There is no longer a question around whether AI will change humanity. It already has. The more difficult question is whether the people and institutions guiding AI’s development can evolve as quickly as this Janus-faced technology itself. It is ultimately the responsibility of every person to decide which of its two faces it will wear going forward.

The idea of Janus-faced truths stems from the mythology of the Roman god Janus, whose head bore two faces, and presided over thresholds: new beginnings and endings. This god also governed war and peace and was invoked during times of great change.

Humanity is facing a time of great change, with Artificial Intelligence appearing ubiquitously in our lives, seemingly without anyone asking for it. Every email server and customer service hotline now has a chatbot offering its “help,” making it increasingly difficult to reach a human who can better understand the nuances of a specific question. Even straightforward internet searches now require adding “-AI,” otherwise the top result may be an AI-generated summary of everything known about a topic, whether factually verified or not. Accessing peer-reviewed studies and hard-copy research is becoming increasingly difficult, making it imperative that individuals take responsibility for fact-checking the information they encounter online amid the overwhelming presence of “AI slop.”

You’ll hear people touting the advantages of AI, arguing that it doesn’t replace human intelligence but amplifies it. A physician can review more research before making a diagnosis. A teacher can personalize lessons for 30 students rather than teaching to the average. Scientists can analyze protein structures, climate simulations, and astronomical data in hours instead of years. Small businesses gain capabilities once reserved for multinational corporations.

For artists, proponents argue that AI lowers technical barriers. Someone with compelling ideas but limited drawing ability can visualize concepts. Independent filmmakers can create visual effects that once required millions of dollars. Writers can brainstorm, organize research, or explore alternate drafts without waiting for collaborators. And tools that lower the cost of creation often increase the total amount of art produced. After all, photography didn’t eliminate painting, and computers didn’t eliminate writers.

Yes, that’s one face. But if we look at the other side, we discover something different. Consider the cost of this lower barrier to entry for arts, education, and productivity. What is the human, economic, and environmental toll of easy access to “intelligence”?

Comparisons are drawn between the advent of Artificial Intelligence and the Industrial Revolution, where work moved from fields to factories, creating more jobs (despite terrible working conditions). However, AI has stolen jobs because it rendered the humans who once performed those tasks useless. An estimated 175,000 U.S. positions have been lost to AI and automation since tracking began in 2023—and that’s just the jobs that have been officially reported. According to economists, that number could increase to over 10 million by 2030. Here again, advocates will say that productivity revolutions always redistribute work before they create new work, but where are these new jobs?

Some discussions place the focus on factory automation jobs. But AI increasingly affects professions long considered resistant to automation: accountants, translators, graphic designers, customer service representatives, paralegals, junior programmers, journalists, and even some medical specialists.

Unlike previous industrial revolutions, AI targets cognitive labor; specifically, the work many societies encouraged people to pursue precisely because it seemed secure. Whether AI becomes broadly enriching or economically destabilizing may depend less on the technology than on education, labor policy, taxation, and corporate governance.

Childhood education faces growing concern over AI tools in grade schools. These programs enter classrooms with little oversight and unclear data collection practices. In Utah, new AI technology is being rolled out in public schools this year. Nationally, the possibility of a humanoid robot named “Plato” was presented as an in-home teacher for children, sparking concerns from the education community. Even as First Lady Melania Trump concluded her statement about this robotic future, she warned that “optimism must be weighed with caution.”

For students lacking educational resources, an AI tutor that can explain algebra ten different ways without frustration and remain available around the clock can be transformative. But the same systems can also backfire. Chatbots are now completing essays and homework assignments and reducing a student’s cognitive development by removing opportunities for them to acquire persistence, reasoning, and even basic writing skills. This is dangerous for the future of our society.

Educators face mounting challenges. They must teach critical thinking, keep students engaged against social media distractions, and grade work while detecting AI use.
At first glance, the healthcare sector may also appear to benefit greatly from the advent of AI. Machine learning systems already assist in interpreting medical images, identifying drug candidates, summarizing clinical notes, predicting patient deterioration, and expanding access to basic medical information.

Yet, AI models reflect biases in historical medical data and can be programmed to systematically deny coverage across the board, without considering the varied and nuanced nature of individual human health histories. AI models consistently produce confident but incorrect recommendations, and privacy concerns surrounding sensitive health information remain significant.

However, no area provokes stronger emotional reactions than the use of AI in art. Currently, AI systems are trained on vast collections of human-created work without adequate permission or compensation. The internet is awash with stories from creators about bots crawling their websites, stealing their intellectual property, and then mass-producing their art.

Artists and writers worry that their individual styles, painstakingly developed over decades, can now be imitated within seconds. These concerns are neither imaginary nor trivial. New “artistic tools” appear every day, and artists worry that these tools now diminish “real” creativity.

Despite photography, digital editing tools, and computer animation having all faced similar skepticism upon their advent, the difference with AI is that it imitates aspects of creativity itself rather than merely expanding an artist’s physical technique. It’s not creating anything new or unique; it’s regurgitating what already exists. The “smooth brain” experience of writing or creating with AI does little to enrich an individual’s life. Why take the time to develop your unique voice or artistic style when you can plug a prompt into a bot and have it spit out something you could market within hours?

This reasoning becomes truly problematic when we take it one step further into the epistemological effects of AI—how do we truly know what we “know”? If AI can create art and fabricate news stories and videos, can we believe what we see anymore? Anything from images, voices, and video footage to phone scams can now be fabricated with startling realism. Every echelon of society is now affected by AI: journalism, elections, legal systems, financial markets, and ordinary interpersonal trust. This all begs the question, “How are we verifying anything anymore?”

Libraries stocked with physical books, access to peer-reviewed research, the willingness to fact-check our own biases, and face-to-face interactions with members of our communities are more important than ever. Human beings thrive in the physical world. The Gen Z maxim “touch grass” applies. That is, assuming the resources needed to keep growing grass in Utah are preserved by those who choose to use their voices and vote in local and national elections.

Assessing the full environmental effects of AI needs much more time and space than this article allows (and many journalists have covered it extensively). The news and debates around current proposals in Utah are harrowing. Because AI is often described as “digital,” this suggests a false immateriality, but its environmental effects are tangible. Training and operating large AI models requires significant computing infrastructure, electricity, water for cooling, and semiconductor manufacturing (read: data centers). Ultimately, individuals hold the power to make sure local leadership is accountable for reflecting the needs and values of their constituents. And Utahns do need and value our beautiful landscapes and protected natural resources.

When we step back and look at the long-term effects on our state and all its natural wonders, we need to ask ourselves if the easy, pretty face of AI is truly worth the cost when it turns and shows the other side. So much of the rhetoric has been that AI is “inevitable”, “it’s already happening”, and “you can’t stop it”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Voting is just one of many ways to get involved. Pay attention to how leadership is voting. Keep pushing back and inspecting both sides of every issue. Ask the hard questions. Join your local school board, support your child’s teacher, and get involved in their classroom, whenever possible. Sign petitions and get involved at a community level. Join a writing group, take an art class, or develop another physical skill. Support free resources like public libraries. Read, fact-check, and join discussions with real humans, even if the topic is challenging. It is uncomfortable to be vulnerable, but knowledge is power.

Get to know your neighbors. Bring them cookies or invite them to share a meal. It is more important than ever to participate in the community. After all, how do you know a real person wrote this article? That may be an incentive to get to know local writers on the lawn at the farmer’s market or join the writing group at the public library, which meets the second Saturday of every month. Whichever face of AI you choose to interact with, remember not to take everything you see at face value. Keep looking at it from both sides.

Join the Wasatch Back Writers 11:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month in the upstairs boardroom at the Wasatch County Library.
For more information, email wasatchbackwriters@gmail.com

The +7 Farm Store is a labor of love for proprietor Chelsey Leavitt. She’ll tell you the idea simply filled a need in the community. “We’re bridging the gap between people who want to buy locally produced goods but don’t know where to find them—or don’t want to spend Saturdays driving from farm to farm—and producers who have incredible products but no place to sell them.” If pressed, she’ll admit the idea had been quietly forming for years, waiting for the right moment.
The +7 name itself carries deep meaning. It began with Leavitt’s grandparents, Neal and Mary Jane Mortensen, who created the +7 beef brand by selecting the best seven genetic traits from different breeds and combining them into one superior product. That philosophy—bringing the best together—stuck with Chelsey. When the farm store became reality, the name felt inevitable.

Today, the +7 Farm Store is exactly that philosophy in action: a locally produced food hub bringing together the best of the Wasatch Back under one roof. The shelves feature locally raised beef, eggs, produce, sourdough, coffee, skincare, pottery, flowers, and art. Every item is hand-selected, with offerings shifting seasonally to reflect what’s freshest and best.

“Honor your own stories and tell them, too.” – Madeleine L’Engle

The store also solved a very real logistical challenge. Chelsey and her husband, Cliff, had spent years trying to find the right way to market and distribute their own cattle brand, L2 Ranch Beef. After they married, they began the gradual process of buying the family ranch and transitioning from a conventional operation to a direct-to-consumer model. Chelsey, who holds a degree in Agribusiness from Utah State, always knew she wanted to be a cattle rancher—but the path wasn’t straightforward.

Without a storefront, they experimented with beef shares, farm boxes, deliveries, and restaurant sales. Each model worked—kind of. “For years I was trying to figure out how to sell,” Leavitt says. “It was inconvenient, especially with four little kids. Delivery and pick-up were hard to coordinate.”

Then everything clicked. After a conversation with her sister about a sourdough business and stumbling across a video about an “honesty box” produce stand, Leavitt had an unmistakable moment of clarity. “That inner knowing—you just know. Within two months, the shed was up and running.”

The result is a self-serve experience customers love. “People enjoy being able to shop without someone hovering or asking questions,” Leavitt says. “That freedom really resonates.” It also allows Cliff to focus on ranching while Chelsey runs the business—each leaning into what they do best.

“There are only two lasting bequests…roots and wings.”
– Hodding S. Carter

What truly sets +7 apart is Leavitt herself. A natural connector, she’s genuinely interested in people’s stories and thrives on helping others succeed. When the store idea took shape, she tapped into a wide network of local farmers, makers, and artists—relationships built over a lifetime.

That entrepreneurial spark showed up early. She raised goats at age seven and ran a pet-care business in middle school. “My dad’s side of the family is all entrepreneurs,” she laughs. “It goes back generations.”

Now, all those experiences have converged. “Everything I’ve dabbled in is finally coming together,” Leavitt says. “My confidence has grown. I believe in my vision, and that makes you brave enough to do bigger things.”

The response has been overwhelming. “It’s exceeded all my expectations,” she says. “People love it. The community has embraced it. And I’m having so much fun—it’s my creative outlet.”

Leavitt’s passion for healthy, accessible, locally produced food continues to drive her forward. This spring, she and partner, Lindsey Waddoups, of Three Sprouts Flower Farm will open a second +7 Farm Store in Farmington.

When asked if she’s arrived where she wants to be, Leavitt smiles. “I’m just getting started.”

Visit +7 Farm Store at:
231 S 175 W, Kamas
plus7farm.store  |  @plus7farmstore

My Story Matters began with founder Amy Chandler’s vision in 2010, when she hosted “VIP Days” for children in Salt Lake City’s homeless shelters. Each child was paired with two volunteers who listened to their hopes and dreams, then guided them through fifteen themed photo stations to create a personalized bedtime story—something uplifting to read every night.

Looking back, Amy said, “We dove in without knowing exactly what we were doing, but we quickly realized everyone needed tools. The parents needed tools. The kids needed more than hope; they needed to learn how to create it for themselves.”

The organization soon expanded into hospitals, helping terminally ill cancer patients feel seen and remembered. As parents viewed the finished books, many asked for stories for their other children—those often overlooked during long seasons of treatment. This shift led the team to work with entire families. But as the program grew, Amy realized she couldn’t be everywhere, prompting the team to pause, reflect, and create a shareable curriculum that would empower others to bring storytelling and healing to their own communities.

My Story Matters became a 501(c)(3) in 2012 and introduced its new curriculum in schools across Utah, helping refugee children use an online portal to share and write their stories—often seeing a photo of themselves for the first time. By imagining new possibilities for their lives, these children gained a sense of control and empowerment.

The program saw strong results with refugee children and soon drew requests for more students to participate. Brenda Simmons, Assistant Executive Director, remembers teachers saying, “Whatever you’re teaching these kids, we want all our kids to have,” and the program quickly expanded schoolwide. At one point, the organization had an 80-school waiting list.

Amy and her team had to pivot again when COVID-19 hit and enrollment dropped. Teachers, parents, and students were overwhelmed, and no one felt they had room for one more thing. Today, My Story Matters brings a scaled-down program to rural schools through assemblies, since new curriculum often requires lengthy administrative approval.

The drop in school waitlists didn’t deter Amy; as the pandemic began, the program was also exploring work in the Utah County jails. With a part-time crew of fewer than ten dedicated staff, My Story Matters has grown into what it is today, holding classes in jails, sober-living homes, and homeless shelters across Utah. Volunteers now focus on justice-involved youth and adults, helping them rewrite their stories and move beyond the belief that “convict” is the only label they carry. It’s part of their past, not their whole story.

The “Captain Your Story” prison class now has a 700-person waitlist. Each 12-week cohort is capped at 15 participants, many of whom take it more than once to strengthen their identity and skills for lasting change. Although the courses are online, prisons focus on the ‘career’ curriculum. Brenda explains the reentry program prepares people leaving maximum-security facilities to present themselves to the board, navigate life outside, and stay true to their vision.”

Tammy Orchard, the Justice-Involved Coordinator, explained the challenge of reentry: “The world has changed so much… Think about being inside four walls for fifteen years, then coming out to such major growth. It’s very overstimulating.” Brenda adds, “Some of them have never held a cell phone. They’ve never done Zoom; they’ve never done self-checkout.” These everyday skills are vital for a healthy transition back into society, which is why family members are encouraged to take the classes alongside inmates—learning the same language and strengthening communication. The organization also recently completed a Spanish translation of the program.

And it’s not just storytelling that’s changing lives—My Story Matters has expanded its “Captain Your Story” framework to include financial literacy and parenting programs. Other organizations are getting on board too; several local CEOs have become “Guides,” bringing the program into their workplaces after seeing its power firsthand. As the curriculum continues to grow, My Story Matters is always looking for more volunteers and Guides to help lead classes.

So, what does the program involve, and how can people get involved? My Story Matters credits its success to teaching real “tools for emotional resiliency.” As Brenda explains, people often offer vague advice, but “we actually teach tools they can look at and say, ‘In this situation, which one helps me move forward?’ It all starts with ‘Vision.’”

The organization follows a twelve-step “Control Panel” map that begins with “Vision,” helping participants build a new identity as the foundation for everything. This psychology- and science-backed approach guides them to imagine the life they want and develop the skills to reach it—regulating their nervous systems, leaning on community, taking focused action, and showing up even when they’re afraid. Each twelve-week course focuses on one tool per week, led by a trained Guide who acts as both coach and cheerleader. Brenda, a certified life coach, took the class in 2023 and became a Guide the next year, noting that the role is “the guide on the side, not the sage on the stage.” Brenda says what she loves most is watching the program give people hope.

Guides take the class three times in a process the organization calls “Learn, Live, Leverage,” ensuring they’ve applied the tools in their own lives before mentoring others. Resident-Guides in prisons are especially impactful because they’ve walked the same paths as those they lead. Amy invites anyone interested to “come and see—take the class and experience your own transformation. Then you’ll know how you can create impact.” She adds that they’re always seeking people who believe in the mission and want to help bring healing to places where transformation is needed most, especially for individuals who can’t afford it.

My Story Matters has faced economic challenges this year after government funding cuts, which once made up more than half of its support. The organization is now seeking additional private donations and corporate sponsors, and early interest from local businesses has been encouraging. They offer five-tier package options for schools and companies, making participation accessible for most budgets. For parents who want the program in their child’s school, becoming a parent advocate is one of the most effective ways to help make it happen.

Amy’s vision for My Story Matters is radical. She wants this program to go global and doesn’t want the cost to be prohibitive. For individuals who can’t afford the full cost of the course, the organization offers scholarships that cut the price in half for those who qualify. “We believe every human on the planet deserves to live their very best life and have permission to do so. We won’t stop until everyone has tools.”

More than anything, Amy wants people to “feel seen.” She understands the struggle of starting over, and My Story Matters stands as proof that these tools work. “I want everyone to know their story matters—not just where it’s been, but where it’s going. Choose to pick up the pen and be the agent of writing your story. Until we believe our story matters, we don’t give it intention. We just let life happen to us.”

If you’re feeling inspired to pick up the pen and write your story—or want to learn more about the organization and how to get involved—you can find My Story Matters online and across their social media platforms.

Learn more: mystorymatters.org
@mystorymatters

12-Steps

1. Vision
2. Choice and Commitment
3. Focus
4. Language: (Words Matter)
5. Surrender
6. Community
7. Help: (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)
8. Identity
9. Response: (Dan Siegel’s “Hand Model of the Brain”)
10. Learning
11. Focused Action
12. Story: (Based on Joseph Campbell’s ‘Hero’s Journey’)

I’d been invited to go riding within ten minutes of sitting down to chat with Megan Grohovena and Kristin Pitts, both of whom have daughters on local mountain bike teams. Their warm, immediate invitation echoed a word I’d heard repeatedly when people described the local mountain biking scene: inclusive. Parents, coaches, adult riders, student athletes—all used the term. And from my first interaction, it seemed true.

People of all ages are picking up mountain biking in record numbers, and it’s now one of the fastest growing sports in Utah, especially among middle- and high school-aged youth. Utah has, by far, the largest league in the country. The Utah High School Cycling League (UHSCL) had over 7,600 student riders in 2024, up from just 320 in 2012.

Local teams like Wasatch, South Summit, and Park City High have felt that surge. Melanie Lake, Director of the Wasatch Mountain Bike Team, told me that this year their registration portal closed after just 45 minutes. That’s a major change from her early days as a volunteer “Team Mom,” helping organize the then-small group of 40 kids. Today, the Wasatch program has a 91-rider middle school development team and a 124-rider high school team.

Yet growth presents challenges. “There are more kids who want to participate,” Lake said, “but unlike other sports, we need two certified adult ride leaders for every eight kids.” That’s because mountain biking doesn’t happen on a controlled field. Trails are remote, dynamic, and potentially dangerous. “You can’t see all the kids at once like you can on a soccer field,” Lake explained. Ride leaders need to know First Aid, CPR, and have trail skills themselves.

These adult ride leaders, along with the race-day support staff, are all volunteers, committing hours weekly from June through October. “When you add it up… it’s massive,” Lake says.

And yet, riders return season after season, despite extreme conditions—snow, mud, or 100-degree days. Why? Dave Scott, Head Coach of South Summit’s team, says it’s the community. “It’s a bike team family. I’ve seen it time and time again—kids move to the valley and just need something. And the bike team—no matter who it is—they wrap their arms around them. Biking becomes their identity.”

Loralie Pearce, whose son Landon was on South Summit’s team from age 13 through high school, agrees. Landon was homeschooled and sometimes felt isolated. “With mountain biking,” Pearce said, “he found his people.” Landon has low eyesight, a fact Pearce mentions only in passing, because it never held him back. “The coaches never put a limitation on him—they just adjusted as needed.” I can’t think of another sport with this kind of flexibility built into its core.

That inclusion is no accident. Under the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA), which governs youth leagues nationwide, several initiatives foster accessibility, including Elevate (for adaptive riders), Student Leadership Summits, and GRiT (Girls Riding Together). Teams across Utah accommodate students with visual or hearing impairments, autism, Down syndrome, missing limbs, or physical limitations. As multiple coaches told me, “In mountain biking, no one sits on the bench.”

When you look at the scale of it, you know something special is here.

Brooke Howard, Race Coordinator for Region 5 (which includes Wasatch and Summit counties), helps ensure race days run smoothly for every rider. She coordinates with coaches in advance and works with her 140-person event crew to prepare courses for all ability levels. What keeps her coming back? “The smiles on kids’ faces after a race,” she says. “Whether they finish fifth or fiftieth, they’re proud of themselves.”

That pride extends to their community impact. One of UHSCL’s five core values—alongside Fun, Inclusivity, Equity, and Respect—is Community. Each student must complete at least three hours of trail work annually. Dave Scott described South Summit’s close partnership with the local trail foundation. “They rely on us to help. We want to respect the trails and the people who’ve used them longer than we have. If we help maintain them, others see that we care.”

This focus on personal growth and community service aligns with the goals of the Student Leadership Summits, which aim to build leadership skills that last a lifetime. “They learn they can do harder things than they think,” says Lake. “Sure, we want to teach them to ride, but more importantly, we want them to know who they are. That carries into everything else in life.”

That mission is especially apparent in the GRiT program, launched in 2018 to address the gender gap in the sport. Female athletes leave sports at twice the rate of their male peers by age 14, due to factors ranging from body image and injury to pressure from social media. GRiT creates a supportive space for girls to build confidence, form friendships, and feel seen. It works. “The number of girls increases every year,” says Lake.

Each team decides on its GRiT activities—past events have included girl-only rides, yoga, spa nights, and motivational speakers. Megan Grohovena credits GRiT with helping her daughter stay engaged. “Last year she kinda hated practice—too repetitive. But now, with GRiT, she loves it. They have fun rides, spa nights. It’s so fun.”

As a rider herself, Grohovena says part of what keeps her going is setting an example. “It feels good to get out there. Even though they joke that every time I’m upside down in a bush, they still see me doing something hard. That matters. When your girls see you doing something that’s not traditionally female—it’s empowering.”

Kristin Pitts, a mother of five, has been mountain biking since high school. Most of her kids found other interests, so now she rides solo or with other women. “I like the trails,” she says simply. “You just see more when you ride.” When I ask if mountain bikers have secret favorite trails like anglers have secret fishing holes, she laughs. “Everyone knows. They’re all on apps now. And honestly, a good mountain bike trail is one that’s been ridden a lot.” Then she and Megan invite me to come along—and that’s how I ended up sweating nervously at Dutch Hollow, helmet on and ready to go.

When I first started researching this article, I expected mountain biking to be an intimidating sport to break into. It’s not. I already had a helmet, and after our first bike had a broken spoke, Megan easily found another loaner. There’s a refreshing absence of gatekeeping in this community. If cost is a barrier—for you or your child—ask. UHSCL and NICA offer scholarships, gear loan programs, and payment plans. As both Pearce and Scott emphasized, it’s not about who has the newest bike; it’s about being part of something bigger.

And yet, despite all the benefits—mental resilience, physical health, leadership development, and a deeply rooted sense of belonging—mountain biking remains largely invisible at the college level. Most riders stop racing after high school. Why?

With so many athletes, there should be a future for them.

For starters, mountain biking isn’t a school-sanctioned sport. Brooke Howard says that’s intentional. “It allows more flexibility for weekend races and travel.” But the downside is a lack of college infrastructure to support the sport. “We’re missing out,” says Scott. “With so many athletes, there should be a future for them. If you’re top of the heap in Utah, there should be opportunities.”

One person working to change that is Nic Sims, Head Coach for Westminster University’s Women’s Mountain Bike Team. Sims joined Westminster to build a new Mountain Sports Program—including climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking—as part of the university’s broader post-pandemic enrollment strategy. He thought students would flock to the program. “Man, was I wrong,” he laughs.

The challenge? Mountain biking isn’t a high school-sanctioned sport, so he can’t recruit through traditional channels. Sims has gotten creative—contacting NICA directors nationwide, emailing coaches, even setting up a tent at the Sea Otter Classic in California, one of the largest bike festivals in the world.

Though Westminster is a private university, Sims emphasizes the affordability. “With scholarships and financial aid, families are often shocked by how affordable it is. I’ve met students who paid less for Westminster than they would at an in-state university.”

He also highlights a key distinction: Westminster is a varsity team. “The school funds the program. That means race entries, gear, travel—it’s all covered. With club teams, students pay all that themselves.”

Sims wants more than just a winning team. He wants to spark a movement. “We’re here in Utah with some of the world’s best riding, and we’re not even on the radar. That has to change.” He’s already reached out to other universities in Utah, including BYU, UVU, and the University of Utah, hoping to build momentum and legitimize the sport statewide.

Mountain biking is a sport of grit, inclusion, and growth—for students, families, and communities. Whether you’re 13 or 43, it’s never too late to get out there, pedal up the trail, and see what’s waiting around the bend.

More Information:

utahmtb.org/grit
wasatchmtb.org
ssmbt.org
bikeutah.org/midweek

The Heber Mural, 2022, located on the south side of the Napa Auto Parts building, is a vintage postcard-style representation of what our valley offers visitors and locals in the way of attractions and culture. The Karl Malone Powersports Mural, 2023, located on the north side of the building, facing 400 North Street, is an all-gray-scale depiction of a helmeted dirt bike rider navigating a mountain trail. The Smith’s Mural, 2024, located inside the vestibule of the new Smith’s Marketplace is the latest addition to his repertoire, and its color block style is a nod to Moore’s graphic design background. Stylistically, the large-scale murals vary widely. Thematically, they all address a sense of belonging to a place and how we connect with the natural world around us.

I really strongly believe that people who write, and people who create art, are the ones that create history.

Although John Moore never intended to become a full-time artist or entrepreneur, he shares over and over how meaningful the act of connecting has been in his life. After earning a degree in Advertising/Marketing, with a Graphic Design emphasis, he still didn’t consider himself an artist because he compared himself to ‘the greats’ and other people who ‘were doing amazing things’. Moore spent some time as a creative director, but sitting behind a screen all day left him depressed and wanting more. “It became really overwhelming to me in a lot of ways — especially being remote [during the pandemic]. Not having much more than Zoom calls… it was so isolating. I thought, ‘I can’t go on like this. I have to make a change’ because I was struggling so badly.”

Depression and burnout nudged Moore into entrepreneurship. He was given the opportunity to help with the visual identity change when the LDS Business College rebranded to Ensign College, and he offered to do a few murals for the committee. Moore remembers there being a lot of pressure and freedom in that experience. After practicing in his garage, he carried it off and realized he could make some money painting murals. Moore stayed in the corporate world for a few more years, but said, “Having to go back to a desk job after painting murals was really hard.” In 2022, against a lot of people’s advice, he took the plunge and dove right into painting murals full-time. He knew it was what he and his growing family needed to live a happier, more connected life.

Moore’s large-scale murals often explore topics of connection. His other passion project, an essentially small-scale “mural” of a social platform, Heare Brotherhood (@hearebrotherhood), carries this theme as well. Through his social network, Moore has created real-world relationships that foster a true sense of belonging for many men in our valley, and around the world. “As I started to live that lifestyle [of entrepreneurship], I would go to lunch with people, just networking and getting to know them. And I thought ‘I need to do more of this. I want to do more of this.’ We all need these connections more than anything.” Because of his struggles with mental health issues, Moore came to admire the containers other men and coaches had created to hold space for him when he was in the “depths of despair.” He felt inspired to do the same for others. “For so long society has put men in this box of not being able to feel or express their emotions for fear of weakness.” What started as an awareness campaign for men’s mental health has turned into a semi-global movement. At its peak, the Heare Brotherhood had more than seven thousand members throughout the world, in more than 30 countries. “It all just started with awareness… and having places to be heard and places to find both support and growth. That’s when it turned into this purpose of connection, and connecting specifically with men. I wanted to [make those opportunities] more accessible to more men around the world because of the time [entrepreneurship] afforded me and the control over my life to make that happen.”

These seemingly small acts of connection — painting a mural on a wall in a public space or sharing an uplifting message with someone online — create huge ripples in the world around us. When asked if he feels like creating murals binds him to the community here? Moore shared, “It’s an honor for me to be chosen by people to represent a place that many of them have called home their whole lives. It’s a huge honor and privilege that they trust me enough to represent that through art. It makes me feel like I’m making my mark here.” He has a few favorite stories of interactions with community members while out painting in public spaces.

While working on the postcard mural across from the tabernacle, Moore was right next to the entrance of the store on a very busy street corner. “People going in and out would stop me, and I’d develop relationships with these people over the week or week and a half that I was working because they’d see me every day. This one guy saw me working in the hot sun — it was August or September when I was doing the Napa one… and one day he came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I have a gift for you.’ It was a special hat that came to a point, and it had a mesh container for my head so that it was breathable. And that was such a beautiful thing for me, to see the generosity of people.”

On another occasion, someone brought some hot chocolate while he was painting outside. Moore gets emotional while talking about it because the experience was so beautiful. “I had so many good conversations with people who would approach me and stop me. They are so fascinated and think I’m this incredible artist because I’m doing something they’re not used to seeing.” He laughs it off, stating that he thinks there are plenty of better artists out there. “But it’s a very cool thing to be in the middle of… It’s fun to have the mural process, as well as the work I do with Heare Brotherhood. Both are interactive in very different ways, and being with people… being poured into, and pouring life into others through those mediums is fun… I love interacting with people.”

Moore refers to himself as someone who values leaving a legacy. “I strongly believe that people who write, and people who create art, are the ones who create history. In a way, I get to help create the history of our town through art, and it feels like a good responsibility. Even though it may be small, we all play our part, and it’s fun to be able to do that.”

John Moore’s latest mural, visible inside the entry of the new Smith’s Marketplace, offers all of us another way to connect with this beautiful valley. We may not always take the time to stop as we’re driving or walking down the street, but if there ever was a good reason, I believe Moore’s murals offer the perfect opportunity to slow down, connect with a neighbor, and admire the view.

@HEAREBROTHERHOOD | HEAREBROS.COM

There are few places in this world where the paradox of time becomes as apparent as it does to an angler on their own secret section of their favorite river. Time dictates the unique patterns and rhythms of the seasons. A skilled Fly fisher observes these patterns with practiced astuteness. They can tell by the weather when the next hatch will begin, which fish will be feeding, and their life takes on a rhythm dictated by nature. But they also know something about timelessness. How hours easily drift away on a current, even when mentally clocking a four-count rhythm. For those who have yet to experience the suspension of time when coaxing an elusive fish from a hidden pool, I offer the following as a gentle nudge to get out there and try.

Like anything else worth doing, fishing with a fly rod takes patience and practice. It is not a skill that comes easily to most people. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone. If you don’t have a patient friend willing to teach you, there are some fabulous local guides here in the Wasatch Back. I spent some time talking with a couple of Heber locals over at Fish Heads Fly Shop, and not only do they have great advice, they’ve also got some great stories.

Tymothy Davidson and Curtis Lindley are both passionate about the sport that has become their chosen profession. They come from different backgrounds (an avid outdoorsman, and a businessman, respectively), but they both fell in love with fly fishing and never looked back. Davidson’s grandfather introduced him to the sport. “My grandpa, Bill, was a big angler. He did it all – conventional and fly – and he passed a love of fishing onto me.” He laughs, “My dad would say it was him, but it was my grandpa. I still have the photo of the first rainbow trout I caught with him.”

It was a rainbow trout that hooked Lindley, as well. He caught a 20-inch rainbow on his first day out with a friend. “After that, I hit the scene with a vengeance. I immediately bought my own gear and fished 90 days in a row.” As exemplified by these two stories, many anglers know that one of the best parts of a successful day on the water is connecting with others who share your passion for the sport; swapping stories of your best catch, or the ones that got away. This is the exact reason Lindley says he most loves fly fishing and working at the Fish Heads shop. “We just enjoy the connection. Connecting with other anglers, connecting with the fish, connecting with nature.”

That connection with nature is what makes fishing in our local mountains so very special. Having access to the Middle Provo River year-round draws people from all over the world to the Heber Valley. Every angler has their favorite season to fish. Lindley’s is the last week of February and the beginning of March when the first hatch of the year begins. Davidson echoes Lindley’s answer, but quickly amends, “All year. There’s no bad season on the river when you’re fly fishing. We’re out there every day. This is what we do.” If he had to choose a favorite? He says he loves mid to late Fall “because everything starts to cool down and the colors change.” The behavior also changes in the trout. “The brown trout are more aggressive and concentrated in numbers. The males change color as part of their spawning behavior, and they look beautiful.” He confides that the pressure on the river also slows down with fewer tourists hitting the scene.

Both Lindley and Davidson know what a challenge fly fishing can be for a novice, and they have a lot of wisdom and encouragement to impart. “The growth is continual throughout your entire career as an angler,” Lindley shares. His journey began with that first trout, and he quickly went from rookie guide and angler to the head guide and manager of the Fish Heads Fly Shop. “The failures make you want to try and become more successful and not give up.”

Even someone as passionate about the sport now as Davidson is, took a few run-ins with fellow trout bums to go all-in. One gentleman gently nudged him away from lazily casting his bass lure into a hole and “ticking all the fly anglers off” when he’d catch the fish by telling him, “You know, it only counts if you catch them on the fly, right?” Those words stayed with Davidson, and a few months later when he saw an old man fishing in the shallow creek behind his apartment, catching fish after fish he didn’t even know were in there, it spurred him to go to the nearest sporting goods store. “I bought a fifteen-dollar fly rod and some cheap flies and spent the rest of the summer going up to Smith and Moorehouse and the Uintas. I just fumbled my way through.”

That perseverance is something common among most anglers you meet. Lindley simply says it “suits [his] personality”, and Davidson says he’s “the type of guy who will try do it himself first before asking for assistance”. But you don’t have to go it alone. There are many talented guides who have the patience to help first-time anglers learn how and where to cast. Davidson knows it takes a special individual to be able to guide a complete beginner. “A lot of the verbiage is so foreign that it goes over [their] head,” but he continues, “Finding joy in someone else catching a fish is a rewarding experience.”

According to Lindley, the guides at Fish Heads Fly Shop come from an elite roster. “We’re very selective. [We] won’t just let anyone guide for us,” he states. “We want guides who will make us obsolete; guides who will set people up to experience that quintessential fly experience.” Now, don’t make the mistake of thinking guides are just for beginners. “When an angler wants to up their game, learn something new, or just have company, we can set them up with that. We can tailor the experience. That’s what sets us apart. We’re serious about providing a quality experience not just for the client but also for the guide. Everyone benefits.”

The quality of the Fish Heads experience speaks for itself. “We’ve had a busier guiding season this year than any year previous. And we’ve still got a couple of months left in the season,” reports Davidson. He says he’s stoked to see what the autumn months will bring in terms of catches and new people coming to the sport.

Angling is a lifelong journey. Davidson knows this well. “You never know what life is going to throw at you. It’s all a mystery.” A skilled angler can control the odds a little more, but the mystery of those time-out-of-time hours on the water is what makes angling such an addictive sport. Maybe it’s a good thing we can’t predict everything in life or on the river, as the best lessons come from losing some battles with the fish. Lindley agrees. “It’s the ones that get away that keep us coming back.”

Fish Heads Guides Hook it Up!

32 South Main Street Heber City  |  435-657-2010
fishheadsflyshop.com  |  @fishheadsflyshop

“Once you start to learn even a little about fungi, it feels like you can’t see the world the same again.”
Erin Moore, Secretary Mushroom Society of Utah

My first mushroom forage happened by accident while studying abroad in Northern Germany. As I hiked through the woods with my host parents on a rainy autumn day, we were attracted off-trail by bright red amanita muscaria, or fly agaric, the fairytale mushrooms with their red, white-spotted caps. Some were as large as dinner plates, and I was enchanted. Later, we happened upon a grouping of yellow, wavy-capped chanterelles. My host mother whipped a spare bag out of her pocket and proceeded to teach me how to gather them. That night we made a delicious buttery pasta with the mushrooms we’d foraged, and I was terrified I would be poisoned the entire meal. I lived through the night and promised myself I’d learn more about foraging.

The practice of foraging for mushrooms goes back to prehistory when foraging was less treasure-hunt and more survival skill. Before Google or guidebooks, humans relied on observation, generational knowledge, and animals to help them find edible fungi. Mushroom foraging is still heavily associated with truffle hunting, and although truffles are a type of fungi, they differ dramatically from other types of mushrooms in both climate and growing conditions.

Truffles are stemless and similar to tubers, growing underground, attached to tree roots in a mycorrhizal (symbiotic) relationship. They cannot be easily foraged or seen above ground, requiring specially trained pigs or dogs to be found with any reliability. (The unique scent of truffles attracts animals, who then dig them up and spread them to other areas after digestion.) Truffles require specific moisture and soil conditions predominantly found in Southern Europe, which means they’ve resisted cultivation until the last 50 years. Even with the help of science, growing truffles is still more of an art, which is why they often come with a hefty price tag.

Lucky for you and me, there are thousands of free mushrooms growing above ground; spreading their spores through the air and pollination. The ample rain and snowfall in the Uinta mountains over the last couple of winters means edible mushrooms are more abundant than ever. Heber City’s backyard has become quite popular among local mushroom enthusiasts. These forage-able treasures are plentiful, and some edible varieties are so easily cultivated they can be grown on a kitchen counter. In fact, most varieties you purchase at the grocery store are simply the same common Portobello mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) in various stages of maturity. But there are so many other delicious and beneficial above-ground mushrooms to be found, and this is exactly what has been drawing humans into the mountains to forage.

Although foraging is gaining popularity among Utahns, this hunt for edible fungi is nothing new. Humans have been eating and using mushrooms medicinally for millennia. They are a rich source of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and even vitamins that increase brain function. According to Ashley Simon, past president of the local Mushroom Society of Utah (MSU), “Fungi have long been misunderstood and neglected in science, some in part to inherited cultural associations and some due to their mind-blowing diversity.” This diversity means scientists and botanists are constantly finding new uses for mushrooms, and so-called “citizen scientists” are helping in this important cause, simply by taking photos of their finds and uploading them to apps.

Simon explained, “Mushrooms have the potential to solve many of the problems we have created as humans, such as mycoremediation (using fungi to clean toxic soil), breaking down plastic, increasing soil health, and moisture retention…” It almost seems as if fungi could be the solution for most problems facing our world today; everything from sustainable farming and building materials to plastic-free packaging and clothing. What can these amazing mushrooms not do?

Well, for one thing, they cannot tell you whether or not they are toxic. There are many beautiful but inedible varieties of mushrooms, including some quite easily mistaken copycats. Always remember the adage, “When in doubt, throw it out.” If you are not one hundred percent sure of what you’ve found, don’t forage, or eat it. This fact alone keeps many people from ever trying their hand at foraging. This is why it can be invaluable to find the right community to forage with.

If you have been reluctant, perhaps just waiting for the right community, consider joining a local organization that prides itself on its “inherently social” nature, as Ashley Simon refers to it. The Mushroom Society of Utah is a volunteer-run and membership-based society founded in 1993. Regular meetings take place in SLC, but membership includes guided forays into the Uintas to learn about local fungi. It’s incredibly helpful to have a guide to tag along with when you’re first starting. “[Mushroom foraging] is an intimidating task. There is so much to learn, and it can feel like there’s little direction out there,” said Aimée Nguyen, MSU’s newly elected president. She continued, “Tapping into a community can direct you to the right resources for local species, connect you with people who can help with identification, [and] teach you sustainable practices.”

Once you know where to look and what to look for, you can find many edible mushroom varieties in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Puffballs, morels, meadow mushrooms, porcini/king bolete, and even chanterelles may reward your time and effort. As daunting as it seems, a botany degree and years of experience are not required to identify these varieties. With a little luck — and a good identification book — you’ll probably be discovering at least one of these mushrooms in the wild.

Ready to get out there?

These are some of our local fungi, ready to be discovered!

Morels

Late Spring to Early Summer. Cone-shaped, with a sponge- or brain-like texture, and a light-colored stem. Often found under Lodgepole pines and mature cottonwoods, morels prefer a north or northeast slope. There are three varieties found in Utah: black, gray, and yellow/white.

Chanterelles

Summer to Autumn. These guys like their space and won’t be found in big clumps or growing on trees. You’ll find a few of them spread over the same grassy or mossy area with abundant moisture, favoring the shade of hardwood trees like oak and pine. Most will have a sweet, fruity smell. Their poisonous lookalike (the Jack o’Lantern) grows on wood, in a big grouping, making it easier to differentiate.

Porcini/King Bolete

Late Summer to Autumn. (Utah’s official state mushroom as of 2023!) It grows well in our spruce/pine forests. You’ll find its tan cap, which resembles a hamburger bun, erupting from dense loam. Underneath the cap, you’ll find pores, not gills. The porcini’s cap can grow up to 16 inches in diameter, but it’s most flavorful as a button between two and three inches.

Puffballs

Summer to Late Autumn. Favors grass pastures and meadows, especially if there is water close by. Known by its lack of stem, and spherical shape. Good quality should be solid white all the way through. When cut open, check if it has a ring around the outside, is discolored to yellow or brown, or has signs of bugs. If any of those signs are present, do not consume.

Tips

Bring a few paper bags to separate your varieties, especially if you are unsure about a particular type.

Purchase a guidebook such as The Essential Guide to Rocky Mountain Mushrooms by Habitat by Cathy Cripps, and Mushrooms of Utah by local Don Johnston. Don’t want to wait for a book? Print a few pages off the internet to bring with you.

Not sure what you’ve found? Submit photos of your mushrooms to MSU’s Facebook page or send a message to their Instagram account (@utah_mushrooms). Try and get photos of the following:

• The mushroom growing before you picked it/the ground where you found it
• Close-up of the top of the cap
• Close-up underneath the cap
• The stem and base

“Your thoughts are incredibly powerful. Choose yours wisely.”
– Joe Dispenza, You Are the Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter

I’m sitting in my hotel room, listening to the river running over rocks outside the window and reflecting on what I’ve just experienced. Less than five minutes ago, I was lying on a yoga mat on the floor of a conference room with hundreds of other people, doing something pretty incredible for a group that size: meditating. I’ve spent the past five days at a workshop with renowned meditation guru and author Dr. Joe Dispenza, perfecting a specific form of meditation that combines unique breathwork, focused attention, and manifestation. There isn’t a particular form of meditation Dr. Joe uses, but rather a mixture of methods he has found to be the most effective at training the brain, referred to only as “the formula.” Dispenza has a working partnership with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), in which they study the brain, blood, and microbiome of meditators to prove the health effects of meditation and that it can prevent sickness by strengthening the immune system.

The effectiveness of Dispenza’s formulaic approach was recently backed up by science in a paper published in October of this year. The paper proves that advanced meditators are less likely to get sick from viral infections, and if they do get sick, they recover more quickly and with less severe symptoms. The science is complex and fascinating, but the best news is you don’t have to attend a week-long retreat to reap the benefits of a mindfulness practice.

As groundbreaking as the science behind mindfulness and meditation is, it simply backs up what Eastern practitioners have touted for thousands of years. Having a personal meditation or mindfulness practice can impact your mental health significantly, especially during these darker months of the year. On the 21st of December, the Northern Hemisphere will have its winter solstice (the shortest daylight hours of the year). These darker days of winter mean a lack of the vital brain and mood-regulating nutrient vitamin D. This scarcity of vitamin D often means an uptick in mood disorders such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, an aptly named diagnosis. If you or a loved one are prone to mood disorders or depression, or if you’re not a big fan of the holidays for whatever reason, there is hope and relief to be found by adopting one of these methods and practicing it regularly.

Meditation and mindfulness are very similar in definition and application but with a few subtle differences. Meditation is the specific act of sitting in silent reflection, focusing the mind on a single object (visualization) or thought (mantra) to calm the mind and body. Mindfulness is the practice of noticing what is. It can be as simple as remembering to take a deep breath instead of shouting expletives while stuck in traffic or really tasting and savoring each bite of food at mealtimes. Both practices focus the mind and calm the body. Meditation takes practice and some effort, but mindfulness can be done in simple ways throughout your day. Both tools help the practitioner slow down, feel more gratitude and less anxiety, and bring a sense of well-being.

Traditionally, the winter months were a time of slowing down, going inward, and taking a much-needed respite from the toils of the growing season. We are no longer an agrarian society, but our biology still responds and reflects these seasonal cycles. In our fast-paced, modern society, it is all too easy to keep working away, overscheduling ourselves or our children, and feeling the need to constantly rush around, even during the darkest days of the year. If you find yourself in need of a slow-down, there are ways to implement the tools of meditation and/or mindfulness without sacrificing your to-do list. It may, however, mean you need to intentionally create a thirty-minute space in your day, preferably in the morning hours, to find that slow quiet.

There are myriad health benefits to taking this time to slow down and reflect. Multiple studies have found that intentionally focusing on the present moment has a positive impact on our health and well-being. Being present to what is has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, and even improve the quality of sleep and lower blood pressure.

Neuroscience researchers have linked mindfulness practices to suppressed amygdala activity while increasing communication between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. These two regions of the brain are responsible for our reactions to stress (amygdala) and how quickly we recover from the experience that led to the stress in the first place (prefrontal cortex processing). It sounds complicated, but the takeaway is that meditation and mindfulness reduce stress and improve mood. And that is always a positive thing.

If the science or practices of meditation or mindfulness sound too abstract, you can start with a simple gratitude practice. Sitting down in quiet reflection and writing down a list of ten or more things you are sincerely thankful for has also been proven to improve mood and overall satisfaction with life. My family recently implemented this by starting a daily gratitude journal. Every night before bed, we take turns writing down one thing each person is grateful for that day. This one simple act not only adds a moment of joyful communication between family members but it also allows us to pause and reflect on our day and feel hopeful for tomorrow. Even if the day was long and difficult, finding one thing to be thankful for helps us feel that the day was indeed a good one. Gratitude is a powerful tool and, not surprisingly, is, in fact, a form of mindfulness.

You don’t need to invest large amounts of time or money to reap the benefits of mindfulness or meditation. Try setting a timer or find a spare notebook around your house and start your practice today. Small, simple steps can reap great long-term health benefits. Remember: meditation is a practice, not a destination. No one perfects it the first time they try. With regular practice, you’ll be able to meditate for longer amounts of time, which compounds the benefits. Keep at it!

Looking for a simple way to get started?

step ① Find a quiet place, where you won’t be interrupted and set a timer

for five to ten minutes.

step ② Some people find playing calming meditation music helpful, especially when they are first learning.

step ③ Sit back on a chair, or a cushion on the floor, with your back supported and your head held upright (to resist the urge to sleep).

step ④ Set an intention for your meditation (peace, gratitude, breathe in – breathe out, or anything else you can easily focus on).

step ⑤ Gently close your eyes and let your body relax.

step ⑥ Bring your awareness to the space behind your eyes, and let your jaw relax.

step ⑦ Scan your body, head to feet, noticing where you might be holding any tension, and focus on relaxing those areas.

step ⑧ Breathe deeply and easily in and out through your nose.

step ⑨ Practice noticing thoughts that come into your mind, but not judging them. Simply acknowledge them, and then let them float away like leaves in a river.

Repeat this step as often as you need until the timer ends.

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Kamas Valley is home to a growing population, and once you’ve driven through, it will come as little surprise. Nestled into the valley are several towns — Woodland, Francis, Kamas, Marion, and Oakley. It can be a challenge to navigate a new area, but these itinerary ideas will help you find the local hot spots that make for a truly memorable trip.

Take a moment with me, and imagine the possibilities.

Picture yourself lacing up your hiking boots, filling your thermos, and tossing a warm blanket or sweater in the back of your car —eager to take a road trip, in search of fall colors and adventure, exploring the Kamas Valley on your way to the Uintas.

Hydration is Key

Today, you’re just passing through on your way to or from another adventure, and need to quench your thirst. You stop at one of the local drink shacks: Uinta Soda Co. or Outpost Coffee. Both are located on Main Street. The Uinta Soda Co, or “The Shack”, offers walk-up service, outdoor seating, and a pull-around line near the Ranger Station. This is particularly handy since you plan on camping and fishing and need to purchase a permit. The Shack offers just about any combination of soda Utah is renowned for, in addition to their own signature drinks sure to make people of any age smile. Outpost Coffee provides classic coffee and espresso drinks, with seasonal classics and friendly service. With plans to open a brick-and-mortar on the main drag in the next few months, you and the locals look forward to a cozy place to sit and sip.

Although drinks are a great start to any road trip, you decide you don’t want to skip an opportunity to try some of the exceptional dining found in Kamas Valley along the way.

Grab & Grub

You’ve planned ahead and made a reservation for brunch at Woodland Biscuit Company because you know they’re only open on the weekends. You drive up the winding road to the little mercantile-turned-café and experience for yourself why everyone raves about the food. After a delicious meal, you head East toward Wolf Creek Peak, and stop at one of the many trailheads right off the road. Riley’s Canyon is an easy hike that parallels a creek and has beautiful aspens that put on a show each autumn. You decide you don’t need to finish all five miles of trail, and instead want to view more foliage from higher up, so you drive to Wolf Creek Peak and stop at the scenic view areas to snap a few photos before heading back down.

It’s now dinner time, and you’re craving protein. With so many local ranches scattered around the valley, it’s no surprise that Kamas Valley serves a good burger. You head to Hi-Mountain Drug in Kamas. The family-owned drug store turned restaurant has won multiple Best in State awards for their burgers, and serves a mean milkshake or cone, made with another Best in State — Leatherby’s ice cream. If you’re lucky, you can catch one of their locally famous bison burgers (served on Fridays).

Or. . .

Perhaps today is a Friday, and you got off work early and want to break out of your routine. You head into Kamas and stop by Summit Inn Pizza for a great slice. This busy local favorite doesn’t skimp on toppings, and the crust will have even picky eaters finishing every last bite. You can order by the slice if you don’t need a whole pie, and they serve ice cream too.

Maybe you decide you want something stronger than ice cream, so you head over to the State Road Tavern at High Star Ranch. In addition to a rotating food and beverage menu, High Star offers live music, country line dance lessons, and fun events like competitive corn hole. It’s also home to the DeJoria Center, which offers world-class performing artists throughout the year, so you grab a couple friends to come with you and make a night of it.

Adventure is in the Air

You got an early start and were up at dawn for a sunrise hike or fishing trip, and now you’re wanting to explore this little mountain valley. After a coffee or breakfast at any of the previously mentioned spots, you’re ready to meander through the town and see what you can find. You stumble across an unassuming one-room building on the west side of north Main Street in Kamas, with a sign that reads “Artique” above the door. Inside is a hidden gem providing a selection of art, books, and jewelry made by local artists. These local treasures are always changing so you make a note to stop in again and again. You treat yourself, excited to see what else you can find in the area.

There are signs all over advertising everything from local farm produce and eggs to kayak rentals. You spend the afternoon stocking up, and all that driving means you need to refill your gas tank, so you stop by the Chevron and stumble upon “Utah’s Best Donut” at the Mirror Lake Station. Don’t judge this book by its cover! These donuts have won multiple awards. Grab a few for the trip home or for breakfast in the morning.

Or, it’s a weekend morning and you have no real plan in mind but want a scenic drive or maybe a hike. You pile into the car and head toward the canyon. Is it breakfast, lunch, or brunch-o’clock? Doesn’t matter at Mirror Lake Diner. They offer classic diner staples, including all-day breakfast. Once you’ve eaten your fill, you turn the corner onto the Mirror Lake Highway and grab a soda at the new Fizz shop (located where the old Dick’s burgers used to be) on the way up the canyon.

The Uinta Mountains are home to hundreds of lakes and plentiful hiking trails for every ability. You know you want some beautiful fall-foliage photos and head into the Uintas; planning to make a quick stop at the Samak Smoke House to grab a few snacks or picnic items. The Smoke House has everything you need, including award-winning jerky, nuts, cheese, and smoked fish. (It’s also a wonderful place to grab a gift basket to take home and share with friends or simply re-live your road trip.)

As you continue up the canyon, you pass a discreet sign advertising The Notch Pub, but you’re ready to get into the woods, so you make a mental note to stop by on the way back down, and head for Provo River Falls to snap some photos. The Falls left you wanting more, so you head toward Fehr Lake trailhead. It’s a short hike with a big pay-off. Measuring only one mile round-trip, the hike is easy enough for tiny legs and takes you to a gorgeous alpine lake with views of Bald Mountain.

The sun is sinking lower and someone’s belly just rumbled. It’s time to check out that restaurant you saw. Tucked down a dirt road, The Notch Pub is a family-friendly restaurant and a local favorite. They offer live music on the weekends, but you’ll need to leave the kids at home as they aren’t allowed in after 8:00 p.m.

Maybe, you’ve been up Mirror Lake Highway, and want to try something different, so you head towards Oakley. But, as you pass through Kamas, you feel a sweet tooth coming on, so you stop by Mandy-Joe’s Brownies & Bars. This brand-new bakery is owned by a local couple and specializes in cookie bars. (If you happen to miss them, they also serve a rotating selection of Mandy-Joe’s goods at The Uinta Soda Co.)

After satisfying your craving, you drive North towards Weber Canyon and spend the day at Smith and Morehouse Reservoir. Great fishing, lots of trails, and scenic views make this a favorite spot. When you’re done playing and are ready to eat, head back down the road into Oakley and you’ll find the newly renovated Oakley Diner. It’s been a local favorite for years, and with a classic diner menu and all-day breakfast, the facelift is sure to please.

Now, if you’re ready to have one last adventure before the snow hits, then roll the windows down, breathe in the crisp, fresh air, and head up to Kamas Valley. It’s the perfect place to explore, find a new favorite place, and revel in nature’s last hoorah before she sheds her glorious colors.

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” Margaret J. Wheatley

Right now, it’s still just a wild field with two signs on opposite ends advertising a vision of what this land will become. The goal: to build a second high school alongside a technical college that will not only create exciting new learning and employment opportunities, but also accommodate the growing population of our beautiful valley. When ground was broken at the site on May 23 of this year, those involved in the project at every level—from builders to families to the board of education— expressed their desire for the new high school and technical college to be celebrated; something the community can unite over. From what I’ve witnessed, the project is already succeeding in that goal.

Change is always hard but is eased by sound planning and cooperative efforts. The population most affected by the change is, of course, the students. Children who will be entering Grade 6 in the coming 2023-2024 school year can expect to be the first freshmen class, and subsequently first graduates, of the new high school. This comes as welcome news to these younger students, as the current students at Wasatch High School are getting lost in the large class sizes. Wasatch High School presently accommodates almost 2,600 students in grades 9-12. According to the School District website, that number is expected to swell to roughly 3,231 students by the fall of 2026, when the new school is projected to open its doors.

Dividing the student population of the current high school in two will be an ongoing process, as even after the new school is completed, some students may prefer to stay and graduate from Wasatch High School. That school pride and loyalty is something the District hopes to foster. Each high school will have their own colors, mascot, and school culture in order to “help the students and staff build pride and an affinity for their individual school,” according to Kirsta Albert, the Public Information Officer at the Wasatch County School District.

Current plans for the nearly $170 million project have already been drawn up, and 3-D renderings drafted, all of which can be found on the Wasatch County School District’s website. The designs have literally taken shape for a group of students at the Wasatch Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program here in Heber. Under the direction of Gary Roberts, the engineering students are building scale models of the approved plans for the Mountainland Technical College and High School that will soon occupy the campus.

Mr. Roberts, who’s been teaching for nearly 30 years, was kind enough to show me around their creative classrooms and give me a unique glance into the students’ process back in April. When asked about his involvement, Roberts shakes his head and minimizes his role, telling me instead how “impressed” he is with these students. He jokes that people think a teacher is usually considered “the master of his domain,” but in this setting, he’s “more of an observer”. We discuss the students’ vision and what they believe will be the wonderful aspects of the new school site—the learning opportunities and jobs it will bring to this valley—as well as some of the downsides. Strains on building resources, as well as an increase in the recent housing shortage are thing the students discuss as part of their planning.

As with any large-scale project of this nature, there are many hundreds of hands working on it at any given time. More hands mean more opinions, which also means more debate and back-and-forth about design, infrastructure, etc. The CAPS students are taking it all in stride and are primarily focused on their model; basing it off the most complete information they can get their hands on. The architects send them design renderings as they complete them, and the students adjust the model, or plug the blueprint specifications into a 3D-printer for a more precise physical copy of each part of the buildings.

With the recent surge of demand on building materials and labor, the deadline for the school’s estimated finish time is at least three years out. Luckily, the demand on craft and modeling supplies isn’t as high. What is now glue, mat board, and foam will soon be concrete, brick, and mortar. Even on a tiny scale, where one inch equals 45 feet, the campus is impressive. The sports complex alone is a feat of design. Two new football fields, baseball and softball diamonds, and soccer fields mirror each other in both turf and grass. A separate sports facility, detached from the high school, will house wrestling, basketball, and volleyball courts, as well as provide space for other recreational activities.

The landscaping and design of the sport fields and facilities has fallen under the direction of Berg Landscape Architects, located in Midway. It is being directed by Carl Berg, a Heber City native, in partnership with Matthew Zierenberg, an agriculture teacher at Wasatch High whose students have been working on site to learn about preserving the creek bed and native flora. Both Berg and Ziereneberg have emphasized their desire to leave as much of the natural landscape as possible, and it’s clearly visible on the model and renderings.

A seamless transition from virgin land to educational campus is an admirable goal, and the district aims to make the transition to a new school equally seamless for both students and teachers. That includes having familiar faces at both high schools. The district plans to hire a combination of current teachers from Wasatch High, along with a number of additional teachers, to staff the new high school. Mountainland Technical College will hire their own qualified staff. The exact number of new hires will greatly depend on how many students opt to stay at Wasatch High School through graduation.

New jobs are wonderful for the economic growth of our valley, but also present a concern over where the new hires will live. Many will continue to commute, but others are hoping to buy homes in Heber Valley. When asked about current plans, Kirsta Albert said the School District is “actively working on solutions to help our teachers live and work in our community.” These programs include the “Grow Your Own” Teacher and School Counselor Pipeline, which helps identify local individuals who already work for the district in some capacity and can help them become certified as teachers or school counselors.

Housing has always been a part of the Wasatch CAPS program, and a separate group from those building the model are working in partnership with their peers taking the construction class at Wasatch High. The construction class offers students real world, hands-on building experience, and the CAPS students render the home’s blueprint designs. The construction class students build a house every year in the Heber Valley, and the CAPS students design it.

This type of ongoing inter-disciplinary, and inter-school, cooperation is what affords the students in our valley such a wonderful education. Having adult role models to mentor them on real-world projects, and watching the adults cooperate efficiently is a priceless experience. It fosters respect and healthy competition. It is indeed a wonderful thing to have an additional high school (as well as a technical college) that students from both high schools will have the opportunity to attend. Adult students in our community will also be able to further their own professional and educational goals through the Mountainland Technical College. These students will not only be prepared for higher education and professions, they will be prepared for life.

For further information on the new campus, refer to the School District’s website. Information on the Wasatch CAPS program can be found on their website. Interested in participating in the CAPS program? You’ll need to take Mr. Robert’s engineering class at Wasatch High as a prerequisite.