“Garfield County exhibits one of the highest unemployment rates in the state due to the seasonal nature of the tourist economy.  Almost 40 percent of Garfield County’s nonfarm employment can be categorized in the leisure/hospitality industry – in vivid contrast to the statewide figure of only 9%.”

In contrast to other Utah counties, the tourist season is barely 6 months of the year.  The public perception of Escalante is we’re desert and it’s too hot to visit in July and August.  The article states “Governor Herbert has outlined an action plan for 2012”, unfortunately tourism marketing for highways 12 and 24 wasn’t one of them.

Three first steps could be taken by Escalante City Council to start the process of expanding the tourism base to eight months. 

• ·        First, they could create a marketing piece that invites people to “Explore Escalante” year round and spell out what is available to do and when. 
• ·        Second, the state Office of Tourism could promote the 65 fishable lakes of the Dixie National Forest in Escalante’s backyard (we are the second largest city in Garfield County and should get some special attention).
• ·        Third, The City Economic Development Committee could work with all the major news stations to get Escalante on the weather map and get a weather cam installed at the airport.  Cheap year-round access to Escalante that reminds people of the Salt Lake Region we’re here and open for business.

These are baby steps compared to what could be done – but it would be a start.  If tourism could be consistent for the entire 8 months instead of on for three months, off for two and on again for two +, retailers could build inventories, for the fall season and build resources to survive the winter months.  That would help rehires occur earlier because there would be funds available from the previous season and more retailers would encourage more tourism which could bring a new use to the old sawmill property – but that’s for another time.

Today is Groundhog Day and I do believe he is right – there will be six more weeks of winter.  Although Escalante is 90% of normal for snow, there’s always room for more in this vast landscape.  Besides, it will make the spring wildflower bloom of Sego Lilies wonderful.

Until next time.

We’ve lost many of our friends and neighbors this winter.  Graveside services for Jackie Withers are tomorrow.  Larry plans to take their motor home and ramble around the southwest.  The owner of the Gas and Goodies store died late last year.  His estate is in probate and his store is boarded up.  The Hatch’s goodbye party is this afternoon.  They have been a wonderful part of the town.  We wish them the best in their new adventure.  And there are a couple of other families headed out by school year end.

If you’re headed down to hike, it’s getting pretty good.  The canyons are still very cold, but the roads are slowly drying out.  There still snow in the shadows of the North faces, but it’s not too mucky.  Just be prepared.

The first of the season openings happens next weekend with the Circle D Restaurant on Super Bowl Sunday.  After that, they usually open for Dinner Thur/Fri/Sat through Feb and into March.  With their opening, the Subway and packaged muffins, you’ll be able to begin to Explore Escalante.  Here’s to a great year!

But Panguitch had the most beautiful trees.

Returning home – the drive to Panguitch was generally pretty routine.  But once you get to the entrance to Red Canyon – you step into another world.  A world of unusual rock formations and colors.   Where the trees cling to cliff faces and vegetation is sparse.

The snow accents sections that stand in silence as they blend in the rest of the year.  And on Wednesday, the sun was at its lowest point in the sky – shadows seen then will not be seen again for another year.

Right now, we only have one restaurant open (Cowboy Blues) Thursday/Friday/Saturday. Lodging at Prospector Inn, Rainbow BNB, Gandstaircase BNB, and Slot Canyons Inn is available.  And the grocery store, the gas station and Subway are open (except they all close on Sundays). 

Beginning February 5^th we’ll have an additional diner and motel open (Circle D) on weekends. By the middle of March Escalante Outfitters will reopen their kitchen and begin to extend their hours.  They are currently closed Sunday/Monday and they have the coffee bar open but no food.

Gallery Escalante is open Monday through Saturday 9-5.  There are two ATMS in town.  We currently have 10″ of snow on the ground.

Until next week.

Ever the photographer, he was curious about the colors of the fall foliage – so off we went.

All the signs on Hwy 143 said “route open”, but I kept thinking, “yes, but isn’t this the first real storm of the season?”  As we rose in elevation, the temperature went down and the precipitation went from rain, to sleet, to snow.  Being the first snow the road was still fairly warm and the snow was mostly slush – but it wouldn’t take long to turn to ice.  Tracy is a great driver, but nervous ninnie here kept knitting.

Obviously, we made it across and down to Panguitch.  The fall foliage was beautiful, especially with the snow on the lava mounds and the pale golden leaves glowing against the snow-covered limbs and contrasting snow dusted spruce limbs.  Amazing memories and that’s what they’ll be.  No camera onboard.

There was at least two inches by the time we descended and the Utah Commuter Links camera shows about 6” now.  Welcome to winter.  Roads are plowed – they do such a great job of keeping our access open.

Supposed to be nice for Sunday and Monday.  Most of the slot canyons will be wet and mucky, but Lower Calf Creek Falls should be beautiful.  And, of course, the fall foliage is hanging on, but will go quickly with the winds.

Days are warm, nights are cools and monsoons are over.  The Rabbit Brush has finally bloomed – it’s about a month late, and the Sunflowers have turned to seed.  I’ve cut back my Holly Hock and the cherry tomato is still doing it’s thing.  The beans are beginning to dry for seed beans for next year.

According to my friends in the Escalante lodging segment, they are getting booked through the 21^st of October.  While Bryce begins to shut down (they begin to have freezing nights soon) we’re still in the high 40’s and low 50’s at night.  Another 6-8 weeks before the first frost. 

At the Gallery, I’m hanging fall foliage pictures as the Aspen begin their annual show.  I even have Copper plated Aspen Leaf Jewelry.  I’m working on a couple of special orders and have been asked to teach a class on knitting Chemo Caps this Thursday night at the LDS Church.  Everyone is welcome.

The most interesting version of that pin was the one that had been modified.  It read

“Tourism Works – For minimum Wages!”

TaylorTestimony09.13.11

Meeting with the Mayor 09-15-2011

High atop Escalante Mountain is Powell Point

It’s a full moon. Thousands of folks around the world won’t even notice. There are so many families stacked on top of other in the big cities they’ve lost their connection with the Earth. I wonder – do they even think of the cycles of the moon and the beauty it bestows on our world? I hope so.

Full moon time is a beautiful time for a walk in the park, sit on the rooftop, or drive to the beach and walk the surf line – someplace safe, but with the joy of fulfillment. Here in the Grand Staircase the moon makes it clear how isolated you are as the moonbeams bounce off slick rock and leave vast areas of black loneliness.

Miles and miles of strange rock formations hide the lizard and snakes that have gone to bed. You might see the silhouette of a passing Coyote, or the dart of a Kangaroo Rat, but the cool of the darkness provides protection while critters eat, drink and forage.

When the Anasazi lived among the rocks they felt the Earth every moment. The red-shafted Flicker repeated the earth’s heartbeat with his pecking. The Owls hooting reassured them there was life in the darkness. And the howl of the Coyotes, yapping to the moon, assured them of the heartbeat at night. Not many take the time to hear it.

The heartbeat of the City muffles the heartbeat of the Earth. If you listen you can hear it before the early morning garbage trucks and the roar of the freeways. Like the Flickers, the rumble of the subways mimics the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Take time to bask in the glow of the moon. Her spirits are powerful and her beauty unsurpassed.

Their representative was polite, apologetic and willing to answer my questions.

Q – Did Verizon buy these accounts from South Central?

A – No.  Unlike a few years ago when Verizon acquired Alltel, Verizon did not acquire anything from South Central and paid them no money.

Q – Why did Verizon offer to provide services to Escalante, Boulder and Koosharem when their service maps on their own website clearly shows they don’t offer services in those cities?

A – I’m not sure.  I believe it was our belief that the agents in your area would point out that and recommend you find service with someone else – thus you would have been prevented from signing up at the local offices.

Q – Does Veriozn Wireless intend to purchase the existing tower or put up a new tower to service Escalante and Boulder?

A – No.There are no plans at this time to install a tower in the immediate future.  Things could change but who knows when that might occur.  The current tower is 60 miles away on Navajo Mountain  In order to have our area receive better service we would have to redirect the signal from that tower and would cause harm to more users in the Page – Big Water Area.

Q – Can people still call and cancel their service without disconnect fees?

A – yes. but I wouldn’t wait very much longer before doing so.Just call the number on the top of your bill (or if you have service -611).

There you have it.  Unfortunately, instead of South Central just telling us they were getting out of the cell phone business and we should explore our own options, they recommended we go to Verizon.  Sadly, that has cost many of the local businesses time and money and lost business.  And don’t look for it to improve anytime soon.

Right now Western Salsify is in full bloom and the seed-heads look like Mountain Dandelion. A native to Eurasia and now established over much of temperate North America, it is found roadside and waste sites.  The bright yellow flowers are pleasant, but it takes over quickly.

Cut the flowers to keep it from going to seed as it is a
biennial.

Western Salsify seed head and potential bloom

In 2010, Tracy did a photo project for the Relief Society Anniversary.  Those donated prints were
auctioned off and he asked that the funds be donated to the City Playground fund.  Others have donated to the fund over the last 18 months and we have a little over $3,000, nowhere near the $15,000 needed to complete the project.

I was hopeful the Potato Valley Lions Club might take the project on in 2011/2012 – but what funds will be available is still unknown.  The Pavilion needs some work thisyear – the stove needs replacing; the heat exhaust vent needs to be purchased and installed in the back room; the ceiling of the eating area needs another
coat of sealer.  In addition, our Breakfast Bus meals revenue will be lower than at any time since we started.

I ‘ve been hoping the Artists and Crafters would rent space at the July 4^th event – which would help generate foot traffic and sales of lunches, which would increase available funds.  Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened
either.  I asked a couple of the women who support the park to sell items for the Lions Club during the July 4^th
event, but they have shown no interest.

So, for all those that have demonstrated support for the playground project – thank you!  We’ll keep working at it until we get enough funds to go forward.  It won’t be anytime soon.  Potato Valley Lions Club has invested over
$50,000 in Escalante, plus grants and donations from others, during the past 9 years through the sale of food.  We hope you’ll continue to support us in the next 9 years.

If you’d like to see the playground or some other project go forward, come join us.  That’s how Clayte’s
Run got started and your project could be next.
See you July 4^th, July 24^th, and September 24^th.  Your support makes a difference.

1.  Nevade  70.2 MA = 84.5%

2. Alaska  365 MA + 69%

3.  Utah  52.6 MA = 57.4%

4.  Oregon  61.5MA = 53.1%

5.  Idaho  52.9 MA = 50.1%

6.  Arizona  34.9 MA = 45.3%

7.  California  100.2 MA = 45.3%

8.  Wyoming  62.3 MA = 42.33%

9.  New Mexico  77.7 MA = 41.7%

10.  Colorado  66 MA = 36.6%