DEER VALLEY RESORT
Deer Valley Resort is open for the summer. Activities include mountain biking, hiking, concerts and more. The resort closed its weekday activities on Sept. 4, but will remain open on weekends through Sept. 17. For details on the resort’s activities and season passes, visit DeerValley.com or call 435-649-1000.

SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Solitude Mountain Resort, owned by Deer Valley, is open for the summer. Summer activities include lift-served mountain biking, hiking, disc golf, fishing and more. The resort is scheduled to close its summer activities on Oct. 1. For more information on the resort’s activities, visit SolitudeMountain.com or call 801-536-5730.

PARK CITY GOLF COURSE
The Park City Golf Course is open for play. For residents, the 18-hole rate is $35 ($17.50 for nine holes). For non-residents, the rate is $50 for 18 holes. Carts cost $15 for 18 holes. For more information, call 435-615-5800.

SOLDIER HOLLOW GOLF COURSE
Soldier Hollow’s Silver and Gold courses are open for play. Rates are $50 for 18 holes with a cart on the Gold Course and $45 for the same on the Silver Course. For more information, call 435-654-7442 or visit SoldierHollowGolf.com.

WASATCH MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE
Wasatch Mountain State Park has both Mountain and Lake golf courses open. Current rates are $47 for 18 holes with a cart on weekdays and $50 for 18 holes with a cart on weekends and holidays. For more information, visit WasatchGolfCourse.com or call 435-654-0532.

CANYONS GOLF
Canyons Golf is open for play. The course features 18 holes of spectacular views and has more than 550 feet of elevation change. Current local rates are $55 for 18 holes with a cart. Season passes start at $750. For more information, or to book a tee time, visit ParkCityMountain.com/golf or call 435-615-4728.”

UTAH OLYMPIC PARK
Adventure activities, including the summer Comet bobsled ride, three adventure courses, two zip lines at the tower. From Sept. 7 through Oct. 1, adventure activities will be open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Oct. 7 through October 22, adventure activities will be open Saturday and Sundays only from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 435-658-4200 or visit UtahOlympicLegacy.com.

MOUNTAIN TRAILS
Mountain Trails Foundation currently maintains over 150 miles of trail in the area. All trails are non-motorized and multi-use. For the latest updates, visit mountaintrails.org or Facebook.com/MountainTrailsFoundation. For any trail maintenance concerns, email Rick at rick@mountaintrails.org.

BASIN RECREATION
Basin Recreation keeps a busy schedule during the summer months, maintaining over 145 miles of trails for hiking, biking, dog walking and more. To plan your next adventure, please check out http://www.basinrecreation.org for a complete list of trails. For trail information or maintenance concerns, email Phares Gines, at phares@basinrecreation.org.

STATE PARKS AND RESERVOIRS
For information such as water temperature and current conditions at Jordanelle and Rockport state parks, visit StateParks.Utah.gov. For information on the Echo Reservoir, please call 435-336-2247.

WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST
The Heber-Kamas Ranger District maintains trails and campgrounds in the Uinta Mountains east of Kamas. East Canyon, Wolf Creek Pass, the Mirror Lake Highway and Guardsman Pass are all open for traffic. For more info, go to FS.USDA.gov/uwcnf or call 435-783-4338.

The post Rec Report, Sept. 13, 2017 appeared first on Park Record.

“Life is good, Russ Reiss,” is how he would always and endearingly phrase it.

Below is an email Shawn wrote to our team a month before he was suddenly taken from us in a tragic car accident. This was his recently adopted philosophy and I believe it was truly working for him. I am incredibly grateful that he was compelled to share it with all of us and our children.

“Hello Parents,
I wanted to share a letter with you that I will be sharing with the boys today. It was given to me by Pete Kaligis, DL Coach from the University Of Wyoming, whom I met while doing G.O.A.T. Camp three years ago. It’s a letter that has changed my life, my attitude, and its something I try and strive for every day. What makes it great, is that it doesn’t just apply to football, you can apply it to anything you want in life. We’re not just teaching football, we’re teaching life. Thank you for taking the time to read….

“There are a lot of average people walking around who have Champion buried inside them, but are not trained or are not willing to do the work needed. Being average is a choice. You were created to be a Champion. You have the seeds of greatness inside you. However, you have to do the work to grow the seeds. It takes work to be a Champion. You have to do the work and the training to bring it out. It is hard work, takes sacrifice and discipline. Do not take the easy way out. Do what you need to do to be great. It is truly disappointing knowing that so many people go to their graves with never bringing out the relentless Champion. It’s not too hard. You have what it takes. You can do this. There are people around you that will be there to help you. Then in time you will be able to help those around you too. Take the time to do the work to be unstoppable. No more excuses. No more whining. Are you doing the work to be a Champion today?”
Best regards,
Shawn Long”

The post Guest editorial appeared first on Park Record.

One day, we set out to run a trail the landlord had told us about in the back of our new neighborhood. I didnʼt know anyone in town yet, and I really didnʼt mind, since not having a running partner allowed me to get lost, find another trail, double back and somehow, a couple of hours later, find my way back to the trailhead. My dogs were thrilled to explore and not be bound by a timeframe. So off we went, running up Pinebrook Road until we found the trailhead. The day was gorgeous: the soft, warm sunshine of Autumn falling casually through the aspen leaves; the pine trees creating dots of shade that kept the air cool as we ran. The trail meandered upward, doubling back on itself as it led us higher and deeper in the woods.

As we came to the top of the peak, we emerged at a trail junction. Having gone quite a few miles already, we turned left and hoped it would lead us home. About 20 yards later, we came to a clearing, and it was there that I met my first friend in Park City.

In an open spot at the top of this ridge is a magnificent 360 degree view: UOP, Canyons Resort, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley in one direction, and in the opposite direction, the Uintas and East Canyon. It was breathtaking and beautiful; quiet and amazing. A lovely place to catch my breath and take in what was becoming my new home. And sitting to the edge of the clearing was Emilyʼs Chair — a lift chair with a plaque on the crossbar that read: “Itʼs the views, itʼs those little things. You know, the wonders of life.”

I met a kindred spirit in Emily, and here was her memorial, welcoming others to share what had meant so much to her. Offering a seat to strangers, giving them a chance to enjoy the views and experience a wonder of life. At that moment, I felt so lucky to have met her, and in some small way, a private way that someone in her life had decided to share with the world, a chance to get to know her.

I have lived in Park City for almost six years now. The dogs and I have continued our running, exploring trails from Deer Valley, through Park City and all around the valley. The other day we ran our favorite trail, and as I looked out from the ridge, a hawk flew by and turned away from our vantage point, gliding over the valley and disappearing into a cloudy mist overlying Murdock Peak. It was beautiful to see the dark figure soar over the hills, watching her vanish into the distant haze. I looked over at Emilyʼs chair, and smiled.

Yes, Emily, youʼre right. It is the little things, the wonders of life. Thank you for continuing to remind me of that. And thank you for being my friend. Iʼll see you again in a few days.

The post Guest editorial appeared first on Park Record.

As much as we love the festive atmosphere and the fact that some of the world’s brightest stars are drawn to stages in our backyard, we will enjoy the respite, especially knowing that it is temporary. Our visitors have returned home to put their kids in school and get back to their day jobs, but they will soon return with skis, snowboards, boots and parkas.

The coming leisurely afternoons and quiet evenings are a reminder of the small-town atmosphere that citizens and city leaders are currently trying to preserve, while also nurturing a sustainable economic base. The slower pace offers a perfect opportunity to stroll through our neighborhoods and commercial districts with a special eye toward what is new, what needs to be protected and what could use a little fixing up.

It is especially fitting that this reflective period coincides with election season. Without the distractions of special events and crowd management, there is more time to reconnect with neighbors, to discuss local issues and share mutual concerns about the community’s future.

This summer’s long spate of balmy weather won’t last. So, for a few weeks we urge residents to treat themselves to the amenities they have worked so hard to create for our visitors: the open spaces and fresh air, the restaurants and galleries, and the overall mountain vitality.

Sometimes Parkites get so busy setting up, running and taking down special events they neglect to enjoy the sound of rustling aspen leaves and the call of the sandhill cranes preparing to migrate. Throw in a few heartfelt conversations with our current crop of city council candidates, and we’d consider the off season to be well spent.

The post Take a deep breath and enjoy the off season appeared first on Park Record.

I usually don’t see the anniversary of 9/11 coming anymore unless prompted by a random thought or a mention by a friend or in the media.

All of a sudden, like today as I type this, it’s just there, right in front of my face, sort of challenging the measly flag exhibit that lives year around next to the hand-tied wet-fly-decorated tumbleweed on top of my computer desk.

Obviously, I must be uncomfortable with the memory. I recall how elated I felt as a bunch of us rendezvoused at a Vernal motel on 9/12 in preparation for a 5-day river trip beginning with a float through the Gates of Ladore on the Green River. Hiding out in those precious canyons would provide a welcome sanctuary from reality and the horse it rode in on.

I’ve never been a flag person in the sense that it was something I revered. During my highly misspent youth, however, I did fashion from whole cloth a relatively decent rendition of the Confederate flag. Something about the stars-and-bars and color scheme resonated with my 2nd-grade “be the first one on your block” sensibility I suppose.

What triggered today’s reaction is an essay written by the late author David Foster Wallace and reposted this morning by Rolling Stone. Arriving with an alarm-clock-ish alert from my cell phone and much more pastoral in style than his usual stuff, his words kept me pinned to the pillow for no other reason than it was “he” who had written them.

Touring his neighborhood a week or so after the towers fell, DFW waxed upon the various flags displayed upon houses and vehicles and RFD mailboxes and the implied statements thereof. The greater ecosystem of the University of Indiana (where he, no doubt toiled in the Creative Writing Department) provided a flag-rich environment.

Even as I committed to memory various bugle calls associated with flag raising and lowering rituals and such, the process didn’t do much to swell my heart with patriotic pride. It was just that I had a new bugle and, like learning Morse code, it was something fun to do during Boy Scout years.

Same when I joined the Army. No matter where I was stationed, I somehow found myself on whatever ceremonial drill teams, replete with M16 rifles, spit-shined boots, starched and creased fatigues, and spinning flags, beckoned.

I loved the synchronization of marching in step while twirling a rifle in various patterns prior to plopping it down at the ever-moving boot heel in unison with your battalion, company, platoon, or squad mates. We’re talking fun, here, and keeping off KP and guard duty and the rest of those menial enlisted man chores.

That isn’t to say I didn’t and don’t understand the emotions when others, conditioned differently than myself, tear up in joy and love, especially when the unfurled symbols are sufficiently tattered. Hell, I’ve been known to become a chocolate mess over family-value oriented Mormon PSAs on the tube.

Not to mention the first anniversary of 9/11 when I found myself wandering with a longtime friend among the 3,000 or so smallish flags filling the space of Washington Square Park in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood. More than anything, I felt the collective pain of the country.

Another mindset that demonstrates my ever-growing separateness from the mainstream is that I’m only drawn to NFL games if I can tune-in early enough to catch players taking a Colin Kaepernick-like knee during the national anthem.

I feel I should do my part to counter the low TV ratings the league has been getting, reportedly, as protest with “Kaep” and those who agree with him. In my humble opinion, of course, the “right” misses the point on both the 1st and 2nd Amendments to that same Constitution they so often hold up and wave as a flag of sorts.

I should add that while I do believe this country has been courageous in its historic fight against fascism, with its history of genocide and slavery, it has never been “great.” It’s MY country too and I love it and hope for it to achieve some kind of moral high ground at some point.

And to the folks out there who have never “served” but who champion war as a way to re-assert America’s place in the nationalistic food chain, I find it difficult to respect your patriotic fervor.

Oh, yeah. And if you believe in America the Beautiful, fight for the protection of Bears Ears and sacred ground everywhere. Bless you all!

Jay Meehan is a culture junkie and has been an observer, participant, and chronicler of the Park City and Wasatch County social and political scenes for more than 40 years.

The post Jay Meehan: Patriotic symbols appeared first on Park Record.

I suppose if you’re going to jeopardize the personal information of nearly half of America, capitalize on your ineptness, and completely bungle one response after the next, last week wasn’t a bad time to do so. Between Harvey and Irma, half of the western US going up in smoke, a massive earthquake in Mexico, Trump’s decision to end DACA, continued threats from North Korea, and a number of other OMG headlines, if nothing else, Equifax has impeccable timing.

Normally, when 143 million Social Security numbers, names, birthdates and addresses are stolen from a company whose sole purpose is to safe guard them, the story earns itself more than a brief mention on the 24-hour networks. But given all the other pressing events last week, Equifax was in and out of the news cycle faster than a toupee in a hurricane. Many of the 143 million Americans who may soon be the victim of identity theft, aren’t even aware of the massive breach.

Admittedly, I’m irrationally obsessive about my credit score. I don’t apply for a lot of loans, but the times I have refinanced my house, or considered a home equity loan, I’ve taken great pride in a loan officer sitting across from me appearing confused by my credit score. A few years ago I took out a loan to remodel my house. At the beginning of the process, the loan officer helping me said, “I had to run your credit score twice, just to make sure there wasn’t a mistake. I’ve never seen one this high.” To this day, I believe it’s the nicest thing a man has ever said to me.

So when I saw the news about the Equifax breach last week, my hackles went up. I went to the company’s website to figure out if I was one of the victims. After entering my personal information (some of us never learn), I received a message confirming I “may have been impacted by this incident.”

I was then taken to a page promising free credit monitoring for one year. Which sounded like an OK remedy, until I considered the hackers might be more patient than I am and just wait 366 days to open a credit card in my name. What happens in October of 2018? Not to mention, the one year of monitoring is only good for Equifax, but there are two other major credit reporting agencies — Experian and TransUnion — that aren’t included in this protection. So this free credit monitoring only covers 1/3 of what we really need and has a far-too-soon expiration date.

In addition, signing up for this service may or may not exclude an identity theft victim from taking part in any class action lawsuit. Equifax’s terms of service for the credit monitoring program state your enrollment waives your right to join a class action lawsuit. The company later put out a statement saying the waiver won’t apply to this security incident. But a legal document seems a bit more biding than words from the marketing team, so this sort of leaves victims in a credit catch 22.

The few reporters covering this story continue to update their “what to do now” advice. I’ve read I should freeze my credit, which entails a small fee. One that Equifax isn’t waiving. Really? The other tips seem rather obvious. “Keep an eye on your bank accounts.” Sure, but what about bank accounts opened in my name that I don’t know about?

But the most appalling part of this mess is that Equifax executives sold nearly $2 million worth of company stock within days of the massive data breach. Both the breach, and stock selling, happened in July, but the public wasn’t informed until last week. For all I know, someone bought a Lamborghini in my name between then and now. So for those of us who can’t ruin our own credit, there’s now a company to do it for us.

I guess when it comes to screwing up while screwing over consumers, Equifax deserves a lot of credit.

Amy Roberts is a freelance writer, longtime Park City resident, and the proud owner of two rescued Dalmatians, Stanley and Willis. The opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the writer. Follow her on Twitter @amycroberts.

The post Amy Roberts: Where No Credit Is Due appeared first on Park Record.

The Park City Council field gathered on Monday night for the first forum of the campaign season, covering a range of issues during an event that perhaps more importantly provided an opportunity for the candidates to increase name recognition after spending months in the shadow of the mayoral campaign.

Three of the candidates – Tim Henney, Steve Joyce and Mark Blue — attended in person while the fourth – Josh Hobson — participated through an online video link. Henney is an incumbent City Councilor seeking a second term. Steve Joyce is a member of the Park City Planning Commission. Blue has campaigned repeatedly for a City Council seat and has worked in a variety of fields. Hobson is an environmental activist.

A group known as the Park City Action Network, which promotes issues important to young people, organized the event at the No Name Saloon on Main Street. The crowd of at least several dozen was of mixed ages. The candidates provided brief biographical information and addressed topics forwarded by the people at the event. There did not appear to be an overriding issue as the candidates moved between questions on topics like housing and traffic.

The discussion about traffic was especially notable as the candidates described policies or programs amid continuing community concerns about the issue.

Joyce said the pending reintroduction of paid parking on Swede Alley could reduce traffic by changing driver behavior and said City Hall must address traffic during special events. Blue called himself the “transportation guy” and said past traffic studies should be disregarded since Park City is more famous and busier nowadays. He broached the idea of reversible lanes on S.R. 248. Hobson said a more robust transit link is needed connecting Park City to Salt Lake City International Airport. Henney supported alternate modes of transportation and said there is a “car problem in this community.”

The candidates described a range of housing platforms as well, and there seemed to be agreement about continuing City Hall’s housing work.

Hobson said year-round and seasonal rentals are needed. The number of people in the work force living outside of Park City is “sapping some of the vitality” out of the city, he said.

Blue said land is available outside the city limits for housing projects, but he said the location complicates the issue since people who would live there would not be eligible to vote in City Hall elections or be full members of the community.

Henney said City Hall’s housing program is important since it results in an “unplugging” of the profit motive of the private sector. He also said there are powerful free-market forces pressing on Park City.

Joyce said proceeds from City Hall housing projects can be reinvested to continue the program. He also said the municipal government could consider partnerships with the private sector as it pursues more housing projects.

The City Council campaign has not drawn the same attention as the mayoral contest and the candidates are not as known as the two vying for Park City’s top elected position. Former Mayor Dana Williams and City Councilor Andy Beerman, the two mayoral competitors, attended the event but did not participate.

Some of the other points made at the event included:

• Blue describing drastic changes in Park City over time. He said he would not blame Park City Mountain Resort owner Vail Resorts for the changes. Blue also said he is concerned about youngsters and drug abuse.
• Hobson saying decisions made in Park City impact the Snyderville Basin and Heber City while those made in the outlying locations have effects on Park City. He said, as an example, growth at Canyons Village will impact Main Street.
• Joyce noting that City Hall has borrowed and spent lots of money on items like the acquisition of Bonanza Flat in a conservation deal and infrastructure work. He said he does not like “how fast we’re spending our money.”
• Henney saying Park City could perhaps address issues related to social justice and that there is “broad agreement” in Park City about the overriding community issues.

The post Park City Council contenders emerge from mayoral shadow appeared first on Park Record.

The Treasure partnership has contended in strong terms that the project blueprints adequately address traffic the development is expected to generate, a position the partnership has long held even as critics have consistently dismissed the notion that streets like Lowell Avenue and Empire Avenue can accommodate the extra cars.

The partnership on Friday submitted a 17-page document to Park City officials as the sides prepared for a Park City Planning Commission meeting about Treasure scheduled on Wednesday. Traffic has been one of the crucial issues throughout the more than 10 years of discussions about the project, which is proposed for a hillside overlooking Old Town along the route of the Town Lift.

The Treasure side argues the streets are able to accommodate the extra vehicles in combination with traffic-fighting measures planned as part of the project, such as a people mover known as a cabriolet. People who live on streets close to the Treasure acreage argue otherwise, saying the roads would be overwhelmed by traffic headed to and from the project. The Planning Commission has also expressed concerns.

The Treasure submittal says studies over the years have concluded the steps the developer intends to take to reduce traffic are workable solutions. It points to analyses, parking counts, traffic operations and other documents dating to 2004 as evidence.

“The foregoing studies all conclude that the proposed project will not adversely tax the capacity of the roads that will be used to access the project and reasonable conditions exist to mitigate any detrimental effects of traffic generated by the project,” the submittal says.

The document lists traffic-fighting measures that have been completed, such as creating bicycle trails and pedestrian-bicycle paths, the construction of the Town Lift ski runs that link the Main Street core with Park City Mountain Resort and designing a project that clusters the development. It also outlines steps that are planned as part of Treasure, including housing some employees on the grounds, constructing ski runs rated for beginner and intermediate skiers and directing service vehicles to specified routes.

“While there may be some disagreement about the particular mitigating conditions necessary, the essential and ultimate conclusion – that any effects can be reasonably mitigated – has not been seriously questioned by any traffic professional that has conducted an actual study,” the submittal says. “Despite objections to certain methodologies and quibbling about particular assumptions, no traffic professional has suggested the project’s traffic-related effects, including during construction, cannot be mitigated through standard, reasonable conditions.”

The submittal was filed amid continuing concerns about Treasure-related traffic even as the discussions have generally moved on to other topics. Traffic has been one of the most difficult issues as the Treasure partnership, consisting of the Sweeney family and a firm called Park City II, LLC, has attempted to convince the Planning Commission and project critics the solutions will successfully reduce the number of vehicles. The arguments have not seemed to sway the panelists and critics.

It is an important period for the Treasure side as a momentous Planning Commission vote appears likely in coming months after discussions that have stretched since 2004 with various stops and restarts. It seems highly unlikely the Planning Commission will approve the project if the developer is unable to convince the panel to support the traffic-fighting measures. The position paper seems to be a final effort by the Treasure side to show the measures will be successful.

Pat Sweeney, who represents his family in the Treasure discussions, said in an interview on Monday there has been a “ridiculous number of meetings over the years” centered on traffic in addition to studies, updates to the studies and third-party reviews.

“We felt it was incumbent on us to make it very clear where we stand,” he said about the submittal, adding, “They’re public roads and we have the right to use them. That’s what we’re saying.”

The Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. in the Park City Council chambers at the Marsac Building. A hearing is planned.

A Treasure opposition group, the Treasure Hill Impact Neighborhood Coalition, also filed a submittal at City Hall in anticipation of the meeting on Wednesday. The four-page memo to the Planning Commission says the Treasure side has not addressed the impact project-related traffic will have on road capacity.

“The report continues to blindly focus on intersections while providing absolutely no information as to the current or projected street capacity,” the memo, written by attorney Nicole Deforge, says.

The memo also criticizes a concept calling for Lowell Avenue and Empire Avenue to become one-way streets in the winter as part of the Treasure traffic-fighting measures. The memo says “this is not just about mere engineering numbers – this is about quality of life for people living along and using local streets that were never intended or designed for this kind of traffic and use.”

The post Treasure drives home traffic argument in strongly worded terms appeared first on Park Record.

The Park City Police Department last week received at least four complaints about roadwork along S.R. 224 apparently jarring people as they drove over a series of cuts in the state highway that were made as part of a project addressing drains.

The cuts created a bumpy ride along the Park City entryway as drivers encountered them in quick succession. The complaints logged by the Police Department started on Sept. 2 and continued through at least Sept. 7.

The complaints included:

• on Sept. 7 at 9:21 p.m., when someone reported there was a “ditch” in the road along S.R. 224 that needs to be filled. The Police Department considered the issue a traffic hazard, according to department logs.
• on Sept. 7 at 9:01 p.m., a case was reported at or close to the intersection of S.R. 224 and Meadows Drive, where an inbound driver traveling at a speed under the posted limit reported they “blew out a tire because of the road.” The department logs did not provide details about the damage.
• on Sept. 6 at 2:35 p.m., someone reported the “cuts are too deep in the road,” the department said. The person who contacted the Police Department was worried the cuts would cause an accident.
• on Sept. 2 at 10:18 p.m., when someone reported deep cuts in the road in the vicinity of the S.R. 224-Meadows Drive intersection.Phil Kirk, a Police Department captain, said the Utah Department of Transportation, which is overseeing the work, had the cuts partially filled after the reports. Kirk acknowledged the cuts could startle drivers.“Especially at nighttime that presents a potentially dangerous situation,” Kirk said.

The post Park City drivers jarred by road cuts on S.R. 224 appeared first on Park Record.