For Deso/Gray Canyon trippers this summer, read this.

[Roger]

The shale gas boom has hit Vernal way bigger than here in Arkansas. Hotel rooms may be hard to find it sounds like. Not to mention the view of the gas wells and drilling rigs you might see from the river.

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/ ... oil?page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Yarbrough]

Boy Howdy, there is a lot of manipulation in that "article". I've been there and Wallace Stegner's description "Geography of Hope" doesn't come to mind with a clear head. On mushrooms maybe,,, but just beer and pot won't do it.

Yarbrough

[BHK Okie]

Haha ! Yeah , a lot of that goes with this topic

[gma06001-]

I lived in Vernal, UT for the past two years (I actually lived next door to the "Honk if you love drilling" guy, and talked with the author of this article in the Brew Haus as he scribbled names and ideas on his notepad) working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We worked on Yampa Canyon, Canyon of Lodore, Split Mountain Canyon, Cowboy Canyon, and Desolation/Gray Canyon.

Although the author romantisizes the oilfields relationship with Vernal a little bit, most of the facts are true. I worked with a lot of locals that had family or friends made rich by the oil field, whether it be through real estate, or small businesses directly related to the oil field. Some were not affected, other than newer and nicer schools and facilities. I was looking at condominiums for $75,000 that 2 years before had sold for $250,000. Many of the locals had never even been on any of the surrounding rivers and didn't see any of the affects of the oilfield besides what they could see from Hwy 40 on the way to Salt Lake. The town is definitely filled with a "wild west" bunch driving big diesels, and fights were a given at the bars on weekends. On multiple occasions I had guys from different companies (Anadarko, Schlumberger) ask me why in the hell I was working as a biologist for the feds when I could leave and come to their companies and be making $100,000 or more.

When you are in the canyons in Dinosaur National Monument you don't have to deal with any of that stuff. Aside from the numerous commercial outfitter trips, it is a massive wilderness, but once you're out in the Uintah Basin, it's BLM land and Ute tribal land almost all the way to Green River, UT. This is where most of the drilling is taking place. Even still, from the river it is not that bad. Above deso, you see rigs often, and at night you can hear the drone of rigs in the distance, but once you are into deso, that all but disappears. If you look really hard every now and again you can see a rig up on the rim, but it would be easy to miss it. Deso is a protected river corridor, and they have done well to keep rigs outside of that area. The real problem will be the next wave of permits that the BLM just okayed before I came back to Arkansas in August. The rigs seem to be moving ever closer to the rim of the canyon. Tar sands are also a big issue because they strip mine large areas. Overall, the oil field does not affect the river experience in these areas and I would highly recommend any of those canyons!

As far as lodging goes, maybe the author was in town during a convention or some other event, because for the most part, the hotels are numerous, and there is plenty of places to stay. Going along with what the author says though, it does fluctuate wildly, so just call ahead of time to book your place. If all else fails, Altitude Cycle (next door to the Brew Haus) often lets people camp in their back yard, and there are beautiful areas surrounding Vernal to camp within a few minutes drive of town (McCoy Flats Mountain Biking Area, Ashley National Forest, Dinosaur National Monument, Dry Fork Canyon). The first summer I was out there I lived out of the back of my truck and frequented all of these spots!

Hope that gives hope to any that are heading that way! I wish I was going back this summer!

Mitch Allen

[Roger]

Haha ! Yeah , a lot of that goes with this topic

Boy Howdy, there is a lot of manipulation in that "article". I've been there and Wallace Stegner's description "Geography of Hope" doesn't come to mind with a clear head. On mushrooms maybe,,, but just beer and pot won't do it.Yarbrough

Really guys, you bit that easy for a simple heads up on what might be a problem for those who might are planning for logistics for a trip to the area? C'mon, folks.

Been there a few times and even got solicited to come out and work while talking to some contracting company rep at our hotel after a trip. If half of this reporting is "factual," then yeah there have been some drastic changes since I was there.

Don't be so defensive.

[BHK Okie]

Way too funny to take serious or be defensive about

[Yarbrough]

I'll e-yap at your spinner bait!

Roger, me and you both know why you threw that link up, and it ain't got nothing to do with being a helpful Heloise hint on hotel rooms. My personal experience is when somebody lies to me just 50% of the time, I don't believe anything what they say 100% of the time. The one thing that I liked from that "article" was the consistency, that being the SOP of describing the locals as idiots. Works every time 60% of the time!

I dispute that "the view of gas wells and drilling rigs you might see from the river". From the water you cannot see through the bluffs and on top of the plateaus even with X-ray glasses. I know X-ray glasses don't work because I bought a pair from the back of Cracked magazine to see through girls clothes when I was 12.

One last parting giggle. Some know it all called Oxford says defend means "to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold: She defended her claim successfully" or "to support (an argument, theory, etc.) in the face of criticism; prove the validity of (a dissertation, thesis, or the like) by answering arguments and questions" You are the defender, I am the laugher, teacher.

Come on dude, smile!

[BHK Okie]

and that was the funniest part , trying to act like it was meant to be "helpfull" and thinking someone on here believed that was the point !

[Roger]

This is too easy.