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  1. #1

    Southern Utah

    We spent the weekend at our place in Entrada just outside St. George.

    We haven't been able to get back here as often as we'd like but this weekend reminded me about how spectacular southern Utah is.

    The heat...having grown up in >100 degree + near 100% humidity in north Texas during the summers, I actually enjoy the desert heat. >110 degrees is uncomfortable but 95-110 is just fine for me.

    The kids love this place, too. Great time.

  2. #2
    Malleus Cougarorum Solon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Viking View Post
    We spent the weekend at our place in Entrada just outside St. George.

    We haven't been able to get back here as often as we'd like but this weekend reminded me about how spectacular southern Utah is.

    The heat...having grown up in >100 degree + near 100% humidity in north Texas during the summers, I actually enjoy the desert heat. >110 degrees is uncomfortable but 95-110 is just fine for me.

    The kids love this place, too. Great time.
    I'll second this. I grew up in Salt Lake, but I wouldn't want to live there again. Southern Utah still has a lot of open country where you can lose a cell signal, plus it has better weather than Salt Lake and prettier scenery. The only thing that's tough is it's a longish drive to a real airport (sorry, St. George airport. you don't count)

    My only regret is that it took me until middle-age to discover Southern Utah. Better late than never, I guess.

    My top-5 places to visit in Southern Utah (west side):

    1. Zion NP
    1a. Zion NP - Kolob Canyons
    1b. JiC's house
    2. Cedar Breaks/Brian Head
    3. Red Cliffs Desert Preserve
    4. Fort Pearce Wash
    5. Navajo Sandstone range west of the road to Gunlock.
    σοφῷ ἀνδρὶ Ἑλλὰς πάντα.
    -- Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.35.2.

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Solon View Post
    I'll second this. I grew up in Salt Lake, but I wouldn't want to live there again. Southern Utah still has a lot of open country where you can lose a cell signal, plus it has better weather than Salt Lake and prettier scenery. The only thing that's tough is it's a longish drive to a real airport (sorry, St. George airport. you don't count)

    My only regret is that it took me until middle-age to discover Southern Utah. Better late than never, I guess.

    My top-5 places to visit in Southern Utah (west side):

    1. Zion NP
    1a. Zion NP - Kolob Canyons
    1b. JiC's house
    2. Cedar Breaks/Brian Head
    3. Red Cliffs Desert Preserve
    4. Fort Pearce Wash
    5. Navajo Sandstone range west of the road to Gunlock.
    Flattered to make the list. I would add Bryce Canyon and capitol reef. Not as popular as Zion, but just as beautiful.
    “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
    André Gide

  4. #4
    Malleus Cougarorum Solon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jarid in Cedar View Post
    Flattered to make the list. I would add Bryce Canyon and capitol reef. Not as popular as Zion, but just as beautiful.
    Yeah, I was trying to stay south. I agree that Bryce is fantastic. I don't know Capitol Reef very well.

    I'm about to change my mind if I wake up to another sub-zero temperature morning. WTF?
    σοφῷ ἀνδρὶ Ἑλλὰς πάντα.
    -- Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.35.2.

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Solon View Post
    Yeah, I was trying to stay south. I agree that Bryce is fantastic. I don't know Capitol Reef very well.

    I'm about to change my mind if I wake up to another sub-zero temperature morning. WTF?

    Typically gets this cold for a 3-5 day stretch once a year. This is the earliest I have seen it happen, though. Hopefully that doesn't mean that we are going to get a double dip.
    “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
    André Gide

  6. #6
    Malleus Cougarorum Solon's Avatar
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    I went skiing yesterday at Brian Head while my wife went rock-climbing near St. George.
    Talk about a crazy juxtaposition of climate & outdoor rec.
    σοφῷ ἀνδρὶ Ἑλλὰς πάντα.
    -- Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.35.2.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Solon View Post
    I'll second this. I grew up in Salt Lake, but I wouldn't want to live there again. Southern Utah still has a lot of open country where you can lose a cell signal, plus it has better weather than Salt Lake and prettier scenery. The only thing that's tough is it's a longish drive to a real airport (sorry, St. George airport. you don't count)

    My only regret is that it took me until middle-age to discover Southern Utah. Better late than never, I guess.

    My top-5 places to visit in Southern Utah (west side):

    1. Zion NP
    1a. Zion NP - Kolob Canyons
    1b. JiC's house
    2. Cedar Breaks/Brian Head
    3. Red Cliffs Desert Preserve
    4. Fort Pearce Wash
    5. Navajo Sandstone range west of the road to Gunlock.
    I've never lived in Southern Utah, but my parents keep threatening to retire there. I'd love it because, honestly, when I visit SLC and there aren't Ute games going on, I don't know what to do with myself. I usually find an excuse to drive to Southern Utah with my dad. I love the canyons.

  8. #8
    Sam the Sheepdog LA Ute's Avatar
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    I'm curious about Kanab. What's life like there?

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
    --Yeats

    “True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”

    --John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by LA Ute View Post
    I'm curious about Kanab. What's life like there?
    Very small town. Good location though. About 60 miles to Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon (north rim), or Lake Powell. About 80 miles to either St George or Cedar City.
    “To me there is no dishonor in being wrong and learning. There is dishonor in willful ignorance and there is dishonor in disrespect.” James Hatch, former Navy Seal and current Yale student.

  10. #10
    Sam the Sheepdog LA Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chrisrenrut View Post
    Very small town. Good location though. About 60 miles to Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon (north rim), or Lake Powell. About 80 miles to either St George or Cedar City.
    Now and then I daydream about retiring to such a place. Maybe a little too quiet, though.

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
    --Yeats

    “True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”

    --John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell

  11. #11
    Interesting to hear about the personality changes in Kanab. It seems only a few years ago that it was a Podunk town where the Frostop was the cultural center of the universe, the wealthier families had THREE broken down pickup trucks on blocks in the yard, and LA Ute would be considered a raving Liberal.

  12. #12
    Administrator U-Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NorthwestUteFan View Post
    Interesting to hear about the personality changes in Kanab. It seems only a few years ago that it was a Podunk town where the Frostop was the cultural center of the universe, the wealthier families had THREE broken down pickup trucks on blocks in the yard, and LA Ute would be considered a raving Liberal.
    Seriously. Wasn't Kanab the town that wanted the US out of the UN or something a while back? They sounded like the type of town that the Tea Party members look at and say "Are you crazy?"

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by U-Ute View Post
    Seriously. Wasn't Kanab the town that wanted the US out of the UN or something a while back? They sounded like the type of town that the Tea Party members look at and say "Are you crazy?"
    No. That was LaVerkin.
    “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
    André Gide

  14. #14
    Administrator U-Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jarid in Cedar View Post
    No. That was LaVerkin.
    My apologies to the fine folks of Kanab.

    EDIT: LOL. That's right. The UN Free Zone.

  15. #15
    Malleus Cougarorum Solon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by U-Ute View Post
    My apologies to the fine folks of Kanab.

    EDIT: LOL. That's right. The UN Free Zone.
    That's rich.
    La Verkin also has the Thupten Choling Dharma Center, established by Geshe Thupten Dorjee.
    http://tdorjee.com/

    I've had lunch with Geshe-la, he's legit.
    It's a bit of a headscratcher, though, to think of a prestigious Dharma Center in La Verkin.
    σοφῷ ἀνδρὶ Ἑλλὰς πάντα.
    -- Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.35.2.

  16. #16
    I did that hike in early May. It was mid week and late evening and not another car in the parking lot. Absolutely beautiful hike! I highly recommend it.

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Mountain biked some trails on Gooseberry Mesa today (east of Hurricane, south of Zion). i was planning to do this with my brother, but he shattered his patella in a motorcycle accident in September. So I went by myself. But I ended up having a lot of company, a trail running race was happening at the same time. I got to say good morning to a couple of hundred people as we scooted by each other on the trail (going opposite directions).

    What an amazing area. Lots of technical sections of "slick rock", but slightly rougher composition from Moab sandstone. I had to dismount and walk up or down many sections, but also surprised myself by "cleaning" some pretty gnarly sections.

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    Last edited by chrisrenrut; 10-15-2016 at 08:18 AM.
    “To me there is no dishonor in being wrong and learning. There is dishonor in willful ignorance and there is dishonor in disrespect.” James Hatch, former Navy Seal and current Yale student.

  18. #18
    Looks awesome!

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

  19. #19
    Malleus Cougarorum Solon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sullyute View Post
    Looks awesome!

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
    I've only mountain-biked that place once. It kicked my butt. kudos to you.
    While I was eating lunch that day, I saw a guy dump his bike while trying to clear a crack/crevasse. The bike tumbled dozens (hundreds?) of feet to the bottom of the mesa (north-westish side). I was glad the guy was okay because it felt good to laugh at his stupid move. Come to find out, he was a guide for a bunch of foreign tourists. Luckily, there was a second guide.
    σοφῷ ἀνδρὶ Ἑλλὰς πάντα.
    -- Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.35.2.

  20. #20
    Awesome pics. I loved living down there.

    I need to find a way to spend 4 months a year in southern Utah, 4 in the NW and 4 in SLC.

  21. #21
    Just returned from a nice trip to Bryce Canyon. For whatever reason, we had not been there in about 15 years although we have visited Zion almost every year. As we approached Zion, it was clear that it was going to be packed so we just drove straight through. Had 3 great days of hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

  22. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by UTEopia View Post
    Just returned from a nice trip to Bryce Canyon. For whatever reason, we had not been there in about 15 years although we have visited Zion almost every year. As we approached Zion, it was clear that it was going to be packed so we just drove straight through. Had 3 great days of hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
    I love Bryce, it's my favorite NP in Utah. I want to try and get down there during the winter. I bet it is a whole different experience.
    “To me there is no dishonor in being wrong and learning. There is dishonor in willful ignorance and there is dishonor in disrespect.” James Hatch, former Navy Seal and current Yale student.

  23. #23
    Malleus Cougarorum Solon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chrisrenrut View Post
    I love Bryce, it's my favorite NP in Utah. I want to try and get down there during the winter. I bet it is a whole different experience.
    It is kind of trippy to see the place in snow.
    I have only been a couple of times in the winter - Just as a detour while passing through.
    It gets pretty cold in Bryce in the winter.
    σοφῷ ἀνδρὶ Ἑλλὰς πάντα.
    -- Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius 1.35.2.

  24. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by chrisrenrut View Post
    I love Bryce, it's my favorite NP in Utah. I want to try and get down there during the winter. I bet it is a whole different experience.
    We talked about doing that, but concluded that the descents and assents would be pretty tough in snow and ice.

  25. #25
    Administrator U-Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by UTEopia View Post
    Just returned from a nice trip to Bryce Canyon. For whatever reason, we had not been there in about 15 years although we have visited Zion almost every year. As we approached Zion, it was clear that it was going to be packed so we just drove straight through. Had 3 great days of hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
    We used to have property in Boulder Utah. Highway 12 between Bryce and Torrey is one of the most amazing roads I've ever been on.

    One of my fondest memories is when we went on top of the Hog's Back (that skinny, winding road above Calf Creek Falls) one night when it was clear and there was no moon. Being able to have a 360-degree-horizon-to-horizon-view of the stars was absolutely stunning.

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