (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Deep orange and red fall colors on display near Midway So-called “leaf-peepers” will also want to specifically head for higher elevations because some of the state’s native alpine plants are our best fall-color producers That includes quaking aspen, which turn a bright, bold yellow that gorgeously contrasts with their white bark trunks. A great spot to see the sight in Utah is Pando, a quaking aspen clonal colony located in Fishlake National Forest The stand is also considered the world’s most massive living organism Bigtooth maples — smaller deciduous trees or shrubs with rounded crowns — can turn anywhere from yellow to orange to red, Wagner said. And Gambel oaks But it’s the clusters of color — groves where all different kinds of tree leaves have turned — that are the most spectacular “It’s almost like a paint stroke through those areas,” Wagner said (Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Changing fall leaves create a tapestry of brilliant fall colors in the Wasatch Mountains on Wednesday Utahns can sometimes spot fall colors in residential areas where ornamental trees in yards or park strips can experience autumnal color changes According to Visit Utah, among the best scenic drives to see fall colors are: Big Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway; Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway • Near Salt Lake City Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway • Through the Cache Valley Provo Canyon Scenic Byway • In Utah and Summit counties Alpine Loop • Through American Fork Canyon Energy Loop: Huntington and Eccles Canyons National Scenic Byway • In the Manti-La Sal National Forest Fish Lake Scenic Byway; Beaver Canyon Scenic Byway • On either side of the Fish Lake National Forest in south central Utah Utah’s Patchwork Parkway National Scenic Byway; Markagunt High Plateau Scenic Byway; Cedar Breaks Scenic Byway • In southern Utah If you’d rather “leaf-peep” by foot, Visit Utah also compiled a list of scenic hikes, which includes: Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon hikes • State Routes 190 and 210, respectively, near Salt Lake City. Cascade Springs Trail • Alpine Loop Scenic Backway (State Route 92), near Provo and Heber. Lakeshore National Recreation Trail • Fish Lake Scenic Byway (State Route 25), near Capitol Reef National Park. Great Western Trail (Fish Creek Reservoir) • Scenic Byway 12, between Boulder, Utah, and Capitol Reef National Park. Skyline Trail, and other North Ogden Divide hikes • North Ogden Divide Canyon Road, near Ogden. Wind Cave Hike • Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway (U.S. Route 89), near Utah’s northern border. Little Hole National Scenic Trail • Near Flaming Gorge–Uintas National Scenic Byway (U.S. Route 191), in eastern Utah. Aspen Mirror Lake Hike • Markagunt High Plateau Scenic Byway (State Route 14), near Cedar City and Zion National Park. (Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fall foliage by Guardsman Pass near Midway, on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Scott and Maggie Little of the country music group Cottonwood Creek were Thursday’s KVML “Newsmaker of the Day” Scott Little grew up in Mariposa County and Maggie is from the Central Valley The married country duo has gained rapid popularity throughout northern and central California Scott plays acoustic guitar and the harmonica while his left foot plays a kick drum and his right foot plays a tambourine We wanted to give this CD what it deserves.” Cottonwood Creek has written and performed with some notable names in country music including Mark Chestnut “It’s somewhat difficult for us as an independent group without a major record label Cottonwood Creek will be performing for free this evening inside of the Willow Creek Lounge at Black Oak Casino Resort The “Newsmaker of the Day” is heard every weekday morning at 6:45 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML Written by Mark Truppner Sign up for our Breaking News Alerts and the myMotherLode.com Daily Newsletters by clicking here. Report breaking news, traffic or weather to our News Hotline (209) 532-6397. Send Mother Lode News Story photos to news@clarkebroadcasting.com CONTACT THE POLICE:  440.331.5530 EMERGENCY:  440.333.4911 Daytime: 10am-5pm (Apr-Oct)Daytime: 10am-4pm (Nov-Mar) this reservation follows the winding course of the Rocky River from Berea almost to Lake Erie The stream cuts deeply through the soft shales of the valley  The reservation includes a nature center  The first land purchased for Cleveland Metroparks — a 3.8 acre parcel purchased in April 1919 — can be seen from the Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Worth noting – the Rocky River itself is a top steelhead fishing location noted as one of the 150 best fishing spots in the country Be one of the first to try our new activity feed The top results of our reader-ranked survey for resorts across Western North America Whether you are searching for sunny bluebird days From large family destinations to old-school local mountain vibes these are readers’ top-ranked resorts and why they keep coming back for more See how East Coast resorts ranked in 2021 Click on photos to learn more about each resort “Sun Valley is a resort of its own making it sets the standards and continues to find that rare balance of resort and western ski town.” Read what makes Sun Valley SKI readers’ favorite resort “Deer Valley delivers first class in every aspect but with a first-class price tag My favorite in Utah for cruising groomers all day.” See why readers ranked Deer Valley No. 2 “Whitefish has a wonderful mix of an authentic western town very close to the resort The downsize is frequent fog—but when it is clear on top of the mountain the view of Glacier National Park is amazing!” Read why Whitefish ranked in the Top 3 The mountain is majestic and spiritual with amazing terrain there are no lines and you seem to have the mountain to yourself The staff is very friendly and accommodating See why readers love Taos Ski Valley “The “Power of Four” mountains at Aspen/Snowmass provides incredible options for all ski levels and apres-ski venues for the best of ski and winter vacations And the natural beauty of surrounding panorama makes Aspen/Snowmass a Crown Jewel of the world!” See what makes Aspen Snowmass a favorite “An amazing place – everything you want in a resort “Probably the best all-around ski resort in North America and the drive to Whistler is unforgettable.” Read what makes Whistler Blackcomb special Something for everyone on and off the ski hill Learn more about Steamboat See what readers love about Beaver Creek “There’s nowhere like Crested Butte Spellbound and Third bowls feel like another planet The banana chute and others off the peak are sublime 2,000 ft vertical lines through perfect trees The views into the West elks and toward Aspen will drop your jaw The town is quirky and fun with amazing pizza at Secret Stash and a special rum distillery.” has great snow and quality terrain for all abilities and a charming town.”  Learn what readers are saying about the upcoming season at Park City “Breckenridge combines its natural beauty and great skiing perfectly Breck was a wonderful place to take our family skiing Downside is the distance from Denver Airport It takes a long shuttle ride to and from to get there especially on a holiday or a playoff game weekend!” Read why readers keep coming back to Breckenridge “Although Jackson Hole has certainly seen its share of development over the years it remains my favorite in North America Most appropriate for advanced skiers.” “The mountain and the village are what bring us to Vail Vail feels like 3 different mountains—front Each has a different feel and each has a tremendous amount of terrain We love Vail village—being able to walk everywhere is a plus.” Learn more about Vail’s reader ranking “The best scenery of any resort in North America No on-mountain lodging or after skiing restaurants or bars And did I mention the scenery of the Canadian Rockies!” Learn more about the upcoming season at Lake Louise “Consistently good snow and spectacular scenery The nearby town of Banff is a great place to stay Learn more about Banff Sunshine “Everything seems to be just right at this resort without anything seeming over the top or stuffy express lifts serving all skill levels of terrain.” Find out why readers ranked Winter Park No Learn why readers say Arapahoe Basin is a homegrown Colorado favorite When I take people skiing to Keystone by the end of the day they are in love with the resort.” See more about what readers love about Keystone I’ve been coming to Mammoth just about every year since 3 years old from the incredible ski terrain to the town and dining options We love spending family vacation time in the beautiful mountains of Mammoth Mountain!” Learn what to expect for the upcoming season at Mammoth “Heavenly is a great intermediate mountain with the nicest runs on top of the mountain Great views of Lake Tahoe on one side and Carson Valley on the other side Resort straddles Nevada and California and you can ski back and forth to the two states Excellent nightlife with four major casinos a stone’s throw from the California base lodge.” Learn why readers find Heavenly special “Big Sky was above and beyond what I expected After skiing 100 days per year for 31 years in Vail and thinking that was skiing The soul of skiing was once again instilled in me.” Read more about what readers have to say about Big Sky and the overall vibe is some of the best anywhere but both of them being so close means that they are more friends than anything else The hike-to terrain at the resort is next level with some of the most fun and steepest areas I have skied anywhere and it always seems like there is another big storm on the horizon If you need tons of extra activities in the area and a fancy village to go to look no further than Little Cottonwood Canyon!” See what readers have to say about Alta Enough challenging slopes on different pitches that you can always find some great snow and a good run.” Learn why Copper is a local favorite “All skiers should try to ski Squaw/Alpine at least one time in their life…it’s a good old fashion It has everything for all abilities.” Learn about Squaw and its name change in 2021 “Awesome place in the middle of nowhere Super fun for skiers looking for advanced terrain and vertical feet Also an amazing starting point for backcountry touring Can’t beat the views on a sunny day.” Learn more about Revelstoke’s upcoming season “The Bird is Awesome for Pow and Steep and Deep It makes your ski dreams come true.”  Learn whats new for the upcoming season at Targhee Deceivingly challenging terrain if you know where to explore Good value with a major city at the doorstep.” Learn what readers love about Solitude See more about what readers have to say about the Loveland vibes Feb 10, 2025President's Day, which falls on February 17th this year, is a great long weekend for a quick ski getaway. Especially if you're planning at the last minute, smaller ski towns might have lodging booked up or be more difficult to get to than it's worth for the long weekend Certain mountains tend to have better snow in February which is certainly something to consider when planning a ski trip. Rather than list out a bunch of resorts here are a few areas with tons of options for skiing have an airport or two nearby and have a few towns for lodging options Unsplash/Greg Rakozy you'll find some of the largest skiable acreage in the US not to mention fantastic dining in Park City Whether you opt for the convenience of Salt Lake or the luxury of Park City the area has tons of options for a quick weekend ski trip.  Heavenly is known in part for its views of Lake Tahoe there's no shortage of great options for an easy weekend ski trip to the Tahoe area.   Vermont is a close option to Burlington.  you can find a handful of the East Coast's best ski areas with a variety of terrain. You can find lodging in Burlington smaller towns nearby with several lodging options Vermont is a great spot for all the groomer carving and craft beer drinking you could dream of.  Powder Days and Coors Beer are hallmarks of Colorado skiing.  these two are actually a bit closer and there's plenty of places to stay in Vail or Avon. Many of Colorado's best resorts aren't too far from each other making a quick weekend trip easy to plan with lots of options.  From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers There’s something about late spring and early summer that makes me crave water May and June are typically Arizona’s driest months it seems like I spend lots of time hiking near water that soothing splash of water tumbling over rocks I like to walk in riparian shade where cooling breezes rustle every leaf There are lovely creek hikes throughout Arizona but I live in the Verde Valley where we practically invented the concept I won’t even discuss crazy popular spots like West Fork Trail and Fossil Creek But here are a few of my favorite streamside hikes in the Verde Valley This trail leading into Sycamore Canyon is all kinds of spectacular dropping from scrubby high desert into a jungle-like oasis that stretches for miles At the beginning the trail scrambles 200 feet down the canyon wall to the creek bed From there it’s easy going through a virtual tunnel of leafy shade sheltering the stream creating rippled mirrors reflecting the lush canopy of treetops and high cliffs Sycamore is the second-largest canyon in the state but there’s a special intimacy to this segment of the gorge It feels very cozy somehow and gives me a chance to focus on the details of the hike The trail swings from one side of the creek to the other several times It follows a sandy path and crosses limestone ledges at the water’s edge After 4 miles it reaches Parsons Spring This marks the end of the trail and the last of the reliable water in Sycamore Canyon The rest of the vast canyon is a fiercely scenic but arid wilderness take Interstate 17 north to Camp Verde (Exit 287) Take State Route 260 northwest to Cottonwood Turn left on Main Street and follow the signs to Tuzigoot National Monument cross the Verde River and turn left on Sycamore Canyon Road (Forest Road 131) The dirt road has a couple of rough spots but is usually fine for sedans Details: 928-203-7500, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino The first half of the trail crosses Bear Wallow Wash and climbs an exposed mesa overlooking Sedona the trail curves around Mitten Ridge and displays views of Steamboat Rock The ribbon of Oak Creek is visible a few hundred feet below and I hear the sound of cascading water It’s a long descent into shady woodlands of cypress oak and some ponderosa pines that are far outside their usual environs considering that the elevation here is only about 4,200 feet The trail finally arrives at the creek at a pretty spot amid a tangle of trees and rising canyon walls Spears of sunlight penetrate the canopy and dance across the water surface before switchbacking up the bank to Midgley Bridge Unless you’ve got some Sedona friends picking you up at the bridge just make the stream your turnaround point Isn’t this peaceful spot the reason you came And if you do have those kinds of Sedona friends think they’d mind if I crashed on their couch occasionally Where: From the junction of State Routes 179 and 89A in Sedona Turn left on Schnebly Hill Road and drive 0.8 mile to a signed parking area Passes cost $5 per day and are available at the trailhead Length: 5.2 miles round trip to complete the trail Details: 928-203-7500, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino most people using the Bell Trail in Rimrock are bound for “The Crack” (3.3 miles) a legendary swimming hole just upstream from Bell Crossing But there’s no need to venture that far if you’re just looking for a quiet personal oasis Staying on a sunny bench above Wet Beaver Creek Several well-used social paths branch off and lead to the stream at prime pools and smooth rock mini-beaches Pick one and stroll down into the inviting shade of sycamores and cottonwoods draping the water This little stream may lack the drama of neighboring creeks but it is a sly beauty I’ve spent many a happy hour sprawled on the banks enjoying its complex tune The water runs fast and shallow — colliding with boulders rushing through chutes — creating a splashy symphony that changes around every bend take 1-17 north to Sedona (Exit 298) and turn right on Forest Road 618 Go 1.5 miles to the old Beaver Creek Ranger Station turn left and continue to the trailhead parking lot Length: 6.6 miles round trip to Bell Crossing Details: 928-203-7500, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino Tumbling from the forested heights of the Mogollon Rim West Clear Creek is the longest drainage of the rim winding for 30 miles and up to 2,000 feet below the rim The waterway forms a slender riparian corridor that barely keeps the spiny desert at bay This trail cuts across the old Bull Pen Ranch for about a mile before dipping into the canyon where you encounter the first of four stream crossings a swimming hole with a sandy beach siphons off a portion of the crowds After the fourth stream crossing (about 5.5 miles) the trail pulls away from the water and begins a series of steep switchbacks up to the Mogollon Rim make the last crossing your turnaround point enjoying the miracle of water and shade in the desert Drive east on State Route 260 for 6 miles to Forest Road 618 Turn left onto FR 618 and drive 2.2 miles to FR 215 Turn right and go about 3 miles to the Bull Pen Ranch Trailhead FR 215 can be rough going and is best managed in a high-clearance vehicle Details: 928-203-7500, www.fs.usda.gov/coconino • The Kisva Trail follows the course of Oak Creek as it winds through Red Rock State Park in Sedona and serves as a connector to multiple loop hikes. Guided hikes are offered regularly at the park. azstateparks.com/red-rock • Verde River Greenway travels through crucial birding habitat along the banks of the Verde River at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. The park also has beautiful lagoons. azstateparks.com/dead-horse • The Jail Trail in Old Town Cottonwood meanders through riparian woods and rocky floodplains along the Verde River. Bonus: When you return to your car, you’re surrounded by eateries, shops and wine-tasting rooms. www.oldtown.org Find the reporter at www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ or Twitter @AZRogerNaylor. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places Share LinkThese 9 Restaurants in Utah Have Jaw-Dropping Views While You EatNine restaurants in Utah offer both delicious food and stunning views Cliffside Restaurant/FacebookYou'll enjoy magnificent views of St. George while dining at Cliffside Restaurant! Log Haven Restaurant/FacebookA foliage-filled view out your window as you dine at Log Haven .. What are your favorite restaurants with a view in Utah? Did we share any new-to-you spots? What are some of your favorite places to eat in the mountains? Let us know in the comments. 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HomeMANAGED LANDSForest and Trust Lands skiers coming to Utah may be able to drive from Alta to Brighton in minutes instead of an hour or head straight from Snowbird to Park City over a scenic route instead of a busy freeway These ideas and more are certain to be among the main talking points of a Nov to discuss transportation issues related to Utah's growing ski industry Other topics will no doubt be those reviewed back in 1990 during site evaluations for the 2002 Olympics Paving Guardsman Pass Road between Park City and Big Cottonwood Canyon linking Big and Little Cottonwood canyons; from Brighton to Snake Creek linking Heber and the two canyons; from Salt Lake Valley to Snowbird; from Solitude to Iron Mountain in Park City; and from Salt Lake Valley to Snowbird to Solitude to Iron Mountain Installing cableways from Brighton to Park City and from Snowbird to Park City And installing a monorail or cog rail in the tunnels The proposed links were included in a study done to review transportation issues during the Olympics Those same winter transportation issues could face Utah in the future Utah's skier visits have increased from 3 million to 4 million said consensus is that "the state of Utah (is wise) to be looking down the road What we don't want is to find ourselves in the same position resorts in other states currently face with respect to transportation problems." which hosts close to 12 million skiers a year has one major access route — I-70 — to a dozen of its major ski resorts There was some confusion on Monday with respect to the upcoming meeting Telemark News released a story and an agenda on "UT Governor's Office Secret Talking Points." "The problem is," said Mike Mower We've been asked to facilitate a discussion with people interested in (transportation) concepts and we agreed in order to learn more." The agenda suggested an AltaBright Tunnel that would tie Big and Little Cottonwood canyons together between Alta and Brighton And a CottonPark Interconnect that would involve a tunnel or turning Guardsman Pass into a year-round road between Brighton and Park City said her group would have some concerns over work in the canyons "Our first concern is for the watershed and we need to do everything possible to protect the watershed," she said "and we have the same concerns now that we had back then One of those is what their plans would be for dealing with the muck or debris they pull out of the tunnel And what debris will this release into the watershed?" "Talk of an interconnect tunnel has been going on for a long time but it's good to see what new technology is available to see what works and see what problems can be solved it's important to look to the future and to be prepared It makes sense to research the possibility of efficient environmentally friendly ways to address potential transportation issues similar to those that already exist in other states The canyons around the Wasatch Front do see busy days at times so this discussion is a step towards mitigating existing and future traffic problems." public affairs officer with the Wasatch-Cache National Forest said some of the same issues looked at in 1990 will also be addressed now These include mitigating effects created by increased traffic Roughly 80 percent of the water supply for the Salt Lake Valley comes from the two canyons old mining tunnels connecting Big and Little Cottonwood canyons carriers used the mining shafts to travel between canyons to deliver main and goods despite the fact that the mysterious agenda calls for an action committee to "study and implement," this meeting is simply to look at future transportation issues E-mail: grass@desnews.com