Outdoor notes

FALL FIELD TRIPS

The Utah Museum of Natural History has scheduled three fall field trips to introduce people to historic spots in Utah's outdoors.

The first will be to the Spiral Jetty at the Great Salt Lake and Golden Spike National Historic Site on Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

On Oct. 27, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., geologists will lead a trilobite hunting trip in the House Range and Drum Mountains, large fossil-collecting areas near Delta.

The final outing on Nov. 10, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., will take participants on a guided trek to ancient rock-art sites along Interstate 70 in Emery County.

Each field trip is $110. Transportation and lunch are included. Space is limited. For information and to register, call 801-581-5567 or visit www.umnh.utah.edu.

TRAM RIDE FOR FOOD

October brings two weekends of free aerial tram rides at Snowbird with a donation to the Utah Food Bank. Snowbird Customer Appreciation Days will take place Saturday and Sunday, and again on Oct. 20 and 21, weather permitting.

One can of food equals one free tram ride during Customer Appreciation Days. In lieu of food, a $2 donation may be made for a tram ride. All food donations benefit the Utah Food Bank, and monetary donations benefit the Wasatch Adaptive Sports program.

The tram will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both weekends. Those participating should bring food to the front entrance of the Snowbird Center, accessed by Snowbird Entry 2. Cash donations will be accepted at the Snowbird Center ticket office.

Snowbird's ZipRider, Bungy Trampoline and inflatable rides for kids will be open during Customer Appreciation Days, with the same operating hours as the tram, weather permitting. Tickets for the ZipRider, Bungy Trampoline and inflatable kids rides are separate from the Utah Food Bank food-raiser.

For more information call 801-933-2110 or go to www.snowbird.com.

ELK FESTIVAL

The Elk Festival at the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area will be Saturday.

The festival is free. Activities run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can reach the ranch by traveling 18 miles east of Hyrum on SR-101.

This is a family-oriented event. Activities are designed for children of all ages. Activities include horse-drawn wagon rides to see the elk; pumpkin painting; mountain man story telling; animal track stamping; pellet gun shooting; an elk bugling and cow elk calling contest at 1 p.m. and exploring exhibits in the ranch's visitor center.

This is the ninth year the ranch, which is operated by the Division of Wildlife Resources, has held a fall event to celebrate the return of elk to the bench above the visitor center.

For more information call 435-753-6206.

Regular elk viewing season should open on Dec. 13.

PARALYMPIC DAY