Goodbye for now.

Its a bitter sweet day for me (Chantelle) it is my last day working here at the Welcome center. I will miss the visitors and helping people out. I have chosen to be with my little son. I hope you all enjoy the new people who are here to welcome you. I hope they help as much as they can. And to all the visitors I hope you find the beauty and peace this country has to give. Thank you for this wonderful time we have had.

-Chantelle

Did You Know? Facts About San Juan County and Monticello Utah.

Many visitors come into the Welcome Center with questions about the area. Many of the questions are based upon items they have read about other areas of Utah, but not of San Juan County, or Monticello itself.

San Juan County is comprised of five major ecosystems (natural environments): Desert, Forest, Grassland, Mountains and Shrubland (Prairie Range). Depending on what area you are in factors in on “Why is it so hot?” or “Why is it cooler than…?” Another factor that helps to answer those questions is the elevation; Monticello is 7069 feet above sea level and located at the base of the Abajo Mountains which includes the Manti-La Sal Forest; Blanding is 6106 feet and surrounded by desert; Bluff is 4324 feet and while the out lying areas are desert, the San Juan River runs beside the town itself providing water for trees and a cooling breeze; Moab, which is in Grand County, is 4025 feet and primarily desert with the Colorado River running through it, but not providing much in the way of water or cool breeze relief. Temperature wise, Monticello is 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than Moab, 10 degrees cooler than Blanding, and only 5 degrees cooler than Bluff.

There are hundreds of facts and trivia concerning the area, but here is a list of some of the commonly asked questions…

Utah and San Juan County Trivia

 

1 – Utah was first settled on July 24, 1847 by Brigham Young and his followers.
(Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist
Christianity, which began with the visions of Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith’s death in 1844, the Mormons followed Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley. Smith and Young were both born and bred in Vermont.)

2 – Utah became the 45th State on January 4, 1896; The name “Utah” is derived from the name of the Ute tribe. It means “people of the mountains” in the Ute language

3 – State symbol: The Beehive symbolizes thrift and industry.

4 – State animal: The Rocky Mountain Elk.

5 – State fish: The Rainbow Trout.

6 – State bird: California Gull.

7 – Highest Peak: Kings Peak (13, 518 feet).

8 – Jell-O is the official snack food of Utah

9 – State song: The 2003 Utah State Legislature voted to change the state song from “Utah, We Love Thee” to “Utah, This is the Place.”

10 – Utah is one of the Four Corners states, and is bordered by Idaho in the north, Wyoming in the north and east; by Colorado in the east; at a single point by New Mexico to the southeast; by Arizona in the south; and by Nevada in the west.

11 – San Juan County was founded in 1880 and named after the San Juan River.
(December 4, 1879, Forty-Mile Spring, located on a high plateau southeast of Escalante, was the starting point for the “Hole in the Rock” pioneers. Led by President Silas S. Smith with eighty wagons of nearly 250 men, women, and children from the southern Utah towns of Parowan, Paragonah, and Cedar City. Bluff was reached on April 6, 1880; two babies had been born along the trek; no deaths occurred, not even among the animals.)

12 – San Juan County is 7,933 square miles.

13 – Monticello was founded in July 1887 by Captain Hammond from Bluff; in 1888 it was renamed after the home of Thomas Jefferson.

14 – Abajo (“low”) Mountains; west of Monticello; highest peak is Abajo Peak at 11,360 feet.

15 – La Sal (“the salt”) Mountains; located in both Grand and San Juan Counties; north of La Sal; highest peak is Mount Peale at 12, 721 feet.

 

Enjoy your stay in San Juan County; there is always something new for the senses here.

 

~ Mary Cokenour ~

 

United Kingdom Couple Loved Their Adventure!

Back on April 17, 2014, a lovely couple came in from the UK; at first they simply wanted directions and a few ideas for their vacation.  Unbeknownst to them, they were going to be sent on an adventure to remember.  They sent us an email, including photos, to let us know how much fun they truly had.

The email from Joyce and Dave Roper:

Dear Mary

I don’t know if you remember us… we dropped into your Visitor Centre on Thursday 17th April on our way from Kayenta to Moab. I am attaching some photos to remind you. You gave us such a tremendous welcome and were so helpful and enthusiastic that I felt compelled to write to you. We are now back home in Christchurch Dorset UK and I thought I would tell you a little about our trip. By the way the information booklets you gave us turned out to be invaluable. So here goes……

We left you and stayed at the Hampton Inn in Moab. It was a nice hotel but no atmosphere. We went out that night to the Broken Oar Restaurant and had a meal and a few beers. During that night I felt awful (was it the prawns that I ate??) and spent the night being very ill indeed. The next morning, I felt like death but somehow managed to shower and get on the road. We drove to Torrey where we planned to stay the night but I didn’t appreciate much of the journey as I was so tired and feeling really awful. I had a little nap on the way, the weather was a bit cloudy/rainy but brightened up when we arrived. Hey I was only going to be here once….so I made a big effort and we went to Capitol Reef National Park. We watched the film in the visitor centre first and then took the scenic drive. The scenery was wonderful and then at the end we went off road down a narrow canyon with tall cliffs either side. We felt a bit claustrophobic and had to turn back as we both felt the walls were going to tumble down on us but the rocks and cliff formations were really worth seeing. The forecast had said rain but we didn’t have any.

Next morning (19th) felt a bit better and after a small breakfast we were on the road by 8.30. We took Highway 12 the scenic drive. We were really impressed, so much variation in the scenery changing every few miles. Dave was so impressed with the scenery he says he wants to do another trip. He says its me whose crazy about rocks but he keeps stopping to take photos. We went through Dixie National Forest, the Aspen trees looked dead but there is still lots of snow up here, up to 9600 feet at the summit at Boulder Mountain.

We turned off the scenic highway at boulder and drove a few miles into Anasazi State Park along Burr Trail Road. different scenery again – giant smooth light sandstone boulders everywhere and we saw wild cattle.

After this we drove back to Bryce and checked into our hotel Bryce Canyon Resort (very tired, the hotel not us!! – but owner helpful). Unfortunately the weather was not too good, but we decided to go into the park anyway (we had our $80 annual pass so it was no big deal). We went to the very end of the park and to the viewpoints but as it was raining we went back to visitor centre to watch the film, again very good, but why is the narrative always by a man in these parks??? Back to motel where we had a meal, the best so far on this trip. Internet access only at reception so we booked our onward reservations.

Next morning weather much nicer bot up early (still catching up with the 8 hour time change!!). Got to park by 8am and it was deserted so went straight to the end of the park and stopped at all viewpoints and went on a few trails and took loads of photos. Bryce is fantastic, the hoodoos, the panoramic views, I don’t want to be flippant when I use the word breath-taking but it really was. It was -4 when we started that morning and by the end it was +36. We had a good look around and saw it all uninterrupted as I said nobody was there yet so no trouble parking in the laybys.

Later on we decided to take the scenic highway 143 which passes through 6 major life zones in 51 miles, and exhibits a 4,500ft elevation. The high point was 10,420ft. Passes through Red Canyon, Panguich Lake. Our intention was to see Cedar Breaks National Monument cliffs but road was closed to Cedar City and we had to turn back. Went to the Ski Resort “Brian Head”. Called in a ski shop in the middle of nowhere run by a couple of German and Russian ladies. “Do you know Crowborough?” she asked Dave. This is a tiny little town in Sussex!!

So we did an about turn and proceed up Route 143 to Parowan. Stopped for coffee in the Ski Resort which was closing that day for 5 weeks. Met a lovely lady who ran the place and at Parowan decided to go to Kolob Canyon (Zion) via I15.

This park was truly amazing but guess what it stated to rain so we didn’t do any trials but the park was nearly empty but spectacular. Makes us look forward to Zion NP tomorrow. I think what made this so wonderful was the stunning red cliffs combined with the greenery of the trees and grasses. The road through was red to so the overall picture was stunning.

Stopped for delicious meal on way back. this day has been memorable. Have seen so much. Landscape changes repeatedly, thick snow, sunshine, frozen lakes… and so lucky with the weather too.

Monday 21. Left Bryce early with breakfast at Bryce Pines Motel (really recommend this place as its where we had dinner last night and wished we had stayed here instead). Arrived at Zion at about 11.30 and parked in shuttle car park and took shuttle. The drive through the long tunnels through the mountain to get here was spectacular but what a disappointment the park was. Such beauty spoilt by crowds of people and commercialisation. This is not how I wanted to see this place. It can never be truly beautiful because it is so commercial with its shuttle buses. Towering red sandstone cliffs and a lot of green trees and grasses. The magic was destroyed for us although I have to say it was efficient. We did two trails. Temple of Shiramana and Emerald Lake. So in a way although one of the most beautiful parks it as the most disappointing. Lovely to see flowing water. Again an excellent red roadway.

Drove to Kanab and had a surprise it was the centre for Western movies. Went to a fabulous free museum which had all the sets out at the back for all of those great films, including Wagon Train which I watched weekly as a child. Went to Parry’s Motel where all the movie starts stayed and they had all their photos (no charge to look around). It was the centre for coloured stones and petrified trees. I bought a wonderful piece of sandstone, like a ball, the colours are fantastic. Also bought some fridge magnets for the grandchildren in the same stone. Stayed at Victoriana Hotel, very comfortable. Ate at fabulous restaurant called “Double V’s”… the menu was the best we had found in Utah, I had difficulty choosing. Dave tried all these different beers.

Next day left at 9.15 and drove on Highway 89 from Kanab to Page. On arrival at Glen Canyon Dam we managed to get on 10.30 tour of dam. Navajo guide explained all about the building of the dam, output, turbines, water volumes etc etc. Brilliant 45 min tour, would really recommend.

Found out that Highway to Phoenix had a major cliff fall a year ago and the road still closed so unable to visit Lee’s crossing and Marble Canyon. Went to Antelope Canyon instead but at $28 per person (Navajo reservation) decided it was too expensive. Went into Page and visited John Powell Museum which was very interesting about exploration and rock types. Went back to Dam and watched three films about the area and the dam. Checked into Quality Inn, the room had a large balcony overlooking the dam so that was enjoyable.

Tomorrow Phoenix 279 miles. We both agreed that we have had a wonderful trip with so many beautiful memories.

What a trip. Total 2100 miles in our little red Dodge.

The highlight for both of us was Monument Valley..

I’m going to send you the photos another time as I am running out of time.

Hope I haven’t bored you. Thanks again for your kindness and warmth.

Joyce & Dave

The Photos Sent to Us by the Ropers:

Thank you so much for the email and photos Joyce and Dave.  I looked in our guestbook for April 17, 2014; reread your comment and instantly remembered you both; especially how much talking with you made me smile.  Also, thank you for solidifying our philosophy for others, “We don’t just give you vacation ideas, we send you on an Adventure!”.  When/if you ever come back to our area, please stop in again; and don’t forget to send anyone you know our way and we’ll make sure to give them a grand adventure too.

~ Mary Cokenour ~