Click on the link above to download a printable 08/09 passport application. It not only provides free skiing for fifth grade kids but gives great deals on rental packages and lessons.

36th Annual Park City Ski Team Swap
Basin Recreation Field House at New Park
1388 New Main St., Kimball Junction
(435) 649-8749
Nov. 7-9, 2008
Nov. 7, 8 p.m.-1 a.m.; Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Bring your equipment to the Basin Recreation Field House on Nov. 7 from
3 p.m.-7 p.m.
The ski team keeps 30 percent of the profit.
Admission is $8 on Friday, $5 on Saturday and $2 on Sunday.
Children under 12 are free
parkcityskiteam.org

Park City Snowboard Team Snowboard Swap
Park City Mountain Resort First Time lower parking lot
(435) 615-8839
October, exact dates TBA
15% donation on all sold items to the Park City Snowboard Team
pcsbt.org

St. Lawrence Thrift Stores Annual Ski Sale Park and Recreation Building
90 North 100 West, Heber City
(435) 657-0209
Nov. 7, noon-6 p.m.; Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Drop your donations off at the old St. Mary’s Church
121 Park Avenue, Park City
No fees, free admission

SALT LAKE CITY

Black Diamond Store
2092 East 3900 South, Holladay
(801) 278-0233
Oct. 18, 7 a.m.-noon
Bring gear, sell your gear and keep the money.

Rowmark Ski Swap
New Location at the Salt Palace
(801)924-5935
Oct. 24-25, Times TBA
Rowmark charges 25 percent commission.
Admission: Friday $5 per person and Saturday admission TBA
(Children under 12 free)
Check website for more information
rowmark.org

Soldier Hollow Pre Winter Ski Sale
Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation
Lodge at Soldier Hollow, Midway
(435) 654-2002
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cross Country ski equipment and snowshoes
Junior Packages from $75, adults from $189
Discounted preseason passes available.

OGDEN

Howlfest Ski Swap at Wolf Mountain
3567 Nordic Valley Way, Eden
(801) 745-3511
Sat., Oct. 25
10 a.m.–10 p.m.
The event includes ski swap, DNA rail jam, family activities and food.

Event information provided by the Ski Utah Blog

There are three main hot pots at Diamond Fork hot springs. A man we talked to was checking the temp of each pot. The top was 104, middle was 95 and the lower was 82 degrees, making it enjoyable and safe for small children. Nude bathers are a common occurance, although we didn't see any. We were told that there were two more hot pots above the falls that skinny dippers used, kindly leaving the lower pots for family groups.

DIRECTIONS: Just outside of Provo. From the Junction of interstate 89 and highway 6 proceed south on highway 6 for 6.2 miles. Turn left on paved road (Diamond Fork Road) and drive exactly 10 miles to trailhead parking area. Go through gate and start up trail. Be sure to stay straight. Do not turn right on other trail. After hiking for one mile you'll come to a bridge. Hike for another 1.5 miles. There are some uphills, making it a moderate hike. The trail is well maintained however. Bikes, horses and dogs are allowed. There are about 5 campsites along the way. I think when we take our kids next time we'll backpack and camp over night.

There's a dryfall along the wash to the entrance of LWH that may be an issue if your dog, like mine, isn't good at scrambling. (It's easy enough for us bipeds, though). The Steve is a pretty big dog -- about 70 lbs -- so I don't really enjoy hauling up and over rocks, but it can be done. If your dog is smaller, or a better climber, I'm sure it can be done.

Here's some good information on getting to, and hiking through, LWH:
http://climb-utah.com/SRS/lwh.htm

The ranger at Goblin Valley SP said there's no crypto in the area, but you'll want to keep an eye out, and make sure if you see any that your dog and kids don't trod all over it.

LWH is pretty popular these days. I've heard reports of the parking area being full on most weekends and some weekdays, so it may not be the best choice if you're looking to escape the crowds.

And a few other interesting pictographs from that panel:

(That's me on the rock in the upper-right corner!)

We did a quick quant up Black Dragon Canyon in February 2007, followed up by a visit to Little Wild Horse Canyon that same day. Nice way to spend a warm winter day.

Directions: Coming from the north(Provo/Salt Lake) on Highway 6 take the first Helper exit. Turn right. Pass the Shell gas station and turn left. Go until you come to a stop sign. Turn right. Follow this road for about 4 miles. You'll come to a fork in the road. Parking is about a 1/4 mile up the left side.

Directions: Black Dragon Canyon is located just north of I-70 near the San Rafael River. From Green River Utah go west on I-70 for 12 1/2 miles. 50-feet west of mile marker 147 is a graded county road on the north side of I-70, there is no sign. If you are eastbound on I-70, the is an underpass 2 miles east at mile marker 149 that you can use to safely turn around. Go through the gate and follow the graded road north for 0.7 miles. There is a track on the west (left) which leads to the start of the Pictograph Canyon hike. Continue on the main road for 0.3 miles to the fork in the road. The left (west) fork leads to Black Dragon Canyon. The right fork leads to the San Rafael River. The Famous Black Dragon Panel (GPS Coordinates N38 56' 29", W110 25' 27") is located 0.6 miles up the left fork on the north (right) side of the canyon, behind a log BLM fence. The last 1/2 mile of track before the panel is occasionally washed out, which means an easy hike is required