Vamoose Utah Winter 2016

VOL. 2 NO. 3 • WINTER 2016

GET OUT | GET GOING | JUST GO

Lake Powell’s Winter Allure

10

Energize To Winterize Your Body

32

Taking the Plunge

Dive into Homestead’s Warm Water

26

Olympic Playgrounds 22

fuel your

adventure

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Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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INSIDE VAMOOSE

WARRIOR 10 WEEKEND Lake Powell’s winter allure

BY KATHLEEN CURRY & GEOFF GRIFFIN

GLOBETROTTER 16 ARMCHAIR Around the world in 11 days, courtesy of Sundance

BY ERIC D. SNIDER

20

TRAILBLAZER After a life-altering injury, pro snowboarder Tim Ostler bounces back

BY JOHN PAUL BROPHY

THE FLAME ALIVE 22 KEEPING Utah's Olympic venues are a gift that keep on giving

BY TONI ISOM

26

WHY I ... SCUBA in Landlocked Utah

28

BACKCOUNTRY CHEF Grilled wild duck poppers for your holiday meals

BY NICK COMO

BY DARBY DOYLE

IS THE PLACE 30 THIS Hovenweep’s ancient towers offer scenery and solitude

BY JERRY SPANGLER

BY LIZ GALLOWAY

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JOSH SCHEUERMAN

HA! 32 HIBERNATE? Indoor hot spots for winter

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Issue 1 • VOL. Summer 20152016 2 NO. 3 • WINTER

Utah GET OUT OUT | GET GOING | JUST GO | GET GET GOING

CONTRIBUTORS

| JUST GO

STAFF PUBLISHER EDITORIAL EDITOR COPY EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR GRAPHIC ARTISTS

BUSINESS/OFFICE ACCOUNTING MANAGER ASSOCIATE BUSINESS MANAGER OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR TECHNICAL DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEPT. ADMINISTRATOR MARKETING MARKETING DIRECTOR CIRCULATION CIRCULATION MANAGER SALES MAGAZINE ADVERTISING DIRECTOR NEWSPRINT ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES RETAIL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ACCOUNT MANAGER

JOHN SALTAS JERRE WROBLE LANCE GUDMUNDSEN JOHN PAUL BROPHY, NICK COMO, KATHLEEN CURRY, DARBY DOYLE, LIZ GALLOWAY, GEOFF GRIFFIN, TONI ISOM, ERIC D. SNIDER, JERRY SPANGLER BRETT COLVIN, JACOB W. FRANK, WESTON FULLER, RAY GOLDEN, NEAL HERBERT, JOHN MADSEN, BRICELYN MARON, JOSH SCHEUERMAN, WOLFGANG STAUDT, GLEB TARRO, CHASE WILLIAMS, ANDY WRIGHT

JOHN PAUL BROPHY

John Paul Brophy was one of City Weekly’s early contributors and later served as its page editor. A U of U graduate, Brophy was a features writer for The Salt Lake Tribune for many years. He owned the Dead Goat Saloon, a bygone nightclub known for its great blues scene. Now retired, Brophy enjoys watching baseball, spending time with his wife, Wendy Whitney, and driving his 23-year-old Chevy truck.

DEREK CARLISLE SUMMER MONTGOMERY, CAIT LEE, JOSH SCHEURMAN CODY WINGET PAULA SALTAS NICOLE ENRIGHT BRYAN MANNOS ALISSA DIMICK JACKIE BRIGGS LARRY CARTER

TONI ISOM

Toni Isom has lived in Utah for nearly 20 years and currently resides in downtown Salt Lake City. A copywriter by weekday, she spends her free time hiking, biking, skiing and exploring the Wasatch Range and Southern Utah. She also enjoys gardening, reading, baking, cross-stitching and other grandmotherly activities.

JENNIFER VAN GREVENHOF PETE SALTAS ANNA PAPADAKIS DOUG KRUITHOF, KATHY MUELLER, JEREMIAH SMITH, SIERRA SESSIONS, LISA DORELLI, TYESON ROGERS IVY WATROUS

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248 S. MAIN, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84101, 801-575-7003 EDITORIAL CONTACT: EDITOR@VAMOOSEUTAH.COM

COPPERFIELD PUBLISHING, INC • COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

6 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

ERIC D. SNIDER Eric D. Snider is a freelance writer, critic, columnist, humorist, bon vivant, raconteur and man-about-town. His film reviews often appear in City Weekly.

He was raised in Southern California, lived in Utah for 10 years, and now resides in beautiful Portland, Ore.

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Something Different

E

ach winter, it seems, especially around the holidays, our bodies start to slow down and gravitate toward crackling fires. The shorter days, freezing temps and icy roads notify our inner bears that it’s time to curl up under a soft throw and enter a twilight sleep until the spring thaw. It's all too easy to talk ourselves out of any grand adventures.

But think back to a memorable holiday. Most stand out because they were different: the time you flew home on Christmas morning because that was the only available flight. Or that time you shared Thanksgiving dinner with complete strangers at a lakeside cabin because your divorced dad and the woman he was dating dragged you along. Or that New Year’s Eve you and your friends sat in lawn chairs on top of a frozen lake and set off fireworks while sipping champagne out of a plastic cup.

Traditions have their place. But so do breaks with tradition. And in many cases, different is good! Variations on the holiday theme not only create standout memories but are an antidote to winter doldrums.

For example, not all Utahns take to winter sports. Some want to kiss the snowflakes goodbye. In our Weekend Warrior feature, Travel Tramps Geoff Griffin and Kathleen Curry recommend a four-day stay at Lake Powell during the winter months. The weather during that time of year actually can be quite mild, and with fewer tourists to compete with, you can claim some stretches of the massive reservoir all to yourself. Further east, a national park jewel awaits in Hovenweep, located on the Utah/Colorado border. Archaeologist/author Jerry Spangler extols the virtues of a winter visit to these ancient ruins.

If globetrotting is not in your budget right now, why not let the world come to you?

January in Utah lights up with the Sundance Film Festival, whose international films provide an intimate peek into cultures from around the world. Eric D. Snider has curated a list of 11 Sundance films in the form of a world tour, all to be enjoyed from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy or a loge seat.

John Paul Brophy interviewed Tim Ostler for the Trailblazer feature. A pro snowboarder who was paralyzed 12 years ago in a halfpipe accident at Park City, Ostler’s sunny outlook and determination to get back in the game remind us to never let go of our dreams.

If you do gravitate toward winter sports, consider crafting your own Olympic itinerary at each of our Winter Games venues. In “Keeping the Flame Alive,” Toni Isom updates readers as to what is available at each facility and how to access their offerings.

Need a unique recipe for your holiday gathering? Darby Doyle shares her holiday memories along with a tasty recipe for wild duck poppers in the Backcountry Chef feature.

And speaking of different, Nick Como tells why he took up SCUBA diving in landlocked Utah and how winter diving in Homestead Crater's warm waters attracts a national following.

Finally, in “Hibernate, Ha!” Liz Galloway has compiled an inspired list of gyms, indoor activities and classes designed to keep us fit and healthy this winter.

This winter, when your gut instincts tell you to hunker down, consider that may be a clue that it's time to do something different.

Jerre Wroble Editor

8 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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WEEKEND WARRIOR Claim winter as your season if you want Lake Powell to yourself.

By Kathleen Curry & Geoff Griffin

10 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

pend a day around Lake Powell, and you might feel as if you should have done a few sessions of Rosetta Stone before your visit. You’re likely to hear German, French and Japanese being spoken—and that’s just before lunch.

Lake Powell, or more officially, the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, (928-628-6200, NPS. gov/glca) draws 3 million visitors per year from around the world because it offers the classic red-rock geography Utah is famous for combined with a huge body of water.

“It’s the unique landscape,” says National Park Service’s Chris Thompson of Glen Canyon’s appeal. “It’s the mixture of colored sandstone and the volume of water that really attracts people.”

While the azure-colored lake is about 180 miles long, Thompson notes, “They use the reference of 2,000 miles of shoreline if you can imagine that with the ins and outs of all the coves.”

As Thompson says, “I’ve been here for quite a

while, and every time I go out, I say, ‘Wow, I didn’t see that one before.’”

While Lake Powell is famous as a summer attraction, it also makes for an alluring winter retreat. For starters, it’s far less crowded. Part of the enjoyment of a lake that meanders in and out of all sorts of canyons is that you can find your own little corner—walled in by cliffs—and savor the silence.

Winter is also a great time to enjoy the landscape surrounding the lake. Red-rock canyons that can be dangerously hot in the summer are perfect in the winter for hikers wearing fleece and jeans.

Daytime highs in the 40s and 50s make for a picture of snow-dappled red rocks in the high spots and the desert in full bloom on the ground.

Check out the options on the following itinerary that takes you to Bullfrog Marina (435-684-3000, LakePowell.com) and the surrounding area in Southern Utah.

GLEB TARRO

S

SERENE LAKE POWELL

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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THURSDAY

Duke's fresh apple pie

Salt Lake City to Ticaboo

Head out of Salt Lake City on Thursday taking Interstate 15 south to Spanish Fork. Then take U.S. Route 6 to Green River, and from there, briefly take Interstate 70 west to Utah State Route 24, which takes you to Hanksville. After that three-and-ahalf hour drive, you’ll be ready to stop for a hearty meal at Duke’s

VINCE CORAK

Duke's grilled trout

VINCE CORAK

••••

Slickrock Grill (275 E. State Route 24, Hanksville, 435-542-2052, DukesSlickrock.com) for dishes like “The Stagecoach” (chickenfried steak) or “Red River” (fresh Utah trout) with a side of Dutchoven potatoes. Do not leave without trying at least one of the fresh house-made pies.

Heading south out of Hanksville, the road turns into Utah State Route 276. In about an hour, you’ll find yourself just outside the Glen Canyon Recreation Area. There are a number of options for staying at or around the lake—campgrounds, RV hookups, renting a houseboat, or checking in at Defiance House Lodge (888-8963829, LakePowell.com)—located right on the lake—or at Ticaboo Resort (Mile Marker 28, State Route 276, Ticaboo, 844-662-2628, Ticaboo.com) just a few miles north of the lake.

12 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

Poolside at Ticaboo Resort The resort's location and on-site Adventure Center make it an ideal place to combine both water and land activities such as those detailed in this itinerary. The resort also has full-service rooms, picnic options and a store. There’s also Moki’s Grill on-site, which is perfect place to grab a good pizza when you get back to your room at night. Get rested and ready for a big day on Friday.

COURTESY TICABOO RESORT

COURTESY TICABOO RESORT

Lodging at Ticaboo Resort

FRIDAY

Hall’s Crossing Ferry and Natural Bridges National Monument

UTAH.GOV

••••

Natural Bridges National Monument

RAVELL CALL

Hall’s Crossing Ferry

The Hanksburger with cheese at Stan’s Burger Shak

COURTNEY CUSHINGS

On Friday, grab breakfast at the hotel, walk over to the Adventure Center and hop in a two- or four-seat Razor.

You can download a PDF map on your phone that will show you the options. Head west to find canyons and washes to explore. Heading east brings the opportunity to go along rim trails that provide spectacular views of Lake Powell.

Back at Ticaboo, grab a catered picnic to-go, hop in the car and head down 276 into Glen Canyon Recreation Area.

The admission fee is $25 per car for seven days (also, $25 per boat for seven days). Today, you’ll be gliding across the water on Hall’s Crossing Ferry, which runs from the north side of the lake to the south. The 25-minute ride leaves on the hour every odd hour and costs $25 per car.

The ferry is actually part of the state highway system and State Route 276 (435-893-4747, UDOT.Utah.gov). It's a good idea to check on the ferry beforehand because it does not run when the water level drops below a certain point.

On the other side of the lake, you’re still on SR-276 headed east toward Natural Bridges National Monument (435-692-1234, ext. 16, NAPS.org/nabr), which is about a 90-minute drive away. Once at Natural Bridges, break out the picnic and enjoy the vistas before hiking. There are three major natural bridges in the park that can be seen in three individual short hikes, or check out all three while hiking the 8.6-mile loop trail through the park.

After leaving Natural Bridges, head northwest up State Route 95. It takes you around the north edge of the lake, and in about an hour, you’ll be back at the 276 between Hanksville and Ticaboo. Head a half-hour north to Hanksville for dinner at Stan’s Burger Shak, (150 S. Highway 95, Hanksville, 435-542-3330, StansBurgerShak.com), a classic small-town joint that’s been serving up burgers, onion rings and shakes since 1984. You’re once again an hour from base camp at Ticaboo.

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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SATURDAY

Bullfrog Marina

Motorboat on Lake Powell

HIERMIT ERTEILT

••••

WOLFGANG STAUDT

LAKEPOWELL.COM

Anasazi Restaurant

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On Saturday, grab breakfast at the resort then get ready for a day on the water. Given that the water temperature is in the 40s at this time of year, you’ll probably want to stay away from wave-runners and paddle-boards and go with a motorized boat. All shapes and sizes are available for rental either at Bullfrog Marina or from Ticaboo if you are set up to haul a boat.

Once in the water, make sure you either pull up a PDF map and have a GPS, but other than that, our advice is don’t overthink it or worry too much about where you’re going or listen to too many people giving you directions. The beauty of the Lake Powell water experience is turning a corner and having your breath taken away as you enter a hidden cove where red-rock cliffs rise around you on every side. Don’t be reckless or get lost, but this is the day to ask, “Hey, what’s over that way?” and then go find out.

You'll want to stop for lunch at Hall’s Crossing (435-684-7000, LakePowell.com), open yearround on the other side of the lake from Bullfrog Marina—only about a 20-minute drive by motorboat. You can dock just yards from the store and snack bar. It's a great place to grab food to take on the boat.

After an afternoon spent exploring the lake, stay down by the lake for dinner at Anasazi Restaurant (888-896-3829, LakePowell.com) for specialties like the bacon-wrapped, blackened meatloaf sandwich on grilled ciabatta.

SUNDAY

Even in winter, you'll find an explosion of color on hiking trails near Lake Powell .

Burr Trail, Green River and Home

RAY GOLDEN

••••

RAY GOLDEN

Slot canyons in the Lake Powell area provide ideal temperatures for winter hiking.

RAY GOLDEN

Rent a Razor in Ticaboo to explore nearby ATV trails, many with eyepopping views of Lake Powell.

The last morning of the trip is time for a scenic drive on the Burr Trail (NPS.gov/glca). Head south on SR-276, but just before getting to Glen Canyon Recreation Area, turn right and head west on the Burr Trail. It’s less than 70 miles, but passes through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.

If the weather is wet, use caution and check with rangers before attempting to drive a road that is partially unpaved.

The trail is about a three-hour drive from Ticaboo to the town of Boulder, Utah, if you don’t make any stops, but you won’t be able to resist stopping and parking five miles in at “Pedestal Alley.” The three-mile hike takes you by numerous rock formations that look like, well, pedestals.

About midway through the drive, you’ll hit “The Switchbacks.” It's a steep climb, but it provides beautiful views at the top of the pass where you'll want to stop.

From there, you could keep going to Boulder, but since the road can be dicey in wet weather, it’s best to head back the way you came to SR-276 and trace your steps home.

Build in a little extra time to head a little out of your way on I-70 to the Tamarisk Restaurant (1710 E. Main, Green River, 435-564-8109, TamariskRestaurant.com). The eatery sits on the banks of the river the town is named for and, since 1979, has been serving up a menu of steaks, fish, burgers, sandwiches and Southwestern dishes. Make sure to get the appetizer of Navajo fry bread with honey-butter.

For Utahns, visiting Lake Powell and the surrounding area during the winter months is a true get-away. It’s not only less crowded and less expensive, it's more relaxed and serene. You’ll be reminded why the world comes to see the unique natural beauty of our state.

Follow Kathleen Curry & Geoff Griffin on Twitter @TravelBrigade Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Armchair

Globetrotter Let Sundance Film Festival whisk you around the world in 11 days

BY ERIC D. SNIDER

O

ur pretty, great state has much to offer— including, for 11 days every January, a chance to travel the world without leaving town. The Sundance Film Festival’s spotlight on international cinema has broadened in recent years—the 2016 fest showcased 37 feature films representing more than 30 countries—and programmers work year-round to find the gems hidden in every corner of the world.

“We’ve gotten to see a lot of movies that upend what we might expect from films from a certain region,” said Heidi Zwicker, a sevenyear veteran of the Sundance programming team. For example, the Middle East is fertile ground for topical dramas, but Zwicker said, “We increasingly see filmmakers from the region taking on different forms and genres,” like the 2016 entry Halal Love (And Sex), a Lebanese satirical romantic comedy.

While it’s too early to talk about specific foreign films playing at Sundance '17, Zwicker commented on general trends. “We can’t entirely predict, but we’ve definitely seen strong films from Brazil in the last few years,” she said. Chinese films—“a country from which we don’t always see a lot of independent work”—have also been on the rise.

For those who can’t attend Sundance in person, it’s easy to curate your own festival in the warmth of your own home (where the lines are probably shorter, too). Here’s an alternate schedule of 11 films—one for each day of the festival—that you can watch at home while taking a whirlwind trip around the globe.

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Brazil

Bus 174 (Sundance ’03) This documentary about a Brazilian “lost boy” who takes a bus hostage highlights that country’s problems with poverty and crime, incorporating real footage of the standoff—it was covered live on TV—with re-enactments and interviews. It’s as gripping and twisty as a fictional Hollywood thriller. Available on Amazon, DVD

Argentina

Live-In Maid (Sundance ’05) A warm, droll film about a hoity-toity heiress who has squandered her fortune but can’t stand to give up her maid of 30 years, who’s as much a friend as an employee. Nice portrait of two independent women struggling to hide how dependent we all are. Available on Amazon, DVD

JEFFERY HASEN

Australia

The Babadook (Sundance ’14) A single mom with a “difficult” child is at her wits’ end when a creepy children’s book mysteriously appears ... and then can’t be disposed of. Not only is this a terrifically scary horror film, it’s also an insightful metaphor for depression and guilt. Available on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, DVD

Indonesia

The Raid: Redemption (Sundance ’12) Do you like action? Do you like movies where dudes beat the living hell out of each other with their fists, their feet and whatever weapons are nearby? The Raid is nothing but that. (There’s a plot, kind of, and some characters, in a way.)

It’s one of the most jaw-droppingly frenetic and intense movies in the genre’s history. Available on iTunes, Amazon, DVD

China

Kung Fu Hustle (Sundance ’05) Like a live-action Looney Tunes short, Stephen Chow’s whimsical, delirious martial-arts comedy—about a village defending itself against dancing marauders—is unflaggingly funny and energetic. You’ve probably never seen anything like it. Available on iTunes, Amazon, DVD

Russia

The Return (Sundance ’04) Here’s a compelling and confident, albeit bleak drama about two boys whose father returns after an unexplained 12-year absence. Biblical parallels and other symbolism add to the film’s thoughtful demeanor. Available on Amazon, DVD

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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How to Sundance

BRANDON COLLIER

Sundance draws visitors from around the world, but about one-third of all attendees are locals. Here’s how to take advantage of your status as a Utahn:

Iran

Circumstance (Sundance ’11) Set in present-day Tehran, this coming-of-age story has two teenage girls experimenting with partying and sex, while their families try to rein them in. Captures modern youth culture in Iran with sensitivity. Available on iTunes, Amazon, DVD

BRANDON COLLIER

The Locals SLC Pass ($400) gets you into any Salt Lake City screening during the festival.

This saves you a drive to Park City, where parking is limited and expensive; on the other hand, you’re less likely to see celebrities in SLC. But if all you care about is the movies, it’s perfect.

Turkey

Ivy (Sarmasik) (Sundance ’15) Six men are stranded by bureaucracy on a cargo ship off the coast of Egypt, where tensions run high. So do the metaphors for the economic collapse and other existential concerns. Available on iTunes, Amazon, DVD

BRANDON COLLIER

The Grand Theatre Pass ($300) gets you into films playing at Salt Lake Community College's Grand Theatre on the two weekends of the festival (Jan. 20-22, 27-29).

Great for locals who have, y’know, jobs during the week.

There are also options for packages of 10 tickets. Utahns can get one for $300, good for screenings at all venues, or $250 for SLC venues only.

For complete information, visit Sundance.org/festivals/sundancefilm-festival/get-tickets

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Senegal

Sembene! (Sundance ’15) Ousmane Sembene bristled at being called the father of African cinema, but that’s what he was. This is a joyful documentary about him, examining his life and work in a way that can be appreciated by people who never saw his movies.

Available on Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, DVD

France

A Prophet (Sundance ’12) Jacques Audiard’s Oscar-nominated prison drama has a low-level Arab thug enter prison scared and nervous, then rise to power within the Corsican mafia as he navigates the separate worlds of Muslims and non-Muslims. A visceral, compelling take on an old genre. Available on iTunes, Amazon, DVD

Iceland

The Sea (Sundance ’03) A good old-fashioned family melodrama about greed, selfishness and seafood. Think Dallas, but set in an Icelandic fishing village. Highly entertaining, almost a guilty pleasure (except there’s no need to feel bad). Available on Amazon, DVD

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JOSH SCHEUERMAN

Tim Ostler’s ‘new horizon’ in adaptive snowboarding.

Tim Ostler

Trailblazer

TIM OSTLER A prosnowboarder embraces the challenge of a lifealtering injury.

BY JOHN PAUL BROPHY

“S

it on it!” At 40 years old, Tim Ostler is just old enough to remember that classic comeback line from the ’70s TV show Happy Days, never thinking when he watched as a kid, it would apply literally to his own life and happiness some 20 years later.

Ostler, a native of Cottonwood Heights, was in his sixth year as a professional snowboarder in December 2000 when he had a serious halfpipe accident.

“I had been riding earlier that day with some friends in Park City,'” Ostler said, “and had just come home when I received a call that Mervin, one of the companies I rode for, wanted to do a photoshoot there that night. The pipe had been quickly built, lower than normal; conditions and speed also were what caused the fall. I caught the tail coming up and landed badly on my head and legs outside the pipe. I saw it coming and knew it was going to hurt. I really thought I was going to die.”

The crash resulted in a mid-level cervical

20 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

fracture that sent Ostler to the hospital for nearly three months and ultimately left him paralyzed from the chest down and requiring the use of a wheelchair to get around.

“I freaked out at first,” Ostler remembered of the realization of how his life would be forever changed. “I went from doing a 7-20 underflip to having trouble just picking up a coin. I didn’t really have any depression, though; excitement pretty much outweighed fear. Family and friends were at the hospital every day, as was my girlfriend, Kellie—such an outpouring of love and flowers everywhere!”

As a teenager, Ostler was a rabid skateboarder.

He had never been interested in skiing, but snowboarding soon became his passion. His talent landed him sponsors—“A dream line-up,” as he described it—videos, and a sixth-place finish in the Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom.

“One of the coolest things that I love about snowboarding are the close friendships,” Ostler said, and it was indeed that fraternity of spirit

ANDY WRIGHT ANDY WRIGHT ANDY WRIGHT JOSH SCHEUERMAN

ANDY WRIGHT

that provided substantial financial help in his new life.

“Two days before the accident,” Ostler continued, “I had gotten my contracts back riding for Quiksilver. When I told them about the accident, they said for me to still sign them and that they would honor them and pay me. Who does that?!” In addition, a host of nationally recognized riders autographed new boards from top manufacturers that were then sold online to help with Ostler’s continuing rehabilitation costs.

After some time with rehab therapy, Ostler noted real improvement and changes in his physical condition. “It’s still continuing even after 16 years,” he said. “I had been wondering how to get back on a board, and had been doing drawings and online research.” That led to an interest in adaptive skiing, primarily when a friend of Ostler’s at Lib Tech built and paid for a special monoski he called “a narrow-ass snowboard,” Ostler laughed. So, now Ostler truly was going to “sit on it,” learning how to get back on the snow “in this new horizon,” as he put it, and which he still does a few times each ski season at Brighton. “It’s different [from a snowboard], but I like it.”

“I ski only at Brighton,” Ostler said, “because I know the mountain and don’t get any surprises. It feels really special since I’m the only monoski up there.”

Ostler maintained his ties to the snowboard industry for 10 years through his work with Backcountry.com as a buyer and which had him traveling to trade shows throughout the year and becoming involved in an interesting collaboration.

“I met Dave Lee of Signal Snowboards,” Ostler said about a show he attended in Long Beach in the fall of 2012, “and he told me that he wanted me to try out one of the concept boards they had developed for their Every Third Thursday web-video series. It was a ‘wheelchair’ board; basically, a snowboard that I would sit on with my feet strapped in that had mountain-bike wheels for the outriggers. I thought it would happen that winter but four weeks later we were at Mt. Hood (site of the U.S. Ski Team training facilities)! I rode the board four times over the two days we were there, and it was unique.”

Signal didn’t put the prototype in to production, “but there was a lot of interest around the world from places like Germany and Japan,” Ostler said of his adventure.

After leaving Backcountry.com this summer, Ostler now works in sales for Payday, a payroll and insurance company. He and his now-wife, Kellie, are buying a house in Midvale. “I first wondered how I was going to have a life since everything had changed,” he said, “but then I embraced the challenges. I have a real sense of pride in everything I do.”

Ostler also has been involved for 11 years with wheelchair rugby, a Paralympic sport for those with physical impairments/loss of function of at least three limbs. His team, the Salt Lake County Scorpions, travels and competes and is registered with the U.S. Quad Rugby Association (USQRA). It’s a fast-paced, high-action, highcontact team sport that’s both fun to play and watch. The season runs Oct. 14, 2016, through March 31, 2017, and operates out of the Copperview Recreation Center (8446 S. Harrison St., Midvale, 385-468-1515).

In addition, from Feb. 17-19, 2017, the team will host the Wasatch Rumble Rugby Tournament at Taylorsville Rec Center (4948 S. 2700 West, Taylorsville; phone 385-4681956 for more information).

“I love the sport,” he says. “It’s so worthwhile—even if we lose.”

Tim Ostler tests a prototype for Signal’s wheelchair snowboard

When not conquering mountains, Tim Ostler relaxes with his friends.

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

21

KEEPING THE

Flame ALIVE

You helped pay for them. Now it’s time to take advantage of what these world-class Olympic venues have to offer.

By Toni Isom

22 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

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ALPINE SLALOM AT DEER VALLEY RESORT 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City 435-649-1000, DeerValley.com During the 2002 Games, Deer Valley Resort hosted the freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials and Alpine slalom events.

This privately owned, skiers-only resort opened 20 years before the Olympics came to town, and during the games, 95 percent of the property remained open to the public.

Deer Valley continues to offer 2,000-plus skiable acres, perfectly groomed slopes, fine dining and upscale lodging, as well as sleigh rides, guided snowmobile tours and lift-assisted summer mountain biking. Deer Valley has also hosted two World Championships and 14 World Cups, and will host the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup from Feb. 1–4, 2017.

This event is free and open to the public.

DEER VALLEY RESORT

W

hile some cities have since wondered whether hosting the Olympic Games was worth the expense and effort, Salt Lake City looks back on the 2002 Olympic Winter Games with fondness. Perhaps those long-lasting feel-goods are due in part to the continued good condition and accessibility of Utah’s Olympic venues. It’s not uncommon for Olympic venues to fall into disrepair in the years following the games, and if not left to crumble, many become private property and exclude the public whose taxes funded their construction.

So what’s the scoop at Utah’s Olympic venues today? They’re alive and well, thanks in part to a $76-million endowment fund managed by the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation. The venues remain ever on the lookout for new ways to attract visitors and patrons. So go ahead, connect the dots between these venues and create your own championship itinerary:

CHASE WILLIAMS

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3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City 801-988-8800, MaverikCenter.com Completed in 1997, E Center was one of the 2002 Games’ two ice hockey venues and the host of the 2002 Winter Paralympics’ ice sledge hockey events. The venue is owned by West Valley City, whose 2010 partnership with Maverik Inc. changed the arena’s name to its current moniker: Maverik Center. Presently, the Utah Grizzlies, our state’s ECHL ice-hockey team, are the Maverik Center’s primary tenants and, in addition to catching a fast-and-furious Grizzlies game, the public can attend major entertainment performances—The Cure, Amy Schumer and Carrie Underwood have all recently graced (or will grace) the Maverik Center stage.

COME VI SIT US FOR ALL YOUR PE T ’S NE E DS FULL SERVICE VETERINARY HOSPITAL BOARDING GROOMING DOG TRAINING PET TAXI VET ER STAY N’ PLAY DAY CARE 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE

Monday - Friday 7am - 8pm Saturday 8am - 8pm • Sunday 10am - 6pm Exceptional care for exceptional pets 2055 E Creek Road • willowcreekpet.com

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SNOWBOARDING AT PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT 1345 Lowell Ave., Park City 435-658-9457, ParkCityMountain.com One of the most storied ski resorts in the country, Park City Mountain Resort was initially a silver mine—the resort’s first skiers rode a mine train into the depths of the mountain, then took a mine elevator to the top. During the 2002 Games, PCMR hosted the giant slalom, snowboarding parallel giant slalom and snowboarding halfpipe events. In 2014, PCMR became the property of Vail Resorts, absorbed its neighbor resort, The Canyons, and formed the largest ski resort in the country. Today, Park City Mountain Resort offers more than 7,300 skiable acres, 300 trails, 41 lifts and dozens of freestyle features, as well as sleigh rides, snowmobile tours and a year-round Alpine coaster and zip line.

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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ICE HOCKEY AT THE PEAKS ICE ARENA 100 N. Seven Peaks Blvd, Provo 801-852-7465, Provo.org/community/peaks-ice-arena Originally the property of Seven Peaks Water Park in Provo, The Peaks Ice Arena was the second of two Olympic venues to host ice hockey games and practices. Six years after the games, Provo City took ownership of the venue, which is now home to the Peaks Figure Skating Club, BYU’s hockey team and several high school hockey teams. It’s also open to the public for open skating and skate lessons.

FIGURE SKATING AT THE SALT LAKE ICE CENTER (NOW VIVINT SMART HOME ARENA) 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City 801-325-2000, VivintArena.com The Salt Lake Ice Center hosted all of the 2002 Olympic Games figure skating events, as well as the short-track speed skating event. At the time, locals knew the venue as The Delta Center, but the name was temporarily changed to accommodate the Olympic Games’ no-corporate-sponsorship policy. The venue has changed its name twice more since the games and now goes by Vivint Smart Home Arena. The arena is home to the Utah Jazz and hosts approximately 40 regular-season NBA games per year, as well as large stadium concerts and other big-ticket events.

SUPER-G AT SNOWBASIN

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24 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

CHASE WILLIAMS

3925 E. Snowbasin Road, Huntsville 888-437-5488, Snowbasin.com Weber County’s Snowbasin is one of the longest-running ski areas in the country. Its first ski runs were cut in 1940, and last year, the resort celebrated its 75th season. Snowbasin hosted the 2002 Games’ downhill, combined and super-G events, as well as the 2002 Winter Paralympics Alpine skiing events, including downhill, slalom, giant slalom and super-G. Today this Wasatch Back resort offers 3,000 skiable acres and as many

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vertical feet, four terrain parks and several rustic-upscale lodges.

Guests can also access 26 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails, perfect for cross-country skiing, skate skiing or snowshoeing.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING AT SOLDIER HOLLOW 2002 Olympic Drive, Midway 435-654-2002, SoldierHollow.com Soldier Hollow hosted the games’ biathlon, cross-country and Nordic combined cross-country events, as well as the Paralympics biathlon and cross-country events. The 134-acre venue, completed in 2000, was created specifically for the 2002 Olympics. Since the games, Soldier Hollow has hosted national and international ski racing and biathlon championships, the world’s largest sheepdog championship and the North American Unicycle Championships. Soldier Hollow is believed to be the only self-sustaining Olympic venue. Its Competition Center now houses the K-6 Soldier Hollow Charter School, and its 19 miles of groomed Nordic trails, lodge, biathlon range and tow-serviced tubing hill are available for public use.

CURLING AT THE ICE SHEET AT OGDEN 4390 Harrison Blvd., Ogden 801-399-8750, WeberCountyUtah.gov/icesheet Also known as the Weber County Ice Sheet, the Ice Sheet at Ogden was the Olympic Games’ second-ever official curling venue, as curling events had only just been introduced to the games in 1998. Prior to the 2002 Winter Games, the Ice Sheet at Ogden hosted several World Curling Federation-sanctioned events, as well as regional curling, hockey and figure-skating events. Today, the venue, which is owned by Weber State University and leased by the Utah Sports Authority, is home to the junior league Ogden Mustangs and offers public skating, figure skating, speed skating and curling, as well as figure-skating lessons.

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5662 S. 4800 West, Kearns, 801-968-6825, UtahOlympicLegacy.org Like Soldier Hollow, the Utah Olympic Oval was built specifically for the 2002 Games. The venue hosted the long-track speed skating events, and thanks to its elevation-induced low air resistance, all 10 speed-skating events held here set Olympic records—hence the one-time tagline “Fastest Ice on Earth.” The venue is now managed by the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that strives to preserve Utah’s Olympic legacy and engage people in winter sport. The venue still hosts local, national and international competitions and has seen 10 world records shattered on its ice. In addition to hosting speed skating competitions, the Olympic Oval offers public skating, cosmic curling and figure-skating and hockey lessons.

BOBSLEDDING AND SKI-JUMPING AT UTAH OLYMPIC PARK 3419 Olympic Parkway, Park City, 435-658-4200, UtahOlympicLegacy.org The Utah Olympic Park, the third of three venues built specifically for the 2002 Olympics, was under construction for nearly a decade. The 389acre park hosted the bobsled, skeleton, luge and ski jumping events, and 14 years later, it’s still an active Official U.S. Olympic Training site, serving everyone from elite world-class athletes to local youth. Like the Olympic Oval, the park is now managed by the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and is financially supported by ticket sales and donations—the latter contributed new ramps, a deeper aerials training pool, and a permanent free-solo climbing wall in 2015. The public can visit the UOP year-round for piloted bobsled rides and a range of exciting events, including national and international bobsled, skeleton, luge and ski jumping comps, the Red Bull 400 and the Psicobloc Masters Series. In the summer, the venue is a popular destination for zip lining, alpine sliding, free solo climbing and adventure courses.

CHASE WILLIAMS

SPEED SKATING AT THE UTAH OLYMPIC OVAL

MAIN MEDIA CENTER What was the press and broadcasting center during the games is now the Salt Palace Convention Center. As Salt Lake City’s flagship meeting and convention venue, it is the biannual site of both the Outdoor Retailer Convention and Salt Lake Comic Con.

OLYMPIC MEDALS PLAZA The site of medal presentations and Olympic celebration concerts during the games has now been returned to its former glory as an LDS Church-owned parking lot. (The plaza’s centerpiece, the Hoberman Arch, was relocated to Rice-Eccles Stadium after the games, then moved to an impound lot where several pieces were stolen.)

OLYMPIC VILLAGE Located at Historic Fort Douglas on the University of Utah campus, the village housed athletes, coaches and other officials during the games. The buildings are now used as University of Utah student housing.

PARK CITY MAIN STREET This pedestrian-only celebration and entertainment area during the games was reopened to traffic after the games. It soon returned to its status as a historic shopping and dining destination for tourists and locals.

PAGE SMITH

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RICE–ECCLES OLYMPIC STADIUM The University of Utah’s Rice stadium was massively renovated for use as the site of the opening and closing ceremonies, upping its seating capacity from 38,000 to 50,000. It’s now home to the University of Utah Utes Pac-12 football team and host to major events such as the Nitro World Games.

SALT LAKE OLYMPIC SQUARE The pedestrian-only, multi-block hub of downtown Salt Lake that encompassed the Olympic Medals Plaza, the Salt Lake Ice Center and the Olympic Superstore is now the site of Vivint Smart Home Arena, the Salt Palace Convention Center and Abravanel Hall.

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Why I ...

SCUBA in Landlocked Utah

Kick off your skis and don your tank—no wetsuit required.

Only in Utah can you enjoy yearround warm-water diving—in a limestone crater, no less.

BY NICK COMO

WESTON FULLER COURTESY OF HOMESTEAD RESORT

U

tah may boast numerous outdoor options, including skiing, climbing, mountain and road biking, river rafting, kayaking, and ATV riding. But, is that really enough? Apparently not for me, since I’ve added another recreational opportunity you might not identify with the Beehive State: diving.

I didn’t discover diving in Utah, however. That would have been on the sunny shores of Cancun. A few years back, my now-wife/thengirlfriend and I were in Mexico. She had loved to SCUBA dive for years, but not me. I was petrified of water—especially being under it. But as we were staying at an all-inclusive hotel, I had a few drinks, and a free session with SCUBA gear was offered at the pool. Well, one thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was headed out on a boat the next day.

I figured, at a minimum, I would receive some instruction in the pool and get a free boat ride afterward. What could possibly go wrong? A three-minute boat ride later, still in earshot of the hotel pool’s music, I found out.

If Wile E. Coyote operated the ACME SCUBA company, this would be it. The buoyancy control devices (inflatable vests also known as BCDs) had broken buckles, the tanks had no air and the instructor spoke Polish. We were in Mexico, remember? A native English speaker trying to communicate with a native Polish speaker in broken Spanish sucks. I asked her what to do if I panicked when I was 30 feet under.

All I could get back in response was: “You’ll have fun!” Yeah, I’m sure.

The first dive dropped us into a pretty cool reef. Maybe this would be fun. My mask wasn’t leaking, but it was tight as hell. I could breathe, so that was good. The instructor told us when the first diver’s air tank got down to 25 percent, we should surface and that we should breathe slowly to extend the dive. I sucked my oxygen down as fast as I could.

Once it was time to go up to the surface, I confused the “inflate” and “deflate” buttons and wound up filling the BCD too fast and rocketed to the surface. Not ideal, but I wrestled my mask off to take the best breaths of my life. My face was completely black and blue from the mask, because I didn’t know I was supposed to “equalize”

Where Else Can You Dive in Utah?

Sand Hollow Reservoir Bear Lake

SEABase

This St. George lake is a cool place to dive: There is a submerged Cessna plane and VW bus at 40 feet to explore. Great place to beat the desert summer heat or enjoy spring and fall dives in comfortable water temperatures.

Located in the Bonneville Salt Flats, this is another unique place to dive, or learn to dive, as there is an on-site diving school (Visit Seabase. net). Water visibility can be low to zero here, but hey, you’re SCUBA diving in Utah.

26 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

Cold, with a capital C, unless you hit this turquoise blue lake on the Utah-Idaho border in the heat of summer. Or, simply wear a wetsuit. Here, you’ll see a graveyard of sunken cars and other high Alpine marine life.

COURTESY OF HOMESTEAD RESORT

the pressure in it on the way down. Another point lost in translation, I guess.

I lived, obviously. But, as soon as we returned to Utah, I signed up for a class at Dive Utah (4679 S. 2225 East, Holladay, 801277-3483, DiveUtah.com) where I learned how to equalize a mask—and a lot more. Like, which button is used to inflate and which deflates. And, as you rise to the surface, the air in your vest naturally expands (remember high school physics class?), so you actually want to deflate your vest as your surface.

Over four pool sessions, I spent hours mastering techniques for SCUBA diving, and at that point, I was ready to take the plunge again. But first, I had to do four certification dives, which I did on a snowy December weekend at the Homestead Crater (700 N. Homestead Drive, Midway, 435-657-3840, HomesteadResort.com).

The crater is a geothermal spring under a 55-foot-tall dome of limestone rock. A hole at the top allows in light and air, but the water inside maintains a constant year-round temperature of between 90 and 96 degrees F. As the only warm-water SCUBA diving destination in the continental United States, the crater is awesome for a dive in the dead of winter. There’s no need for a wetsuit. This natural feature is thousands of miles from the Mayan Riviera, but it’s less than hour from the Wasatch Front and is just as warm and clear.

Before my wife and I return to Mexico this winter, we’ll head up to Midway to knock off any rust, brush up on gear operation and hand signals. With the confidence I gained in Utah waters, I can hop a flight to Mexico, Belize, Thailand or Australia and be relatively self-sufficient and safe. And, there’s actually a plethora of dive spots in Utah (see below) from St. George to Salt Lake County, summer and winter.

Just as getting a drink at a beachfront allinclusive resort is different from ordering one in a Utah bar, exploring Utah lakes is vastly different from diving in the ocean. Going from saltwater to freshwater adds to the unique challenge found in Utah waters, due to differences in buoyancy. Plus, the state’s higher elevation throws yet another curve at Utah divers. The ocean is (duh) at sea-level, so the way you approach diving at 6,000 feet—in the “thin mountain air”—means there is less atmospheric pressure. This needs to be accounted for in a diver’s gauges, as well as with the ascension rate. A miscalculation, or using the same dive rates as at sea level, can result in nitrogen building up in blood, aka the bends.

And while you have to rely on hand signals underwater, learning the skills from someone who speaks the same language is always a smart idea.

WESTON FULLER COURTESY OF HOMESTEAD RESORT

Homestead Crater

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

27

Chef

Backcountry Just Ducky

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DARBY DOYLE

Spice up your holiday meals with grilled wild duck poppers.

U

tah hunters rarely serve their own turkeys at Thanksgiving: State regulations limit hunting season for gobblers to the spring for habitat conservation and biological reasons.

So, unless I’ve carefully packed and frozen a big bird from the preceding May, we’re having other game meat featured at the big feast—such as mule deer, goose or our favorite family treat, wild duck. My kids still reminisce fondly about the year that we made a “Duckoosealope” from wild goose and duck stuffed with homemade sage and garlic antelope sausage. Think Turducken, Utah outdoors-style. Regardless of what we’ve been lucky enough to bring in from the field, our goal is always the same: use every bit of meat possible from each hunt, maximizing flavor while minimizing food waste.

One of our favorite ways to use smaller pieces of trim from butchering is to make “popper” style stuffed jalapeño appetizers.

They’re a quick and easy snack to make in the field after a day of hunting using any type of game. Just plan ahead by packing the dipping sauce in a separate container before leaving home, prep all the other ingredients in camp while the fire gets going, and cook the poppers over medium flames on a grill rack. They’re equally delicious when made at home using a gas grill or by roasting the poppers on a sheet tray in a 375-degree oven (a great option when the weather isn’t cooperating). Instead of losing all that cheesy goodness to the inevitable oozing while the popper’s cooking, I make a savory dipping sauce and keep the grilled bites relatively minimalist.

Don’t have dates on hand? No problem.

Although they give a nice sweet note to balance out the heat of the jalapeño with the rich duck and salty bacon, these nuggets are just as tasty sans fruit.

28 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

Grilled Wild Duck Popper

Harvesting the holiday game

Grilling the wild duck poppers

Savory herb & cheese dipping sauce (makes about 2/3 cup) Combine the following ingredients in a food processor (or, by hand, mince the garlic and chives, shred the cheddar, and combine ingredients in a serving bowl): 1 clove garlic, smashed 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cut into small chunks ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt 4 ounces cream cheese (softened at room temperature) 1 small bunch chives, cut in 1-inch pieces (to fit in processor) Salt and black pepper to taste Process using on/off pulses until all ingredients are combined and garlic is evenly distributed.

Remove from processor into a lidded serving container and refrigerate or keep in a cooler until ready to serve.

Wild duck poppers (serves 6-8 appetizer portions) 8 jalapeños sliced lengthwise (seeds and ribs removed) 8 large dates, pits removed and halved lengthwise 16 small strips (about 1 ½-2 inches long by at least ½-inch wide and ½–inch thick) wild duck trim (thighs and legs are especially great for this!), or substitute in goose, venison, elk or whatever you have on hand 8 strips thick uncured bacon, cut in half cross-wise To assemble the poppers: to the inside of each jalapeño half add a strip of duck and a wedge of date. Stretch the bacon slightly between your fingers to make it fit completely around the jalapeño evenly. Secure closed with a toothpick.

Grill over indirect heat (or bake on a sheet tray in a preheated 375 degree oven) for about 15 minutes or until all the bacon is crispy; turn as needed to brown evenly on all sides. Test duck with a meat thermometer to make sure that it has reached a temperature of 165 degrees.

Serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

29

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

Milky Way at the Square Tower Group

A winter’s sojourn to the ancient towers of Hovenweep reward with scenery and solitude.

JACOB W. FRANK

BY JERRY D. SPANGLER

A

bout 700 years ago, ancestors of the Hopi and Zuni and other Puebloan groups of southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado abandoned their high-desert homeland and began a great migration south.

Archaeologists debate long and hard as to why they left. Populations had expanded throughout the AD 1000s and 1100s, and by the following century, the population might have exceeded the limited carrying capacity of the desert environment where water was always in limited supply.

It might have been that centuries of deforestation and nutrient depletion of the shallow sandy soils had profound effects on soil quality and the ability of the ancients to raise enough food—corn, beans and squash— to feed the ever-larger populations.

It might also have been that climatic changes resulted in more frequent crop failures, which in turn resulted in increased violence between those with food and those without. Or maybe it was a great, twodecade-long drought that brought to an

abrupt end to what had previously been a 1,000-year relationship between the ancient farmers and these high mesas.

Ghostly reminders of the abandonment are common just about anywhere you look in this country, and certainly one of the best visual examples anywhere is Hovenweep National Monument on the Utah-Colorado border. Here, stone towers still stand as silent guardians and ceremonial structures seem to beckon the return of the ancient ones with their songs and dances.

That these ruins are standing some 700 years later is inspiring in a jaw-dropping sort of way. And when you personally experience these architectural masterpieces, you can’t help but wonder what, if anything, we might leave behind that would similarly stand the test of time.

Chances are you’ve never heard of Hovenweep, said to be a Ute word for abandoned valley, or maybe you have heard of it but never ventured there for whatever reason (my own misguided reasons for initially avoiding it seem silly in hindsight,

THIS IS THE PLACE 30 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

that because it was a national “park,” then it must be swarming with tourists, which is laughably untrue).

Hovenweep is certainly a crown jewel in the National Park Service system, yet it remains largely unknown to the public. It is just far enough off the main highway as to be avoided by the gaggle of tourists racing between Monument Valley and Mesa Verde, and the primitive network of slightly paved and unpaved roads linking the spectacular ruins by and large seems to detour most buses and motor homes. (People who venture into this country are more into car camping and day hiking).

There are exceptional opportunities for quiet and solitude even among the busiest season. But my favorite time to visit is the “off” season from mid-October to mid-April, when the number of visitors dwindles to a mere trickle—it is not uncommon to wander among the ruins and never encounter another soul.

And unlike the other heritage parks, each of the seven “units” or protected parcels

NEAL HERBERT

Hovenweep House

NEAL HERBERT

Cajon Unit

NEAL HERBERT

Reverse Handprint

Stronghold House

JACOB W. FRANK

that comprise Hovenweep—two in Colorado and five in Utah—affords hiking opportunities where the ancient past can be experienced up close and personal without those annoying barriers and fences and concrete trails that seem to define places like Mesa Verde.

You can hike and explore for hours, or you can simply ponder without interruption the many mysteries of the past that defy easy explanations.

There are no fees to visit any of the seven clusters of ruins at Hovenweep and camping is reasonable ($10 for a tent space with a fire pit and awning for shade), although camping is limited to one area of the park next to the visitors center. Primitive camping is not allowed.

Visiting in the off season has its rewards (greater quiet and the occasional snowstorm that makes for stunning photographs), but it also has a down side. It can get cold here, often with temperatures barely nudging above freezing.

A lot of off-season visitors prefer to base out of motels in nearby Blanding or Bluff (the drive to the ruins is about an hour or so depending on road conditions). If day tripping is your bag, then you might consider overnighting in Cortez, Colo., where the dining and beverage options are much, much greater, although Cortez adds another hour or so to your return trip to the Wasatch Front.

The roads to the park visitor center are paved and access is generally quite good. But access to the individual clusters of ruins varies greatly depending on weather conditions (See NPS.gov/hove/planyourvisit/directions.htm).

Some of these roads are well maintained and passable to just about any vehicle, and yet others require high-clearance vehicles. It is always a good idea to check in with the rangers at the visitor center for the latest road conditions (970-562-4282 ext.10).

And remember to always respect the past. Do not stand on or lean on the ruin walls, never pocket any artifact no matter how seemingly insignificant it might be, never touch or trace rock art, and stay on existing trails.

Jerry D. Spangler is a professional archaeologist and executive director of the non-profit Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance, which is dedicated to the preservation of ancient sites through public education and outreach.

THIS IS THE PLACE Winter 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Wave Running at Flowrider

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Keep moving and grooving all winter long by checking out these indoor hot spots.

BY LIZ GALLOWAY

D

oomed to wear fat pants all winter and hide behind bulky cardigans?

Winter waistline sabotaging isn’t just avoiding treadmill monotony, it has a chemical base. During the darker months, we combat a serotonin drop and melatonin spike, leaving us to crave more carbs and less movement. Not only that but slower metabolisms and reduced exposure to Vitamin D lure us into a sedentary lifestyle throughout winter.

It’s worth combating winter woes and extra pounds with these insider spots to let it burn, burn, burn, baby—calories, that is. Let Mother Nature try to break your stride.

INDOOR INTERVAL RIDES

No need to be bummed about missing your favorite mountain-biking trails (for a few months anyway). Hit a spin class to toughen up those thighs and buns. On average, you can burn 400-600 calories in a 40-minute spin class, while high intensity 60- and 90-minute classes (and hill climbs) can have you shedding even more. For about the same cost as a drop-in yoga class ($18 each, or 3 for $45) you can glide and swoop over imaginary trails to rhythmic high-energy music. Be sure to focus on your power output rather than your dance moves to get a real (and safer) workout. You’ll be ready to hit those outdoor trails again with the first melt. In the meantime, stop by and say hi to Boom founder, Reagan, for your indoor routine. Boom Cycle Room, 1154 Center Drive, Ste. D200, Park City, 208-881-6473, BoomCycleRoom.com

32 | Vamoose Utah • Winter 2016

CROSS-TRAINING YOGA

The weather may have thrown off your usual routine, and possibly your mood, but you can still get a power workout without the outdoor exposure. Yoga fits great with more cardio-intense workouts, rest days and cross-training schedules. There’s a level and style to fit anyone’s needs, and you can get an indoor hookup year-round. Hot yoga, Hatha yoga, Vinyasa flow, Bikram, crazy bendy body-trendy over-the-top yoga. Yogi body goals will help you fight the winter blues, stress, anxiety and help sculpt those lean muscles. Don’t be surprised if the power yoga sessions feel more like a boot camp.

Using your own body weight to get in shape, can be a butt kicking. Salt Lake Power Yoga, 250 E. 300 S., Salt Lake City, 801-468-9642, SaltLakePowerYoga.com

WAVE RUNNER

Keep that summer feel in your beachwear, hangin’ 10 with the fishies at the Flowrider indoor “beach” resort. Burn an average 225 calories an hour on 10,000 gallons of pumping water. There’s no ocean here, but you can still carve some killer turns on the wave face (maybe after a few wipe-outs).

Picture a warm breeze flowing through your hair, as you channel your inner Kelly Slater … OK, more like indoor ventilation on a man-made wave, but it will take some core balance and full-body muscle maneuvering.

Outcome: a leaner physique and no shark scares for $20 an hour. Flowrider, 2261 Kiesel Ave., Ste. 2B, Ogden, 801-528-5352, FlowRiderUtah.com

PICKLES & BALLS

Hit it with a wiffle-ball bat or similar paddle.

Pickleball is now a thing. Really. Though the game began being played in the ’60s, it’s now an obsession for picklers of all ages. A combination of badminton and tennis, it boasts a lower net, larger paddle and a non-volley zone (7 feet on either side of the net) where you are allowed to play a ball that bounces in the vicinity. It’s easy to learn; as such, there is no shortage of highly competitive Pickle Ballers.

The Pleasant Grove Recreation Center (Rec. PLGrove.org) offers drop-in play and has a winter league, as do several other rec centers.

Check out the robust Pickleball Utah Facebook group. You can also catch a daily drop-in class at the Holladay Lions Fitness & Recreation Center, 1661 E. Murray-Holladay Road (4800 South), Holladay, 385-468-1689, SLCO.org/ recreation/holladaylions

UTAH CREW & ROWING

Don’t want to ward off the winter workout blues alone? Hit it off with a group of rowers by joining a recreational or competitive team.

Learn scull and boat basics, terminology and some serious stamina. Technique is more important than experience, and even firsttime rowers can join winter-training sessions.

Rowing is more than an upper-body workout.

Burning up to 600 calories per hour, the cardio alone can leave you as winded as you’d be hiking any steep trail. Because it blasts nine major muscle groups, your quads, glutes, hamstrings, lats, core, shoulders, triceps, back and biceps are all in for a beating. Most teams are for younger rowers, but there are

options for adults and for corporate team-building. Yes, most training is done on actual water, but you can maintain your winter rowing skills in the gym. Utah Crew (UtahCrew. org) and Wasatch Rowing Foundation (WasatchRowingFoundation.org)

accountability, you’ll gain great online exercise guidance, and won’t come out of winter any worse for the wear.

Consider working with this local cardio and strength-based coach: Atim Effiong, 801-810-9056, EffiFit.com

DANCE REVOLUTION

Keep it fun, with a fusion of hip beats, weighted drumsticks and constant movement. It’s the newish trendy fitness craze called Pound.

Unleash your inner musician, or kid, and burn calories with Pilates-style moves and fast-paced cardio routines that have names like Kit Position and Base Kick (pulling from the founders’ backgrounds as drummers). This bouncy favorite creates lean muscles with minimal weight; the movements can be adjusted to all fitness levels.

Pound is popping up in gyms across the nation. You can jump into classes and some cheap thrills at your local rec center. The Park Center in Murray, 202 E. Murray Park Ave., Murray, 801-2844200, Murray. Utah.gov

YOUR LIVING ROOM

Virtual and online fitness coaches can get you moving fast and furiously with cardio and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) right at home. Healthfocused, even in a snowstorm? Yeah, that’s calling my name. Working virtually with the right trainer and transformation coach can be as effective as in person, with less stress.

A vetted and trained virtual coach provides constant communication, curated daily/weekly schedules and feedback. That, paired with the right meals, calorie intake and (woah)

Aerial Arts of Utah AcroYoga Level 3

FULL BODY POUND

CIRCUS ART

Trapeze artists get chiseled backs, arms and shoulders from movements and complex routines that use their own body weight. So if you’re looking to stay warmed up, try this new winter workout. Aerial silks, trapeze, ropes, lyra and acroyoga are a few of the classes offered by professional trainers. Don’t underestimate this flowy low-impact form of aerial dance. It helps increase muscle mass and metabolic rate while keeping the pounds from creeping up during these dark months. Aerial Arts of Utah, 1301 E. Miller Ave., Salt Lake City, 801-5770346, AerialArtsOfUtah.com

BRETT COLVIN

Forgo the wii video-game version of Dance Dance Revolution and take it back to the real world with private or group dance lessons. Consider Latinstyle dance (Bachata, Salsa & Tango), which have quick beats, fast steps and offer plenty of entertainment. Learn a new routine, perfect your balance and coordination, lower your cholesterol, (yes, really), and create relationships with dance. Besides keeping you young at heart, you can burn 5-10 calories per minute and learn some pretty mean turns. Hone your skills and moves locally, so that the next time you find yourself in Cuba, Puerto Rico or Miami, you may be bailando un poco mas salsa! DF Dance, 2978 S. State, Salt Lake City, 801-466-0490, DFDanceStudio.com

Pickleball at Holladay Lions Fitness & Recreation Center,

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JOSH SCHEUERMAN

JOSH MILLER

Hit the gym rowing

JOHN MADSEN

John Madsen Performance

SKI MT. TUKUHNIKIVATS

TALKING MOUNTAIN YURTS

JAY BEYER

LA SAL MOUNTAINS

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1-435-260-7601 MOAB, UTAH INFO@TALKINGMOUNTAINYURTS.COM

JOHN MADSEN PERFORMANCE

JMP offers targeted training for champions, teams and individuals offered by John Madsen, a former NFL player and tight end for the Oakland Raiders. JMP boasts a full gym, support, supplements and customized nutrition, all in the heart of Holladay. Much of the training is targeted toward the individual wanting a structured program or to those going after athletic scholarships at the high school and collegiate levels. Programs range from rookie (11 -14 years old) to champions teams (teams of 12) and the JMP elite football academy. A big part of the programs focus on developing a winning mindset, explosive power, agility and reaching new standards. Looking to train with a local celebrity? This is your spot. JMP, 4894 S. Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, 801-633-4719, JohnMadsenPerformance.com *** So there you have it: 10 ideas to keep your carcass moving. Say buh-bye to the winter pudge and increase those fat burning enzymes. You may still be commuting to work in the dark, but winter’s end is just around the corner. No hibernating here. I don’t know about you, but I’m motivated to try them all. Let’s check back in a few months to compare notes (liz@thelotuseffect.com).

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