Author: Jenny Willden

Updates at Utah Ski Resorts Go enjoy this epic season! While you’re at it, check out what’s new at Utah ski resorts. Info courtesy of Ski Utah Alta Ski Area Reach the slopes faster when Alta replaces its current Sunnyside triple lift with a six-pack chair lift in late December. Remote explosive Wyssen tower devices (RAC’s) installed on Mount Baldy bring safer avalanche mitigation to Ballroom, East Baldy, EBT, Baldy chutes, Main Street, Harolds, Tombstone and Baldy Shoulder. The resort is also improving the Sleepy Hollow terrain off of the Supreme Lift Area. Parking reservations will be extended to Friday…

A tale of two fire pits I love everything about camping, but my favoritesy part is wrapping up the night around a roaring campfire. This summer I tested out two different fire pits, the Solo Stove and BioLite, to find the best option for smoke-free campfire nights and cooking. Solo Stove Bonfire and Cast Iron Griddle: This portable smoke-free fire pit uses a Signature 360° Airflow system to heat the air and burn off smoke before it reaches you. This means no more smoky hair, no more yelling “Fluffy Bunnies, and never changing seats to make fire smoke flee. The Bonfire…

Holistic Health Remedies for Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD is a condition that typically affects people in the colder, darker months. Women are more than four times as likely as men to struggle with it. Symptoms include sadness, moodiness, and a lack of energy that begins in the fall and continues through winter. Some holistic remedies that Dr. Brad recommends to beat the winter blues include: Lighten Up!: Try to get outside as often as you can to soak up more light when the weather permits. Try taking a walk every day that you’re able, keeping window shades open, and…

Beat the Heat in Park City This Summer After a year of COVID isolation and canceled plans, we’re looking to travel again on safe, local getaways. As summertime temps top 100°F in the Salt Lake Valley, locals are looking to escape hot weather. Nearby Park City, where daytime temperatures average 11°F cooler than Salt Lake, make it the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Despite its winter popularity, summers in Park City are spectacular and full of activities, concerts, festivals, and farmer’s markets. The COVID-19 era makes some events feel less bustling, but Park City is still the perfect escape…

Wanna get away on vacation, but don’t want to spend the money on a faraway trip? Then look no further than this handy dandy list of camping spots that are close to home and offer plentiful recreation opportunities. Most of these camping spots can be reached by car, but in some cases you’ll need to boat, hike, or four-wheel in to the campsite. 1. King Fisher Island (Flaming Gorge) This beautiful area is characterized by brightly colored canyon walls, forested hills and a large reservoir that’s perfect for boating, canoeing and more. Flaming Gorge straddles the Utah/Wyoming border near the…

As ski season winds down, I’m reflecting back on a strange yet wonderful ski season in the Wasatch. Despite concerns that rising COVID-19 case rates would shut down skiing, resorts remained open throughout the year to masked skiers and riders. For me, the ability to ski or snowboard multiple times a week made the pandemic winter bearable. Having a pass at Alta Ski Area just made the 2020-21 season sweeter. I spent many days snowboarding at Park City Mountain, but after shredding one stick for 20 years, I decided it was time to return to my skier roots at…

Ski Gear Picks That Keep You Safe & Warm on the Slopes With record-breaking snow falling all along the Wasatch, winter doesn’t feel close to over. Score late-season deals and upgrade your gear with these ski gear finds designed to keep you and your family warm and safe on the ski slopes. After spending the last 20 years of my life snowboarding, I’m spending this season re-learning to ski at Alta Ski Area, where I first learned to ski and ski race at age five. The learning curve to mastering skiing as an adult is steep, but Alta’s beginner-friendly terrain…

Did you know that Thanksgiving Day is the most popular day to race of the whole year? That’s right, Turkey Trots are growing across the nation with everyone from competitive runners to families joining in on pre-feast dashes. While the race scene looks different this year due to the pandemic, many turkey trots are happening in person or virtually in the Beehive State in 2020. Did we miss a race? We’re only human! Send us the details at editor@sportsguidemag.com and we’ll add it to our list. Weber State Campus Recreation’s Annual Turkey Triathlon 2020 TBA. November 3, WSU Swenson Gym, Weber…

When do Utah ski resorts open for 2020-21 season? It’s hard to believe, but Utah’s ski resorts are opening now for the 2020-2021 season. It’s bound to be a weird one due to COVID, but here’s hoping that we at least get a lot of snow! NOTE: These Utah ski resort opening dates are valid as of press time, but if we get a monster dump (or no fresh snow at all) they could change. In the meantime, pick up some new gear at a Utah ski swap, and go get your skis or board waxed so you’re ready to…

Utah Mountain Lion Encounter Captured in Terrifying Video While it contains explicit language, this terrifying video shot shot early October 2020 in Provo’s Slate Canyon shows what can happen when you encounter a cougar on the trail. Utahn Kyle Burgess went out for a run on October 10 in Slate Canyon near Provo, Utah. He came upon a mature cougar and her cubs–and the cougar began stalking and lunging at Burgess with its claws out. Though rare, this video shows how scary a mountain lion encounter can be! Deer are a mountain lion’s primary prey, and you’ll find them anywhere…