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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!
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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!
