Pat Bagley publishes Survival Guide for Utah

A post on DailyCartoonist.com announces a new book by the infamous cartoonist and Utah resident Pat Bagley. They quoted him as saying, "We have a state that is unique; it’s like no other place in the world, and I think the people ought to be warned before they get here." Gotta love Bagley!

• Here is one of his cartoons that I got permission from the SLTrib to post.
  
• Check out the book on Amazon.com.
  

Capitol Reef National Park

Have you been to Capitol Reef lately? It's one of Utah's best kept secrets. Packed with human and natural history, as well as some great hikes and stunning views, Capitol Reef is a great place to spend a few days. Even in the winter!

New Utah License Plates Released!

Two new plates, both updated versions of the current SkiUtah (in circulation since 1985) and Delicate Arch ( released in 1992) plates are now available from the Utah DMV. These new plates' designs incorporate Utah tourism's new slogan--Life Elevated.

Resort Openings Report

I took a drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon yesterday and I must say things are looking a bit bleak. It was pretty cold (my car thermometer said 26 deg) so the snow making machines were going full force. But Snowbird looked sad and Alta not much better.

Latest news on openings:

• Solitude - Open!
  
  
• Snowbasin is opening on Thanksgiving Day, but not necessarily for skiing and boarding. If the snow conditions are good, they will open the mountain to snow sports, otherwise visitors will be able to take scenic foot passenger gondola rides, or hang out in the restaurants, lodges and shops.
  

  The Thanksgiving Day Feast 2007 “Le Beaujolais Nouveau cest Arrivee” will be happening at Needles Lodge from 11:00 AM until 6:00 PM. Guests will enjoy the fun of the celebration of the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau, one of the most animated rituals in the wine world, as well as enjoying an extraordinary Thanksgiving Feast offering.
  
  

• Sundance scheduled to open Friday December 7th
  
  
• Park City Mountain Resort is scheduled to open for skiing and riding on Friday, November 23. The Resort will operate PayDay Lift, which will service Homerun, with additional terrain to open as conditions permit.
  

  Before you hit the slopes, come ride the Alpine Coaster, the only one in Utah! The Alpine Coaster, along with Legacy Sports, Kristi’s Coffee Café and Legends Bar & Grill open Wednesday, November 21.
  

  
  
  • Wednesday, November 21
    
    
    • Alpine Coaster: 10 am to 4 pm
      
    • Legacy Sports: 10 am to 5 pm
      
    • Kristi’s Coffee Café: 10 am to 4 pm
      
    • Legends Bar & Grill: 11 am to 5 pm
      
    
    
  • Friday, November 23
    
    Skiing and riding in addition to restaurants and shops
    
    
    • PayDay Lift: 9 am to 4 pm
      
    • Legends Bar & Grill: 11am to 6 pm
      
    • Legacy Café: 10:30 am to 3 pm
      
    • Alpine Coaster: noon to 4 pm
      
    • Kristi’s Coffee Café: 7:30 am to 5 pm
      
    • Legacy Sports: 8 am to 6 pm
      
      
    
    
  • Friday, November 30
    
    
    • Gorgoza Park: 1 pm
      
    
    
  • Wolf Mountain - Nov 22
    
    
  
  

Where is the Snow?

Salt Lake area ski resorts were supposed to open this weekend, but mother nature is not cooperating! Not only is there not enough natural snow to allow smooth sailing down the slopes, but it isn't even cold enough to make snow.

Only a handful of the resorts have decided to go ahead and open with limited runs and lifts operating. The others are holding on to see what the weather gives us.

Resort	Expected Opening Day
Alta	TBA
Beaver Mountain	TBA
Brian Head	Nov 22
Brighton	TBA
The Canyons	TBA
Deer Valley	Dec 8
Park City	Nov 21
Powder Mountain	TBA
Snowbasin	Nov 22
Snowbird	TBA
Solitude	Nov 16
Sundance	Dec 7
Wolf Mountain	Nov 22

Fly Into Salt Lake City and Ski Free

Park City ski resorts (Deer Valley, The Canyons and Park City Mountain) will be sponsoring their Quickstart Program again this year. Fly in today and ski this afternoon. Convert your airline boarding pass into a same-day lift ticket to the Park City resort of your choice. For free! For real!

This is a great way to get visitors to try out the resorts. A lot of visitors come here just for the skiing, but some, who maybe come in for a trade show might not think they have time to check out the slopes and they don't want to put out the bucks for a lift pass if they are only going to ski for a couple of hours. This program helps alleviate that situation and gets people who might not otherwise find out how awesome our snow is onto the slopes.

I wonder if they would accept a bus pass ;->