#ipicat

[mypubliclands]

Eagle Scout Signs Technical 4x4 Trails If Kyle Miller, of Boy Scout Troop 1670, was looking for a challenge, he sure got what he was looking for. Supervising an army of volunteers, Kyle orchestrated the marking of three highly technical four-wheel drive trails in the Sand Mountain OHV Area, successfully completing one of the most innovative and difficult Eagle Scout projects attempted in the St George Field Office!

Kyle and his volunteers used white paint and stencils with a jeep graphic to mark the technical trails known as Double Sammy, East Rim, and Sliplock. The project included organizing 20 four-wheel drive vehicles to navigate the terrain and complete the work.

“Without a doubt, this was one of the most impressive Eagle Scout projects ever done for our office. All the four-wheelers who like to play on Sand Mountain will truly benefit from Kyle’s work.” said Dave Kiel, BLM Recreation Planner.

When asked what he found most challenging about the project, Kyle replied, “For me, it was finding out what it really means to be a leader.” Talk about learning the hard way -- orchestrating a full fleet of vehicles while successfully completing such a challenging project is no easy feat!

Story: Dave Kiel, Outdoor Recreation Planner for the BLM St George Field Office

Photos: Justin Lunceford, Project Volunteer 

[mypubliclands]

What did Santa bring you this year? Two New Mountain Biking trails!

Nothing compares to an invigorating winter ride, so take your bike out, and feel the wind rush by as you roll down the 7.2 miles of new singletrack in the popular Hurricane Cliffs Trail System, managed by the BLM St George Field Office (SGFO), in Washington County, Utah. Thanks to a collaborative effort between the BLM, the Dixie Mountain Bike Trails Association (DMBTA), and the American Conservation Experience (ACE), two brand new trails have been added: Goosebumps and Cryptobionic.

The first trail follows technical, undulating terrain along the base of Gooseberry Mesa which was the inspiration for it's name, "Goosebumps." The second trail is a powerful, high-speed track which parallels the popular JEM trail and threads it's way deftly through a rugged landscape; sure to be an instant classic, it is called "Cryptobionic."

“The ACE crew performed admirably, completing the trail construction in brutally cold and snowy conditions which are rare in Southwest Utah!” said Dave Kiel, SGFO outdoor recreation planner who worked on the project.

"It's pretty amazing what can be accomplished when there's a shared vision. The Dixie Mountain Bike Trails Association volunteers worked really hard on designing a high quality singletrack experience. I won't give away too much, but there are some unique terrain features that will make riders stop and say 'whoa, that was awesome.' Truly, a worthy addition to an already great trail system,” he added.   

-Iris Picat

Photo credit: Dave Kiel, SGFO Outdoor Recreation Planner, and Melissa Buchmann, SGFO Recreation Technician

[mypubliclands]

What Public Lands are You Grateful For?

I am grateful for the beauty of the Kanarraville Creek Canyon located within the Spring Creek Wilderness Study Area. During the summer months, I enjoy hiking through the creek bed searching for the perfect photo!

-Yanavey McCloskey, Public Affairs Assistant in the Color Country District

[mypubliclands]

What Public Lands are You Grateful For?

I am grateful for my ‘happy place’ — a shady beach-like area near the base of Lower Calf Creek Falls in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, where many break for lunch or play in the water nearby. Here you can just close your eyes, feel the mist on your face, and listen to the sounds of solitude. For me, it doesn’t get any better than this! -Chad Douglas, Public Affairs for the Utah State Office

[mypubliclands]

Welcome Springs In the past year, Welcome Springs saw about 2,000 visitors. It is one of the St George Field Office’s more popular climbing walls, with limestone cliffs ranging from 5.7 to 5.14 in difficulty, and is accessible year-round. The best seasons remain fall and spring, as for most other outdoor activities in Southwest Utah. Please be prepared and take a look at these area-specific considerations and climbing ethics before you go.

 Photos: Todd Goss

[mypubliclands]

Full Moon Hike Attracts Creatures of the Night It is 7 p.m. on October 18th. Zombies young and old gather at the Chuckwalla trailhead in St George, Utah, as the full yellow moon grows brighter. The air is eerily still and the creosote and blackbrush have a dull glow to them. Five park rangers, representing the BLM St George Field Office, SUNCLF, and the ACE AmeriCorps program, await the zombies’ arrival with pockets full of chocolates and ultraviolet flashlights.

“We are in the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, which has special restrictions,” crowed one of the rangers, “So please stay on the designated trail. We will only be using ultraviolet lights as the moon is bright. Please do not litter or harass any of the wildlife we might come across, and watch your step!”

The horde lurches forward and flashlights scour the trail for scorpions as rangers and participants share stories and curious facts about the local fauna. Coyote howls emanate from dark clusters of undead and the moon looms larger. 

The clock strikes 10 p.m. and the recent flurry of revenant activity is now imperceptible. The 80 or so lurkers, who roamed in groups of 20, have come and gone -- until next year. The cottonwood tree has resumed its peaceful air, and a band of bats flits around in search for its next meal.

Four rangers return, the fifth* -- NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN (muahaha)

*No rangers were eaten (or lost) during this resurgence of the dead…...just chocolates*

 Written by Iris Picat and BLMUtah Social Media Team

Photos courtesy of SUNCLF

[mypubliclands]

Archaeology Day Camp Introduces 4-H Youth to Ancient Civilizations

Southern Utah is home to a diverse collection of rock art. Some sites are easily accessible to the general public, making vandalism an ongoing concern. To address this issue, the BLM Cedar City Field Office partnered with the Utah State University Cooperative Extension 4-H program to provide an Archaeology Day Camp complete with a field trip to some local rock art sites.

In the classroom, the youth were introduced to basic archaeological principles. They were given the opportunity to make clay pots using primitive technology, make their personalized rock art, and shown how to make their own Split Twig Figurines using pipe cleaners.

“My hope is to instill in these local kids a sense of respect for these important places; and building future stewards can lead to a decrease in vandalism,” said Nate Thomas, participating archaeologist.

Following the classroom discussion, Nate Thomas and Laurel Glidden, archaeologists from the Cedar City Field Office, led the crew on a tour of a few archaeological sites, including Evans Mound and the Parowan Gap, where the youth experienced an impressive concentration of petroglyphs with over 90 panels and 1,500 figures.

“By visiting Evans Mound, a Fremont Village site, we were able to illustrate to the kids how early people lived in relation to their surrounding environment”, said Glidden.

The kids left the camp understanding that by looking at the past we can gain insight into the future, but that we can only preserve it in the present.

Story by: Yanavey McCloskey and Iris Picat; photos by: Utah State University Cooperative Extension 4-H program

[mypubliclands]

Though the Southern-Utah Northern-Arizona (SUNA) Get Outdoors Quest will continue through October 18, the Peck family of Cedar City, Utah, still chose to brave the desert’s summer heat and submitted early entries, including fun photos and a humorous anecdote recounting their expeditions together. As new residents to the area, they jumped at the chance to get to know the public lands in their new backyard. With the diversity of hikes in such varying terrain, the Peck family reported that they’d like to see this become an annual family adventure! Get Outdoors (GO) Quest is a public lands scavenger hunt featuring 5 kid-friendly hikes. Those who wish to join in the fun can submit photos or a creative writing piece.  Learn more: http://sunclf.com/go/

-Iris Picat and Rachel Tueller