Outdoor notes

SNOWBIRD RAISES $8,000

Snowbird and guests raised $8,000 for the tsunami relief effort. The money was given to the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Throughout January, guests and employees made donations to the Red Cross as they paid for lodging, lift tickets, food, spa treatments and retail. Snowbird matched the donations.

RIDE WITH GOVERNOR

Utah State Parks and Recreation will hold a "Ride With The Governor" event at the Jordan River Off-Highway Vehicle Center on April 9.

Gov. Jon Huntsman will ride from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is inviting all Utahns to bring their off-highway motorcycles and ride along with him. The public is invited to continue to ride until 3 p.m. Entrance fees are waived for the day.

All riders must wear a helmet and all riders 8 and over must possess an OHV certificate or a driver's license.

The governor will sign a declaration designating April 9 as Motocross Kickoff Day for the 2005 season and a declaration for Motocross Safety Week in Utah to promote motocross riding, safety and education.

The Jordan River OHV Center is located at 2800 N. Rose Park Lane. To reach the OHV Training Center, take I-215 to Exit 225. Turn east off exit ramp onto the frontage road. Travel south on Frontage Road and take first left on Rose Park Lane. Follow Rose Park Lane to Jordan River OHV Center.

PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT FOR PANEL

The Division of Utah State Parks and Recreation is developing a resource management plan for Escalante State Park. The RMP will identify issues relating to public use, resource management and future development at the park and will make recommendations to guide park managers for the next 10 years.

It is important for park visitors and other concerned citizens to assist in development of the plan. The meeting will be April 6, at 7 p.m., at the Escalante Community Center, 98 N. Center St. in Escalante.

For additional information call contact Escalante State Park at 435-826-4466.

SNOWMOBLE TRAIL GROOMING ENDS

With the onset of spring conditions across much of the state, DPR announced an end to its 2005 snowmobile trail grooming season effective Friday.

Utah State Parks operates 11 snowmobile trail groomers on nine distinct snowmobile trail complexes in the state, grooming more than 25,000 miles of trails.