Searching For The Wolf Man (Rock Art)

I stumbled upon an interesting guy as I was hiking Saturday. Locals call him the "Wolf Man." He appears to be a humanoid, perhaps a deity of some sort. He is surrounded by fanciful forms that are totally unique - I've never seen rock art images quite like them anywhere else on earth.

Actually, I didn't just stumble upon him. I hunted him down by searching the cliff faces along rugged Comb Ridge, west of the town of Bluff, down near Monument Valley.

I love to view the rock art left by ancient cultures, and the SE corner of Utah offers some of the best. As a hobby, I hike into remote areas to find petroglyph and pictographs - I've viewed and photographed thousands of them. It is always a thrill to find a new site.

Many rock art images seem to relate to daily life: big horn sheep and other animals suggesting a successful hunt, powerful warriors guarding the village, great gods intervening in behalf of the people - that kind of thing.

To me, the wolf man doesn't fit into any of those categories. Who is this guy and what are those strange objects around him? Is that a smiling cat next to the fish skeleton? How about that flying fish? And what is that starburst-thing inside the circle?

I don't have any reference point to provide perspective as I try to understand these interesting images.

Surprisingly different. That's part of the fun of hunting for rock art - you never know what you'll find.

The weather was perfect for hiking over the weekend, with mild sunny days and cold nights, and it looks like that pattern will hold in southern Utah through the next several days.

Right now is a great time to hike our desert canyons. I can't wait to get back down.

- Dave

BLM Pulls Plug On Energy Development Near Utah National Parks

The federal Bureau of Land Management caused a big stir a few weeks ago when it scheduled lease auctions for potential oil and gas wells near Arches and other Utah parks and sensitive areas.

Yesterday the agency removed some 34 parcels from a lease auction set for Dec 19.

Many news groups have articles about the potential sale, and now BLM's concessions. Below are excerpts from this LA Times article.

The Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday backed off from plans to auction more than a dozen leases to explore for oil and gas on the doorstep of several national parks, deflecting accusations by environmental groups that it was handing a "parting gift" to the energy industry before the Obama administration takes over.

The agency still will proceed with more than 100 lease sales at a Dec. 19 auction. BLM officials did not return calls for comment Tuesday night, but they released a statement with the National Park Service after a Monday meeting, saying the two agencies had come to an agreement on protecting the environment.

"Putting oil and gas exploration and industrial zones in the Southwest causes irreparable damage," said David Nimkin of the National Park Conservation Assn. "It's like burning Rembrandts to heat the castle. I'm not sure we're that desperate."

Park City Will Open For Skiing Friday

Park City Mountain Resort will be open for skiing on Friday, Nov 28, 2008. The resort released the information below on its blog:

Opening day at Park City Mountain Resort will be this coming Friday, November 28! So here's my advice, take it easy on Thanksgiving Day, watch some football, eat lots of turkey and get ready to ski and ride it all off over the next three days. We are planning to open with both PayDay and First Time Lifts...

Meanwhile, The Canyons resort has pushed back its opening day until Dec 5.

A storm is expected to move over Utah Wednesday evening, with rain at lower elevations and snow up higher. Showers are expected to continue Thursday, so the resorts could have some fresh, natural snow for the big weekend.

Utah Properties Maintain AAA Five Diamond Ratings

The Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City and the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City have once again earned AAA five diamond ratings.

The Salt Lake Tribune has this article on the awards. Below are excerpts.

"Utah's Five Diamond award winners truly represent the best of the hospitality industry," said Rolayne Fairclough, AAA Utah spokesperson. "They are repeat winners, which prove their dedication to continuing a tradition of excellence."

"Four Diamond" awards were granted to 15 other Utah lodging establishments and 10 restaurants. New to the list this year are Zermatt Resort and Spa in Midway, Goldener Hirsch Inn in Park City and The Paris restaurant in Salt Lake City.

Read the entire article.

Park City Mountain Resort Postpones Ski Opening

We're basking under unseasonably warm temperatures and that has prompted Park City Mountain Resort to postpone its opening day. The ski resort was set to open on Saturday, Nov 22, but now says it will not open until conditions become more winter-like.

Onthesnow.com has this article about the development. Below is an excerpt.

"The resort [is unable] to provide guests with the experience they have come to expect from a top-five rated mountain," said PCMR's Paula Altschuler.

Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude have been open for some time and have decent early-season conditions. They are in canyon locations where temperatures are cooler and they have also had significant natural snowfall.

Meanwhile, people are golfing, hiking, biking and enjoying the nice weather. The latest forecast suggests it will hold into next week. A storm is out there and may bring new snow to our resorts next Wednesday.

Football 'Holy War' Comes To Salt Lake

They will be playing football On The Hill Saturday, in Rice Eccles Stadium at the University of Utah. It is the annual holy war between the Utes and Brigham Young University - a game that has evolved into one of the premier rivalries in the United States.

The struggle is more intense this year because a lot is riding on the game, including the Mountain West Conference title and a potential invitation to a BCS bowl. San Diego Union-Tribune writer Brent Schrotenboer summed it up this way: "Never in the 10-year history of the Mountain West Conference has there been a game bigger than this." Read his column: One more win, Utes likely in BCS.

There will be crowds and traffic congestion and screaming fans. If you need to be in that part of Salt Lake City on Saturday then be ready for anything.

Kickoff is set for 4 pm.

Below are some articles about the teams, provided by our friends at Google.

BYU, Utah football: Utes quick to admit this game is a biggie Deseret News

Utah football notes: Utes want whole pie, not just a piece Salt Lake Tribune

BYU, Utah football: Battles within the battle Deseret News

Utah football: Business as usual for Utes Salt Lake Tribune

All 255 news articles »

Pritchett Canyon Trail Named An Outstanding Offroad Route

One of Utah's premier offroad trails has won national recognition, and also funding to be used to preserve offroad activities along the route. Trucktrend.com has this report about the Pritchett Canyon Trail. Below are excerpts.

The Pritchett Canyon Trail, located southwest of Moab, Utah, has been named an "Outstanding Trail" by BFGoodrich Tires. Accompanying the recognition is a $4000 grant given to the Moab Friends-For-Wheelin' club, which will be used in the preservation efforts of one of America's best offroading trails.

According to Jeff Stevens, president of the Moab Friends-For-Wheelin' club, "Pritchett Canyon is a `must-do' for any four-wheeler visiting Moab who is looking for an extreme challenge and unbeatable scenery. The trail is unforgiving and environmentally sensitive, and we are very pleased to have BFGoodrich Tires assist our efforts to preserve the trail."