Vamoose Fall 2016

VOL. 2 NO. 2 • FALL 2016

GET OUT | GET GOING | JUST GO

Best Fall Road Trip Biking to Lava Hot Springs

10

Trout for Dinner

Five spots close to town where you can sink a line

40

Desolate Beauty Exploring Utah’s Cedar Mesa

32

Shooting the Stars

20

fuel your

adventure 2 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

3

NIKI CHAN

INSIDE VAMOOSE

10

WEEKEND WARRIOR Biking from Salt Lake City to Lava Hot Springs

BY TONI ISOM

20

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT Photography classes to help take your outdoor photography to the next level.

BY LIZ GALLOWAY

24

TRAILBLAZER The Tao of cross-country mountain bike racer Brock Cannon

BY LIZ GALLOWAY

26

BACKCOUNTRY CHEF The road-tested quesadilla with Utah scenery as a main ingredient

BY DARBY DOYLE

32

TIME TRAVELER A visit to Utah’s Cedar Mesa transports you to an ancient time and people.

BY JERRY D. SPANGLER

36

WHY I ... RUN BAREFOOT Introducing your soles to the Earth might actually promote well-being.

BY COLE D. LEHMAN

40

TROUT FOR DINNER Five quick getaways where you can sink your line.

BY LARRY CARTER

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Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Issue 1 • Summer VOL. 2 NO. 2 •2015 FALL 2016

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 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR GRAPHIC ARTISTS

BUSINESS/OFFICE ACCOUNTING MANAGER ASSOCIATE BUSINESS MANAGER OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR TECHNICAL DIRECTOR BUSINESS DEPT. ADMINISTRATOR MARKETING MARKETING MANAGER MARKETING COORDINATOR 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 LARRY CARTER, DARBY DOYLE, LIZ GALLOWAY, TONI ISOM, COLE LEHMAN, JERRY SPANGLER RAQUEL BARANOW, DEREK CARLISLE, RICK CAVENDER, ELI CHRISTMAN, VINCE COFFIN, HANNAH COWAN, TONI ISOM, JOHN TAYLOR

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 in the Wasatch mountains and Southern Utah. She also enjoys gardening, reading, baking, cross-stitching and other grandmotherly activities.

DEREK CARLISLE MASON RODRICKC SUMMER MONTGOMERY, CAIT LEE, JOSH SCHEURMAN CODY WINGET PAULA SALTAS CELESTE NELSON BRYAN MANNOS ALISSA DIMICK LIZ GALLOWAY

JACKIE BRIGGS NICOLE ENRIGHT LARRY CARTER JENNIFER VAN GREVENHOF PETE SALTAS ANNA PAPADAKIS DOUG KRUITHOF, KATHY MUELLER, JEREMIAH SMITH, SIERRA SESSIONS, LISA DORELLI, TYSON ROGERS IVY WATROUS

Liz Galloway is a travel and lifestyle writer with an addiction to adventure. She has been published in dozens of online and print outlets, done celebrity interviews and covered international events. When not writing, she is scouting for great food, wine, flying helicopters and seeking the next outdoor thrill. She has a background in marketing and is a nomad at heart.

Contact Liz at liz@thelotuseffects.com

COVER IMAGE: DELICATE ARCH BY ROYCE BAIR AT ROYCEBAIR.COM DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE THROUGHOUT THE WASATCH FRONT WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. ADDITIONAL COPIES OF VAMOOSE ARE AVAILABLE AT THE VAMOOSE OFFICES:

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 • Fall 2016

COLE LEHMAN

Cole Lehman is a freelance writer, yoga teacher and an explorer. He writes about beautiful destinations, yoga and conscious exploration. You’ll find him hiking barefoot and playing his flute in the mountains and deserts of Utah. Get a glimpse of the magic he finds at @coledlehman on Instagram.

Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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W

hen fall breezes in, it becomes urgent to get out and grab the gusto Utah has to offer. Winter’s approach nips at our heels, and with it, the knowledge that the garden, the harvest and the juicy taste of fresh produce will soon be lost. The sun-drenched days of summer are behind us now; nights are longer, leaves dance in the wind, the chill of snow and ice are coming at us.

We’re like kids whose parents have called them home for dinner. Fall means it’s time for one last blast: one last ride around the block, one last dive into the lake, one last camping outing in the mountains.

The beauty of autumn in northern Utah is its long, lovely passage. In the early phase, fall days stay toasty but nights are dramatically darker and cooler, perfect for shooting photos of stars, a topic covered in this issue of Vamoose. In “Take Your Best Shot,” Liz Galloway writes about classes you can take that will put you in touch with nature and the night skies, as well as photographers who offer classes to get you out in Utah’s wilds.

Fall is also a great time for road tripping, drinking up the fall foliage and hiking through ancient ruins far from the beaten trail. With the recent interest in the Bears Ears region of southeastern Utah, Jerry Spangler’s feature on Cedar Mesa—the canyon-etched area just south of Bears Ears' twin buttes—is especially timely. After the summer crowds have evaporated, you can almost have the place to yourself to explore the art and artifacts of the Ancestral Puebloan people. Spangler's "Time Traveler" explains why this region is an important cultural treasure and worthy of protection.

In the second phase of fall, the drop in daily temperatures allows us to revel in strenuous activities—not just in the morning or early evening, but throughout the day. Riding a bike surrounded by brilliant fall colors becomes a joy, so why not plan a long weekend bike ride to Lava Hot Springs, where the hot mineral-laden water can alleviate any sore muscles you got riding there? In Weekend Warrior, Toni Isom breaks it down with a day-by-day travelogue, showing where to eat, where to stay and how to do it. (Hint: you don’t need to be a Tour of Utah winner to attempt this ride!)

In the final stage of fall, when leaves pile up like giant cornflakes on your lawn and the chill of winter is in the air, it’s a great time to gain inspiration while riding your bike through the aspens, just as mountain-bike racer Brock Cannon does (described by Liz Galloway in her Trailblazer article). Larry Carter enjoys fishing in the fall and doesn’t mind divulging his five favorite close-to-town fishing holes. In her Backcountry Chef feature, Darby Doyle regales us with recipes of favorite quesadillas designed to be enjoyed outside on a crisp autumn day.

Finally, if you haven’t tried it yet, there is still time this fall to kick off your shoes and run (or walk) barefoot (either truly bare or by wearing minimalist shoes to help achieve the effect). Writer Cole Lehman writes about his sole-ful journey and how it seems to help his knee and hip health.

Fall is arguably Utah’s best season. The warm weather is fading, but that’s OK—all the better to appreciate Utah’s eye-popping colors, brisk temps and desolate wilderness.

Here’s to your last blast of roads, rocks, ruins and rip-roaring fun.

JOHN TAYLOR

Jerre Wroble

8 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

Editor

NIKI CHAN

LAST BLAST

Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Biking from Salt Lake City to Lava Hot Springs

BY TONI ISOM

I

n the Utah-based adventure scene, bike touring remains relatively fringe. But a multi-day tour can be surprisingly accessible, uniquely adventurous and a wonderful way to enjoy a cool fall ride into the region’s rural areas. This five-day trip is based on my tour from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. We began the pedaling portion of our journey in Ogden, but if you’re game for more miles, you can easily start the ride in Salt Lake City.

10 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

ROUND TRIP

273 MILES

WHO CAN DO THIS TRIP?

Preston, Idaho

Anyone with a decent fitness base, some cycling experience and a good attitude should be able to make this trek. I’d racked up 550 miles prior to the trip, but my husband and fellow traveler, Peter Makowski, had only 40 under his belt. And remember, you’ll have at least 12 leisurely hours of daylight in which to make the miles disappear. Plan on keeping an average pace of at least 10 mph, including stops.

PLANNING TIPS

DEREK CARLISLE

 A rear pannier set per rider will fit everything you need for a credit-card tour (where cyclists carry gear and clothing but pay for meals and overnight lodging). If you plan to camp, at least one person should have a front set.  Pack both warm- and cool-weather bike clothing, as well as rainwear.

And a Buff—Buffs (headwear) are your BFF.  Consider platform pedals with toe cages. Touring isn’t about performance, and stiff-soled sneakers are much more practical than cleats on a trip like this.  Pack enough food for two lunch stops and six snack stops per rider—this will get you to Lava if you eat out for breakfast and dinner. And keep some energy gels within reach.  If you’re lodging, be sure to let the hotel(s) know you’ll have bikes.

Our route Salt Lake City to Lava Hot Springs.

Route in greater detail at MapMyRide. com/routes/ view/1165783681 Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Thursday 55

DEREK CARLISLE

en route to Brigham City requires caution (read: steady traffic, narrow shoulder), but it’s flat, straight and quickly completed.

The shoulder widens significantly at Sardine Canyon, which begins in Brigham City and crosses the Wellsville Mountains. This Cat 2 climb tops out at Sardine Summit, after which you’ll enjoy a swift descent into Cache Valley.

JOHN TAYLOR

Take the 6:25 a.m. Frontrunner train from Salt Lake City to Ogden Station, then pedal a few blocks to Even Stevens (2214 Washington Blvd., Ogden, 385-333-4194, EvenStevens.com/ location/ogden) for some brioche French toast. After breakfast, ride down Washington and hop on Pleasantview Drive, a blissful backroad that deposits you on U.S. Route 89. The 14-mile stretch

DEREK CARLISLE

Sardine Canyon

DEREK CARLISLE

Salt Lake City to Logan

miles

••••

Even Steven’s brioche French toast

Jack’s Wood Fired Oven’s Sunnyside Pizza Before resting your weary legs in Logan, fill up on specialty pizza at Jack’s Wood Fired Oven (265 N. Main, Logan, 435-7547523, JacksWoodFiredOven.blogspot.com/).

There are a number of wallet-friendly motels in Cache Valley, but for a memorable experience, book a room at the Old Rock Church Bed and Breakfast (10 S. Main, Providence, 435-752-3432, OldRockChurch.com). It’s worth it for the mountain views and made-to-order breakfast. If you’d rather pitch a tent, ride a short

12 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

Old Rock Church Bed & Breakfast 5.5 miles up beautiful Logan Canyon to Bridger Campground (Logan Ranger District, 435-755-3620). Sites are $17 and include restrooms and running water. We had a great AirBnB experience in Smithfield—finding shared lodging online (with good reviews) is an option worth exploring.

Note: Logan has several good bike shops should you need a quick fix or spare part. I had a fender repaired at Sunrise Cyclery (138 N. 100 East, Logan, 435-753-3294, SunriseCyclery.net).

BRENT STEVENSEN

Mantua Country Store

PIT STOPS

TONI ISOM

 Constitution Park (450 E. 700 South, Brigham City) is a nice place to pull over for a snack.  Mantua is a charming farming community halfway between Brigham City and Sardine summit. Fill your water bottles and buy an ice cream cone at the Mantua Country Store (130 N. Main, Mantua, 435-723-1292).

Steps away, Mantua Reservoir is a scenic spot to eat lunch and observe pelicans.

Ice cream in Mantua: Peter Makowski more than earned this cone.

Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Friday

Logan to Lava

78

miles

••••

Morty’s Cafe, Logan

Peter rides from Smithfield onto the West Side Highway

TONI ISOM

RICK CAVENDER

Breakfast burrito at Morty’s Cafe

Peter Makowski and Toni Isom celebrate their Idaho arrival

Fuel up with a breakfast burrito at Morty’s Cafe (780 E. 700 North, Logan, 435-535-3276, MortysCafe.com) before hitting the road. Today’s ride is long but stellar— you’ll enjoy low-traffic, rolling country roads most of the way to Lava Hot Springs. After breakfast, ride into Smithfield and then head toward the West Side Highway (aka State Route 252), a beauty of a road that begs for bikin’. Roll through Cornish and across the Idaho border, then connect Weston, Dayton, Clifton and Oxford. There’s not a bad view to be had on this 50-mile stretch, from the Bannock Range to the west to the Bear River Range to the east. Watch for eagles, hawks, kestrels, owls and ospreys.

At Red Rock Junction, you’ll hop on US 91 for 10 miles. It’s significantly busier than the peaceful West Side Highway, but the shoulder is ample, and you’ll quickly exit onto the more serene Old US 91. Take a right at Price Road, and you’re on the home stretch to Lava Hot Springs.

TONI ISOM

PIT STOPS

 The Woodward Country Store (42 E. Depot St., Weston, 208-747-3373) is a quaint spot to grab snacks and top off your water bottles.  Make Oxford your lunch-stop goal—the surrounding scenery is especially breathtaking, and the little Oxford Park (8998 N. Westside Highway) has picnic tables.  There’s a Sinclair right off US 91 in Downey should you need water or a real bathroom.

You’ll be pretty spent when you roll into Lava, but check into the Aura Soma Lava Cottage (196 E. Main, Lava Hot Springs, 800-757-1233, AuraSomaLava.com/thecottage) or pitch your tent at Mary’s Place Campground (300 Bristol Park Lane, Lava Hot Springs, 208-776-5026, MarysRVCamp.com) and then walk to Riverwalk Cafe (695 E. Main, Lava Hot Springs, 208-776-5872) for some Thom Kha Gai or Massaman curry (tip: BYOB).

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Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Saturday Rest Day in Lava Hot Springs

RICK CAVENDER

••••

Peace Pipe at Dempsey Creek Trading Co. , Lava Hot Springs

RICK CAVENDER

Mike’s Market, Lava Hot Springs

RICK CAVENDER

Lava Hot Springs Hot Pools

16 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

Celebrate your "Rest Day" by sleeping in, then step over to the Chuckwagon Cafe (277 E. Main, Lava Hot Springs, 208-776-5141) for a greasyspoon breakfast. Afterward, explore the town a bit. At Dempsey Creek Trading Co. (89 E. Main, Lava Hot Springs, 208-776-5665, DempseyCreek. com) you can find buffalo bones, peace pipes and pottery. The Sunken Gardens (430 E. Main, Lava Hot Springs, 208-776-5221, LavaHotSprings.com/ hotpools/sunken-gardens) offer relaxation among algal reef remains, wildflowers and birds. If you’re in Lava prior to Oct. 1, rent a tube at one of several spots on Main and float the Portneuf River—you can do the 10-minute float as many times as you like.

Exploring and swimming can work up an appetite—why not make lunch in your cottage kitchen? Mike’s Market (30 W. Main, Lava Hot Springs, 208-776-5067) has all the fixin’s, and you can also use this trip to grab some instant oatmeal for tomorrow’s breakfast and food for the ride home.

Spend the rest of the afternoon soaking in the hot springs tub on your cottage’s private deck, or head to the Lava Hot Springs Hot Pools (430 E. Main, Lava Hot Springs, 208-776-5221, LavaHotSprings.com/ hotpools). When it comes time for dinner, don’t pass up the excellent Portneuf Grille & Lounge (255 E. Portneuf St., Lava Hot Springs, 208-7765504, RiverSideInnHotsprings.com/portneuf-grill).

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Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Bicycle heaven: the ride between Thatcher & Preston

Grace Relaxed and rejuvenated, you’ll be ready to hop back on the bike. Make a quick breakfast, check out and hit the road early.

Today’s ride is the hilliest of the four, and you’ll start right off with Fish Creek Pass. Hang a right onto Idado Highway 34 toward Grace, then pedal on through Niter and Thatcher. This section was so pretty, we didn’t mind getting stuck behind a herd of cows.

Because of what they leave behind, we were glad to have fenders.

Angie’s classic steak dinner

DEREK CARLISLE

Preston Park

PIT STOPS

RICK CAVENDER

Angie’s for dinner in Logan

RICK CAVENDER

Sinclair station in Grace

There’s not much in the way of support between Thatcher and Preston, but the riding is some of the best on the trip—very few cars, rolling hills, open skies, and mountain views the whole way.

The aspen-forest descent toward Preston had us singing and laughing like a couple of wackos. Pull over for a pannier sandwich in Preston, then hop on Highway 91 for the last 25 miles to Logan.

RICK CAVENDER

Lava to Logan

TONI ISOM

TONI ISOM

Sunday 85 miles

••••

 The Sinclair on Main Street in Grace is a good spot for a bathroom break/water bottle reup.  In Preston, there’s a park with picnic tables about a half a block off the route (98 W. Second North), and the Chevron on State is a good spot for a bathroom stop (193 N. State).  Back in Logan, hit up Angie’s Restaurant for dinner (690 N. Main, Logan, 435-752-9252, AngiesRest.com). It’s open ‘til 9 p.m. on Sundays.

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55

JOHN TAYLOR

Logan to SLC

miles

Monday

Tona Sushi sashimi

RICK CAVENDER

Monday is Thursday’s ride in reverse, and it’ll feel like a piece of cake at this point (minus that shoulderless section between Brigham City and Pleasantview Drive). We didn’t hit the road until 10:30 a.m., and we made it back to Ogden with plenty of time to shower at a friend’s place, go out for sushi rolls and sake at the wonderful Tona Sushi (210 25th St., Ogden, 801622-8662, TonaRestaurant.com), and then take the 8:07 p.m. train ride—blissed-out—back home to Salt Lake City.

Begin and end your trip on a Frontrunner train between Ogden and Salt Lake City

Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Best Shot Take Your

Photography classes to help take your outdoor photography to the next level.

BY LIZ GALLOWAY

I

f being lost in the woods, awake at sunrise or traveling a lonely back road is the only excuse you need to grab your smart phone or camera and start snapping photos, you might be one of those incurable shutterbugs who needs to step it up and build on your camera knowledge. Consider upping your game by taking a class from the pros or joining a group that will get you out in the field to perfect your outdoor and adventure photography, landscape shots and portraiture.

Royce Bair's night photo of Watchman at Zion National Park 20 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

ROYCE BAIR

Sunset Arch

Shoot the starry sky

Delicate Arch

ROYCE BAIR

ROYCE BAIR

Especially if you’re new to the craft, the “photog” lingo can be confusing. Speaking with local photographer Royce Bair gave me confidence I could surely crush this camera thing. Bair has a couple decades of experience on reserve and more than 60,000 Instagram followers who follow his passion for nightscape photography. One of his biggest loves? Bortle Class 1 skies—some of the darkest skies on Earth, the best for photographing planets and stars in motion.

To get to the place where he is now, Bair says he attended professional photo workshops around the country and continually submitted work (that was often accepted) to magazines and outlets he admired. He worked under his mentor Don Busath, of the iconic Busath Studio & Gardens in Salt Lake City, while still rocking a day job, the plight of many artists.

“About every five years, I have to reinvent myself to stay on the cutting edge,” he says. “I focus on doing something I’m passionate about, and that’s unique. That’s how I integrated the night sky, the Milky Way, and my landscapes.”

It seems to be working because his photography classes consistently fill up for both free and feebased classes (ranging from $800-$1,700). In fact, his classes are rapidly filling up through 2017—a place many photographers want to be.

“Shooting the starry sky is unique, it brings it

down to Mother Earth,” Bair says. “It’s a way to commune with the universe on an earthly level.”

Bair’s shots are so ethereal that he is often asked if they are Photoshopped. Shooting photos at 3 a.m., he has the bleary eyes to prove he’s the person behind the lens. He recommends a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) and an equipment budget of at least $700 to $1,000 (or more) to capture nightscapes.

You can find more of Bair’s in-depth tips in his popular e-book (on Nightscaper.com), where he features other local photographers and his eclectic view of photography. It’s no surprise that this semi-retired photog does what he loves, while contributing to the community and getting serious recognition through social media and from KSL which is covering him in a mini documentary. If you’re lucky, you can grab a spot on his 2017 outings on the Grand Canyon River or Grand Teton solar eclipse (in mid-August).

Bair continually seeks to improve himself. I was even able to get him to reveal his favorite shooting spots, including Rush Valley, Mirror Lake and the West Desert. Want to perfect your nightscapes? “Get 20 to 50 miles outside of the city, 10 to 14 days before and after the full moon, between two hours after sunset and two hours before sunrise, to really capture the astronomical dusk,” says Bair. For more information on Bair’s classes, visit RoyceBair.com, NightScaper.com.

You can find him on Instagram @roycebairphoto.

Photographer Royce Bair Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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“I know photographers who do really well selling their images. The trick is to do what they do.”

IKON REPUBLIK

IKON REPUBLIK

-Ikon Republik

Vary your exposure

Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, photographers want to create emotional, edgy and thought-provoking shots. It’s an art for the highly creative, and one you will need to invest in if you want to take things to the next level. Asking a seasoned photog about their favorite lens is like asking a kid to name their favorite candy. Everyone has different tastes, and they often need a variety to be satisfied.

Ikon Republik, founder of Salt Lake City School of Photography, says, “One of the things I teach in my classes is to vary your exposure.

When you learn how to expose correctly, you can add a lot of drama to your images.”

After shooting his first wedding at 14, he was hooked and has been shooting ever since. A few life changes propelled him to make the leap to make photography a full-time profession. Republik has a talent for capturing emotion in his natural portraits. He was inspired by ‘60s-era painter/photographer Saul Leiter to create his own mélange of realism that focuses on streets, nature and the residents of those places. Being a photographer gives him an excuse to appreciate the world at its highest level.

He’s putting together new outdoor workshops that will feature the imagery of Moab, Lake Powell and Iceland, the details of which will be announced later this year. Republik balks at the idea that there is no money in nature and landscape photography. “I know photographers who do really well selling their images. The trick is to do what they do. Most professional landscape photographers who are selling hundreds of thousands of prints shoot large-format film. If you want to make money, do what the people making money do,” he says.

He often finds himself seeking the perfect light of dusk in the setting of the Tetons, Moab, the salt flats and the Great Salt Lake.

His specialty? Being creative, shooting models in stunning outdoor settings and teaching photography education courses for beginning

22 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

photographers teaching them how to utilize their camera’s functions to better understand how aperture, shutter speed and lighting affect their photographs.

Republik connects with clients and other aspiring photogs through social media. He works hard to keep integrity in this competitive profession and to build value in the classes he offers—perfect for those looking for the basic essentials to those wanting a new perspective in natural portraits (priced between $600-$3,500).

“Meeting a few friends who have the same interests is a great start,” says Republik. Check for Republiks’s course offerings on Instagram @ikonrepublik and @slcphotschool or at SaltLakeCitySchoolOfPhotography.blogspot.com.

While the technicalities, settings and tricks of the trade tend to be the focus of photography classes, it’s often a treat to get to know the people behind the lenses. Joining the Wasatch Camera Club (WasatchCameraClub.com) and other local Meetup and Facebook groups provide not only a social outlet but an opportunity to learn from others. These groups often host field trips, conduct workshops and hold competitions to improve skills.

Night-sky photographer Royce Bair has been shooting photos on the road for nearly two decades. That's where he has experienced the best moments of his life. “The in-between moments are the Ikon Republik best pieces of real humanity,” Bair says.

From Bair, Republik and others, I've learned a few things: Capturing the right shot requires endless curiosity (and patience). Be prepared; timing is everything. We’re all inquisitive and want to explore beautiful landscapes in our own way.

I’ll see you out there (hidden behind my lens).

Athlete: Wiley Miller

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Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

23

VINCE COFFIN

Guardsman Pass

Ultra-endurance cyclist Brock Cannon

Trailblazer

BROCK CANNON The Tao of a cross-country mountain bike racer turned best-selling author

F

rom the age of 16, mountainbike racer Brock Cannon has worked to carve out a niche as an ultra-endurance cyclist, and he’s found success both on and off the trail. Today, he feeds his competitive edge as part of the Cole Sports Elite race team even while traveling and working as a best-selling author of The Switchback Approach.

Ultra racing is impressive at any point, but it takes exceptional cardiovascular endurance, efficiency in the sport and correct training, so as not to burnout. “I definitely used to feel burnout and overtraining when I was a younger kid,” Cannon says. “I’d go hard early in the season, and be pretty cooked

by July. Nowadays, skiing until April helps me a lot, and then I come into peak fitness around late summer, just in time for the more important races.”

24 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

He wants to be challenged when he trains.

“I like to surround myself with people who are faster than me. At one point, racing pro—even though I was at the back of the pack—I felt like I was being pushed as a whole, because the speed of the pack was faster,” he says.

Cannon speaks to his practically full-time training as a young athlete, with mentors such as Tinker Juarez, an endurance athlete who also started at the age of 16 and captured two World Cup titles as well as the 24-hour Solo World Championship. “He’s tough, and one of the fittest riders I know, even in his 50s.” Cannon says. “I raced against him. It was surreal.”

Cannon says he was lucky to have the support of sponsors, coaches and a dedicated “bike mom” to gain elite experience. He soon accelerated in categories to more laps and a more competitive field of riders to compete with.

When he started at 16, the XC landscape was slightly different. With the first World Championship taking place in 1990, XC mountain

BROCK CANNON

BY LIZ GALLOWAY

Brock Cannon: “It takes endurance and finding something you actually love to do.”

BROCK CANNON BROCK CANNON

VINCE COFFIN

Brock Cannon: “The trend has gone to road racing.”

BROCK CANNON

biking seemed to be the most popular discipline of the sport. “The golden era for XC was in the ’90s,” says Cannon. “The money was not big, with riders making $30,000 a year, tops.” But he didn’t do it for the money, fame or attention. Rather, it was the love of the life and lure of adrenaline. “Now, the trend has gone to road racing.” he says. The opportunity to race is there, and though he doesn’t have any races pending, he hasn’t taken future races off the table.

Many a top outdoor athlete struggles with a plan for his or her future. They wonder: Is their sport one they can sustain, and how long before they burn out?

Getting into a sport is one thing, but maintaining it is another.

“It takes endurance and finding something you actually love to do,” Cannon says. Any mountain bike race demands you hold a steady, relatively high pace for the entire event. That pace is different for everyone and, usually, it’s where the mental focus comes into play. “Anyone can be in the game for a couple years, but when you find something you can love for a long time, there’s a difference. I can’t imagine now not [racing],” Cannon says.

A World Cup race in Napa Valley, Calif., in particular, taught him humility. “It was a humbling experience. I felt terrible; there was a lot of mud from the rain the day before, and I was demoralized,” he says. “At one point, a pro from Holland pushed my butt up the hill, and I asked him how he was so fast. His only answer was, ‘A lot of good training.’ Meanwhile, I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to go throw up now.’”

If you have a mountain bike, a helmet and a desire to work up your cardio system, cross-country racing is a good way to go. Building up your strength for short acceleration bursts and to overcome technical sections is something both Lycra-clad riders and casual weekend newbies can relate to. For those looking to get fit with XC, Cannon says, “It’s important to know your emotions. You can go from crying one second to being elated on a downhill section the next.” And knowing your plan is key. Riders training for events that take five hours or more need several long rides, or, as a basic, a series of moderately long ride days placed back-to-back. “When I talk to people about the 24-hour solo races, I think people get overwhelmed by that, so I talk to them more about how to identify what you love to do, and having fun with the process, then implementing that into a habit,” he says.

You can still find Cannon on his favorite winding trail in Park City, the trail that inspired his book The Switchback Approach, which starts at the Canyons and ends at the base of Murdock Peak. “It’s hard not to be inspired when you’re riding in an amazing aspen forest,” he says.

Cannon’s athlete discipline serves him well for his continued XC training as well as his focus on expanding his next book, coaching programs, and his upcoming “unplug” retreats this fall in Park City, Jackson Hole and Zion. A father and a vegan, Cannon’s reputation as a happy hippie who loves riding hasn’t faded. Cannon’s motto for kicking trail butt: “The person who is consistent over time is the person who’s going to win over time—not the most talented.”

Find out more at BrockCannon.com

Brock Cannon: “It’s important to know Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah | 25 your emotions.”

THE ROAD-TESTED

Q QUESADILLA

Five outdoor meals that feature Utah’s scenery as a main ingredient.

BY DARBY DOYLE

PHOTOS BY DEREK CARLISLE

T

here’s something supremely satisfying about a fresh-from-the-skillet quesadilla. The crisp crunch of a perfectly griddled tortilla, lots of oozy cheese and, of course, the sky’s the limit for savory or sweet fixin’s in the mix. It’s an almost perfect on-the-go finger food to boot—for breakfast, dinner or dessert, whether prepped at home or over a campfire.

And with a simple one-pan preparation method, it makes mealtime cleanup easy, even in the laziest camp kitchens. You really don’t even need a plate or utensils to eat quesadillas in the field. Just beware of drips: We know that spectacular Utah scenery can be pretty darn distracting.

To add to the flair factor, great quesadillas really need only a few wellchosen ingredients to make this simple treat sing. Our choices highlight five gorgeous Utah locations and quesadillas that are prepared with five ingredients or less (not including the tortilla itself and basic pantry ingredients like butter and seasoning).

26 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

A few tips for ideal quesadilla creation:

 A well-seasoned dry cast-iron skillet makes pretty impeccable quesadillas, but even the lid of a large backpacking pot will work in a pinch.  Keep the heat under the pan no higher than medium-low flames, otherwise the tortilla will scorch before the ingredients are cooked through.  Go for smaller, evenly chopped ingredients to avoid that embarrassing fillings fiasco that occurs when one nibble ends up sliding half of the wedge into action.  Experiment with using corn tortillas, gluten free or wholewheat circles in the mix. As far as fillings go, hit a local’s farmers market, or improvise from your cooler’s funky “last call” jumble.

“Last Day of Camp” Breakfast Quesadillas

“Last Day of Camp” Breakfast Quesadillas

My family’s love affair with camp quesadillas started about seven summers ago during a camping trip in the high Uinta Mountains. Toward the end of the long weekend, I was scrambling to do the camp cook’s version of Chopped with the various leftovers and half-empty food packages. My kids requested something warm to eat for breakfast on that particularly drizzly, damp morning, and we were down to a package of tortillas and the previous day’s lunch leftovers. I threw together a quesadilla with ham, shredded cheddar and some decidedly limp but still-serviceable scallions, and voila! They were a huge hit for a couple of young boys who couldn’t face another bowl of oatmeal without serious eye-rolling. Since then, camp quesadillas have become a family favorite even on our first days in the field. We like to start off a chilly morning before heading out on a long hike along Utah’s Mirror Lakes with this hearty camp favorite. Eat it right out of hand without making a mess sans egg, or put a nice sunny-side up egg on top and enjoy all that oozy yolk goodness if you’re having a more leisurely start to the day and don’t mind some extra dishes.

Ingredients for one generous serving: 1 large (burrito sized) flour tortilla 1 ½ ounces Salt & Smoke Tyrolean ham, sliced into thin strips 1 ½-2 ounces Beehive Promontory Cheddar Cheese, shredded 1 scallion, chopped ½ teaspoon oil or butter 1 egg Assemble the quesadilla, spreading all of the ingredients except for the egg evenly over ½ of the surface of the tortilla and folding the empty side over to enclose the ingredients. Place a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat and toast the quesadilla evenly (about 2-4 minutes) until golden brown; gently flip over to fry the other side until the cheese is melted through. Remove quesadilla from the skillet and cut into wedges.

Meanwhile, add ½ teaspoons oil or butter to the warm skillet and swirl to coat. Prepare the egg your favorite way, then slide it on top of the quesadilla. Dig in!

Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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Fig & Brie Concert Quesadillas

Fig & Brie Concert Quesadillas

Fall concerts at Red Butte Garden or Deer Valley call for some pretty high-caliber gourmet baskets on the blanket. Whether you prefer stemmed glasses with $80 bottles of wine or your favorite Beehive brew straight from the can, a crisp quesadilla wedge neatly fits the bill for a tidy and delicious al fresco meal to accompany all of Utah’s auditory and scenic ambiance. Echoing the classic flavor profile of a brie en croute, this quesadilla combines that artful pairing of sweet and savory without all the fuss and crumble of puff pastry. Bonus: This quesadilla holds up well at room temperature for an extended stay in the basket pre-venue.

Ingredients for 2-4 appetizer portions: 2 small (soft taco-size) flour tortillas 1 tablespoons Amour Spreads Black Mission Fig Jam 3 ounces Brie or camembert cheese, rind removed and sliced into small cubes ½ teaspoon fresh orange zest 1 teaspoon butter Extra: generous pinch of coarse sea salt Assemble the quesadillas, spreading the jam evenly over half of the surface of each tortilla. Split the cheese and orange zest evenly between the two tortillas over the jam, and fold the empty side over to enclose the ingredients. To a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat, add butter and swirl pan until just melted. Add the quesadilla to the skillet cheese-side-down first and fry until golden brown (about 3-5 minutes), gently flip the tortilla to fry the other side.

When cooked through, remove to a sheet of parchment and sprinkle with salt while still warm (so that it will stick to the buttered surface). Cut into wedges. Eat immediately, or wrap in parchment for travel.

28 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

Smoky Flaming Gorge Trout Melts

Smoky Flaming Gorge Trout Melts

We’re usually a catch-and-release crowd, but there’s that occasional hog of a Green River trout that swallows a hook so deep he ends up in the campfire frying pan to put us both out of our misery.

If we’re really lucky, there’ll be a little bit of that slightly smoky and succulent fish leftover after dinner to make trout hash for breakfast the next morning, or for any meal, my favorite twist on a tuna melt: a Trout & cheddar quesadilla.

Ingredients for one generous portion: 1 large (burrito size) whole-wheat tortilla 2-4 ounces of cooked (or lightly smoked) trout, flaked 2 teaspoons mayonnaise 2 teaspoons fresh celery, finely chopped; leaves reserved for garnish 2 teaspoons sweet-firm red apple (like Gala or Fuji), finely chopped 2-3 ounce sharp cheddar cheese, shredded In a small bowl, fold together the trout, mayonnaise, celery and apple gently until just combined (don’t smash them into a paste, but do add more mayo if needed to get the ingredients to stick together).

Assemble the quesadilla, spreading the trout mixture over ½ of the surface of the tortilla, sprinkle evenly with cheese and fold the empty side over to enclose the ingredients. Place a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat, and starting cheese-side-down toast the tortilla until golden brown and the cheese is mostly melted (3-5 minutes); gently flip over to fry the other side until the cheese is melted through. Remove quesadilla from the skillet and cut into wedges. Garnish with celery leaves.

Guardsman Pass Sunday Sourcing Quesadillas

Guardsman Pass Sunday Sourcing

Come fall, Utah’s glorious quaking aspen groves could easily give New England a run for its money. Few sights are more satisfying than hillsides covered in shimmering shades of yellow and gold with pops of scarlet oaks adding to the autumnal glory. Our favorite way to take it in is to go on a Sunday drive over Guardsman Pass (State Route 224), which also provides access to hiking and biking trails that criss-cross between Deer Valley and Brighton Resort showcasing heart-stopping views of the Wasatch Range and beyond in all directions.

Plan an early adventure so that the return trip on Guardsman (which is closed in winter) delivers you to Prospect Street for the Park Silly Sunday Market—operating every Sunday, June through September, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.—an open market that’s equal parts festival and just plain fun—and pick up a post-ride brew or Bloody Mary and some veggies from local producers (vendors and selection vary). Or, if returning via Big Cottonwood Canyon Road to the Salt Lake Valley, stop by Wheeler Farm Farmers Market (Sundays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., June through October) to peruse a bounty of local fall flavors. Too far into fall for farmers markets? Local purveyors Harmons Grocery, Dan’s Market and Tony Caputo’s Food Market all proudly carry Utah First products year-round.

Ingredients for one generous portion: 1 large (burrito size) whole-wheat tortilla 2 teaspoons grainy country-style mustard 2 ounces Creminelli Capicola, sliced thin and cut into 1 inch wedges (or, for a vegetarian option, use 1 ½ tablespoons Laziz hummus) 2 ounces Gruyere cheese (such as Rockhill Creamery Wasatch Mountain Gruyere) 2 large kale or chard leaves; remove tough ribs and rough chop 2 teaspoons olive oil Crushed black pepper and sea salt To a large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat, add olive oil and swirl to coat. Add the chopped greens (careful! They’ll sputter a bit because of the high moisture content) and sautée until just wilted, stirring often. Meanwhile, assemble the quesadillas, spreading the mustard evenly over half of the surface of each tortilla. Split the capicola (or hummus) and cheese evenly between the two tortillas over the mustard. Remove the wilted greens from the pan and add them to the quesadilla; fold the tortilla closed. Add the quesadilla to the same still lightly oiled skillet cheese-side-down first and fry until golden brown (about 3-5 minutes), gently flip the tortilla to fry the other side. Cut into wedges and sprinkle with crushed black pepper and sea salt.

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Bear Lake Berries & Nutella Quesadillas

Bear Lake Berries & Nutella

From August through October, Bear Lake visitors can count on not only some of the best floating fun in the state, but a bounty of the region’s favorite fruit: raspberries. From thick milk shakes to skyhigh pie, Bear Lake berries show up in countless tasty variations.

Our favorite dessert quesadilla camp creation combines that sweettart combo that just can’t be beat: raspberries with chocolate and caramel. To make quesadilla prep even easier, Nutella’s proprietary hazelnut-chocolate blend hits the spot.

Ingredients for four dessert portions: 2 small (soft taco-size) wheat tortillas 2-3 tablespoons of Nutella spread 2-3 ounce fresh raspberries 1 ½ teaspoons butter 2 ounces caramel sauce, slightly warmed 2 ounces chopped hazelnuts Generous sprinkle of Maldon or other large-flaked sea salt

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Assemble the quesadillas, spreading Nutella evenly over ½ of the surface of each tortilla. Split the berries evenly between the two tortillas over the chocolate spread, and fold the empty side over to enclose the ingredients. To a large cast iron skillet over medium-low heat, add butter and swirl pan until just melted. Add the quesadilla to the skillet and fry until golden brown (about 2-4 minutes), gently flip the tortilla to fry the other side. Remove from heat, and cut into wedges. Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and flaked sea salt if desired.

And make sure to hit up Bountiful’s Fruit Highway (scenic U.S. Route 89) for inspiration on the way back home for even more quesadilla combos!

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Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

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TIME TRAVELER

Fallen Roof Ruin in Road Canyon

A visit to Utah’s Cedar Mesa can transport you to an ancient time and people.

BY JERRY D. SPANGLER PHOTOS BY HANNAH COWAN

T

he instructions were vague, at best: Drive along a rutted two-track Jeep trail to an obscure crossing, turn north and drive to the end of the trail at the rim of a canyon unnamed on the topographic map. Then work your way to the bottom of the canyon, and you’ll find the ancient ruins of the Ancestral Puebloans tucked just under an overhang on the north canyon wall.

Before me was Moon House, the remains of an 800-year-old community where the ancient ones had painted phases of the moon on the interior walls of one residence. The indescribable thrill of discovering something so beautiful and so mysterious has remained indelibly imprinted on my consciousness.

That was some 30 years ago—when only a handful of people even knew about Moon House. In a sense, we were a tightknit community that cautiously guarded its secrets—especially how to find it. There were no trails to Moon House in those days,

and fewer than two dozen people ventured there in any given year.

But that was before the genie escaped the bottle. First came a slew of guidebooks that not only trumpeted the glories of Moon House and scores of other, equally thrilling locations on Utah’s Cedar Mesa, but they often revealed detailed instructions on how to get there. And more recently, virtually every “secret” site in the region has been revealed through internet postings.

Hundreds of people now visit Moon House every year, and thousands upon thousands visit the ancient ruins of Cedar Mesa and the nearby Abajo Mountains, Bears Ears and Natural Bridges areas. In summer 2016, Sally Jewell, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and her entourage even visited Moon House as part of a fact-finding mission.

Why all the fuss? Quite simply—with the region’s myriad cliff ruins and rock art, all nestled in a spectacular setting of brilliant

red rock canyons—the area is a wonderland.

It’s not surprising that preservationists— concerned about the onslaught of public visitation and the consequent deterioration of the ancient sites—are advocating for President Barack Obama to designate the entire region a national monument (visit BearsEarsCoalition.org/proposaloverview/).

A national monument designation could result in additional funding to more proactively manage the estimated 100,000 archaeological sites here for their longterm protection, but the political fallout in San Juan County—a hotbed of antifederal-government sentiments—would be immeasurable, and local hostility is never a good recipe for site protection.

The best way for people to decide the merits of any designation is to see it for themselves. And there are several ways to enjoy the Cedar Mesa region: continued on p. 34

This Is the Place 32 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

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Pictographs found in Grand Gulch Primitive Area

continued from p. 32

House on Fire Ruin in Mule Canyon

Mule Canyon Ruin

The best way to get up close and personal with the archaeology here is to spend a few days backpacking into the different canyons. The most popular backpack destination is Grand Gulch, but other trails include the Fish-Owl Canyon Loop, Slickhorn Canyon, Arch Canyon and Mule Canyon.

Overnight camping permits are required and are available at the Kane Gulch Ranger Station For those averse to the strenuous demands of backpacking, car camping with different day hikes each day is a great alternative. Virtually every canyon in this region is teeming with spectacular ruins, and for the adventurous, it all comes down to choosing which canyon to explore. The first step is to order a copy of “Trails Illustrated Grand Gulch Plateau Map No. 706” and then narrow your choices. My personal favorite for day-hiking is Natural Bridges, and for car camping it is Butler Wash, which has scores of side canyons (the mouth of Butler Wash is nothing short of jaw-dropping).

Bureau of Land Management permits are not required for car camping.

Several impressive sites are located next to the highway and have designated vehicle pullouts for those short on time. One good set of cliff ruins can be seen where Utah State Route 95 crosses Butler Wash. If ancient rock art is your bag, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Sand Island Campground on the outskirts of Bluff (campground information is available at BLM.gov). Other must-see stops include Edge of the Cedars State Park in Blanding and the Mule Canyon Ruin, also along State Route 95. Decent motel accommodations can be found in Blanding, Bluff and Mexican Hat. You can also take a float trip on the San Juan River. Commercial river guides know all the great stops along the way to explore ancient ruins and rock art sites. It is an easy river to float on your own, but you will need to be lucky enough to draw out on a limited number of permits.

This region is almost entirely public lands managed by the BLM, the National Park Service or the U.S. Forest Service, with a scattering of School Trust Lands in the mix. Hiking and camping are encouraged but there are a litany of rules and regulations depending on where you go and what you do when you get there. At BLM.gov, you can download an excellent Cedar Mesa-Grand Gulch Trip Planner that summarizes the rules and regulations.

Whether you support or oppose a national monument designation, all can agree that Cedar Mesa is one of America’s richest archaeological treasures.

Seeing is believing.

The author is a professional archaeologist and director of the nonprofit Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance, an organization dedicated to preserving ancient sites on public lands in the West.

This Is the Place 34 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

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Barefoot Why I ... Run

Introducing your soles to the Earth might actually promote your well-being.

BY COLE D. LEHMAN

RAQUEL BARANOW

I

’m one of those rare barefoot creatures that’ll frolic past you on the trail. You’re more likely to see people like me running or hiking in hideous Vibram Five Fingers or simple sandals than naked feet. But, even then, to the average hiker, those foot coverings don’t appear to provide e ­ nough protection for rocky terrain, either. Why don’t we just wear shoes like normal people?

First, it’s not as crazy as it looks. Natural hazards are easy to avoid when you move at barefoot speed.

Partially buried glass, plastic and metal left by people are the biggest dangers. Running barefoot in the Wasatch mountains is pushing it. Small pebbles feel like landmines, and one misplaced step can hurt for a week.

Despite the risks, barefoot and minimalist hikers and runners have eliminated one of the biggest threats to the health of their feet, ankles and knees: shoes.

Yes, believe it or not, research has shown that overly padded running shoes can make feet weak, causing runners to overpronate (rotate their ankles). This can potentially cause knee problems.

Cole D. Lehman

The research comes from Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard University professor of biological anthropology, and his team who are dedicated to studying the biomechanics of foot strikes in endurance running.

A study by Lieberman, along with University of Utah biologist Dennis Bramble, concluded that humans evolved from ape-like ancestors, and that we evolved because of running long distances, ostensibly to hunt. Running, in fact, ultimately shaped our anatomy, making us look like we do today.

36 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

Our ancestors ran long distances after game to weaken their prey.

This technique, called “persistence hunting,” included tracking, walking and running as a group until animals become exhausted. The San people in the Kalahari Desert and the Rarámuri people of northwestern Mexico still practice it today. Born to Run, a 2009 best-selling book written

by American journalist Christopher McDougall, uses the stories of iconic ultrarunners—Scott Jurek, Jen Shelton and Micah True—and the Rarámuri tribe of Mexico to explore this ritual hunt and a body of

research that paints modern running shoes as the main culprit behind the 60-80 percent injury rate suffered by runners every year.

What the book points out is that indigenous long-distance runners don’t wear padded running shoes. Many, like the Rarámuri, wear simple sandals and run ultra marathons as part of their lifestyle—without high injury rates. McDougall goes on to explore research that shows how the biomechanics of the human foot, ankle and knee are optimized to run without heavily padded shoes and why overbuilt shoes cause injury by encouraging us to walk and run incorrectly. You can thank Born to Run for the growing popularity of minimalist shoes such as Vibram Five Fingers, Nike Frees, Merrell Trail Gloves, Altras, Huaraches (running sandals) and shoes with Zero Drop.

The idea that I had been walking and running the wrong way my whole life captivated me.

I decided it was time to change the way I moved through the world. This book inspired me to kick off my shoes and never look back.

first pair of minimalist running shoes and started running for the first time in seven years. Trail running in Merrell Trail Gloves involved bruised feet and recovery weeks that I wouldn’t have had wearing other shoes. What made the time off from running worth it? The amusing conversations with concerned summer tourists at Park City Resort surely keep me going.

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” asks a concerned hiker.

“Yes, I’m sure, thank you very much,” says the barefoot person with twigs in his hair.

Transition Shoes

Merrell Trail Gloves A step closer to the earth, these shoes require more patience on the trail and a change of pace.

Twigs in his hair

My first year of walking on the front of my feet came with chronically sore calf muscles and what felt like a stride from the Ministry of Silly Walks. Once I got the hang of “barefoot walking,” I found my

Fall 2016 • Vamoose Utah |

37

Shoes to Help You Lose the Shoes

Take it slow

When you change to minimalist shoes or kick off shoes entirely, you need to strengthen the muscles in your feet, ankles and legs in new ways before you can run. And, you have to build up a tolerance to simply walking across the ground because your feet have more sensory nerves per square inch than anywhere else in your body.

I also couldn’t run nearly as far or as fast as my friends in running shoes, but I loved the meditation of the practice. Any time I thought about anything that wasn’t the trail in front of me, I’d pay for it. Nothing less than full absorption was acceptable.

Since then, I’ve run hundreds of miles (many more in minimalist footwear than barefoot) and never sustained a serious injury. The only laceration on my foot came from an electrical socket cover on the floor of a house after an accident-free 4-mile trail run in sandals.

Giving myself time to adapt to a new way of walking and running is the only reason I didn’t end up breaking my feet.

38 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

ELI CHRISTMAN

Baring your sole has risks

Xero Shoes Amuri Cloud Classic huaraches like the Tarahumara use in Born to Run, these sandals let you feel every step and many of the rocks.

Start hiking or walking in these, running on most trails is a challenge.

Do walk barefoot through meadows and creeks.

Barefoot runner in the 2014 Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k

RAQUEL BARANOW

Don’t start running until you change the way you walk. Ease into it.

Vibram FiveFinger V-Run You’ll be surprised that it can get more sensitive than the Trail Gloves, but it can. These FiveFingers are great for hiking or running.

Barefoot running, while potentially beneficial for your ankles and knees, isn’t without risk. Any podiatrist will tell you that running without shoes is dangerous no matter how seasoned your feet are. As someone who does it, I don’t disagree.

“I don’t care how strong and thick your skin becomes, it will never keep a needle, nail, glass shard or thorn out with your full weight slamming down on it. If you do elect to go with the minimalist shoes, you will be best served by training with an experienced ‘barefoot’ runner or trainer,” says local podiatrist Dan Preece.

He’s right. I have thick skin that holds up to casual contact with cactus spines, but a piece of glass under the foot would be devastating.

If you want to go barefoot, keep these tips in mind: Don’t start running until you change the way you walk. Ease into it. Don’t walk barefoot on the most popular trails or camping areas because there may be dragons. Do walk barefoot through meadows

RAQUEL BARANOW

Altra Lone Peak 3.0 Zero-drop shoes to help you find a more natural stride without slowing down on the trails.

and creeks after it rains. Most importantly, know that once you lose your shoes, it’s hard to put them back on.

Ultimately, I hike and run barefoot for the experience of being fully connected with the terrain. Walking through a loamy pine forest, hiking to Sunset Peak, or squishing through a muddy meadow after a spring rain are some of the most sensual experiences you can have. You have to move with the shape of the earth and every place and season has its own beautiful rhythm.

Now, I wear my sandals everywhere and take them off whenever I can. The thought of stuffing my feet into socks and shoes makes me want to run away into the woods. I do so in the winter because I have no other choice, but I’ve worn my sandals when there’s snow on the ground plenty of times. Most dress codes will never work for me, and there are many jobs I can’t apply for. Thankfully, my business and freelance lifestyle support me, and there are plenty of the people in the world who aren’t scared of feet.

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Trout

FOR DINNER

Five quick getaways where you can drop your fishing line.

40 | Vamoose Utah • Fall 2016

Middle Provo River

RICK CAVENDER

I

started fishing at what most would say is late in life: age 14.

My brother-in-law took me on my first fishing trip to Utah Lake and I immediately was hooked. Even if I didn’t catch a thing, I learned patience.

On one of my early fishing trips, a fellow fishermen taught me to never to use the whole worm; always cut it in half.

As an adult, I took my two daughters fishing. They’ve always loved to fish and now, at age 14 and 18, they still do.

To this day, they ask if and when I’m going and if they can tag along. There’s nothing better than fishing with my daughters!

I will never admit to this to my wife, but she is by far a better a caster and a better fisher person than I am. She loves to fish, and I love the company.

Another secret is that I don’t actually enjoy eating fish. I am, however, the cook of the family, so I clean and grill our catch the same day. I don’t do anything special—just add a little salt, pepper and butter on the grill and a wedge of lemon on the side. My wife is my biggest critic when it comes to food, and so far I haven’t received a bad review.

As my work and family responsibilities keep me close to town, I don’t always have time for a remote fishing trip. I choose nearby places where I can drop my line in for a few hours and return home with a catch. Here are some of my favorite close-to-town spots:

DEREK CARLISLE

BY LARRY CARTER

Burraston Ponds

(aka Mona Ponds) 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES FROM 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY Location: Charleston Bridge near Heber How you get there: Take Interstate 80 east to exit 146, merging onto US-189/US-40 toward Heber. Travel 17.1 miles; turning right onto River Road. Follow River Road to Midway, get on UT-113 and follow it into Charleston.

What do you fish for? Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, German brown trout Why fish there? I hike another 100 yards to the first clearing and cast out. There are some deep holes there where I’ve caught big fish (approximately 8-12 pounds) that are fighters.

Pole: Spincast or fly-fishing, I use a 2-piece Garcia pole, one-piece Cabela rod Line: 6-8 lbs.

Bait: Worms, crickets or legal live bait What to watch out for? Very shallow water.

Watch your line to ensure you don’t snag.

You need to plan ahead as it’s approximately a 100-yard walk from the parking area. You can go in as far you like as the waterway is 12 miles and ends up in the Provo River.

Location: near Mona, Utah How you get there: Take Interstate 15 south to exit 233 for UT-54 West toward Mona , take North Main Street to Highway 41 south about 1/4 mile, watch for the Burraston Road sign on right hand side of the road.

What do you fish for? Rainbow trout and German brown trout Why fish there? I enjoy the quiet, peaceful fishing. There are a lot of trees and shade.

You don’t have to walk far—within 20 feet, you are at a pond!

Pole: I use a 2-piece Garcia pole, one-piece Cabela rod Line: 8-10 lbs.

Bait: Gold power bait, sometimes rainbow power bait and live bait worms/ nightcrawlers What to watch out for? The mud builds up around the bank making it easy to get stuck—easy to lose a shoe! Just ask my wife.

Utah Lake

Bear Lake

50 MINUTES FROM 55 MINUTES FROM 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY Location: Ogden Canyon How you get there: Take Interstate 15 north to U.S. 89 to Harrison Boulevard to Canyon Road. Head east to Ogden Canyon ravine.

Stop anywhere along the river.

What do you fish for? Rainbow trout, cutthroat trout, brown trout, albino rainbow trout Why fish there? I like to fish there early in the morning or early evening—but not too late, because there are bats, and bats and I don’t get along! I love that there are bathrooms, picnic tables and a great view.

You can explore several little fishing holes up and down the canyon. The higher up you go, the better the fishing.

Pole: I use a 2 piece Garcia pole, one-piece Cabela rod Line: 8-10 lbs.

Bait: Gold power bait and nightcrawlers What to watch out for? The bats in the evening … they are everywhere!

Location: near Provo How you get there: Go south on Interstate 15, then take exit 268 (Center Street in Provo); continue west 2.5 miles to the Utah Lake State Park; access is also available at Lindon Boat Harbor (privately owned) and American Fork Boat Harbor (city owned) What do you fish for? Walleye, white bass, black bullhead, bluegill, yellow perch and carp Why fish there? I fish on the Saratoga and Lehi side and enjoy fishing there for the sport. The fish are big and strong enough to take your pole—it’s an adventure!

Pole: I use a 2-piece Garcia pole, one-piece Cabela rod Line: 10-12 lbs.

Bait: Nothing but live bait What to watch out for? They have huge carp! Boating is allowed, so it gets busy.

There are fees to get into the park depending on where you go. They also have camping and restrooms. Dogs are OK if on a leash.

Location: north of Garden City, Utah How you get there: Take Interstate 15 north to U.S. 89/91 in Brigham City, stay on that until you reach Logan. Turn left on U.S. 89 to Garden City. Go 1 mile north of Garden City.

Fish lakeside or off a public dock.

What do you fish for? Cutthroat trout, lake trout, white fish and carp Why fish there? It’s a beautiful blue water, beautiful landscape and great fishing.

Pole: I use a 2-piece Garcia pole, one-piece Cabela rod Line: 8-10 lbs.

Bait: Gold and Rainbow power bait and worms.

What to watch out for? Big carp and tons of seagulls. Also, there are not many trees, so it gets hot.

Before heading out, don’t forget to purchase a fishing license. You can download the free Utah Hunting and Fishing mobile app from Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, which allows you to buy and download your license 2016upcoming • Vamooseevents, Utah | 41 and permits, learnFall about identify fish and more.

DEREK CARLISLE

Derek Carlisle

Ogden River

RICK CAVENDER

DEREK CARLISLE

RICK CAVENDER

Larry Carter is City Weekly’s longtime circulation manager.

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