Month Calendar

Transcription

1 Month Calendar

2 Friends of Alta Preserving the Nature of Alta Since 1981 Alta is a state of mind Alta supports a vibrant community and nurtures the lives of residents and visitors alike. Surrounded by stunning granite peaks, our supporters, like you, love Alta because an outing here is magical and transformative. It is home to powder hounds and porcupines, hikers and moose. The summer is abundant with wildflowers and wildlife, and winter boasts world famous powder. It is our aim to protect and conserve this beautiful outdoor playground. Ethan Henry Mimi Muray Levitt Mimi Muray Levitt Why We Protect Albion Basin Whether it be fields of wildflowers or powder snow, the natural character of Albion Basin serves as a retreat. The Albion Basin watershed provides vital culinary water to Little Cottonwood Canyon and the Salt Lake Valley. As a land trust, Friends of Alta conserves undeveloped land in perpetuity. Your financial and moral support is truly an investment in Alta s future. Once land is lost to development, it s gone forever. By joining the passionate community of FOA supporters, you will help to sustain our efforts to preserve Alta s ecosystem health, beauty, natural resources, vibrant community, and unique ambiance, now and for future generations. Chris Cawley Cover photo Broad-tailed Hummingbird by Lucinda Mullins

3 Our Programs: > FOA conserves land around Alta, to protect the watershed, ecosystem health, and open spaces > Environmental studies that inform and enable sound decision-making, including a Phased Hydrologic Investigation of Albion Basin and the Alta Bird Study > Financial relief to the Town of Alta when protective zoning regulations are threatened > Environmental Education: Alta Summer Booth Program, Alta School Programs, and the Bill Levitt Fellowship Program > Alta Community Grants > Sustainability Initiatives > Alta Community and Government Relations > Volunteer Stewardship Opportunities: Tree Planting, Invasive Weed Removal, Trail Maintenance Bryant Olsen Mimi Muray Levitt Chris Cawley Janice Gardner Mimi Tom Bolen

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5 January 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 New Year s Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Pine Grosbeaks by Janice Gardner The Pine Grosbeak is a Finch relative that lives year-round in Alta and coniferous forests throughout North America and Eurasia. The males feature striking red and gray plumage, while the females are more muted in gray and yellow.

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7 February 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Groundhog Day Valentine s Day Presidents Day Alta Backountry by Lee Cohen Alta s snowpack provides not only great skiing, but also drinking water to a growing population. Little Cottonwood Creek supplies culinary water to the Town of Alta and Snowbird Ski Resort, as well as 33% of Sandy City s water supply and 12-14% of the Salt Lake City Service Area supply.

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9 March 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Daylight Savings Time Starts St Patrick s Day March Equinox Good Friday Easter Sunday Mountain Chickadee by Janice Gardner These birds are found in high mountainous landscapes, even above treeline. They are known for their gregarious nature and acrobatic feeding behaviors. The easiest way to distinguish the Mountain from the Black-capped Chickadee is by the presence of a white stipe above the eye.

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11 April 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 April Fools Day Arbor Day Earth Day Passover (first day) Seasons of Superior by Mimi Muray Levitt Towering over Alta and Snowbird, at 11,050 Mount Superior is one of the most iconic views in the area. Superior is also one of the Canyon s most active avalanche areas. Alta locals and guests can sometimes observe avalanche safety teams release controlled slides from the safe confines of interlodged facilities.

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13 May 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Cinco de Mayo Mothers Day Memorial Day Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch by Janice Gardner A songbird of extreme environments, the Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch is found in open areas in alpine environments throughout the Rocky Mountains. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches are almost always seen in flocks, and in Alta they are often joined by Black Rosy-Finches.

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15 June 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT National Trails Day Fathers Day June Solstice Albion Meadow by Bruce Hucko 2015 s wet spring resulted in a bumper crop of wildflowers and drew a record number of visitors to the meadows. Little Cottonwood Canyon has over 200 species of wildflowers each trying to grow and reproduce during a short summer season. Please look and enjoy, but dont pick the wildflowers!

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17 July 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Independence Day Pioneer Day (Utah) 31 Romatic Alta by Joe Crilly In the summer, Albion Basin s lush wetlands offer great habitat for moose. Utah s Shira s moose are the smallest of the four subspecies of moose found in North America, but can still weigh up to 800 pounds. Historical records suggest that moose were not present in Utah before the 1900 s, with the first recorded sighting in 1906 or 1907 near Spanish Fork Canyon.

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19 August 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Hummingbirds by Lucinda Mullins Summer brings swarms of hummingbirds to the meadows of Alta, where they help pollinate the Lupine and other wildflowers. The four species of hummingbirds found in Alta are the Broad-tailed, Rufous, Black-chinned, and the tiny Calliope hummingbird.

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21 September 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Labor Day September Equinox Cecret Lake Rainbow by Howie Garber Its no secret - Cecret Lake is the most popular destination in Alta during the summer. Sitting below Devil s Castle, the Cecret Lake Interpretive Trail (1.5 mile round trip hike) draws young and seasoned visitors alike offering some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of Albion Basin.

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23 October 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Rosh Hashanah Columbus Day Yom Kippur Halloween Mount Superior Fall Colors by Sam Watson Autumn in Alta is a special season; as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, Alta enjoys quiet respite between summer s growing popularity and the ski area s operating season. Fall colors offer a final burst of life before deep winter snow blankets the landscape.

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25 November 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Daylight Savings Time Ends Election Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Downy Woodpecker by Janice Gardner In Alta, we see both the Downy and Hairy Woodpecker. The Downy is the smallest of the woodpeckers. They hitch around tree limbs and trunks or drop into tall weeds to feed on galls, moving more acrobatically than larger woodpeckers.

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27 December 2016 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT December Solstice First Night of Hanukkah Christmas Eve Christmas Day New Year s Eve Alf s High Rustler by Sam Watson Alta Ski Area s High Rustler is one of North America s most storied ski runs. At 1200 vertical feet from top to bottom, it is as visually stunning as it is challenging!

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29 January 2017 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT New Year s Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Baldy with Skiers by Lee Cohen Mount Badly stands sentinel above Collins Gulch, and its shoulder forms the boundary between Alta and Snowbird ski areas. The precipitous chutes on Baldy s north face provide expert skiers a truly alpine experience.

30 As Alta s local land trust, the mission of Friends of Alta is to protect the environment of Alta, including watershed and wildlife habitat areas; to preserve Alta s unique character and heritage, and to encourage stewardship and sustainability of Alta s environment and community. Our sincere thanks to FOA President, Mimi Levitt for sponsoring this calendar. In honor of the Alta Bird Survey, this calendar features many images from local birders. Thanks to all the talented photographers who contributed their images to this calendar. Chris Cawley Lee Cohen Joe Crilly Howie Garber Janice Gardner Ethan Henry Bruce Hucko Lucinda Mullins Mimi Muray Levitt Bryant Olsen Sam Watson Friends of Alta is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Donations are 100% tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. They can be made online or mailed to the address below. Friends of Alta PO Box 8126 Alta, Utah info@friendsofalta.org Alta has a world-wide reputation for skiing, but locals also know of the fabulous walking and hiking among the summer wildflowers, an unbelievable experience. Preservation requires funds, and funding must come from those of us who value this unique setting, one person at a time. ~ Skip Silloway To learn more please visit friendsofalta.org