Moab Utah Adventures

Raft for the Cure 2009 a Success!

2009-07-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

Other than not actually finding a cure for breast cancer as we rafted down the Colorado River, the 2009 Raft for the Cure was a spectacular success! Teamed with Susan G. Komen for the Cure Salt Lake City, lots of money was raised to help find that cure. For many wanting to make this an annual tradition, we are excited to announce the dates of next year’s Raft for the Cure, June 26, 2010!

The full day event started with registration/check in at the Moab Adventure Center in the heart of Moab. T-shirts, wrist bands and lifejackets distributed to participants, buses and rafts were loaded and the downstream journey began.

The rafting trip was, as always, a blast. There are moments on the river for stories to be shared of survival, defeat, tragedy and triumph in the fight to find a cure for breast cancer. The adventurous, courageous and undaunted spirit of the women on the trip was inspiring—and the river trip was the perfect element for them to show off that admirably fierce side. But besides all that, river trips are just plain fun!

Lunch along the river at the Red Cliffs Lodge was a fun social gathering point, and then all enjoyed the evening barbeque and live concert with bluegrass music by “Cold Creek”. Other artists took the stage as well including “High Water” and Kalin Rackam. Dancing and other spontaneous outbursts of laughter and enjoyment filled the night air.

The 2009 event was capped off just after dark with a great slideshow and video that was produced that same day to commemorate the event. (That video has now been posted on our You Tube and soon coming to our Facebook pages).

Please find us on Facebook to view photos from the event, add us as a friend, and tell your friends about it too. Call us crazy, but even with nearly three hundred participants in this year’s events, we want the event to become even more popular and grow in size for years to come!

Moab Dewey Bridge Coming Back

2009-01-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

Since the historic Dewey Bridge was burned down last year, plans have been in the works to either restore the bridge or put something in its place. A group of private residents and interested patrons have now stepped up to the plate.

Rouse estimated the cost to replace the bridge, which was no longer in service when it was destroyed last spring, to be around $1 million. Fundraising efforts will include a website, which is still under construction.

It will be an interesting effort by the community, since no tax dollars or government assistance is going to back the Moab restoration.

I will post a link to the fund raising website as soon as it is available, and anyone interested in donating to the cause can get involved.

Land Auctions Near Moab- Where Are We Now?

2008-12-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

Anyone within the state of Utah, Arizona or Colorado (and everyone else who concerns themselves with environmental issues) has heard the uproar as of late. The government has begun to auction off 148,598 acres of federal land to energy companies look to expand exploration and possible mining operations in hope to increase gas and mineral production.

Some see this as a bad thing, and some don't really care. In any case, it tend to polarize the masses, and defines where people stand on these sorts of issues. Some people think that this massive land auction could be the "death of the Colorado River" (see Abrahm Lustgarten's article on sandiego.com). Opponents such as Robert Redford and other activists has jumped on the bandwagon of "environmentalism", while the national government and even the BLM has come out to defend the decision to open the land up. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Wash., said, "It's a little bit like someone telling you they're going to rob only part of your house. It is a final insult from an administration that has done so much to destroy this country."

I think both sides have some legitimate issues. The government almost sold some vital pieces of land that border such famous places as Dinosaur National Monument and Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. I see no good reason why they would want someone drilling within eyesight of these wonderful natural landscapes. The rest however is fair game. It could stimulate the local economy and start to decrease foreign dependancy on oil.

As usual, its tough to take sides, since I see flaws in both arguments. And, as usual, the most probable solution lies somewhere in the middle.

Utah National Parks Generate Scenery and $$

2008-12-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

Utah National Parks generate more for the state than many may think. Behind the "beautiful scene" that the National Parks provide, there is a plethora of jobs, revenue and additional benefits that pump back into the state.

The most recent study shows that Utah National Park alone maintain over 11,000 jobs and generate $485 million into the Utah economy. When you take the marketing and operational dollars spent on the Parks, you end up with the system making $4 on every $1 spent. In business terms, that is what we call a "cash cow".

The main purpose of the Utah National Parks is not necessarily to generate money, but it is extremely important to do so. The money generated from the National Parks goes to many sources. Jobs (which has become an increasingly important commodity as of late), tax revenue for the state, upkeep of the park grounds, legal fees, roadways and travel, advertising, etc... We are able to visit and enjoy these National Parks as they are because the government and state agencies use the money to preserve and protect these important areas.

Utah has Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reed National Park and Zions National Park. On top of that there are also about 12 other national designated areas or trails. I am not sure if the national areas where included in the numbers cited above, but either way, Utah's National Parks are doing well.

Bandidos Bikers in Town

2008-08-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

There has been quite a bit of hype locally surrounding the news the the Bandidos motorcycle gang is going to be coming into town this weekend. Some businesses are shutting down for the weekend, while other seem excited about the visit.

It has become one of those situations that has already been blown out of proportion due to the hype before the event acutually happens. One thing is for sure though, there will be a lot of motorcycles and bandidos the whole weekend.

KSL reports upwards of 500-800 Bandidos could be coming, if not more. For the most part their violence has been concentrated towards the Hell's Angels bike gang, a violent war that has been waged for decades.

In any case, it will be interesting to see if the bike gang holds true to their "we come in peace" message, or if something else takes place.

Raft for the Cure in Moab

2008-05-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Moab Adventure Center is hosting the second annual Raft for the Cure in Moab, Utah this year. Right now the date is set for July 12th, and people have already begun signing up to take the trip.

It will be a full day if river rafting, riverside lunch at the red cliffs lodge, and then a BBQ dinner and live concert afterwords. This year the even will headline local artist Peter Breinholt, who will play live music from the Moab stage at the Moab Adventure Center.

Price is $100 for adults, and $85 for youth. The price include everything (rafting, shirts, meals, concert) so you just have to show up and you are good to go.

The event last year was pretty crazy, and it was fun to get so many people on the river at one. Hopefully more people come this year to raise money for the organization. It should be a super blast. The image here is a sneak preview of the 2008 T-shirt that was designed for the event. Pretty cool shirt!

Landrover G4 Challenge

2008-03-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

The landrover G4 Challenge is on this year, and have opened recruitment for U.S. participants to represent their country. Participants will go through a series of challenges, gearing up for the finals that will be held in 2009. This is one of the most serious off-road adventures, a team race spanning across the globe. In 2003, the challenge finale was held in Moab, UT. The race has gone through various rugged and rough terrains in Thailand, Laos, Brazil and Bolivia.

This year's national selections will be held in May, in the Nevada Desert. They claim that the Challenge will be "environmentally sensitive" and fully carbon offset through Climate Care (whatever that means). Don't care how you spin it, you can't really have a totally environmentally clean off-road rampage with vehicles.

Anyway, still a pretty cool adventure race. Registrations and information can be found at www.landroverg4challenge.com

Moab Event Calendar 2008

2008-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

The official 2008 Moab Utah Calendar of Events is now updated on the Moab Adventure Center website. It has all the major activities and events that will be happening in Moab this year.

All the regulars, like the Jeep Safari, Skinny Tire Festival, music and arts festivals are all on there with the dates. We also put our annual Raft for the Cure event this year which will be on July 12th this year.

Utah Jumping on "Wild and Scenic" Boat

2008-01-11T15:24:00.000-08:00

If you are from anywhere in Western United State, you have probably heard of rivers being designated and national "Wild and Scenic". Utah has yet to designate any rivers under the Wild and Scenic act, but they will soon join the ranks. Utah and Nevada are currently the only western states to not have used this important designation for any of it's rivers.

The Wild and Scenic Act puts rivers under a protection status from further develpment and keeps them in their natural state (as much as possible). The Bureau of Land Management in Utah recently identified 30 river segments that are eligible for designation; another 118 are still being considered.

Segments include sections of the Green River, which is a great addition to the program. Although there are many rivers throughout the state, the most notable rivers are in the south, near the Moab area, with the Colorado and the Green River, which meet in what is called Cataract Canyon.

The designation will be one step in the right direction in keeping the rivers protected and safe for future wildlife and recreational use.

Adventures By Disney Announces 2008 Line-Up

2007-09-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

Moab, UT and Arches National Park are still in the mix for the 2008 Adventures by Disney travel plans. Early on Sept. 4th they announced the complete listing of destinations available for the new, adding a few new exciting places. As stated from their release:

"Adventures by Disney takes guests on awe-inspiring travels throughout the U.S. and around the world - with a style that is immersive, authentic and distinctly Disney," said Ed Baklor, senior vice president, Adventures by Disney. "Building on the phenomenal success of 12 itineraries in 2007, our guests will be thrilled with the exhilarating special experiences we have created for them in 2008."

A few of the new additions include:

-- Sacred Valleys and Incan Cities - Peru: Lima, Sacred Valley,
Machu Picchu, Cusco
-- Flavors of France - Provence, Paris
-- Backstage Magic - Hollywood, Disneyland
-- Coasting the Golden State - San Francisco, Cambria, Santa Barbara,
Los Angeles
-- Grande Espana - Madrid, Seville, Barcelona
-- Once Upon A Fairy Tale - Germany: Heidleberg, Trendelburg, Rothenburg,
Munich
-- Enchanted China - Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai, Hong Kong
-- Discovery Down Under - N. Queensland, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock,
Sydney

If the returning Southwest Vacations, Southern Utah has a great presence:

-- Southwest Splendors - Sedona, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Moab, Arches

Its good to see that notable vacation providers such as Adventures by Disney have begun to pick up Southern Utah on the map. It really is a family friendly place for vacationers and sightseeing.

Although, with the influx of travelers year over year (Moab Adventure Center has seen around a 15% increase in visitors since 2006) some of the Southern Utah towns (Moab) will need to adjust to higher volumes of tourists and economy demands. It will be interesting to see how the community adjusts to big ticket items coming to visit.

Gravity Play Set to Host Xstream Race

2007-08-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

One of the larger adventure extreme races in the area is set to go for late September. Gravity Play's 4th annual Xstream Expedition Race through Moab will begin soon, and adventure racers will take this chance to practice for other races around the world.

Early registration for the adventure race is already passed (July 15th), but I believe you can still register this month. Registration costs around $400 - $500 per person. Early registration was only $395. Moab is still the ideal adventure racing gateway; the Colorado River, desert landscape, huge mountain ranges, still rock cliffs and walls.... the same reason Primal Quest was here last year.

This race is similar in style, just not as extreme. Three days of heart pounding tests. The biggest of which is probably the massive ropes course through some of the most amazing red rock mountains in the area. The race will be followed by checkpoint tracker software. Most adventure type races have turned to similar tracking systems to allow others to monitor team/individual performance from a satellite feed back at base. Pretty cool tracking if you ask me.

You can get the race details and information from the Adventure Xstream section of the Gravity Play website.

Vision Walk 2007

2007-08-10T08:21:00.001-07:00

The eight-day 190-mile walk this year is going through Moab. At Glenwood Springs, walkers from around the country and area will participate in this huge walk-a-thon in efforts to help blindness across the world.

I am all about walking (vs. running), so doing a leg of this 190 miles would be quite fun. I am not sure if people actually walk the full 190 miles, because that would take forever. Starts in Colorado, goes through Moab and other Southern towns, across the desert. The only saving grace is the fact that by the starting date (Sept. 1st), it will be slightly cooler and manageable.

But outside of foot/leg fatigue, your body doesn't take the physical toll that it does in other events. Register today if you want to participate.

Fisher Towers Trail added to National System

2007-06-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

The Fisher Towers trail in Moab, UT has officially been added to the National Recreation Trails system. Fisher Towers Trail is a semi-popular point in Moab, going through the Colorado Plateau and overlooking the Colorado River in Moab.

A picture to the right actually shows Fisher Towers in the background, where some of the day trips from the Moab Adventure Center launch their rafts.

The Moab trail is about 2.2 miles long, a decent hike (worse in the heat) with some amazing scenery. By receiving entry into this national trail system, the trail will now receive trail markers from the government agency and the national park service.

If you’ll “Race” for the Cure, “Rafting” is even better

2007-06-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

If running isn’t your thing, we understand. Even if it is your thing, you can't deny that river rafting takes the “fun-ometer” up a few notches. The first annual Raft for the Cure in Moab, UT takes place June 30. Be part of the same great cause, but try something a little different. The water you will see here is not coming from your own sweat...

No disrespect intended for the Race for the Cure events. We love them. In fact, everything about the Race for the Cure inspired our Raft for the Cure. Heck, we were at the Race for the Cure. Working with and for the benefit of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, Raft for the Cure is something that everyone will enjoy.

Saturday, June 30, 2007 marks a fun-filled Saturday of river rafting, food and live music. Participants will be able to choose from half-day or full-day rafting trips through the magnificent red rock cliffs and canyons of Southern Utah on the Colorado River. In efforts to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, the Moab Adventure Center will be donating 50% of all the day’s proceeds to the local affiliate. You can take a day trip down the Colorado River, have a BBQ Dinner and listen to live bands play the night away, all while donating to the Susan G. Komen foundation.

All the information, registration and details are on the official Raft for the Cure website www.raftforthecure.com.

Hats Off to UVSC Students

2007-05-01T09:45:00.000-07:00

Last month a group of UVSC student volunteers traveled down to Moab is effort to help clean up the Fisher Towers (Fisher Tower picture on the right) trail. It is great that group have begun to take interest in maintenance and up keeping of the Moab area.

I know in the past that a lot of the management and trail preservation has been done by local guides and those who are truly care about maintaining a good environment.

High-five to the UVSC group for bettering the trails and local environment in Moab, UT.

Primal Quest Adventure Race on Hold

2007-05-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

I think everyone remembers last year's Primal Quest Adventure race in Moab. Teams were pushed to their physical and emotional limits, and it was perhaps the most grueling adventure race yet. It was entertaining to watch and fun to follow.
But things are not looking so hot this year for the adventure racing teams. Primal Quest event coordinators have officially put 2007 on hold, not know if they can get everything in line fore this year's race. Competitor Magazine is hoping that this race will not fall wayside as others have in the past (Eco Challenge, Raid Galoises).

I hope the race continues. From the sounds of the apology and news brief from Primal Quest, it is more a function of getting funding and sponsorship together more than anything. Those of us that have tried to get sponsorship for related events understand this frustration.

I hope the race continues, and hope to see it come back to Moab eventually.

Best Time to Visit Moab? Right about now

2007-04-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

When is the best time to visit Moab, UT? Spring is the time to visit Moab. The fall is another wonderful time, but the water levels for whitewater rafting die down a bit by late fall.

That's why I name Spring as the #1 time to visit Moab.

I am not the only one who recognizes the wisdom of an early visit. Smarter Travel also points out that spring is the ideal time to visit the National Parks of the Southwest U.S. The "Southwest Park's Best Season" article readily points out Moab as the top destination. Visiting during the spring is not only ideal weather and water levels, but you avoid the tourist crowd altogether.

During the summer months, large groups always congregate and take trips through Moab. Lodging and eating becomes a little harder with large crowds. April and May (other than are ideal months for a quick visit. Most Moab tour outfitters are open by April, so you can still run any activity you want.

April is almost over, so get on the early bus and check it out.

Jeep Safari and Spring Break on the Way

2007-03-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

Moab becomes a hot destination this week with the annual Jeep Safari hitting town over the weekend. It also is still Spring Break time for many as well, which makes for a crazy busy downtown. Don't even try to find a nice hotel or lodging place if you haven't already. Everything will be full. You have to fill out a registration form if you want(ed) to participate in the Jeep Safari. Theya re probably full with registrants by now, so you might be watching from the sidelines if you didnt get ahead of the game.

Although, some of the greatest seats for the Jeep Safari are actually the ones outside of the Jeep- just sitting on the Moab red rock hills and watching the slews of Jeep try to navigate some of the tricky spots on the hills.

Red Rock 4-Wheelers has all the information you need for the annual event.

"Adventures Ruining Moab"- Give me a break!

2007-03-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Jim Styles has come out again attacking the adventure recreation seekers stating that they are ruining Moab, UT. The Slat Lake Tribune article (as journalism goes) of course plugs in a few "interesting" facts of their own as well- on of which stating that: " recreation has the potential to be as destructive as oil and gas drilling, mining and cattle ranching."

Please. Let's get serious here. Me taking my mountain bike down Slickrock is not more destructive (not even in a hundred year) than any one of the above. But it is the voice of just one lone activist. With statements like, "The search for solitude, beauty, and all things remote and mysterious must be random. To be more organized is to risk commodifying beauty itself"- I am not sure how seriously I can take the criticism anyway.

The article does show both sides of the story, interviewing Sheri Griffith among others for commentary on their complaints.

Moab's own mayor has admitted that Jim is "literally stuck" in the 1950's when he could have all of Moab to himself.

The fact of the matter is that Adventure Sports and Recreation in the Moab area is actually relying on maintaining the integrity and beauty of the back country. Otherwise, where would the adventure be if we are riding through skyscrapers and buildings? Why would we go hiking if we didn't have a beautiful view at the end? Adventure seekers and guides alike share the same respect for the back country in Moab. They (we) are perhaps more interested in keeping the natural landscape than any other commercial group involved in the town!

Nice try Stiles.

Moab 12 Hour AdventureXstrem Race

2007-03-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Gravity play has the scoop on the AdventureXstream race in Moab on March 24. I guess this event can either be a solo race (which some will use for training for the larger adventure races later this year) or even a team race in Moab.

Bike, trek, paddle, rappel, and navigation. Not as huge or as brutal as the Primal Quest race last year in Moab, but a great adventure race nonetheless.
Gravity play also has a nice fundraiser going for fellow adventure racer Danielle who got injured earlier this year in Moab.

Moab Half Marathon Coming Up

2007-03-02T10:44:00.000-08:00

This weekend is the Skinny Tire Bike Festival in Moab, UT. The weekend of the 16th, Moab is also hosting the annual Canyonlands Half Marathon. Lodging and things are filling up fast for the marathon weekend. March officially starts the outdoor activities in Moab I guess. Moab has the luxury of being in the very southern end of Utah, which means warmer weather and good outdoor adventure environment.

I will be heading down to Moab next week to take advantage of the weather and early season activity. In my opinion, the best time to visit Moab is during the spring and the fall. Summer is great for vacations, but the heat is killer sometimes. The spring weather is perfect for mountain biking, street racing, off-road trips and hiking. Rafting is still best done during the hotter months.

But once again, the nation's outdoor playground Moab is off to an early start with the outdoor activities.

Moab Skinny Tire Festival Set for March

2007-02-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

One of the first bike events is set to go early this year. The Moab Skinny Tire Festival ride is scheduled for the weekend of March 2-5. The date is coming soon, so make sure to get out for your first ride of the spring.

This road cycling event hosted by the Lance Armstrong Foundation will go through the red rock wonderland of Moab, through Dead Horse Point State Park, Arches National Park and the banks of the Colorado River. The event will host multiple speakers, a silent auction, demo bikes and more. You can read more about the event and detail on Pro Cycling News.

“In the world of cycling, Moab is legendary,” says Chris Brewer, Grassroots Events Coordinator. “As a long time rider it has been on my life’s checklist of places to ride. Now I will not only be riding in Moab at a great Festival, but I will also be helping in the fight against cancer, and it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

Moab Porcupine Trail top "Epic Ride in the West"

2007-02-16T10:36:00.000-08:00

Dirtworld.com, a great mountain biking and adventure sport website, recently published an article titled "Epic Rides in teh West" where Moab's Porcupine Trail was top rated. Next to the Slickrock Trail, Porcupine is the second most popular run in the area. It is a 31 mile loop if you take the whole trail, and has some great destinations and sceninc outlooks across the way.

Trails aren't ideal now, but once the weather starts warming up, spring is a great time to get a few runs in down in Moab. Usually people bring their own bikes (if they are serious about biking), but Moab also has plenty of bike rental stores and guided trips down the most popular trails. This could be the best option for vacationers who dont want to drag their own bikes down there.

Three Men Bike over 4,000 Mile to Moab

2006-12-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

A trek that started in July has now landed three young men in Moab, Utah. Thompson, Monterastelli and Goat, three graduates from UC Santa Cruz, started in Alaska at the Arctic Circle, and made it down to Moab just this month.

Now 24 Hours of Moab and other bike races are intense, but this is a whole new level of crazy. They reported that temperatures at time dropeed to -10 degrees, and "survival" is what keeps them alive. Nice. They saw everything from wolves, to car crashes, to frozen wheels and broken brakes. Heck, I bet they saw more in those months than most of us have seen in years. Hats off guys.. hats off..

Endurance Training Saves Life in Moab

2006-12-20T09:17:00.000-08:00

Danelle Ballengee is an adventure racer. Adventure racers go through some of the most intense training and competitions in the world (just ask those who raced in Moab Primal Quest this year). The adventure training probably saved Dennelle's life.

While training in Moab this week, she fell 60-feet breaking her pelvis. She crawled 1/2 mile and survided two sub-freezing nights in Moab, UT. That is quite the feat being healthy! The ABC 7 Denver news has a video news report on the ordeal. Fortunantly, her dog assisted rescuers to finding her and she is recovering in the hospital. Normally, injuries are second nature to adventure racers. But the pelvis bone is one of those vital and extremely painful breaks that you can't do much about. Arms, hands, ribs and shoulders are one thing. Pelvis is on its own level. Southern Utah in the winter is no treat either.

About a month ago, the new television show "I Shouldnt Be Alive" and the "Nightmare Canyon" episode featured a man who broke his leg/shin while hiking in the Southern Utah area, and he too survived sub-zero temperature, freak snow storms, ice and an overnight stay. I am sure Dannelle will have her own episode soon. Check out the show's website for some great webisodes and adventure survival stories.

Top 50 Action and Adventure Sports Images

2006-12-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

Red Bull is sponsoring a first-ever Top 50 Action and Adventure Sports Image contest. The contest will highlight the best action pictures and photos for the year 2006. There are some pretty crazy photos in the submissions. Although I get a lot of good action shots on Moab, UT, they don really compare to some of the shots.

Its a good idea to push forward the photography of outdoor adventure sports. I think that photography plays a big roll in getting people interested in the sports. For websites, it makes all the difference.

Some of my favorite picture from the adventure sports submissions was this sequence to the left.

Back from AO Convention Here in Utah

2006-12-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I had a great time at this year's America Outdoors Conference here in Salt Lake City, Utah. All the outdoor outfitters (mostly just rafting companies) go and catch up with each other and the industry. Its a pretty good source for getting information about adventure travel in general.

I know I haven't posted in a while, and the sad part is that I can't really blame it on AO, because it was here in Utah! So, with no excuses, I will blame it on being busy at work............ yah, work. It is interesting to see the other outdoor adventure companies that operate in different parts of the country. Everyone is still struggling to tap into the outdoor adventure market, and capture the rising trend of adventure travel in general.

Outdoor adventure travel is a rising trend, and more people enjoy getting outside and taking vacations that involve activity. Moab, Utah has seen significant increases in visitors and tourism over the last few years. I thinks its because Moab is a great one-stop destination for adventure. But there are plenty of place like Moab throughout the country. Anyway, lets hope that the trend continues!

A Little Controversy Over Moab Funding

2006-11-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

Moab, Utah is a tourist town. Therefore, it relies heavily on visitors passing through and seasonal business. It is also arguably the third most popular place in Utah for tourism (Salt Lake City and Park City/ski resorts). The Moab areas has two world famous National Parks (Arches and Canyonlands) and the Colorado River. It is a popular destination for tourists. Therefore, you would think that a decent portion of the state's tourism money would be funnelled to the Moab area. Right?

For you locals and those interested in Utah tourism, I am getting on my soapbox for a second on behalf of the outdoor adventure community. Apparently the office of tourism denied an application to give more money to the Moab area. From what I hear, it was because the application was poorly written. Great. So the whole industry suffers?

Colin Fryer is fighting hard for the cause, but he is getting shut down. He is even a board member for heaven sakes. You would think that logic would be a driving force for some of the allocations. From

'Man vs. Wild' Starts in Moab Utah

2006-11-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

What better place than Moab, Utah to start the cool new t.v. show 'Man vs. Wild'? Shoot, just ask the recent Primal Quest participants about tying to brave the Moab desert and they could go on for hours. Bear Grylls will present the series opener with his episode from Moab as the show gets off to a start tonight on the Discovery Channel.

I am really looking forwad to this show. I think it will be fun to watch Bear tuff out the elements with the ultimate outdoor adventure show. A similar show 'Survivor Man' was kind of fun to watch, but kind of diapeared. I hope his new attemp for outdoor survival makes it a little further. nothing gets the desire for outdoor adventure going like watching someone almost die trying to survive in the wild, right?

Moab Utah Bighorn Sheep Festival

2006-11-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

Its not an exciting Moab outdoor adventure, but hey- its kind of cool. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is holding its annual Moab Bighorn Sheep Festival on Nov. 17 and 18. The event is free. You can learn all about the bighorn sheep ecology and history. An evening presentation will be held at the Moab Information Center, Center and Main streets in Moab.

Then you can go out with your binoculars and spotting scopes and cameras and stuff and see the bighorns. I guess if you want to ever see one of those things in person, going out with the Wildlife dudes is probably your best bet anyway. They live for this stuff.

Granny Gear Announces 2007 Schedule for Moab

2006-10-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

Although problems ran rampant at this year's 24 Hours of Moab, Granny Gear wasted no time in getting out the 2007 schedule. Next Years Moab, Utah race will be October 14 and 15th.
The rest of the mountain bike races are scheduled as follows:

24 Hours of Temecula (SoCal): April 21/22, 2007
24 Hours of Conyers (Georgia): May 19/20, 2007
24 Hours of Big Bear (West Virginia): June 9/10, 2007
24 Hours of Killington (Vermont): July 21/22, 2007
24 Hours of Landahl (Missouri): September 16/17, 2007
24 Hours of Moab (Moab, Utah): October 14/15, 2007

Registration is already open for the entire race series.

Hopefully they run into better weather and more favorable conditions next year!

As usual, you can get the race results from 2006, and schedules for all the races at Granny Gear's website.

Moab Half Marathon Getting Ready To Go

2006-10-20T15:06:00.000-07:00

The 3rd annual Moab Utah Half Marathon is getting set for the Sunday, October 22nd race date. It has picked up popularity over the last few years, and this year should have over 1,000 entrants.
RunnersWeb.com has a short report on the marathon, and according to the race director, female runners outnumber the male runners 3 to 1. The race itself is 13.1 miles long, and is originally meant to be the companion to the spring event Canyonlands Half Marathon. For you runners, a complete listing of running events across the country is on this calendar.

Hopefully the weather stays nice and we don't have a repeat of 24 Hours of Moab weather nightmare.

Arches National Park Delicate Arch Trail Closed

2006-10-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

Due to the local rain problems and huges amounts of water passing through Arches National Park, the park service had to once again close the trail to Delicate Arch, one of the most popular sites in Moab. Utah is home to multiple National Parks, and Arches hosts many popular scenic spots.

Delicate Arch trail, the classic red rock arch you see everywhere, is not yet open again to the public. It was closed up to the fromthe 6th to about the 12th. Then it re-opened, but this weekend caused it to be shut down again.

The park service said they were working on a "alternate" path, but that just seems like a long solution to a short problem... but then again, what do I know.

24 Hours of Moab Not so Hot

2006-10-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Well, if you talk to the participants of the adventure race Primal Quest in Moab Utah this year, they will give you the horror stories of the heat, exhaustion, desert weather and cool terrain.

You wont get the same response from the participants of 24 Hours of Moab. Apparently it was just a huge muck... wet, muddy, rainy and not very nice, not to mention the added danger of slippery rocks (hence "Slickrock") and huge amount of red mud. If you want more details, just check out the Salt Lake Tribune Article or the Summit Daily News . They even had to stop the race early and didn't actually fit in the branded "24 Hours" that the race needed to go for.

Unfortunately I was not able to be there this year. I was actually white water rafting in West Virginia on the Gauley and New Rivers. So I was a little wet too, just not as miserable as some of the bikers were.

Primal Quest in Moab Utah to get TV Time

2006-10-05T15:25:00.000-07:00

Looks like Adventure Travel is getting a boost this year. The Primal Quest Race that was in Moab, Utah this year is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2 and ABC Sports.

One-hour espisodes of Primal Quest will be shown Monday October 9th through Thursday on ESPN2 at 5:30 PM, with the Finale set for noon on October 14th. If you go to ESPN TV listings you can see the schedule.

I think plenty of people will be happy about the news, including the Utah Sports Comission.

Jeff Robbins is hte President of the Utah Sports Comission and helped ot get Primal Quest to Moab this year. He said that "You couldnt ask for a beter event to showcase the unmatched beauty and adventure our state has to offer."

It shouldbe interesting to watch on TV and see how they documented the race. And for those of you that missed it, you got a second chance!

Moab Utah Century Tour Opens

2006-09-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

The weekend of Oct. 6-8 will once again thrust the community of Moab into the national spotlight. www.skinnytirefestival is the website for The Moab Century Tour which benefits the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), attracting riders and industry icons alike to this newly discovered hot-spot for road cyclists to experience their choice from three fully supported, world-class routes. U.S.

Olympian and pro cyclist Ron Keifel will be a guest speaker as well as a participant, allowing others to ride alongside him.

Perhaps the most interesting icon in attendance is not from the cycling world at all; Randy Ruhlman returns to apply his skills as a professional NASCAR driver to the now famous La Sal downhill, and share his tips for skillful cornering on this epic, windy descent.

This fully supported event has limited registration and closes early so riders are encouraged to visit to ensure a spot.

Mountains to Desert Bike Ride to Moab Utah

2006-09-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Third Annual Mountains to the Desert Bike Ride takes off Saturday, September 23, at 7 a.m., from in front of the San Miguel County Courthouse. Here is the map of the trail ending in Moab, Utah(kind of hard to see, but you get the idea):

Cyclists will cover 132 miles on their way to Moab, where the ride wraps up. It covers various levels of terrain and elevations. here is the elevation breakdown for the ride.

The ride is a fundraiser for the Just for Kids Foundation, which funds $100,000-worth of youth programming in San Miguel County every year. IF anything, it could be a great training ride for 24 Hours in Moab or other races as well. Good luck!

To sign up, call 728-4454 or visit http://m2dbikeride.tripod.com.

Next up: 24 Hours of Moab

2006-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Moab Utah seems to be the adventure center this year. The famous 24 Hours of Moab race put on by Granny Gear Productions is coming soon. As if we didnt see enough extreme sporting in Moab, Utah's backcountry with Primal Quest!

24 Hours of Moab is one of many 24 hour mountain bike races held across the country. It is an exciting event, one sure to entertain and challenge. here are a few of the details:

When: October 14 and 15
Where: Moab, Utah
Prize: Over $60,000 in prizes
Costs: $100-$300 per person
Distance: 12-15 miles

It is hard to imagine the actual intesity that surrounds this activity. Its 12-15 miles of some of the hardest and best mountain biking trails in the world, Moab Utah. You race through the night. You party hard... wait, did I say party? Yep. One of the perks and attractions of these races is the party atmophsere you get. At base camp last year in Moab, Utah you would have seen fire blowers, dancing, music, poker and much more.

So really, this race is more like an all night party-just with little food, mentally challenging and physically exhausting racing. But fun nontheless. Come to Moab Utah and race!

3rd Annual"Mother of All Boogies" in Moab Utah

2006-09-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

The 3rd annual M.O.A.B or Mother of All Boogies is set to ge this year on September 28- October 1st. The event is a skydiving extraveganza. You can visit Drop Zone.com for the details and information on the Moab Utah event. They try to get as many people in the air at one time. Last year the event could quite get everyone participating in the air, but this year promises more room and expanded networks.

Skydiving in Moab, Utah is unlike skydiving anywhere else. As Clint MacBeth and Shelley White of Skydive Moab put it, its like "being surrounded by the 'mars-like' terrain" that everyone enjoys. You see, Moab Utah has perhaps the most unique and famous landscapes in the world. Arches National Park, Canyonlands, Colorado River, Redrock bike trails, Lasal Mountains.... So I can only imagine the amazing views you get from above.

So come join the skydivers heaven in Moab Utah later this month. Both beginners and experts are invited. If you would like to try skydiving in Moab anytime, we also offer tandem jumps thorugh the Moab Adventure Center.

Don't Forget the Moab Utah Music Festival

2006-08-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

I posted about upcoming events earlier, and wanted to throw out a reminder to everyone about teh Moab Utah music festival. It starts this Thursday, August 31st and runs throught the 16th of September(see the Moab Utah events calendar). It will be a very fun time to visit Moab, enjoy the music in perfect weather.

The official site for the Music Festival is Moabmusicfest.org. The great thing about these festivals is the variety of music offered. You get a little bit of everything from classical piano to jazz groups. Artists this year in Moab Utah include:

Michael Barrett, piano
Joe Barbato, accordion
Igor Begelman, clarinet
Jamie Bernstein, narrator
Robert Black, double bass
Dan Block, clarinet and saxophone
Timothy Fain, violin
Jennifer Frautschi, violin
Karen Gomyo, violin
Marco Granados, flute
Paul Hersh, piano and viola
Cynde Iverson, bassoon
David Krakauer, clarinet
Christopher Layer, bagpipes and flute
Dan McMillan, percussion
Paul Moravec, Composer-in-Residence
Matt Munisteri, guitar
Ilya Poletaev, piano
Anna Polonsky, piano
James Roe, oboe
Eric Ruske, French horn
Lisa Saffer, soprano
Axel Strauss, violin
Pete Sutherland, fiddle, piano, guitar
Marc Teicholz, guitar
Leslie Tomkins, viola
Tanya Tomkins, cello
Paul Woodiel, fiddle and host
Eric Zivian, piano

Trio Solisti:

- Maria Bachmann, violin

- Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello

- Jon Klibonoff, piano

Paquito D'Rivera Jazz Quintet:

- Paquito D’Rivera, clarinet and
saxophone

- Oscar Stagnaro, bass

- Diego Urcola, trumpet

- Mark Walker, drums

- Alon Yavnai, piano

The Web Book is HERE!

2006-08-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

The new interacting Moab Adventure Book is finally here! This is probably the most inpressive online feature I have seen in a long time. The book features all the trips and activities in Moab, Utah that the Moab Adventure Center runs. It is an amazing programmed book with the ability ot allow you to turn the pages, play embedded video and watch slideshows.

It took a while to perfect the whole thing, but it turned out great. Special thanks to the design team at The Design Farm in Utah, and also the programming team from Eclipse Media Design. They have done a great job. Now I need to make sure everyone gets a chance to see it, so pass it along to your friends!

Find love in Moab Utah... on an Adventure!

2006-08-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

Whats hot in Adventure Travel right now? According to many resources, its the possibility of finding love while taking an extreme adventure. Fox news author Michael Y. Park reported that perhaps the best way to find your mate is "getting out of town."

Hilary Black, editor and chief of relationship magazine Tango says that people can meet "doing something they love, and its a lot less of an awkward set-up."

Other say that “there's a bond that is instantly formed when having such great experiences even with strangers...we were all strangers but by the end of the day we all wanted to know more about each other"

How true it is. Its a fascinating concept to try and target your extreme adventure vacations around the possibility of meeting a date. Some say that you learn something special about a person when you are pushing yourself mentally and physically. The more extreme the trip, the more likely you are to find love I guess.

It is interesting how friendships form so quickly on adventure vacations. One of my most recent rafting trips down in Moab, Utah brought me together with about 5 other people on the raft. By the end of the short, 2 hour trip, I had a couple of new friends and interesting stories.
So finding true love on such an adventure is not far fetch.

One company called Airtroductions has taken a similar approach to finding love with travel. They allow users to choose thier "seat buddy" by viewing profiles and selecting people they would be interested in meeting. Brilliant!

Moral of the story? Plan your vacations wisely if you are single. Dont count not being noticed by anyone while out doing extreme adventures, because you never know who will show up...

Women Only Adventure Travel? You Bet Ya!

2006-08-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Adventure travel is beginning to recognize an important and growing niche market- women only travel. The industry in general is still slow to catch on to this market, but it is ready and waiting to happen.
Seattle pi recently ran an article on the women only market. Although travel experts do not have solid numbers, one expert, Marybeth Bond, estimates that there are about 30 companies now that offer tours for women only.

"I like the idea of women traveling together," says one women, who lives in Dexter, Mich. "I think it is more comfortable with just women, more fun."

Women now have more influence, money and flexibility than ever before. Hence, those not taking advantage of this niche market are missing out on the opportunity. Personally, I think that only having 30 companies that run women only tours is ridiculously low. Especially when you put together these two all important facts (taken from women travel tips):

72 million US women traveled during the past year
70% of all travel decisions are made by women (even us married guys know its true)

So why not target women? I know that our own Western River Expeditions has a Women Only Cataract Canyon 4 Day Rafting Trip. Moab Adventure center may enter this arena soon... hopefully a lot others. The numbers look good, and if you do the research online, you still have some breathing room.

Outdoor Recreation Industry Flexing Its Muscle

2006-08-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

How much does the "outdoor recreation" industry boast in annual economic dollars? A lot more than you would think. According the an Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) study, the most current numbers reported the industry at about $730 billion in annual spending.

That's quite a hefty tag economically. How does it compare to other industries?

Outdoor Recreation: $730 billion
Major Food Industry: $291 billion
Major Auto Industry: $324 billion
Property and Casualty Insurace Industry: $709 billion
Oil and Gas Industry: $1.52 TRILLION (thought that might be a nice addition to the list)

According to the study, about 3/4 of Americans participate in outdoor activity. This next stat is pretty interesting. Here is the breakdown of the top outdoor activities:

Bird watching and other wildlife viewing ventures: 66 million
Bicycling: 60 million
Hiking: 56 million
Camping: 45 million

Props to the bird and wildlife watching people! You are holding strong in first place- although I am not quite convinced that bird watching belongs in the activity category. Perhaps hobby?
Anyway, it just goes to show that the outdoor recreation market is strong and alive. Hopefully companies like the Moab Adventure Center in Moab Utah, and other outdoor adventure providers will continue to see increased business.

Let's Talk Travel to Moab Utah and National Parks

2006-08-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

The price of gasoline has steadily increased over the summer. The average price in Utah right now is hovering just below $3.00/gallon. I know that a lot of other states have well surpassed the $3.00 mark. So what does that mean for the travel and tourism industry? How are the numbers looking this year for National Park/Monument visits and travel to Moab, Utah? According to the numbers, we get mixed reviews.

Lets look at National Park visits in the southern Utah. The chart here outlines the most popular sites. We see that Arches NP is actually up with visitors. My last estimates also show that visitors to Moab are up as well. Cedar Breaks NP is up significantly, as is Glen Canyon, Rainbow Bridge, Golden Spikes and Timpanogos Cave. All other destinations are lower this year compared to last. That means roughly 50% of these scenic destinations have seen increases. The other have seen decreases in traffic. Gas prices cannot be the only contributor to these numbers. Most of these areas are remote locations, so we have no correlation there.

Deseret News ran an article on this very point.
Ron Terry, public information officer at Zion, said it's hard to identify reasons for the drop, "but it could be gasoline prices and it could be people are not taking longer trips. We're in the process of conducting a visitor survey. When we get the results, it will give us a better idea of where visitors are from and what they come here to do."

Other outdoor travel industries, such as river rafting, have seen dramatic increases in business. So travel to Moab Utah has not suffered due to gas prices. National Parks still attract visitors, as they should.

Moab Utah MuniFest- Unicycling Galore

2006-08-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

Forget mountain biking on the famous Moab Utah Slickrock trails- try unicycling on the mountain. Little known but gaining in popularity, the annual Moab Utah MuniFest invites all unicyclers to challenge themselves in on the redrocks on Moab.

Its quite the sight to behold- a couple hundred unicyclers trying to traverse up and down the rocky terrain of Moab mountains. But they do it, and they do it well. Its actually very exciting to watch, and makes any onlooker feel like they should be able to easily handle a unicycle in the mountains.

Every year they get together for the event, held at the end of March, and this year's event drew over 150 participants. The Munifest Website offers plenty of information and pictures from various individual sites and galleries. Nathan Hoover on Smugmug has some great shots of this year's event.

Maybe the Moab Adventure Center needs to start providing a unicycle trip? (j/k)

Crime Rising in National Park Spaces?

2006-08-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

New York Times author Timothy Egan recently ran a report on the increasing number of crimes near forested and National Park areas. Simply stated, most National Parks contain large areas of land that is prime for "urban problems". As small town like Moab Utah grow in size, so does urban problems and crime, says one ranger.

Maybe its because I am not a Park Ranger so I don't see the crimes myself, but I personally have not seen a noticeable increase of "urban crimes" in National Parks. The article specifically pointed out Moab Utah as one of the prime suspects for this type of increasing behavior. It is true that Moab is surrounded by Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, both of which cover large amounts of land and acreage. However, I have yet run into off-road incidents with other people. Not doubt the Rangers see a lot more action than I do however.

Maybe I will talk to some Rangers in the area and see what they think about the situation.

Moab Utah Biking- International Popularity

2006-08-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Moab Utah is well known for being the Mecca of mountain biking. Apparently, the international arena recognizes this fact as well. In a news article published by icNorthWales.co.uk , they highlight an up-and-coming company called Bikefax.

Bikefax is in Europe, and they create custom bike trail maps and other services for the expanding mountain bike community. According to Sue Savege, they have gotten requests in Europe for trails maps to Moab:

""We have also been asked to produce a guide for mountain bike trails in Moab, on the Utah/Colorado border, one of the best known mountain biking destinations in the world, and we are working on that."

I have contacted the company with interest to see about them producing this custom map. Right now, the Moab Adventure Center has a map section with multiple maps, including bike trails. But maps can always get bigger and better.

It is amazing to see the prominence that a small place like Moab Utah can get around the world. But for those who have experienced the awesome trails of Moab, it may come as no surprise.

Coming Soon- Moab Adventure Center Web Book!

2006-08-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

This is the pre-announcement for probably the coolest online feature for adventure travel I have seen yet. We here at the Moab Adventure Center are very excited about the possibilities and functionality of our newest addition to the website- An interactive book!

I know, it sounds boring, but I really is amazing. Keep your eyes out the next few days for the official announcement. I will make sure the whole world knows about this book. It has pages that you can turn yourself, very realistic looking. Video, slideshows, links, the works.

Here is the sneak peak for the book:

Landis a Participator in 24 Hours of Moab Ride

2006-08-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

I have already posted an update for the upcoming 24 Hours of Moab bike ride in a couple of months. Aparently, Floyd Landis used this race early in his riding career as training grounds. In a recent article from the Baltimore Sun, one of his friends commented :

"He was determined in a way that was scary," said Joe Surkiewicz, a cycling enthusiast who wrote about the sport and accompanied Landis and some Baltimore-area riders to the 24 Hours of Moab mountain bike race in Utah.

Landis has always had the determination and drive to win. Scandal or no scandal, its takes strength and training to win the Tour de France. Obviously he had what it took to win the race. Plus, mountain biking in Moab Utah for sure prepared him for some of those mountain stretches!

Moab Utah No Match For Dirk Phillips

2006-07-26T10:08:00.000-07:00

Now this is what I call a Chevy! Dirk Phillips of Moab Utah shows his stuff on a fourwheeler.com feature highlighting his Super Chevy Silverado on the Moab rocks. Anyone thinking of converting their truck to a serious off-road machine, take notes. You don't have to have the greatest high-tech installations to have a good off-road machine.

Some of the most inportant components (front and rear suspension) are modified old-school leaf springs set-ups. He also made and customized his own aluminum bed for his trail needs. Now he is ready to rock and roll in the famous rock climbing trails and contests in Moab Utah. Some of the pictures are pretty cool:

Walmart coming to Moab Utah?

2006-07-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

Lets hope not. According to Deseret News, talks have begun about the possibility of adding Walmart down in Moab Utah. Personally I am not opposed to Walmart stores, but I think that Walmart does not belong everywhere. Especially in small tourist towns such as Moab.

You see Moab Utah exists with its own little economic system just fine. however, if you throw a large, oersized corporate store into the mix, it will ruin a lot of local business. Competition is healthy, but monopolization is destructive. Walmart would absolutely crush local merchants, and local economy. If the stor attracted more visitors to the town, maybe it could be justified. But nobody will visit Moab because of Walmart, and therefore it will be an additional strain on the town.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out in the future.

Maps for Moab and other Adventures

2006-07-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Need a good map for your outdoor adventure? You have many resources available to you when choosing a good map. Anywhere from the local gas station maps to U.S. Forest Service official maps are available for purhasing. So what's the best place for maps?

I really like the review written by Stephen Regenold in his article reviewing various maps. He got local maps to governement maps. The most impressive is the Mytopo.com. They let you create topographical maps of any location, customize the maps to include whatever you want, and also have aerial sattelite photos of the region. You order the map and they will print it on water-proof paper and send it out to you. (Side note, mytopo was the official map of Primal Quest in Moab Utah this year as well) Pretty sweet if you ask me!!

Our website has maps of various Moab locations, but for the serious adventurer or explorer, a custom maps is for sure the way to go.

Music in Moab Utah

2006-07-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

Interesting trends in live music- I read an article recently about the combination of music and outdoors. Interesting article talking about the growth of music festivals in the nation. Summer time is a great time to visit music festivals, since most orchestras try to fit in outdoor festivals as much as possible.

Moab Utah of course has its own festival that should be awesome. What better than sitting outside in a great atmosphere, world class scenery, and professional musicians playing non-stop to your delight? Most outdoor scenic attractions will have music festivals. If you read the article it has a listing of other music festivals around the country (other than Moab Utah).

Team Nike Finishes first in Moab Utah

2006-07-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

Team Nike pulled off the close victory in Moab Utah Saturday. It was a close finish with team GoLite right behind. Inside Triathalon reported in the win in their article on the website.

"The team (Nike Powerblast), and all teams who complete the course in its entirety, covered what will be remembered as one of the hardest races of all time"

The heat got up to 128 degrees at certain points in the race. Many will refer to this race a the "Adventure Suffering" and not the "Adventure Racing". Rightly so. But in the end, the leading team grabs $100,000 to split between the 4 of them. So the question becomes:

Was the pain and suffering during the race worth it?

Team Nike Looking to Win in Moab Utah

2006-06-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

Team nike Powerblast has taken a good lead over Merrell. Especially the since the last checkpoint, Nike burst ahead extending the distance between them and the reast of the pack. Looks like experience is paying off.

I talked about it earlier, and its playing out just as I predicted. Young, fit teams would battle for lead early during the race, but experience kicks in towards the end and the most experienced of teams is pulling through.

What made the difference? I dont think it was the hoarding of sleep that team Nike had early on in the race. I think it is just the stamina and experience. Experienced travelers know how to pace themselves. They also know how to make wise decisions. If you look at the interactive map, you see that outside of tem Nike's mountain biking mishap, they stay on course and know where they are going. Shaving a mile here and there because of good decisions makes a big difference.

Moab Utah is "Mountain Biking Mecca"

2006-06-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

Cary Dunst, a journalist for the Epoch Times International reports on the thrill and amazment that the slickrocks of Moab Utah bring to mountain biking. For those us us who have already been there, this is nothing new. In all honesty, no other place in the world can compare to Slicrock Trail in Moab. Riding Moab is great.

Heck, even if you are not an avid mountain biker, you should still take a tour and try out riding the rocks. (click on the picture for info.)

One other thing that Dunst highlihghts in her article is the up-coming "24 hours of Moab" race later in October. Anyone ever participate in that race? Sounds pretty intense. (nothing compared to Primal Quest of course). But it should be a good race. You can go to www.grannygear.com for more information on the races.

Get out and mountain bike on the trails!

Good News for Moab Utah Travelers with Cingular

2006-06-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

Well, Cingular just stepped up to the plate and made a great additions to their large network. (although I personally cant be too excited since I use Verizon)

Cingular just published a Press Release in Yahoo! Finance announcing that its aggressive 2005 - 2006 push is expanding in Utah. Improved coverage areas to come? Here is the list:

* In the Salt Lake City area seven new sites went on-air in late 2005 with
24 more sites planned for 2006 -- a total of 31 new cell sites to add
capacity and coverage.
* In Utah County, six new cell sites in 2005 with 13 more expected in 2006
will add coverage in Orem and Provo.
* In Northern Utah, eight sites went on air in late 2005 with nine more
coming in 2006. These 17 sites will increase coverage for the Ogden and
Cache Valley areas.
* Utah State Capitol -- Added in-building service to the capitol and
legislative buildings.
* Southern Utah -- Launched service and sales in the greater St. George
area in April.
* On I-80 near Wendover, a new site will complete coverage extending from
Salt Lake City to the Utah/Nevada border.
* On Highway 191 a new site north of Moab will provide greater coverage
for customers going to Moab/Arches National Park.
* On I-80 in Grantsville, a new site will provide greater coverage for the
growing Tooele area.

Not bad for outdoor travelers like us on the outskirts of Utah. THat should make at least some of you happy!

Info on Primal Quest in Moab Utah

2006-06-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have posted a few comments and news about Primal Quest. Since the race is on its way, it will be fun to follow the teams through their test. Here are a couple of websites that can keep you informed as to the traveling information on the teams:

Official Primal Quest Site- all the information and teams involved int he race. Cool videos, GPS tracking, Maps and more.

Checkpoint Zero (and their team)- An Adventure Racing website, and they sponsor their own Primal Quest Team. Get personal updates and entries for the team throughout the race.

25% Discount for Visiting Moab, Utah

2006-06-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Moab Music Festival which runs August 31st - Sept 16th has a few local resorts offering discounts for visiting Moab during that time. The Arizona Daily Star reports that Sorrel River Ranch in Moab is giving 25% discount on lodging and 15% off dinner for anyone attending the Music Festival in Moab, Utah.

Coming from personal experience, Sorrel Ranch is a pretty nice place to stay. It is a fun and authentic rach-style lodging in Moab, and a 25% discount is quite the sale. If you are planning on going down to Moab during that time (or maybe you should take a trip anyway) take advantage of the offer. You can find contact and information for Sorrel Ranch and other Ranches through the Moab Adventure Center Lodging page.

While you are down there, take advantage of the outdoor activities in Moab, Utah at the Moab Adventuer Center.

Team Nike looking for a win in Moab

2006-06-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

As the Primal Quest Race heats up for the Saturday launch, team Nike is ready in Moab, Utah. A Vail Daily News article highlights the expectations and experience that this year's tem Nike is bringing to the race. I think the most impressive part of the team is the depth of experience.

"Kloser calls this years squad “without a doubt our most experienced team”,which is all the more relevant considering most competitors believe this race will be won by a team with exactly that sort of race-tested makeup."

Previous experience plays a vital role in the race. ALthough being young and fit can have its advantages, usually those who end up pulling ahead are those who have the experience and endurance. Its the ultimate challenge of skill and endurance. Plus, I am just excited that the racve is down in Moab Utah. What a great location!

Primal Quest is Here!

2006-06-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

Outdoor enthhusiasts have been wating and watching. June 25, 2006 starts the annual Primal Quest Race in Moab. It will be a crazy race and the ultimate test of human endurance. I love the video trailer for the race. you can see it by visitng the Primal Quest webstite.

For those who arent familiar, it is a team race across rivers, deserts, mountains and cliffs. 800km that lasts up to 10 days over a grueling course. It is amazing to see the teams do what they do. I think it is awesome.

You have to check them out htis year since they are in Utah. Every year the race takes place in a different international location. If you have time, see them off!

Ultimate Motorcycle Tour Hits Moab

2006-06-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Its called the Great Western Trail Tour. An article in OneWheelDrive.net just featured this tour as one of the highlights of a great motorcycle road trip. The Great Western Trail tour is a motorcycle tour that takes you through the most wonderful and scenic areas of the soutwest. In 10 or 11 day you will hit:

2000 scenic miles
6 natioanal parks
6 national monuments
9 national forests

Sound too good? Well, if you are even thinking about it the tour also offers rental bikes if you dont have your own. I have never been on a long motorcycle roadtrip, but I would imaging that this one is the Grandaddy of them all. You start in Phoenix, AZ and alongthe way you drive through Moab, UT, Arches National Park, and many other sites in the Moab area.

Anyone ever taken a motorcycle tour through these areas? How is it? Let us all know.

Roadtrip Anyone?

2006-06-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

Looking for a good roadtrip to take with your buddies this summer? The most recent issue of Men's Journal has the Roadtrip Guide for those who are interested. I think that taking road trips are a great way to explore new country.

So what makes good roadtrip? First of all, make sure to plan out destinations. Even though a road trip is technically "shooting from the hip" style, you still need a beginning and ending point.
Also, the destinations should have some sort of allure/activity you may be interested in. Sightseeing is fun and all, but if you never really get out and do something, you are missing out on half the adventure.

Men's Journal listed a road trip from New Mexico to Moab, Utah as one of thier recommended trips to take. Moab offers a great place to not only see the sights, but to do just about any activity you want. You can bring your rock climbing gear, inflatable rafts, mountain bikes, motorcycles, hiking boots..... you name it, you can do it.
So Moab makes perfect sense for a roadtrip destination.

Moab Rock Climbing Controversy

2006-06-16T11:10:00.001-07:00

Any rock climbing fans out there? If so, I am sure you may have heard of the latest rock climbgin controversy regarding the famous Dean Potter and his decision to free climb Delicate Arch in Arches National Park in Moab, UT. Lots of people are up in arms about the decision.
Why the outcry?
First, Delicate Arch has its name for a reason- its a fragile landmark with soft sandstone. It would be near impossible to climb the arch with causing some sort of surface scratches.
Second, he may have done it just for publicity and not for his "love of nature and spiritual attachment to the rocks" as he so puts it. Plenty of people saw his climb in Moab because he filmed it, with crew alread on top of the arch getting shots from various angles.

So you have mixed reviews, even from his closest friends and colleagues. What he did was not technically illegal (although it is now, since his climb). But was it morally right? Was it just a publicity stunt on a national landmark?

Outside magazine has a article on the whole controversy in Moab, and interviewed some friends and others involved. Click to read the "How Delicate was Dean?" in Moab article.

National Goegraphic Ranks Arches in Top 50 Parks

2006-06-14T15:21:00.000-07:00

Once again, Moab Utah is making national headlines with its world famous scenery and adventure tours. The most recent review by the most trusted source, National Geographic, reviewed Parks in Canada and the U.S. and put out a top 50 "The Best of the Great Parks" issue.
So what exactly did the National Geographic have to say about Moab? They claim that one of the top experiences to see is watching the sunset at Arches in Moab, Utah!
But dont just take their word for it. Watching the sunset in Arches National park, or anywhere in Utah for that matter, is truly a breathtaking sight.

Has anyone had a chance to see Moab or Arches at sunset? Then you know what they are talking about. If you have nto had a chance to experience it, I highly recommend you do. Oh ya, and dont forget your camera, because you are not going to want to miss the opportunity to have a picture of it.

The Moab Adventure Center still offers a guided tour/hike through Arches National Park. They will take to to the most popular sites that you see in magazines and on T.V. There you can bask in all it's glory. Here are some pictures of our own from Arches so you can get a taste of the action.

What is another way to view a great sunset overlooking the wonderful Red Rocks? The Sunset Hummer Safari Tour in Moab is another great way to see the sights and seens you only dream of. The tour is only $75 for a complete 2 hour sunset trip on top of some of the most amazing rock mountiains in Moab.

If anyone else has favorite spots to view the sunset down in Moab, let us know!

See the issue of the National Geographic Adventure here.

New $2.1 million Library in Moab

2006-06-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

Just in case you want to relax and read a little, Moab just opened a brand new 14,000 sq. foot library. The library on Main St. in Moab, UT opened and about 900 people were there to celebrate the openening.

The new library is far more user-friendly, Moab resident Judy Rousso said.
"The old building was so packed you could hardly find a place to sit. Periodicals had to be stored in boxes because there was no space to put them out. It was just too small. Everything's opened up now," Rousso said.
"It is just an incredibly beautiful space. It's really amazing that a community this size can have a world-class library like this."

It truly is an amazing build with room to grow. This new facility can house many more people than the old building. The old building couldnt hold more than 50 people at a time. Now the new facility welcomes residents and guests with hight-tech solutions for users. MIt has a new reference library and special collections section. The library also has over 50 computers for children, teens and adults to use.

The new library is located at:
257 E Center St.
Moab, UT

Weather is Still Great in Moab!

2006-05-26T14:35:00.000-07:00

Its amazing how the weather is holding up this season. The last report from the weather watcher on the Moab Adventure Center website shows 91 degrees today and the rest of this week and next to be in the 80's and low 90's in Moab, UT.

Does it get much better than that?

The weather staying as temperate as it is makes activities and adventures in Moab all the more attractive. Hit up those biking trails on some bike tours or take a river rafting trip. I say do something outdoors before its gets hot!

RSS Feed Now Available for the Blog

2006-05-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

The RSS Feeds are now available for the Moab Adventure Center Blog. See the icons on the left navigation bar for the different feeds available. The first one is the Feedburner- which has converted all of the posting here from Atom to RSS.

Anyway, all this means is that you can get all the latest Moab Adventure news, updates and activities that we post here on the blog updated directly to your own news page. Its Great!

Events In Moab, UT

2006-05-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day weekend is coming, and so are the events. Moab, Utah would be a great place to spend Memorial Day weekend. The weather is perfect and the sun is out. Here are two activities coming up in Moab that you could experience this weekend.

May 31 - June 3 Canyonlands Cruise
A national motorcycle event in Moab sponsored by the ISRA (International Star Riders Association) but welcomes all brands of motorcycles. This event has bike shows, rides, pig roasts, biker rodeos, etc.

May. 27 - May. 28 Moab Arts Festival
Jewelry - Pottery - Wood - Sculpture - Clothing - Fine Art - Photography

Kid-o-Rama - Music - Entertainment - Taiko Drummers - Food Court

It would be a great weekend of events and fun. If you really want to plan activities for a whole trip to Moab, try Moab Adventure Center's activity package called the Multi Sport Package (scroll down to the bottom of the page). It includes rafting, hummer tour and Arches national park tour and hike. Its not a bad price either. $159 for adults, $109 for youth. Just another thing to do for the weekend.

4x4 Adventures

2006-05-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Moab is famous for its off-roading trails. Jeep organizations love to meet in Moab regularly for conventions and excitement. Just a couple of weeks ago when I was down in Moab, I saw the 4x4 crawlers hitting some nasty rock climbs. It was amazing.

I have never gotten into off-road stuff, but it looks pretty fun. For those of us who do not have the trucks and Jeeps for the adventures, the Hummer Tours offered by Moab Adventure Center offer a good taste of the action. I was actually surprised by the Hummer Tour. I know Hummers are cool, but I didn't think a Hummer Tour would be all that exciting. It was amazing!
To see what the Hummers can do it awesome. Highly recommend the tours for all ages. Kind of got me thinking about off-roading. Seeing the jeeps and other cars there doing that same stuff the Hummer was doing, amazing. I guess people get pretty serious about it too. Forums and websites dedicated to just off-roading adventures. One of the largest that I ran across is

http://greenjeep.proboards38.com/index.cgi.

These forums offer a lot of discussion and activities for enthusiasts. 4 wheeling rocks!

Mountain Biking for Everyone

2006-05-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Mountain biking is a very popular activity. I see a lot of people load up their bikes and take a weekend trip down to Moab just to hit the trails. I found plenty of people online who talk about their Moab Adventures on the bike.

As far as I can see Moab, UT offers one one of the best locations for mountain biking.

Why?

Because Moab has a large number of trails and off-road areas to accommodate any level of biker. If you want to bring your baby down to Moab, you can find easy trails with great scenery. If you are a hard-core enthusiast, the large red rocks of Moab, Utah provide plenty of challenging trails and backcountry territory.

The two best places for information for a Moab biking adventure would be to call a local outfitter (such as the Moab Adventure Center) and ask their opinion, or check out a few cool websites. You can set up an activity with a center and you don't have to worry about bringing your own bike.

The best website I found with information for all the available (and technically "not public") trails is:

http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/

This site give a ton of great info on all the different trails and backcountry stuff, and it has picture so you can get an idea of what the ride looks like. Take a look!

NY Times Reports Rafting in Moab, UT Gaining Popularity

2006-05-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

A large part of being an outdoor enthusiast is knowing the weather and geographic trends of hot spots in America. Anyone in the West (particularly Rocky Mountain Region) or even following the news know that this winter has brought in tons of snow and moisture, escpecially to Utah.

Michelle Higgins just posted an article in the NY Times talking about this very issue (she even mentions the Moab Adventure Center and rafting in Moab, UT!).

Heck, I can still see snow at the top of the mountains as I travel through Utah.

We all know what that means! Great rafting. Water level are up, and will continue to go up throughout the season due to heavy snow pack. Rapids are getting bigger and bigger too.

I just rafted a small stretch with the Moab Adventure Center down in Moab, Utah a couple weeks ago, and from what I hear the small class I and II have increased to close to III's already. I don't think they will get larger than III, but that is quite a nice increase. I did the half day a.m. trip , which is probably the easiest of the trips. But some real adventure would be Westwater Canyon Trip.

I plan on going rafting at least a couple more times to take advantage of the great water runs!

Moab Adventure Center Promo

2006-05-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Moab Adventure Center is running a great activity promo- if you book three trips, you get 10% off the whole purchase. The trips are all different prices, so the amount will vary. If you go on the Hummer Sunset Safari, River Rafting and Tomcar drive, you could save about $20.00 a person. Thats not too bad considering you do all of those recreation activities in one trip to Moab, UT! I think the combination of those three trips gives you some of the best scenery in Moab, Utah. Check these picture out!

You can mix and match pretty much any of the trips to make your own itinerary while you are down there. Its a great way to plan a trip to Moab.

Moab, UT makes America's 'Top 100 Family Campgrounds' !

2006-05-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

A new press release from ReserveAmerica, the United States' leading recreation reservation and campground management solutions provider, sticks Devil's Garden Campground in Moab, Utah as one of the Top 100 family campgrounds in the U.S. Also listed in the top 100 is Green River State Park- Green River, UT.

The greatest part about this list is that the ranking were not just based on opinions of the ReserveAmerica crew. The ranking are based off of a combination of customer feedback provided by park Rangers, testimonials and park management. Also included in the considerations of the more than 3,000 site reviewed were:

availability of hot showers, laundry facilities, hiking trails, family beaches, radio-free zones, visitor centers, educational programs, children's events and location

If you want to read the whole article, you can get the press release by clicking here.

Both the Green River and Arches National Park in Moab, UT provide not only great camprounds, but also great scenery and the Moab Adventure Center. The Moab Adventure Center has great vacation packages for the whole family- multi-day packages down the Green River and also tours at Arches Nationa l. Check them out for some great adventures.

2006-05-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

The weather is looking nice for the season! I like to keep tabs on the current weather reports for moab so I can see trends in the weather patterns and the temperature rising. Personally, I think the next couple of months, May and June, are ideal for Moab trips. Its not too hot, and you can still do all of the activities.

The best place to stay up-to-date is the weather forecaster on the Moab Adventure Center website. If you scroll down the page a bit you can see the actual updated forecasts for the area dynamically updated. Its great because its even faster than trying to find the weather on other websites like the weather channel and local news stations. You dont have to bother with typing in addresses and whatnot.