Home Care In Mount Carmel, UT

ST. GEORGE — A “sparsely attended” public hearing on Zion National Park’s future development of the east entrance was held by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Wednesday. The hearing in Kanab covered the draft State Environmental Study for improvements on state Route 9 just east of Zion National Park from milepost 44.8-56.3.

Public comments will be allowed until Sept. 30 concerning the east entrance online. Zion National Park is one of the most popular parks in the United States and has experienced a record visitation of over 5 million people in 2021.

Kevin Kitchen, senior communications manager, Utah Department of Transportation, said the park’s two main entrances are on the west and east sides. Most visitors enter through the west entrance adjacent to the town of Springdale, resulting in congestion, parking issues, and overcrowding.

The undeveloped east entrance to the park is near Mount Carmel Junction, U.S. Route 89 and state Route 9 in southwestern Utah and 12 miles east of Zion National Park. The area is 17 miles north of Kanab.

“UDOT is focused solely on the improvements proposed as part of this project which includes the installation of a new roundabout and pedestrian underpass at State Route 9 (SR-9) and North Fork Road,” Kitchen said in an email to St. George News.

According to a press release, the environmental study and roadway design will be completed by 2022, with construction anticipated in 2023.

Additional improvements include the intersection at milepost 45.2, the installation of a new multi-use path on the south side of SR-9 between MP 45.2 and MP 46.5. And wildlife crossing conflict mitigation measures between the east entrance of Zion National Park and Mt. Carmel Junction will also be provided, Kitchen said.

The project will improve transportation along SR-9 near the east entrance of Zion National Park. It will provide walking and biking opportunities, support planned growth and economic development plans to invest in local tourism and alleviate some of the pressures experienced at the west entrance to the Park, Kitchen said.

Mark Preiss, vice president of Zion National Park Forever Project, praised the State’s efforts to improve the rural east entrance to the park.

“The East Zion Roundabout project demonstrates the State’s commitment to investing in innovative and collaborative solutions that sustain rural Utah,” Preiss said. “Connecting to a new Visitor Center on Zion’s eastern gateway, these improvements will improve safety and extend access to new recreational opportunities while relieving traffic congestion. With tens of thousands of cars passing through Zion’s east gate each month, providing an accessible and safe experience remains the top priority.”

Plans for the east entrance to the park include a new visitor center on the upper east side near state Route 9. It will be built on the eastern part of the Zion Park Scenic Byway, a 57-mile stretch of road that runs east and west through Zion National Park, between Exit 16 on Interstate 15 and the eastern junction with U.S. Route 89.

The new visitor center will take some of the pressure off the park by educating visitors about the surrounding areas, Preiss said. The center will display information about the Park, adjacent wilderness study areas and the other lands near the Park.

Many people and agencies are coming together for the project, Preiss said. Landowners near Zion National Park approved conservation and trail easements. These landowners include Steve Neeleman, owner of the Zion Ponderosa, and Kevin McLaws, owner of Zion Mountain Ranch. The McLaws family donated the 20 acres for the new East Entrance Visitor Center site. The conservation easements secure the development rights to ensure no future incompatible developments are made. The trail easements guarantee the public right of way on the donated and acquired lands where the mountain bike trails will be located.

Zion National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh said the park is working with all area stakeholders on the east entrance expansion.

“Zion National Park looks forward to continuing our collaboration with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), our non-profit partner, Zion Forever, as well as the many other stakeholders working to enhance visitors’ experience through the East Zion Initiative,” Bradybaugh said.

For more information, to review the public hearing meeting materials, and to stay informed, visit the project website and sign up for email updates at [email protected].

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

SPRINGDALE, Utah, April 3, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, also known as State Route 9, that runs through Zion National Park, will be closed for a minimum of three weeks starting April 9 for road repairs.

The road was severely undercut on March 2, and one lane of traffic has been allowed to remain open, said a news release on Facebook from park officials.

“However, on April 9, the road will be fully closed from the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel to Canyon Junction,” the news release said. “A section of the existing road will need to be completely removed, and a retaining wall below it will be rebuilt, as well as the roadway itself. The road is expected to be closed for approximately three weeks as a federal highways contractor completes the work.”

Access to the east side of the park will be limited to vehicles smaller than 7 feet 10 inches in width and 11 feet 4 inches in height between the East Entrance and the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel. All vehicles entering from the East Side will have to turn around before the tunnel.

“All hiking trails and canyoneering routes on the east side will remain open, however those needing to get permits from the main canyon or stage vehicles there, will need to drive around,” the news release said. “Permits may also be obtained from the Kolob Canyons Visitor Contact Station off of Interstate 15.”

Alternate east and west driving routes are available via Highway 59 from Hurricane to Fredonia, Arizona, and Highway 14 from Cedar City to Long Valley Junction and Highway 89. People coming from Interstate 15 to Zion National Park may access the park as usual by traveling east on SR-9 through Springdale. All park facilities, including the visitor center, museum, campgrounds, and shuttle buses, are open and operating as normal in Zion Canyon. The Kolob Canyons facilities and Kolob Terrace are open as usual.

Visitors should continue to expect trail closures in the main canyon. The Kayenta Trail and Upper Emerald Pools Trail remain closed due to a landslide that has continued to settle since July 2018. The East Rim Trail, as well as total access to Hidden Canyon and access from the main canyon to Observation Point, remain closed due to a landslide and an unstable overhanging boulder since January 2019. As those areas dry out, staff will be assessing each to determine next steps and timelines, the news release said.

This water year from Oct. 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019, Zion Canyon has received 15.05 inches of precipitation, the news release said. In comparison, during the same time period one year ago, the same area received 4.48 inches of precipitation.

As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.

No matter the time of year, a staycation is the perfect way to break up the monotony of daily life. Here in the Beehive State, we are surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the country and there are countless places to explore, particularly up in the mountains. When you’re ready to escape the stresses of life and head into the mountains, stay in the best bed and breakfast in Utah. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best bed and breakfasts in Utah below.

No matter which bed and breakfast in Utah you choose to stay at, it’ll be a beautiful adventure!

Do you have a favorite bed and breakfast in Utah? Have you stayed at any of the getaway spots in Utah that we listed above? If so, we’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!

Are you searching for another great staycation idea? Check out this adorable water park in Kaysville where you can camp overnight.

More to Explore

Courtnie Erickson | December 14, 2021

Where are some of the best places to stay in Utah?

From the best bed and breakfasts in Utah to campgrounds and vacation rentals, there are some pretty incredible getaway spots in the Beehive State. When in southern Utah, we highly recommend The Inn at Entrada. This is a gorgeous desert resort in St. George that is located in a gated golf community. There are 57 suite options available and each room has a long list of amenities. This desert resort is also near the entrance to Snow Canyon State Park.

Near the Utah/Arizona state line is Goulding’s Lodge and Campground. This is the place to stay when visiting Monument Valley with your family. There are several room options available if you wish to stay in the lodge — this ensures you will have plenty of space to relax. Or, you may want to consider staying in a tent or RV in the large campground.

When in Utah County, book a stay at the remarkable Hines Mansion in Provo, Utah. This bed and breakfast is a Utah Historic Site and the architecture is absolutely dreamy. This is a romantic bed and breakfast in Utah that you'll want to visit over and over again.

What are some of the best road trips in Utah?

At OnlyInYourState, we love a good road trip. We spend a lot of time mapping out and creating the best road trips in Utah. For example, check out our national parks road trip. This adventure will take you to all five of the national parks in the state. You’ll certainly want several days to complete this unforgettable trip.

If you have just one weekend, take this awesome Utah weekend road trip. You’ll start by spending your Friday night in Ogden. You will make a large loop up to Logan and back down to Brigham City. This is one part of the state that is filled with awesome places to eat and fascinating attractions.

If you don't have tons of time or you want a road trip that you can complete in a single day, consider exploring a scenic byway in Utah. There are more than two dozen scenic byways that you can explore around the Beehive State including the Alpine Loop and Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. Both of these roads are scenic and picturesque all year long.

Sam Blalock won 946 games in 43 varsity baseball seasons, including 29 wins this season.

But the Rancho Bernardo High coach stepped down Tuesday, saying, “I have to answer to myself. I have to satisfy myself.

“In the end, I didn’t satisfy my definition of what a head coach should do.”

Blalock started his varsity coaching career in 1975 with the opening of Mt. Carmel and won 298 games in 16 seasons.

The 68-year-old Blalock moved to Rancho Bernardo in 1991 when the school opened and coached the Broncos for 27 seasons.

“I said I’d retire when it wasn’t fun anymore, when I wasn’t making an impact on players’ lives and the game,” Blalock said. “It was still fun. I was still making an impact, but not as much.

“There was no one thing that led to this. It was a lot of things.

“Certainly this was a tough decision because I love coaching. But I felt the kids deserved more.”

Blalock retires as the second-winningest coach in California history behind only John Stevenson, who won 1,059 games in 50 years at El Segundo High. Only 26 other baseball coaches nationally have reached the 900-win plateau.

No other coach in San Diego in any sport has won more games than Blalock.

Blalock’s last game was a 7-6 loss to eventual champion Eastlake in the Open Division playoffs.

“I got a text from someone saying I made Sam retire,” said Eastlake coach David Gallegos.

“The man is a legend, not only in San Diego, but in California.

“Year after year, Rancho Bernardo has been one of the best programs. Of course he gets good players, but winning is a tribute to Sam and his staff.

“He’s going to be hard to replace.”

Longtime RB pitching coach Mark Furtak, a middle school teacher in the Poway school district, doesn’t figure to be a candidate to succeed Blalock.

Mike Hymes and Juan Aukerman were Blalock’s other varsity assistants this season. Hymes has experience as the head coach at Canyon Crest Academy.

Aukerman was one of the best hitters in program history.

At one time, head coaches Beau Champoux of Westview, Rielly Embrey of Del Norte and Bob Parry of Poway all coached the JV teams at RB.

“I consider Sam the Bill Belichick of high school coaches,” said Parry, who played for Blalock at Mt. Carmel, coached with him and coached against him.

“To me, he was always a step ahead of everyone. He had things figured out. He knew tendencies for hitters and pitchers.

“He always held his players and coaches to the highest standards. He strove to be the best. And he was.”

Rancho Bernardo Athletic Director Peggy Brose said the school will open up the job.

“I had a feeling for a couple of weeks that this might happen, but it wasn’t final until Sam came in Tuesday and handed me his keys,” Brose said.

“What he has accomplished is amazing.

“In a perfect world, we’d like to hire someone who would be a teacher on campus. We’re still finalizing our teaching openings for next school year, so we’re not sure if there will be a teaching position involved.

“I want to have a person in place by August.”

Blalock retired as a teacher several years ago and has been working as a walk-on coach.

“We’ll see who applies,” Brose said. “I don’t know if guys will be gun-shy to follow Sam.

“There is no one on staff who is an automatic promotion, but we have good people and they certainly will be considered if they apply. We want to get the right person.

“We have a lot of talent coming back. We have a beautiful facility that is in good shape.

“This isn’t a bad place to work.”

CAREER NUMBERS

Totals for high school baseball coach Sam Blalock:

946-333: overall record

298-108: 16 years at Mt. Carmel

648-225: 27 years at Rancho Bernardo

23: first-place league finishes

18: appearances in San Diego Section championship games

12: section championships

6: major leaguers coached — Billy Beane, Hank Blalock, Danny Putnam, Cole Hamels, Allan Dykstra, Trevor Williams

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CEDAR HILLS, Utah — A hiker is in the hospital after a rock the size of a tennis ball hit her on the Timpanogos Cave Trail.

It happened around 7:15 a.m. Thursday, according to Sgt. Spencer Cannon of Utah County Sheriff’s Office. Cannon said the rock knocked the 65-year-old woman unconscious and caused bleeding from her head.

Search and rescue crews carried her off the mountain to a waiting helicopter that flew her to a hospital

This is the third rock fall in Utah in the past few days, the most notable being a massive slide captured at Lake Powell on Memorial Day near the entrance to Warm Creek.

Steve Carter captured the video as the slide sent debris and water shooting into the air.

WATCH: Video captures massive rock collapse at Lake Powell

On June 1, a rockslide closed Mt. Carmel Highway in Zion National Park. After initially clearing the road, the National Park Service staff observed other loose rocks above the road and used a water pump from a fire truck to dislodge them.

A significant rockslide has occurred on Zion Mt Carmel Highway below tunnel. SR-9 is closed from Canyon Junction to East Entrance. No thru traffic

— Zion National Park (@ZionNPS) June 1, 2022

While the incidents were in different parts of the state and were different sizes, they did have one thing in common.

“We did have a big rainfall event over most of the state over Memorial Day weekend so that may be some of what we’re seeing it,” said Rich Giraud, a Senior Geologist with the Utah Geological Survey.

Giraud said rock falls in Utah are sporadic, especially those with injuries. In fact, since 1874 there have been 15 deaths due to rockfalls.

“One of the best ways to think about rock fall is they’re very random and they’re very sporadic, but a rock that is on a cliff is continually being conditioned to pop off. Each freeze-thaw, each hot-cold, each rainfall conditions that rock,” he said.

For those who like to recreate in our various Utah landscapes, there are ways to be educated about potential rockfall hazard areas.

Giraud said you can protect yourself by looking for any debris that is already on the ground. “If you’re below a cliff and there is fresh rock on the ground, be aware that a rock fall can happen there and you don’t want to linger or spend too much time there.”

For those who frequent the Lake Powell area, a good resource to keep on hand is the Geological Hazard Report for the high-use areas of Glen Canyon National Monument and Lake Powell. The report lists areas geologists are studying and could be dangerous.

“This is good for people who visit Lake Powell and understanding how to manage your risk on the lake, where you beach your boat, where you camp, where you hike.”

Giraud said the drop in the water level at Lake Powell could also contribute to more rockfalls in the coming years and warned visitors to be cautious. He said pressure in the rock changes with the lack of water.

“When you get the sudden drawdowns, then the changes are more rapid. If it’s slow, it’s not quite as rapid,” he explained.

Geological Hazard Report for the high-use areas of Glen Canyon National Monument and Lake Powell: ss-166.pdf (utah.gov)

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