NEWS:

Island in the Sea

As I write this we’re in the midst of a nasty January thaw that’s now extended into February.  In our favorite public open space, Round Valley, the unseasonably warm weather, coupled with rain, has shrunken our tenuous base down to the asphalt and gravel in some areas, leaving pools fit for pond-skimming elsewhere. Our team has been vigilante about farming snow and patching the bare spots in an effort to keep everyone sliding and gliding but alas, mother nature is having her way with us.         

A few winters back I participated in one of the Summit Land Conservancy’s popular, “Moonshine Adventures”.  This reoccurring social gathering on skis included a full moon “tour” at conversation pace, up the Home Run ski run at Park City Mountain to the old angle station.  Once there, skins were peeled and warming beverages were poured before the ski back down, turns illuminated by headlamps. 

Gazing downward under the glow of moonlight, my attention was drawn to a large, dark, island surrounded by a sea of lights.  As I got my bearings, I came to realize that this expanse of black matter, seemingly void of light and life, was the Round Valley Open Space in its 2,200 acre, undeveloped and semi-wild glory.  Here, surrounded by residential neighborhoods, schools, historic ranch lands and State Routes 40 and 248, was a slice of precious real estate, somehow kept in its natural state. It was at that moment that it really hit home just how special Round Valley is.    

Round Valley consists of no less than five different conservation and agricultural easements, created to protect the area’s natural scenic, recreational, and visual open space values, and none of this happened accidentally.  Less than 30 years ago, mass development of the area seemed imminent, including a large golf community known as Valderone (ring a bell?), that included several-hundred homes and boutique hotels. These ranch lands, once bifurcated by barbed wire, now provide a refuge for wildlife and an amazing year-round recreational outlet for we domesticated animals. 

So, the next time you’re out skate skiing, fat biking or taking your best friend for a walk in Round Valley, consider what might have been, and how differently the landscape might look. We should all tip our hats to those individuals who had the foresight and fortitude to fend off the development of this high-desert, backyard, gem.  They were truly looking out for the best interest of our community, and they are all heroes in my book. 

This month we begin the Trail Origin Story of the Month series. Scroll down for the story of Rademan Ridge trail . . . a first in many ways. 

And the snow is starting to fall… Have a great one out there!