Outdoors

Crews building nearly 11 miles of bike trail in and around Monticello

by Merri Allyson Platt Approximately 25 workers from the Forest Service offices in Monticello and Moab gathered on June 6 near the Fourth Hole at the Hideout Golf Course in Monticello. The young volunteers were under the direction of Recreation Specialist Zachary Lowe and Brian Murdock...

New hiking trail along Hole in the Rock route

by Easton Bowring A new portion of the historic Hole in the Rock Pioneer Trail is now open for hikers and sightseers. Sitting at the most northern part of the San Juan County portion of the trail, this 1.8 miles is all that is left of the natural path going through the cedars on Cedar...

Man falls, injured while hunting antler sheds

A local man was seriously injured in an April 26 fall while hunting for antler sheds alone near Montezuma Canyon. Jared Crane, age 39 of Monticello, spent the night in the canyon before he was discovered by Search and Rescue volunteers the following day. It was nearly 24 hours after...

Water year was slightly dry, reservoirs in good shape

The recently completed water year was slightly dryer than normal. Despite the end result, the timing of storms and cool, wet weather in the monsoon season results in good conditions in San Juan County. In Monticello, total moisture for the water year is 14.02 inches, which is 93...

The Abajo Mountains “Old Tree Story”

by April Baisan, Edu. Coordinator, Canyon Country Discovery Center In 2015, scientists from the University of Arizona, Tucson, chanced upon a living Douglas Fir tree on the lower slopes of the northwest side of the Abajo Mountains, that, when analyzed, proved to be 800 years old, from...

22 in Enduro race series

Bike racers from across the Four Corners states participated in an epic two-day, three-stage race on the Abajo Mountains on August 4 and 5. The Fourth Annaul Blue Mountain Enduro, aka Abajo Enduro, drew 22 male and female riders from northern Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Riders...

Orchids of San Juan County, Utah

One usually associates orchids with Hawaii or some other exotic, moist, jungle environment. However, we are fortunate to have orchids in San Juan. To be sure, ours are found where water abounds. Unfortunately such areas are uncommon. Also our orchids are smaller and less showy than in...

Annual visitors guide released

School is out, the weather is great and summer has begun! The San Juan Record is delighted to release the fourth annual 101 Ways to Experience San Juan County. The 64-page magazine is included in this week’s issue of the San Juan Record and will be available at local businesses and...

World record deer shot in San Juan... 42 years ago

A deer hunter from Southeastern Utah discovered recently that he was not only famous but richer because of a lucky shot 42 years ago. A fascinating story for sure. A story which resonates with every person who has ever had a trophy mule deer buck in his sights… especially those who...

An elk in the hole is worth two in the bush

Local wildlife officials are still puzzled by a recent find in the wilds of San Juan County. A massive bull elk apparently was killed after it fell into a hole. Officials state that the elk was basically hanging by its antlers. They estimate that the elk had been dead about a week...