Mandy radiates love through her smile. She is the kind of lady who can take a heavy thing and give you a laugh about it. She speaks younger than some of her peers and takes great care in hugs. If this feels like it doesn’t do justice introducing Mandy, it’s likely because she has been around long enough to know just about everyone.

Judy is her own story. And not a lot of people around Heber Valley knew her. When Judy would get excited, she would do a little jittery dance and exclaim “these are all of my favorites!” In the beginning, Judy’s Donuts was going to be something different: “All My Favorites.” Mandy reminisced on how much her mother loved community, her family, and something sweet to eat; how she possessed a creative prowess and motivation to see an idea through. She was known for creating with ingredients that were forgotten, old, and dispossessed. However, the story is incomplete without mentioning that she was raised with a candy shop in the family.

Inside Judy’s Donuts, a few photos and a memento tell stories of a different time and place. Brigham City was home growing up. Opening in 1921, Idle Isle Candy was a huge part of Mandy’s childhood. It was also the formative ground that shaped Judy’s life.

“My grandpa sold ice cream out of a wagon before he got into candy,” Mandy reminisced. “They also had sleeping porches back then so they could sleep outside during summertime. My mom remembered watching people with flashlights going back and forth in the raspberry fields, and thinking, ‘Well, they’re stealing our raspberries.’” Mandy laughed as she recalled the story.

The Idle Isle survived World War II and the Great Depression. Always a mainstay in the community, and still in business, it holds the title as the “oldest operating restaurant in Utah.”

Mandy shared, “Mom would practice the piano downstairs at the Idle Isle in the bowling alley and she would practice upstairs in the dining area. They didn’t have a piano at home,” She chuckled before saying, “Mom wasn’t very good [at piano]. It was fine dining.” As the story went on, it was clear that Judy was a bold lady, even as a young girl.

Mandy continued down memory lane and shared how she and her friends would run around in sandals and drink from hoses. They’d be out all day and then she would finally go home when everyone else had to go in for the night. She’s been living that truth much of her life. Following excitement, having fun, even when she was occupied being an adult.

Like her mother, Judy, Mandy also has a knack for taking the old and dispossessed and artistically renewing it. Judy’s Donuts is one of Mandy’s expressions. It breathes rejuvenation and purpose, as much as it breathes sweets, family, and community.

During the renovation of the old Midway home, ideas of opening a donut shop began to percolate. Excavators dug through pot-rock to install public water and sewer main lines—not an easy chore by any means, and she took a deep dive into her personal relationships and her community. Mandy shared, “The construction process was deeply enriching to my own well-being.”

Mandy is very open about her love for home restorations. The idea of renovating is giving the past a more profound voice in the present, something difficult to do in today’s rampantly distracted culture. And “Donuts would bring the place to life,” she concluded.

The café bar and tables in Judy’s Donuts are made from polished, reclaimed rafters of the house’s older structure. An old bike supports the condiment bar. Antique framed, sepia tone pictures of relatives adorn the dining area, the café’s other elements tell of a time when things were a bit simpler.

The coffee and ordering bar are wrapped in honeycomb-cut tiles. Beehives are familiar to Utah culture; however, this visual tribute represents Judy’s part in the Box Elder Bees, the team brand of Brigham City’s Box Elder High School. Memories fill the cracks of times gone by. Mandy loves to take aging characteristics and make them timeless. She has mastered it the way her mother did as the finished renovations whisper to Judy’s passions and character.

Mandy’s childhood memories are always front and center, and in honor of her grandfather selling ice cream, Mandy recently purchased Fill’r Up’s former ice cream machine. Ice cream and donuts and coffee. Oh and “We have breakfast burrito’s too,” Mandy exclaimed. While there is no official timestamp on ice-cream production, it is bound to be yummy.

Heber Valley may have rumors that Judy’s Donuts doughnuts are the same as those found at Chevron in Kamas, especially the humungous apple fritters. Call them donut myths. When it comes to the apple fritters, Judy’s apple fritter is a proprietary blend of delicious ingredients. Whatever the recipe, it works. The donuts and fritters are delicious, and unique. If ice cream is on the way, we have high expectations.

Judy’s Donuts has been successful in fostering community. It’s something that Judy would love. People aren’t just coming for the donuts. You see, Judy’s Donuts couldn’t be in one of the many commercial rental spaces. It had to be a place showcasing, subtly and brightly, everything about Judy.

More Information:
231 E Main, Midway
judysdonuts.com  |  @judys.donuts

Photo courtesy of Eric Ramirez

“Laura inspires my art,” Guy said, holding up a Marvel-style superhero portrait of his partner. “I love her so much.” Her encouragement pushed him to share his work beyond his sketchbooks and into the public eye. These days, Guy paints bold murals and creates unique commissions that span walls, canvases, and clothing—his style as expressive and vivid as his personality.

If you’ve walked into Salt Lake City’s Butler Pro Gym, you’ve seen Guy’s work—18-foot-tall comic-book heroes flexing acrylic muscles across massive walls. The gym’s website even features a video panning across his art. It’s the loudest thing in the room. And it’s unmistakably Guy.

Art has been part of Guy’s life for as long as he can remember. He sketches constantly—during meals, in his downtime, whenever he can. His journals are filled with drawings that capture moments in his life more clearly than words ever could.

“I was adopted from El Salvador,” he shared. “Just a few weeks ago I started researching my family history. Turns out I’m from Santa Ana—a cultural hub.” Known for its artistic spirit, he wonders if his sense for color and line comes from those roots.

Art runs in the family now, too. Guy’s daughter shares his talent, and they often challenge each other with sketch-offs. “She did a drawing, I did one. We were trying to outdo each other,” he laughed. “I’m trying to show her how to sketch from imagination—not just to trace—because you won’t always have a reference.” It’s a mantra he lives by; Guy doesn’t use projectors when painting his large-scale murals. His technique is driven by observation, memory, and practice.

Their relationship is close, and art keeps them connected. He guides her not just in drawing, but in how to think like an artist—testing pens, brushes, paints, and colors to see what works best. “Trying different tools teaches you so much,” he said. “It’s part of the theory of it.”

Guy is drawn to comic and graffiti styles, and two elements define his work: motion and color. His compositions lead the eye naturally across the image, and his palette choices make the pieces pop. “If you look at a tree’s shadow,” he explained, “it’s not black—it’s a darker hue of the same color. Shadows have color, too.” It’s the kind of detail most don’t think about—but he sees it instinctively.

Even with his talent, art isn’t yet a full-time gig. By day, Guy works as a mine contractor, calculating the specs of massive, two-story gears to ensure proper function and repair. His precision on the job mirrors the care he takes with his art. Growing up in Park City, his technical career echoes the legendary miners who once kept the town running.

But the dream is alive—and slowly becoming reality. Guy recently teamed up with his childhood friend, Philip Lund, to create a line of comic-inspired, graffiti-style T-shirts. Transitioning from hand-drawn work to digital vector files was a learning curve, but Guy’s deep understanding of color blending helped.

“I’ve known Adam—his middle name—since we were two,” said Philip. “In seventh-grade art class, he was drawing stuff way beyond the rest of us. It’s just who he is. It’s electric.” The two bonded early—both were adopted from Latin America—and have been inseparable since.

Guy lights up when he talks about murals. Maybe it’s the scale. Maybe it’s the way larger-than-life figures reflect inspiration back to the viewer. He’s currently working on new pieces and hoping to take on more projects as awareness of his work grows.

His process is both energetic and focused. With hip-hop playing in the background and a pencil or spray can in hand, Guy’s mind is in constant motion. Each drawing refines the next. Every mural pushes him forward.

It’s not just talent—it’s about making the elements do what you want them to do.

Though he inspires those around him—Laura, his daughter, lifelong friends—Guy is quick to say it’s the people in his life who inspire him. Their belief in his talent keeps him working, improving, and sharing what he creates.

“I’m just trying to get her”—his daughter—“to venture out and try different things,” he said. “It’s important. You don’t realize how much it helps.” That mindset guides not only his art but his life: experiment, explore, evolve.

With every mural, shirt, sketch, or canvas, Guy is doing more than making art—he’s building a legacy. One that’s full of movement, color, and love.

More Information: @skocki_customs

“In a civilized and cultivated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen […] in reality, the genuine sportsman is by all odds the most important factor in keeping the larger and more valuable wild creatures from total extermination.” – Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President

A hunter in the brush draws a bow. Deep in the Wasatch Mountains, about as far from a road as he can be, an archer seeks his quarry. Male deer, known as buck, are elusive and take to remote elevations when hunting season commences. It is a mission of patience. Deer are smart and can smell people from 2000 feet away in the right wind. The meat this provides his family trumps the quality of anything available in stores. Hunting is a privilege we can still enjoy today because of regulation. While many of us could use far less paperwork in our lives, buying a big-game hunting license and entering our names to be drawn for a specific hunt is one we gladly sign up for. Behind the process lies a balance of harvest and conservation.

Conservation is Born of Hunting

Hunting today is a far cry from hunting 100 years ago. Deer, elk, and moose, among other animals, roamed the mountains and hills in numbers that we can no longer imagine. During that time, a little-known hunter, naturalist, and conservationist, a man well ahead of the curve, George Bird Grinnell, witnessed buffalo slaughtered – by the millions — he saw bird and other animal populations being decimated. Grinnell felt a great urgency to do something. He knew if things did not change, the damage could no longer be undone.

In a two-part series written for The Bugle, Nate Schweber documents much of Grinnell’s story [Schweber, Nate. (2020, July/August). Conservation’s Original Influencer: George Bird Grinnell, Part I. Bugle, 35-43.] If you have never read the articles, I suggest doing so after you finish this one. Schweber summarized Grinnell’s objective for activism: “He reminded his readers that hunters should always hold themselves to the highest standards; that they be sportsmen, not slaughterers.” Grinnell set in motion initiatives that would enshrine wildlife in ethics and law to ensure their survival.

While we have been told that the National Parks system was solely created by Theodore Roosevelt to protect beautiful places, that isn’t the whole story. Grinnell, whose namesake adorns Glacier National Park’s topographical maps, is chiefly behind creating ecological protections, leading Roosevelt to act as he did. He knew wildlife needed a safe place completely off-limits to hunting, where they could breed, grow, roam, and disperse to other regions. Otherwise, over-hunting would altogether end hunting – the tragedy silencing the wild world he knew in his day [Schweber, Nate. (2020, September/October). Conservation’s Original Influencer: George Bird Grinnell, Part II. Bugle, 35-44.]

Hunting Promotes Conservation Funding & Efforts

Awkwardly inverse to popular perception, today’s entire hunting system is dedicated to conservation, both open space and animals. Heber Valley’s beautiful surroundings, in nearly every direction, are open spaces. Wasatch Mountain State Park and Wasatch and Uinta Mountain ranges are all habitats for big game, game birds, and fish. Access to the Middle Provo River, below Jordanelle Reservoir and upstream from Deer Creek Reservoir, is so perfect that an angler can head out on a lunch break. Whether they catch dinner is another thing, but the fish are there.

The sale of hunting licenses and specific hunting permits, fishing licenses, and even gear contribute to habitat preservation and restoration. The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act passed legislation in 1937 and “took an existing excise tax on firearms and reallocated the proceeds to a grant fund for state wildlife agencies.” This does not apply to gear like trail shoes, backpacks, or non-hunting-specific equipment. Despite that funding, sometimes habitat projects require a larger budget, and Heber Valley has benefited from that additional support.

Middle Provo River

The Provo River Restoration Project exemplifies more expensive efforts. In a summary about the restoration project compiled by John A. Rice, the Middle Provo River used to offer “outstanding fish and wildlife habitat.” Between “agricultural, municipal, industrial, and other” water demands, the 1940s and 1950s left the river, now located between Jordanelle Dam and Deer Creek Reservoir, in a less-than-ideal condition as a habitat for wildlife and fish.

The Provo River Restoration Project was conducted between 1999-2008 on the middle reach of the river; however, the initial planning for the project required years of study and time and began in 1992. In 2008, engineers, hydrologists, biologists, and other specialists executed the reconstruction of riparian and “natural hydrological conditions.” And within three years of completion, wildlife began to ‘move in,’ finding cover and food readily in the restored environment. Today, the fish population in the Middle Provo is self-sustaining. And on any given day of the year, you will spot an angler successfully working the current.

Continual Progress

Without habitat, once flourishing fish and wildlife populations begin to decline, and quality degrades. But, with healthy habitats, almost like a muscle memory, wildlife returns. To maintain the wildlife in Heber Valley, Utah’s Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has a list of former, projected, and ongoing improvements. In an email exchange with Faith Jolley of the DWR, she painted a clearer picture of what that looks like. “In 2019, we mowed 228 acres of thick, overgrown sagebrush on Wolf Creek to improve big game forage and enhance meadow habitat. In November 2020, we reseeded the area of the 442-acre Big Hollow Fire to provide beneficial plants for wildlife in the area.”

Shrub planting and seeding, weed control and water development continues in Wallsburg Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and will benefit big game wintering there. Jolley also wrote, “We are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service on a large-scale habitat improvement project on Strawberry Ridge, south of Heber. This project will use various methods to thin overgrown timber stands on approximately 11,000 acres and promote new aspen growth. This will improve big game summer habitat while lowering the risk of severe wildfire.”

The Hunter

While hunters benefit directly from wildlife habitat restoration and management, they do not have to necessarily volunteer to be part of conservation efforts. However, opportunities exist, namely through the Dedicated Hunter projects. Others can volunteer with the U.S. Forest Service on their many projects. Volunteering can offer a unique perspective on the various conservation impacts on fish and wildlife.

The DWR encourages hunters to spend time in the field and learn about the land and where the animals are. Hunting, harvesting an animal, and fishing in Utah require a license; combination licenses are also available.  All information regarding hunting and fishing can be found on the DWR’s website. The landing page has many tools to assist hunters and anglers in planning their outings.

An interactive map, Utah Hunt Planner, shows details of each hunting unit, even linking to other resources like the draw reports and harvest reports. The draw report will help people get a clearer idea of how many hunt permits are selected and issued [DWR Harvest report. Available locally at Sportsman’s Warehouse.] The hunting units are monitored by state biologists who surveil the populations of each game species. When they issue permit numbers, it doesn’t mean a 100% success rate for each hunt. The West unit saw a meager 13% harvest rate in 2023, with hunters spending an average of four days in the field. Articles in hunting magazines abound with stories of eating “tag soup,” meaning they brought home nothing but their permit. However, those stories also tell what hunting is and is not. Hunters gather in groups and family caravans, sharing time outside that some plan
for all year [Del Homme, PJ. (2019, November/December). Poaching Isn’t Conservation. The Bugle, 35-42.]

The Hunter’s Reward

Today’s culture talks about food a lot. Yet, with all the controversy of where it comes from and what is in it, the hunter knows with certainty. He or she, if successful, will fry a fish from the river, lake, or stream. They may fill their freezer with deer meat harvested and processed themselves.

Hunter’s Ethic

Hunters should have an ethos, whether personal or social: honor the permit, honor the animal, and honor your hunt — words from this writer, not representative of the hunting community. PJ Delhomme of The Bugle put it best in his November 2019 article, Poaching Isn’t Conservation: “Making the right choice, whether legal or ethical, will ensure hunting’s future long after we’re gone.”

Imagine being a kid and learning that from your parents. The idea of killing an animal for food is a big responsibility, morally and socially. Part of Grinnell’s mission was to end the senseless slaughter of game animals in the West. In his lifetime, he saw entire populations vanish in New England. Today, poaching wildlife is a criminal offense.

Faith with the DWR stated, “We have also had several cases in [the Heber Valley] area of people killing deer and elk outside the hunting season and also in the wrong hunting units. Our conservation officers have had success using wildlife decoys to catch violators who are looking for easy opportunities to poach animals.” She added, “We heavily rely on tips from the public to pursue wildlife violations.”

Poaching is not hunting. Poaching does not involve the stalk, the conservation, licensing, and education. Unfortunately, the distinction is not always clear to non-hunters. Whether hunting or fishing, the call to action is to play by the rules so that the animals can thrive in the habitat we all pay to support. Healthy populations of fish and game animals rely heavily on harvesting within the permitting and licensing system.

Hunter Safety

Hunter’s safety is paramount. Safety rules and details are so detailed that states require hunters to take various Hunter Safety courses. In Utah, Hunter’s Safety is synonymous with Hunter’s Education. Courses can be found on Utah’s DWR Website. If you are on a rifle hunt, you must wear ‘hunter’s orange.’ More information can be found on page 22 of the DWR’s Big Game Field Regulation Guidebook⁷.

One of the most important parts of safety is having a keen awareness of your surroundings. It is common for trail users of all types to see each other at trailheads. While hunters have an obviously different objective, we have a responsibility to keep ourselves and others safe. Following common sense when taking an animal may involve waiting for a better shot to prevent an errant bullet or arrow from reaching a trail, or even worse, another trail user. Hunters must be fully aware of their environment and what is going on. It’s often referred to as situational awareness.

How we interact on the trail and how we treat other outdoor enthusiasts will make a huge impact. Our behavior will determine whether or not that impact is negative or positive. We are ambassadors of hunting and conservation. Being kind and courteous, even if met with contempt from a non-hunter, is how we bring awareness to what hunting is about. The harvest is only the harvest; there is so much more: conservation, advocacy, and family. This is where ethics and etiquette meet.

Get started with hunting or fishing

Whether you need Hunter’s Education or details about a new fishing area:
wildlife.utah.gov

Poaching Hotline: 847411 (text)
800-662-3337 (phone)

New this year! All hunters must report their hunting results, whether they were able to harvest an animal or not.

You can’t buy happiness but you can buy a kite and that’s pretty close
Kitesurfing Quote

You might be wondering how a kite can make you happy – well I guess that would depend on the person and the type of kite. Some folks find joy and relaxation in flying your typical single or multi-lined kites that come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, all while keeping their feet firmly planted on the ground. But others yearn for a little more adventure; these are the athletes who find happiness in large power kites as they fly across dry land, snow, or water!

Kiteboarding or kitesurfing is a sport that combines the aspects of paragliding, surfing, windsurfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and wakeboarding; using power kites to pull riders across a specific surface. In kitesurfing, the rider is attached to both the board and the kite, while kiteboarding encompasses various riding styles beyond waves, although, many use the term kiteboarding as an all-inclusive term.

The parachutes one might see soaring over Deer Creek Reservoir are, in truth, power kites. The kites, made of an extremely tough material, form their shape with an inflatable leading edge and struts. Athletes ride Deer Creek’s waters in a near silent form, kiteboard pitched against waves, moderately resembling a wakeboarder but without the boat. Dyneema lines harness the rider to the kite, controlling their movement and direction of flight based on tension (Dyneema is known as the world’s strongest, lightest fiber – 15 times stronger than steel, yet floats on water).

Kitesurfing in Heber Valley is a small, but very interesting, past-time. The traditional launch site is located along the southern end of Highway 113 near the junction to 189. These days, the site is largely maintained by volunteers. Formerly used as a launch for windsurfing (where the rider is on a board with a sail that is attached to the board), it begs the question, “Why, on such a rugged beach, would anyone decide to start and end a day there?” With thick brush and barb-wired fences, the location was useless to most other water adventurers. However, in 2017, several athletes took it upon themselves to connect with Deer Creek managers, volunteering to clean up the beach. These athletes continue to build on the heritage of wind-enabled water activities, especially at that particular spot on the lake. Today, with the site mowed and maintained, kitesurfers launch with little obstruction. Aside from the lone windsock, there is nothing that will catch their lines, bridles, or kites. Still, why there?

The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist hopes it will change, the realist adjusts the size of his kite. – anonymous

A long-time kitesurfer explained that “southwest wind blows up Provo Canyon, over the lake, channeling between Deer Creek Island near the marina and the west shore, creating a venturi effect.” The result is a generally steady, not gusty, wind, which the riders rely on for safe and consistent conditions. Another kitesurfer, Nate, attests he watches the weather closely from day to day, hour to hour as he works from home. Nate is self-employed, so when conditions align, there is often just a window of time to get a kite in the air and on the water. Those who live locally take advantage of favorable winds as much as their schedules allow.

Wind conditions are constantly changing, so riders keep watching how the wind affects the lake’s surface and other telltale indicators. When the wind is on, kites fill the sky. From the highway, commuters will notice kitesurfers keeping to their corner of the lake. Sharing the lake with recreational boaters presents a safety hazard to both surfers and boaters, so each group respects the others’ recreating space.

Safety aside, their chosen surfing location provides the best wind. Remarkably steady wind, almost strange in its stable force across the water and land, draws kiteboarders from all around the west seeking locations like this, sometimes even visiting from other countries.

“It’s definitely not an ocean breeze, it’s a bit more erratic. There’s a bigger range from the gusts to the lulls. For a mountainous body of water, it’s gotta [sic] be one of the most reliable windy lakes in the world,” explains Rob Umsted, owner of locally owned and operated kiteboarding school, Uinta Kiting. His organization is the only legal kiteboarding school available to teach on Deer Creek Reservoir. Classes are available in an organized format as a resource for new kiteboarders.

Umsted explained that as a windsurfer living in Hood River, Oregon, on the Columbia Gorge, “one of the windiest places in the world, it’s hard not to do wind sports there.” 25 years ago he saw a bunch of surfers with kites and thought it was amazing – that’s when he made the shift from windsurfing to kitesurfing.

Rob Umsted and Austin Hall, who has been with Uinta Kiting for three years, teach newcomers theory and technique to get someone from interest in the sport to fully independent on the water. During the summer season, they book out quickly, so calling at least two weeks in advance is always a good idea, but don’t let that stop you if you can’t. The duo will do their best to make sure anyone interested in learning – can! They also rent and sell kiteboarding gear. A one-stop shop and classroom, Umsted gets calls all the time.

“Somebody called last week, driving through from out of town, ‘We just drove by! Do you guys rent gear ‘cause this looks awesome!’ they exclaimed as they saw the mountains in the background with snow on it and kitesurfers out riding on the lake.” Visitors often express they’ve never seen anything quite like a kiteboarder gliding across a lake with Timpanogos behind them. For Heber Valley locals commuting to and from Provo, the site is common, yet still wonderfully intriguing.

The community is small and welcoming.
Social media groups can be a helpful resource for new boarders. Local resources not only include an amazing launch site, but also a place to learn. So, why are those guys out there on the lake boarding with kite power? It’s fun. They love it. And their passion has fueled responsible management of their launch site and good stewardship of their community, both on and off the water.

So, what are you waiting for? If you’re a little unsure just remember this quote from poet, Erin Hanson, “What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?”

More Info:

uintakiting.com

Kitesurfing Specific Weather:
https://wx.iwindsurf.com/spot/169622

Keep up on stewardship and advocacy here.

Heber Valley’s residents pursue all varieties of outdoor sports; target shooting included. The exact year is not clear; however, sometime in the 1970s, the Heber Valley Gun Club opened its doors for membership. Initially, the club was created specifically for trap and skeet shooting. Today, the club also boasts an additional sporting clays course. Now, you may be thinking, aren’t they all the same thing, but the answer would be, no.

All three use saucer-shaped discs made from clay or other material that are launched into the air. However, the delivery, goals, and courses are different. Originally designed as practice for bird hunting in the 1800s, the goal of trap shooting is to hit the clay ‘pigeons’ or ‘birds’ as they are shot in the air at varying angles using an oscillating machine known as a ‘house’ or ‘bunker.’ The shooters know the target’s point of origin but don’t know the target’s angle. Skeet shooting was introduced in the 1920s to “more effectively simulate the way real birds fly in the field.” Skeet shooters take it up a notch as they try to hit not one but two clay targets as they reach the field’s center and cross one another. Although trap and skeet shooting are useful practice tools for bird hunters, they also create an intense challenge for the novice, hobbyist, and experienced shooter. Today, both are seen as competitive sports and are recognized as official sports of the summer Olympics. Recently, sporting clays has become another popular shotgun shooting discipline. Often referred to as ‘golf with a shotgun,’ this discipline involves shooting on a scenic course with the target’s speed, angle, and distance varying at each station; creating one of the most realistic and challenging bird hunting and sport simulations.

While trap and skeet shooters have had specific places to practice, rifle and pistol enthusiasts were relegated to public land, Do-It-Yourself, shooting galleries. In our valley’s case, that land was just uphill from Heber Valley Gun Club’s site. Thankfully, a series of events precipitated action from the Department of Wildlife Resources and Wasatch County. In 2005, pistol and rifle shooting bays were carved into the mountainside where locals had been shooting for years; creating the Big Hollow Shooting Range.

Scott McGregor, longtime resident and volunteer Range Safety Officer (RSO), explained that the combined efforts of the State of Utah, Wasatch County, and other volunteers made the pistol and rifle range what they are today. Now, both bays have covered shooting positions which allow for relatively comfortable shooting in most weather conditions.

Augmenting the experience from the days of DIY shooting on public land, Big Hollow’s range offers target stands for paper targets, and if there are enough volunteer RSO’s then the pistol range can open the steel targets. Unlike many other ranges, Big Hollow is subsidized by the State of Utah and Wasatch County, and is operated completely by volunteers. The range is open to the public; you do not need to join a club or organization to shoot, and there are no range fees. All participants need to do is sign in and follow the rules of the range. RSO’s maintain the facility.

They also run the show. Upon arrival, they will direct folks to either set up or wait until the range is cold to set up. They volunteer to help keep people safe and offer guidance. Many RSO’s have extensive firearm backgrounds. Some are former military, some retired law enforcement, and some who have approached target shooting as a hobby or for sport.

Often, when asked about the function of a particular firearm, or a malfunction, at least one RSO is onsite who has the knowledge and skills to help. In my personal experience, the volunteers at the rifle and pistol range are among the friendliest and most experienced — not just with firearms — people I have met on the day-to-day. Every RSO is genuinely concerned for the wellbeing of each participant.

A notable observation about the patrons of the range: all are peers, united by a similar interest, from the least experienced to seasoned veterans. There is a mutual interest in how and what other participants are shooting. It is what might be expected when individuals from all walks of life meet in one place to do the same thing.

Someone might be shooting the reloads they crafted in their workshop. Another might be testing out a trigger modification on a competition pistol. The stalky, bearded guy may be working on his pistol grouping on a 7 yard target. Whatever the reason, whatever the passion, people come from all over to use the range to improve and have a good time.

The public can access the range on Wednesdays and weekends. If you hear shooting (it can be heard across the valley) on an off day, there might be some law enforcement officers training.

Big Hollow Shooting Range and Heber Valley Gun Club are about 100 yards from one another which makes it nice for groups, clubs, families, and individuals with interests in different types of shooting. Downhill from Big Hollow you’ll find the Heber Valley Gun Club lodge. While the club operates on DWR land, it admittedly runs with a high degree of autonomy. However, unlike the rifle and pistol range, it is not free. Club dues fund the maintenance of the facility, fields, and traps. Club President, Steve Zwicker, gave me a tour of the club grounds. There are two skeet fields, three trap fields (with an extra on reserve), and a sporting clays course. Zwicker explained how different trap and skeet shooting is from shooting a pistol or rifle. Certain aspects of shooting are roughly the same, the idea of a smooth trigger pull, holding the firearm to your shoulder; shooting a clay target means fixing your sight down the barrel and tracking the target in that manner, whereas the paper and steel targets used for rifle and pistol shooting are generally stationary.

Zwicker took me upstairs inside the lodge to show me where new shooters are oriented. In what appears to have been a small bar at some point, RSO’s teach novice shooters about gun and range safety, and what to expect on the trap and skeet fields before they ever take their first shot. A long poster on the wall shows a landscape horizon with images of clay targets superimposed in the sky; allowing instructors to demonstrate sighting.

Anyone who is new to the sport, or simply curious, can begin with little to no knowledge at Heber Valley Gun Club. A testament to this is how the youth of the community have used the facility for just that. Two clubs from Wasatch High School have become regulars because of the unique quality of the range and, according to one former club member, Wyatt Cummings, the welcoming and supportive quality of the Board of Directors and other volunteers. These clubs are the Wasatch Claybusters and the Wasatch Rodeo Trap Shooters.

Cummings, now a sophomore at Southern Utah University, often sports a trophy belt buckle that symbolizes the fruits of his labor; won from High School trap and skeet shooting competitions around the state of Utah. In 2018, Cummings was one of the first students at Wasatch High School to sign up for the newly formed Wasatch Claybusters. Back then, he explained, many of his peers came from families that spent time hunting which gave them familiarity and experience before they started shooting clay targets. Today, there has been a shift as several participants have had little to no experience with hunting, or firearms for that matter.

Preceding his own membership with Wasatch ClayBusters, Cummings was shooting with other students as a division of the rodeo team, Wasatch Rodeo Trap Shooters. Wasatch ClayBusters was offered as a committed trap and skeet club, so it just made good sense to jump on board. With the great support of the Heber Valley Gun Club, the 15 or so student team began building their name across Utah.

The Heber Valley Gun Club wants the youth involved. Zwicker expressed that it is important for newer generations to keep up the sport; to advocate for it. The same could be said for all forms of target shooting. Given the social nature of skeet and trap shooting, the resulting comradery lends strength to the longevity of the sport.

Having access to these two ranges gives the public a place to safely operate their firearms. Shooting targets requires safety measures and unquestionable backdrops. For residents of Heber Valley, there really is no better place to pursue the passion of shooting than at the Heber Valley and Big Hollow shooting ranges.

Info

bighollowheber.com  |  hebervalleygunclub.net

@wasatchclaybusters  |  @hebervalleytrapnskeet

ow·tow·rai·now·leh·ruhn·gaa·luh·jee | ow·tow·rai·now·leh·ruhn·gaa·luh·juhst

In layman’s terms: the study of, and practice of, diseases concerning the ear, nose, and throat (ENT).

Heber Valley’s Otorhinolaryngologist, Doctor Bryan Tagge (TAE ge), specializes in health concerns of ears, sinuses, and throats; focusing mainly on the multifaceted medical treatments for neck cancers, and the complex anatomy within the neck and sinuses. This surgical sub-specialty field appealed to Dr. Tagge during his early years in medical school. Originally, he had been on a path toward Ophthalmology but is grateful he made the change. After graduating from the University of Utah Medical School, Tagge went to Ohio for his internship in general surgery. This notable track allowed him to become a professor, but it also meant living in Ohio. Looking east, out the window of his new Heber Valley office, at the canyons and peaks of Snake Creek, he says, “This is what brought me back. I wanted to be here.”

Those who know Dr. Tagge know he enjoys riding bikes and skiing. In the course of our conversation, we discussed how busy the backcountry skiing had gotten along the Wasatch Front. While we both enjoyed skiing there very much, the often-quiet backcountry in the mountains surrounding Heber Valley is heavenly. It is what initially drew him here. But the gorgeous biking and skiing trails were not the only things that attracted him.

Dr. Tagge loves helping whole families, and being able to offer many different treatments right here in the valley. Before, if residents needed ENT specific care, they would have to travel outside of Heber. With myriad sinus concerns among adults, and hearing problems across all ages, in addition to things like chronic coughs, having an ENT consultation and treatment office nearby is a blessing. Especially for parents who opt to have tubes inserted into their children’s ears to eliminate constant ear infections.

In 2004, driven by his interest in helping the Wasatch Back community, Dr. Tagge offered his services once a week in the mornings at Doctor David Larson’s pediatric clinic. He spent the rest of his time at his primary practice in the Salt Lake Valley. Over the years, his time at Dr. Larson’s clinic evolved to an entire day in Heber and two full days per week in Park City. His patient base continued to grow.

In 2017, he finally moved his family to Midway, justified by the growth of his practice along the Wasatch Back. Within a year he set to work on building a Heber office so that he could base his practice here. Tagge wanted all the tools, facilities, and features of a high-class ENT practice. His expectations were blown out of the water when he first entered the finished office.

The doors opened in June 2023, with a grand opening celebration; including a ribbon-cutting event and food. Many locals, doctors, and professionals from around the area attended. It was a wonderful chance for folks to get an early glimpse of what Dr. Tagge will be offering here.

The Ear, Nose, & Throat Center of Utah’s list of facilities includes two new soundproof hearing booths for audiology where hearing tests are performed (these are smaller rooms within another room); endoscope rooms for viewing sinus and throat tissue; sterilization rooms for cleaning medical equipment; and a separate room for administering allergy medicines. Dr. Tagge says they are waiting on a new CT Scanner for imaging. The ENT Center also brought on a new partner, another ENT, Doctor Libby Ridder. The growth is a testament to the local demand for ENT services.

Art adorns the walls from local professional photographers Alan Day (in the form of humungous metal prints) and Brent Berry’s traditional framed prints. The view from the south windows reveals our majestic Mount Timpanogos which is also featured in many of the photographs. The location offers prime eastern views of the Central Wasatch Mountain range from each of the patient rooms. This was done strategically, and patients always comment on how beautiful it is to look out the window.

Built in the newly developed Coyote Ridge neighborhood, accessing the new office is a simple drive to the north of town. It is also a convenient location for those coming from Park City, Kamas, and Salt Lake City. Dr. Tagge briefly introduced an additional project he is working on; another medical building adjacent to his. This expansion of medical services is explained best by building partners, Rigby Watts & Company’s, co-founder, Adam Watts, “The second phase of this medical campus is set to break ground this summer. The project is a collaboration between Rigby Watts & Company, a boutique Investment and Advisory firm with a focus on healthcare real estate and early-stage healthcare venture, and Watts Enterprises which will be constructing the building. The building sits on an acre and will be two stories, approximately 16,073 square feet, and has attracted medical tenants in the imaging center space and Ophthalmology to date. The owner’s vision is to create a small but bustling medical campus on the north side of town to offer more convenient services to the growing population not only in Heber City but in Kamas and the new Mayflower development area.”

The ENT Center of Utah currently shares the first building with Heiden Orthopedics, House of Hearing, Motion (physical therapy), Southwest Spine & Pain Center, and Eyelid Center of Utah.

Tagge believes that the quality of medical care has been evolving in Heber Valley for many years. He describes a triangle of care with medical professionals, facilities, and equipment at each apex. As time has gone by, he has been able to witness each of those factors improve, and not only with his ENT practice here. He is seeing this across all disciplines of medicine. Patients used to leave the valley for expert care far more often 20 years ago than they do now. That is changing. It is exciting.

Dr. Tagge is part of that. Although he is humble about his story and legacy here, it is easy to see that he brought ENT medicine to our picturesque mountain valley. The practice he has now is the fruit of his labors.

He has not only fulfilled a professional and personal dream, but his local patients also no longer need to leave town. Doctor Bryan Tagge has made this place his home and place of work. He is anxious to share the best care he has to offer in Heber Valley and looks forward to contributing even more to the community.

Initially, the combined skills of skiing and rifle marksmanship were developed for the region’s militaries during the 1700s. In 1776 the first recorded biathlon competition took place along the border dividing Norway and Sweden; it was between patrol companies. The first biathlon club, the Trysil Rifle and Ski Club, was established in Norway in 1861. The biathlon was included as a demonstration event at the first Winter Olympics in Chamoinix, France, in 1924 and in 1960 the biathlon was added to the Winter Olympics as an official men’s event. International biathlon competitions for women began in 1981. Today, the biathlon has become a popular sport for men, women, and children with programs and clubs all over the world — including our own Team Soldier Hollow in Midway.

If you were competing in the 1960 Olympic biathlon, you likely carried a rifle loaded with either .30-06 or 7.62x51mm NATO rounds1. (Which interestingly enough, or not, considering the biathlon origins, is the choice round for many hunters.) For those who have never fired such a rifle, to do so accurately requires skill, finesse, and calm. When every muscle of the core, back, arms, and legs is converting oxygen and glycogen to raw power in order to move your skis across snow, the idea of lying on the ground to calmly shoot a target with a rifle conjures a certain echelon of human.

Historically, skiing can only be traced so far before the trail evaporates into time ethereal. Etched by someone 5,000 years ago on the wall of a famous cave in Norway, the image of a person on skis is testament to the mysterious, prehistoric nature of skiing. In Norway, skis were part of the hunting implements.

In today’s competitions, biathletes use .22 caliber rimfire cartridges. The rifle is sighted using “peep sights,” a pairing of an aperture in the rear and a pin at the muzzle. Finally, a skier’s rifle must weigh a minimum of 3.5 Kilograms. Rifles are carried using a split sling, allowing it to go over both shoulders; centering the rifle over the back with minimal sway while the skier races up and down the track; keeping the hand and arms free to use their ski poles.
At intervals the biathlete stops at firing ranges to shoot five targets located 50 meters (164 feet) away. Most races require the competitors to shoot from both standing and prone (lying on the stomach) positions. Target size varies depending on the skier’s position; when standing, shooters aim at an 11.5-cm (4.5-inch) target and while prone contestants shoot at a 4.5-cm (1.8-inch) target. Biathlon’s have been governed by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) since 1993. The IBU authorizes six types of biathlon events—individual, sprint, relay, pursuit, mass start, and team.

Racing traditionally takes place on groomed, snowy tracks. However, as devoted skiers learned to train in summer months using “roller skis” on dry pavement rather than skis over snow, someone figured that biathlon was no longer a winter only event. During the warmer months of the year spectators can watch biathletes compete from the comfort of a warm bleacher with a cold beverage rather than in a parka with a hot cocoa.

It has become increasingly more common, during spring and summer, to see Nordic ski athletes training around the valley, especially near Soldier Hollow and the road around Midway. Soldier Hollow Nordic Center located at Wasatch Mountain State Park is known locally, and internationally, as the site for many of the Nordic ski events of the 2002 winter Olympics. Even their phone number ends in “2002.” Did you know that World Cup and Olympic level athletes train there? As far as biathlon goes, it boasts a very specific shooting range that matches a Nordic facility standard around the world. Heber Valley is often host to some of the world’s top athletes because of this world class Nordic facility; earning the title ‘world class’ is no easy feat. In 2017 Soldier Hollow was awarded the bid for a World Cup Cross Country Ski event. This helped lay the foundation for reaching the top.

Soldier Hollow boasts several coaches with international training. As of this writing, one of those coaches was currently in Sweden at an IBU conference. Zach Hall, the Head Biathlon Coach, shared that, while Soldier Hollow coaches and trains the most elite athletes and maintains the highest coaching standards, it really is about community. Soldier Hollow offers three biathlon programs; the Devo/Devo plus Flex Biathlon, Comp Flex Biathlon, and Masters Biathlon Team. It’s pretty amazing to think that our local kids have the opportunity to not only learn to ski and shoot on the same field as many international elite athletes, but also carry on a tradition that started 300 (or more) years ago — right here in our very own back yard!

In reality that caricature couldn’t be further from the truth.

Today, you’ll find amateur radio operators from all walks of life across the globe. Amateur radio is not only a service but a popular hobby that brings people, electronics, and communication together. It is used to talk across town, around the world, and into the vastness of space — all without the use of the internet or cell phones.

Wireless communication was first accomplished using Morse code or telegraphy; today our ability to communicate over vast distances has evolved and simplified. We can video chat with a family member half way around the world with lucid clarity. It’s so much more intimate and quite a lot easier. So, why on earth would we use a radio to talk to someone that we may not even know?

Well…people have been doing it for over 121 years. And, it’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need.

History of Wireless Communication

In 1901 Guglielmo Marconi sent the first Transatlantic wireless message; and the amateur radio hobby was born. Technology improved and hardware was invented and designed to make the process of generating a radio wave more efficient.1

Within the next few years ‘professional’ radio operators (whether commercial or military), were paid to maintain radio communication and be on the air. Transmissions were largely Morse code and were often interrupted (both unintentionally and intentionally) by amateur operators, due to their stations generally being more powerful than commercial stations. The frustrated commercial operators would jest about the “hams” or “ham fisted” amateurs out there, implying they were poorly trained or unskilled. Why use “ham” to describe them? 2

The word “ham” comes from the last names of the first three amateur radio operators who ran the Harvard Radio Club in 1908; Hyman, Almy, and Murray. Ham was their stations call. In 1909 the name was used as a pejorative nickname — a stab at ‘amateurs’ — from operators in commercial, military, and professional radio communities. The name stuck and is now used with mixed feelings; some embrace it while others feel it is derogatory. Most in the community prefer “amateur radio”.

By the onset of World War 1 there were many thousands of amateurs. However, all amateur radio activity ground to a halt. Several thousand amateur radio operators joined the military. Although amateur radio operators were no longer able to operate for recreation during wartime, they became servicemen and communications specialists in the military. The hobby sprang back to life afterwards and the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) was established by the time the US entered WWII.

When most of the 60,000 amateur radio operators joined the armed forces, the organization (ARRL) lobbied for the War Emergency Radio Service and this brought specific radio communication licenses to local municipalities. This service would help communities stay abreast of war information regarding their safety and, like today, offer a communication service during natural disasters. Of those who hadn’t gone to war, licensed amateur radio operators were the only people allowed and available to operate in this special service. 3

Public Service is Fundamental

Referred to as Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES for short, pronounced air-eeze), volunteer amateur radio operators seek training to fill the communication gap when public communication systems cannot meet the need. Our ARES Emergency Coordinator in Heber Valley, Doug Thompson, said this may include police and fire departments, hospitals, county health offices, and others.

Public agencies must communicate during disasters or emergencies, potentially more than at any other time. One such case is the recent wild-fire in Boulder County, Colorado that started on December 30th 2021 called the “Marshall Fire.” The flames started mid-morning and quickly spread as an enormous western windstorm bellowed across the mountains up to 110 miles per hour.4

As reported by Allen Bishop, Emergency Coordinator of Boulder County ARES, in the early hours of the blaze there were widespread power failures; and utility providers cut remaining power services. This resulted “in the loss of commercial communications including land lines, DSL services and related cellular communications. Following the failure of commercial battery backup systems for cellular and land line communications, 911 services for the Boulder Mountain Communities also failed.”

A few hours later the Boulder ARES team had established a network of communication that included a way for the affected mountain communities to get emergency service calls out over radio.5

Emergency Communication in Heber Valley

Doug Thompson became an amateur (ham) radio operator in 2001 “after the [1999] tornado incident in Salt Lake when all the cell phones locked up.” He explained that he wanted a way to communicate when other systems failed. He pursued the ARES training and brought those skills home to Heber.

Although Heber Valley is home to some 150 or more licensed amateur radio operators, only 10% of them are active in regular network communication. With such a small group from which to draw, very few are trained for Amateur Radio Emergency Services. Thompson describes this as a hurdle to overcome when trying to facilitate ARES activity in our valley.

Emergency amateur radio stations are set up at the County Search and Rescue building, the Police Station, County Public Works building, and the County Health Department. These stations are meant to help meet their specific communication needs during an emergency event. A trained amateur radio operator performs the duties needed by each of those agencies. If those stations cannot communicate directly, then they fall back on a powerful repeater which retransmits the radio signal across the whole valley from a mountain top. However, the necessary communication and skills that will help police and fire departments generally require ARES training. Heber Valley needs more ARES trained operators to run these stations.

With amateur radio operators dispersed throughout the community, Heber Valley will be able to keep communication open during a disaster. Maybe a neighbor desperately needs insulin or another needs formula for their baby, neither with a way to get it. When the radio messages reach the proper help, goods can be located and sent; this all works quicker with a network of radio communication.

Staying Prepared

Amateur radio operators (hams) develop their communication skill set by using their radios on a regular basis. Each Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m., an on-the-air meeting is held for local amateur radio operators. This somewhat formal “Net” (as it is called) goes through any local announcements that might involve local events, potential service opportunities needing radio operators, or other radio news. Then a roll-call is held where each operator checks in. Afterward, many stay on the air and chat.

The radio operators that participate in the weekly “Net,” have expressed that radio communication is a critical part of their preparedness plan and has influenced their approach to preparedness in general. Many amateur radio operators can power their radios independent of power utilities if the grid goes down. As with any preparedness skill; practice brings refinement and tempering for the time when crisis arrives.

Portable radio operating is very popular and keeps hams sharp. This often means going somewhere unconventional, like a state or national park (Parks on the Air) or a mountain top (Summits on the Air). This method often requires putting radio, antenna, battery, and other essentials in a backpack and setting up a temporary field station. Once on the air, operators often have to manage the many contacts that are trying to get through to them. Participating in these types of radio activities, inexperienced operators quickly learn how to properly document who they’ve talked to and verify any exchanged information, or “traffic.”

There is one very particular time of year when there are hundreds, if not thousands, of important messages being communicated over radio. Can you guess where to? The North Pole. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, sons and daughters of amateur radio operators speak directly to Santa and express their Christmas wish. Something that seemed to be only magical simply becomes real through radio for children.

In certain parts of the country and world, where people are cut off from technology or don’t have the means for the internet, amateur radio might be the only way they have to communicate with the outside world. Stop and sit with that thought for a bit.

Are You Radio Ready?

How will you stay in touch with your family and community if phone systems and power utilities are brought down by a wildfire, earthquake, or another disaster? How will we address the emergency needs of the community if we cannot talk to one another in real-time? We won’t have the luxury of preparing as “we cross that bridge.” You might be well prepared in many departments but are you prepared for communication without the help of your cell-phone or internet?

Just as the residents of Boulder County, Colorado had no idea they were going to rely on a group of volunteer amateur radio operators to access emergency services at the end of 2021. There is no foretelling when the community will have need for amateur radio operators to step up. Become a ‘ham’ today — It’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need.

During emergencies involving disasters when cellular phones are in high use, send text messages as they require less resource to get a message through.

Ares Section: A local division of trained, volunteer amateur radio operators ready to serve the communities communication needs during disasters and emergencies.

Radcom: Join in a radio NET with a regular hand held, FRS walkie talkie; GMRS users are welcome as well. This is held each Wednesday evening at 8:30 PM. This is not an amateur radio function but is valid for community emergency communication. Visitors are welcome.

Local Amateur Radio Net: For licensed amateur radio operators only, Wednesday evenings at 9:00 PM on the Wilson Peak Repeater, 147.20 MHz with a PL tone of 88.5 Hz and a positive 0.6 MHz offset. Know a ham? Listen in!

Read about how Salt Lake City ‘hams’ offered their services during the tornado event of 1999 in the UARC Microvolt Newsletter from October 1999

1 Maxwell, J. (2000, January) Amateur Radio: 100 Years of Discovery. QST. 28-34.

2 Etymology of Ham Radio. (2022, February 7). In Wikipedia. 

3 War Emergency Radio Service. (2021, June 27). In Wikipedia.

4 Markus, B. (2022, January 6). Inside the 11 minutes Boulder County firefighters lost looking for the Marshall Fire. Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved February 1, 2022

5 Bishop, A. (2022, January 14). Marshall Fire: After Action Report. Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Services

“We don’t get to pick the time, place, or how an emergency happens. We just get to choose how prepared we are for it.”
Austin Lester, Fieldcraft Survival

It was not on a whim that Fieldcraft Survival moved to Heber Valley this past year. In the summer of 2020, while the training team was passing through our town from Montana to Prescott, Arizona, they were compelled to stop and take a look around. The Heber Valley possesses some very attractive attributes for a company based around readiness: a culture of preparedness, incredible backcountry opportunities, and a rural lifestyle. By fall 2020 Fieldcraft Survival had relocated their headquarters to our beautiful Wasatch County.

For the past six years, Fieldcraft Survival has been creating unique, customized tools and courses, including a virtual simulator, to help educate, train, and equip everyday citizens for survival in real-world worst-case scenarios. Although the training programs are mostly conducted in person; Fieldcraft Survival products have only been available through e-commerce. However, all that changed when the company landed here in Heber. In February 2021 Fieldcraft opened the doors to their first retail pro-shop along highway 189 in the Charleston Business Park. The shop is a wonderful compliment to their training facilities and warehouse.

The Reputation of Preparedness

Fieldcraft Survival’s founder and CEO, Mike Glover, is a former Green Beret with a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security. His experiences in Special Forces and combat have made him an expert in Counter-Terrorism, Security, and Crisis Management. Nearing the end of his career as a government contractor operating in Pakistan, it became clear to Mike that much of the practical training and tools that most civilians have are very basic and rarely stress-tested. Mike realized that there was a need for more easily accessible training and application. And the idea for Fieldcraft Survival was born! In 2015, Mike launched his company.

Today, Fieldcraft’s team of instructors includes individuals with extensive expertise in fields such as Psychological Warfare, Counter-Terrorism, Military Special Forces, Police Narcotics Units, Survivalist Training, Search and Rescue, Behavioral Health, Off-Road/Vehicle Preparedness, Paramedics, and Firefighters. As a result of their impressive talents, many have been called on to train police teams such as S.W.A.T and others.

In perusing the Fieldcraft Survival website, viewers will find courses and training that involve agile and intricate handling of defense scenarios, including with firearms, in addition to their Firearms, Survival, Medical, Events, Mobility, and Self-Defense training. While Fieldcraft Survival does train police, most of the training offered is for regular folks. As citizens of a community, we know the importance of being prepared. Although, we hope to never have to defend ourselves or our family with a firearm — training and practicing to do so is equally as important as the need to train in situational awareness, medical expertise, and survival skills.

On Wednesday nights, Fieldcraft Survival hosts free overview courses. These courses lay the foundation for preparedness development. Heber residents are familiar with preparedness outlets peppered across the state offering products ranging from food stores and water barrels to solar panels. These are great modes of readiness; however, on the day-to-day, we’re more likely to deal with isolated disasters, like a car accident or getting lost in the woods. When was the last time any of us had to use a quick-clot or a tourniquet? It stands to reason that if we can respond to those emergencies through practice, we’re better equipped for those isolated and widespread disasters that may or may not arrive.

When it comes to conditioning ourselves to deal with emergencies or disasters many of us lack the formal training to do anything but stall out. Austin Lester, of Fieldcraft Survival, talks about learning to stop, make an assessment, and take action. Until we learn the skills and implement that new knowledge in a controlled simulation, we cannot possibly understand how we will respond. One of Fieldcraft’s most popular training tools is their Virtual Training Simulator. The simulator provides real-life scenarios and various drills to improve your decision-making process in a self-defense situation.

Responsible Citizen

Rob Parsons and Austin Lester explained that the courses offered (including many new ones) are currently being reorganized into one of these three categories: Survival, Defense, and First Aid. These make up the “Responsible Citizen” instruction program.

Some of what is being taught in Responsible Citizen is based on what is often seen in Search and Rescue in the backcountry. Emergencies can evolve out of hunting, overlanding, hiking, and other outdoor activities that go awry. Many of us who venture out typically consider ourselves “ready for anything” but when the time comes to prove our skills, we may find that we are not as prepared as we thought.

Educating ourselves and proving what we know before an emergency arises will help us not only respond but be aware of what could potentially go wrong before we ever head out. Although we cannot be prepared for all emergencies, we can take our training and flex our understanding of what is happening around us to adapt our skill set. Austin shared that “. . . keeping track of where you are in the wilderness may feel eerily similar to navigating a rural environment after an earthquake.” This learning environment is what Fieldcraft Survival provides.

Preparedness is a Community Endeavor

A community is made up of individuals; we will weather storms better if we are ready together. We all must have a starting point, and some will want a path to continue their preparedness journey. Having Fieldcraft Survival available to us in ways that are not available anywhere else gives our community a distinct advantage to embrace their training courses and better prepare ourselves for whatever may come. We have the right teachers here, in Heber Valley.

“While we encourage firearm training and proficiency, we are far more likely to encounter situations where we will need training in medical applications and mindset, and shouldn’t neglect those skills when training.”
Rob Parsons, Fieldcraft Survival

READY TO UP YOUR SKILLS? CHECK OUT THESE UPCOMING CLASSES:

fieldcraftsurvival.com

In 2008, Jennifer and her long-time friends, Jen Dorius and Anna Cox, were all busy with life, kids, and jobs and needed a break! Passionate about the outdoors, they decided to carve out a few days for a ladies weekend bike trip. During this time, it became abundantly clear to them how quality time outside with other women augmented their ability to, not only be more present in life, but approach its challenges with confidence. Over the years, the three have garnered extensive experience, and regardless of the activity, they’re invariably asked, “How did you learn to do that?” Knowing it would be more fun and useful to show than tell — the adventurous women began a new journey.

Jennifer, Jen, and Anna decided to combine their knowledge and love of sharing outdoor adventures with their families and others by establishing a place where women from all walks of life, and all skill levels, could connect with each other in nature. Taking on the mantle of outdoor recreation mentors, the trio created Ignite Movement. They soon discovered that many women in the community sought to learn how to participate in various activities within a climate of direct coaching, positive feedback, and emotional support from other women.

A Learning Space

The name, Ignite Movement, is not random; it represents lighting the fire to get you moving. It is for women who have been looking for a way to expand on, or learn new, outdoor activities but did not know where or how to learn the skills and gain confidence. With many free or low-cost clinics, the challenge for women is to prioritize time for themselves and get outside.

Thorne shared that one of the driving factors for Ignite is to make the connection between “being outside in nature and the benefits of it. It is not just a fitness or wellness program [taking place] inside. It’s really about getting outside. We’re promoting getting women out and having adventures, an active lifestyle, [learning] wellness, and gathering and learning with other women.”

All three women describe nature as a “place of perfect order,” and because of this Thorne says, “You can put away the chaos of this world and connect with something.” If you’re seeking a bit more balance, this connection may be what is missing. Adapting life to include outdoor adventure is fundamental to all their clinics and retreats.

Anna was recently featured in a Women of Ambition podcast; she spoke about the effect of getting women together in such a learning space and described it as “Powerful!”

Some Science on Being in the Natural Environment

This connection is not anecdotal. In multiple studies from universities to non-profit wellness clinics, the connection between human health and being outside in a natural environment is unmistakable. An article published by the Harvard Medical School suggests that getting outside is good for your health, from boosting immune systems to healing faster from injury or surgery, not to mention just feeling better about life.¹

A review published on Pubmed.gov reports some “promising effects on self-reported mental wellbeing immediately following exercise in nature which are not seen following the same exercise indoors.”²

If hiking a trail in a shady, wooded grove makes us feel better, that experience is reinforced by natural processes in our bodies and brains. The effect can foster the desire to cultivate more uplifting experiences. This simple formula can lead one through a lifetime of activity on the water, in forests, mountains, and deserts. They can be pivotal experiences that change the course of our lives. One caveat newcomers stand to face; if you don’t know what you’re doing out there, you might not be poised to have a great experience. You could find yourself injured and saying, “Never again.”

Shortening the Learning Curve

With complimentary but different backgrounds in coaching and teaching (check out the “About” page on their website) and decades of experience between them, Jennifer, Jen, and Anna offer instruction and techniques that some might not have considered. With gentle nudges here and encouragement there, everyone from the newcomer to old-hat will quickly find their stride and feel assured they’re being guided by sound advice.

The mentors of Ignite Movement will also shed light on the other aspects of maintaining an outdoor fitness lifestyle. This comes down to foundational points like day-to-day diet and nutrition, mental fortitude, emotional discipline, and even taking care of your gear. Some readers may have taken notes on Jen Dorius’s recent instructional clinic on bicycle maintenance.

The knowledge they offer will shortcut the rough experiences of trial and error while attempting to learn it on your own. Mountain biking, for example, is a very cognitive sport. Not only must you learn to manipulate your body, but also the two wheels below as you ride over variable terrain; now pair that with learning to locate trails and repair a flat tire, and your heart rate may just go through the roof! It’s not easy! With the help of other women just starting out and some, who’ve been-there-done-that, one will be on their way to mountain biking independence and confidence to hit the trail with or without the group.

Ignite Movement helps answer these questions and more: How do you plan your next outing? Where are the trails? How does one navigate with landmarks and a map? What are my post-activity recovery steps to recoup my energy and soften my stiff muscles? How do I do all this so I can focus on the fun?

Rest and Recharge at a Seasonal Retreat

Sometimes the best thing you can do is concentrate the learning into a weekend retreat and soak in everything, all while being surrounded by other like-minded women. The quarterly retreats offered by Ignite Movement are pinnacle events. Their summer retreat is scheduled for June 24 thru 26. Looking forward, the next retreat will take place in the fall.

These retreats feature seasonal outdoor sports, along with a host of other wellness clinics. Jennifer explains, “Not only will you be mentored through amazing outdoor experiences — but you will also be inspired and educated with a variety of uplifting classes. All abilities are welcome! Activities will include hiking, paddle-boarding, kayaking, cooking demonstrations, inspiring mini-classes, yoga, campfires, meditation, amazing women, crater floating, food, fun, and an all-around uplifting weekend with new friends, new challenges, and new ideas!”

This trio wants to light your torch with their knowledge, give you confidence in an active lifestyle outside, and show you how to fuel the fire with your passion. Thorne talked about engaging in challenging activities outside and incorporating structured reinforcement with other women. This is just one way that Ignite Movement can help accomplish new challenges. It will not seem obvious at first, but accomplishment breeds thirst for other challenges. It can become a cycle, and you may just find yourself trying and learning new activities in other parts of your personal and family life.

To the women out there who have been looking for the means to get moving outside, Jennifer, Jen, and Anna want you to know that there’s no better time than now! They invite you to come out and join them and make this part of your life. “As you fill your own bucket, you’re better equipped to serve others.” Whether it is to be a better partner or spouse, parent or person, finding rejuvenation in outdoor adventure will truly revitalize the soul.

July 08                   INTRO TO OPEN WATER SWIMMING

July 10                   group ride to Woodland Biscuit Co.

July 27 – 28          Mountain Bike Retreat

August 14            Mountain Bike Clinic

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit:
ignitemovementnow.com

¹ https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/a-prescription-for-better-health-go-alfresco)

² https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21291246