ADVENTURE Road Trip Into the Tushar Mountains

by Cliff & Ilene Bandringa | Images by SnapShotsWest.com

You’re probably thinking right now, where are the Tushar Mountains? The Tushar Mountains are the third highest mountain range in Utah and are located about 100 miles northeast of St. George, just east of the town of Beaver along I-15. Of the several high peaks within the Tushar range, Delano Peak is the highest at 12,174 feet. The name “Tushar” comes from an ancient Indian or Hindu word meaning “snow,” something that the Tushars get a lot of. Touring through these mountains was, for us, reminiscent of the colorful Rocky Mountains of southwestern Colorado (the San Juans). There is a distinctive timberline, and some of the mountain tops have a yellow hue to them. As we passed through these higher elevations, we really got the feeling of being in the San Juans. One big difference, though, is that the San Juans were heavily mined for gold and silver, which means that there were many ghost towns and ruins left

behind. Not so for the Tushars. There were only a handful of mining operations here.

Our tour through the Tushar Mountains starts on the north side, off of I-70 at the exit for the Fremont State Park and Museum. The route we’ll take is about 30 miles long, which doesn’t seem like it would take much time, but it took us most of the day. That’s because progress on the road is slow-going, and we stopped to look at the sites along the way. The road is all dirt and should be driven using a high-clearance vehicle.

As mentioned, the Tushars receive a lot of snow, so you shouldn’t attempt this trip until after July 1 and before September 15 (unless you like to tackle snow and mud). Our tour ends just a few miles south of the Eagle Point Ski Resort, which is a good place to spend the night. That’s what we did so

Driving through the forest

that we could continue our exploration of the Tushars the next day. Be aware that, unless you camp, there aren’t a lot of choices for places to stay or eat.

Let’s start our trip. After taking exit 17 off of I-70, head a short distance west, and then turn left onto Road 113. Reset your odometer here, and follow along to the places of interest that are listed in our blog, www.BackRoadsWest.com/blog. After passing underneath the high bridges of I-70, going up a narrow canyon, and moving through a dense pine tree forest, you’ll encounter the remains of an old gold mining area known as Kimberly. This small area prospered from 1890 until 1909. Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch were seen frequently here. Winters were harsh, but that didn’t stop the persistent miners from going after the riches they had their sights set on. See our blog for historical pictures of what Kimberly used to look like. Only one structure still stands today.

Continuing south on 113, you’ll reach Winkler Point. This viewpoint offers views into the vast Great Basin Desert to the west. On a clear day, you can see Wheeler Peak (inside Great Basin National Park in Nevada), which is 100 miles away.

Artifacts inside the cabin at Silver King Mine

Next is the Silver King Mine. Ironically, more gold was extracted here than silver. Locals have done a great job of preserving this camp, and there is more to see here than at Kimberly. A brochure is available at the parking area that explains what there is to see along the quartermile interpretive trail. The couple that operated this mine lived at this site starting in 1897 and worked the site for several years.

Gold Mountain and the colorful Tushars

At a road intersection, continue right. Going left takes you to the town of Marysville. We are now on Road 123 as we continue our trip through the Tushars. The road now begins to climb into the heart of the Tushars. It first passes along the steep side of 11,690-foot-high Gold Mountain. The road ascends through the timberline and passes alongside the rugged and even more steep 12,137-foot-high Mount Belknap. Looking below the road offers views of meadows and big valleys in the distance.

At 23 miles from the start, we reach the highest point of our trip at about 11,400 feet. From here, there are fantastic views of the three tall peaks that make up the Tushars as well as distant views of valleys and other mountain ranges looking to the south. You can also see the ski runs of Eagle Point just over four miles away. A sign here mentions that a herd of white mountain goats (not bighorn sheep) live here. If you’re lucky, you might see one.

And now for the descent. Road 123 passes by more alpine scenery and meadows until it comes to the larger John Flat. This is a popular camping spot for people that enjoy the outdoors, and it’s often a staging ground for those who enjoy exploring the Tushars with OHVs and horses. Expect to see more OHVs on the roads in the Tushars as compared to other places around Utah.

Road 123 ends at SR-153. Turning right takes you down to Beaver and I-15. Turning left takes you to Eagle Point Resort, which has limited accommodations during the summer months. We enjoyed staying here in a one-bedroom condo, and we ate dinner at their restaurant. Eagle Point rents out all types of condos that include kitchens and living areas and can cater to vacation groups. The resort and the Tushars in general are great places to escape the summer heat and are far, far away from the buzz of any populated area. You can easily spend several days here exploring the roads and hiking trails while enjoying the tranquility of this remote mountain range.V

For this and other road trip adventure ideas and to see what they look like using our exclusive virtual video tours, see BackRoadsWest.com/blog. Search for “Tushar,” or simply browse for more trips by categories such as Nevada, Utah, hiking, road trip, historic, etc.

Don’t Think You’re Dehydrated?

Drink a Glass of Water and Think Again!

by Beau Kunzler, MSN, NP-C, Mesa View Medical Group

Are you chronically dehydrated? If your answer is “no,” there is a very strong likelihood that you are mistaken. According to a 2021 study by Cleveland Clinic, there is clinical evidence suggesting that approximately 75% of the U.S. population could be chronically dehydrated! The potential implications of this statistic are very serious.

For most of us, the word, “dehydration,” makes us imagine someone crawling across hot desert sand while dragging an empty canteen with no hope in sight. However, we might not imagine that the fussy toddler who’s not shedding tears even though she is crying is dehydrated. Or what about a confused elderly person or those times when you were tired with a headache and thirsty? That’s what dehydration looks like in the real world. We can prevent dehydration before it gets to the point where we experience the worst of it!

WHAT IS DEHYDRATION AND WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

Simply put, dehydration occurs when your body is losing more fluids than it consumes, causing an insufficient supply of water to maintain proper digestion, heart function, and organ processes. When you are dehydrated, even if you cannot sense it, your body cannot function as it should. Your body’s natural immediate response to potential dehydration

is thirst. You should respond to thirst right away by drinking fluids—preferably water—and drink enough to eliminate feeling thirsty.

While you might associate dehydration with extreme temperatures, there are many factors that contribute to dehydration, including: - Illness/fever - Excessive sweating - Vomiting or diarrhea - Frequent urination - High temperatures and working outdoors - Being an infant because they cannot tell you they are thirsty

- People who work outdoors, even if only occasionally, are at risk. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends hydrating early before you start work if you are in high temperatures. If you start your workday dehydrated, it is very difficult for your body to replenish what it has lost. - Being an older adult automatically puts you at a higher risk for dehydration because your body’s fluid reserves decrease as you age. Additionally, your body gets to the point where it no longer communicates thirst effectively. - If you have a chronic condition, you might be more susceptible to dehydration, particularly if you are living with a digestive condition that causes frequent diarrhea. Many medications can also cause dehydration. - Pregnancy poses a higher risk. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) can cause severe vomiting and make it difficult to keep fluids down. This may require IV fluids to prevent dehydration. - Being an athlete increases risk. It doesn’t matter if you are outside, indoors, or even in water. Athletes can become dehydrated in any setting. When you’re engaged in intense physical activity, your body temperature increases, which causes you to sweat in order to cool down. When you sweat, you lose fluids and electrolytes in the process, which causes dehydration if not replaced.

- Dry mouth or cracked lips - Intense thirst - Dark or concentrated urine - Cramps - Constipation - Not urinating very much - Body is warm to the touch and not sweating - High heart rate with low blood pressure - Being cranky and/or anxious - Headache - Confusion/fatigue/dizziness

If you believe your symptoms of dehydration are severe, don’t hesitate to seek help—call 9-1-1 to get to the nearest emergency room for treatment. Dehydration can contribute to kidney stones, kidney failure, and heatstroke, all of which are life-threatening conditions!

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT:

The most effective way to prevent dehydration is to be proactive about staying hydrated. It’s best not to just guzzle large amounts of water at once. Consider drinking approximately eight ounces every 30 minutes to one hour. Avoid drinking more than 48 ounces of water or sports drinks within an hour, as doing so might cause the amount of salt in your blood to drop too low. Always drink water immediately if you feel thirsty. Remember— if you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. You should see the symptoms of dehydration improve in as little as ten minutes.

WHY IS WATER SO IMPORTANT FOR YOUR BODY?

On average, our bodies are about 60% water. The actual percentage of water varies with gender, age, and other contributing factors. For example, newborn babies are about 78% water, while a one-year-old is about 68%.

Water supports life in many ways. It regulates your body temperature, cushions your bones, delivers oxygen throughout your body, balances your body’s chemicals, creates saliva, protects your brain and spinal cord from injury, and aids in digestion and elimination of waste.

Water is central to your body, especially in warm weather since it keeps your body from overheating. When you exercise, your muscles generate heat. To keep from burning up, your body needs to transmit this heat away from your tissues. The human body’s primary method of getting rid of heat is through sweat. Drinking water to replace what you lose through sweating is essential for all dimensions of your health.

Dehydration affects you not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Some examples are:

- It causes the kidneys to hold on to urine, thus damaging kidney tissue. - Loss of electrolytes, like sodium and potassium, can cause muscle cramping. - Since dehydration shrinks the blood vessels in the brain, it causes confusion and memory loss. - Dehydration also causes anxiety and crankiness.

CONCLUSION:

Although the standard advice is eight glasses of water per day or about two quarts per day for an adult, talk to your healthcare provider to confirm the correct amount for you. Keep track of how much fluid you drink. Drink water throughout the day, including some at meals.

Here’s the clincher: avoid soda, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks. One way to make sure you are properly hydrated is to check your urine. If it’s clear, pale, or straw-colored, you’re ok. If it's darker than that, keep drinking water!V

Mesa View Regional Hospital’s emergency department is equipped to help patients avoid the effects of extreme heat and recuperate from mild to severe dehydration.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Beau Kunzler, MSN, NP-C, is a nurse practitioner specializing in family medicine. He is now accepting new patients and is located at Mesa View Medical Group, 1301 Bertha Howe Avenue, Mesquite, Nevada. He can be reached at (702) 346-0800 and MesaViewMedical.com, or to schedule an appointment, visit www.MesaViewAnytime.com.

by Donna Eads

As we move away from periods of lockdown, it is great to be able to note that tennis play actually increased during COVID. So many of us went out into the great outdoors to enjoy some freedom and fun. Tennis is a game for all ages and levels, so please take advantage of the free clinics on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Hafen Park to work on your skills.

The months of May and June are full of professional, local, and league tournaments to watch or visit. Some of the largest tournaments in May are the Italian Open and the French Open, which are both played on clay courts. Maybe it is time for an international trip? Of course, the only tournament played on grass occurs in June near London. Wimbledon is an experience that you will never forget if you are able to be there in person. Even if all you can do is watch on TV, it is so different from the hard courts and clay that it is notable. This crossover to a different surface is one of the reasons that tennis is unique in the world of sports. A player must develop his/her game to adapt to the differences in play on multiple surfaces in order to be the best. Only a very few have achieved that goal.

The game of tennis is like a chess match. Each player or team must have a strategy to win. In doubles, there are several strategies that work well. One is the tactic of bringing your opponents to the net and then lobbing over them. It is a great way to wear your opponents down and win points. A second idea is to force your opponents into the middle of the court and then hit to the alley. This one goes back to the old adage, “the middle solves the riddle.” Coaches have always stated that if you can make your opponent move at least three steps, you will usually win the point, at least at the league or club level.

Keep working on your footwork by spending time outdoors walking, biking, or hiking. Spend some time doing some simple line drills, such as jumping over the lines and then moving sidewise to follow along the court lines. Don’t forget to use the volley dance, too. A forehand volley always involves the left foot stepping into the shot, and the backhand volley uses the right foot. If you are lefthanded, reverse your feet.

A couple of tips to keep in mind while playing: if you are pulled severely out wide, don’t try to be the hero—just lob. This shot will allow you time to recover for the next shot. And to hit that great short-angle volley, put your back into it—turn your back to your target.

Rules to remember that are a must if you have no umpire: you can call a foot-fault only if your opponent serves with a foot touching the center hash mark or if the server steps out of the court. You must give the point to your opponent if you or any part of your body or clothing touches the net or the ball. For example, if you are hitting a volley and the ball hits your grip area and touches your hand, then the point goes to your opponent.

See you on the courts!V