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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!
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
