This thread has been created as a forum to discuss the following trip:

Trip Name: After New Year’s Bash in Zion, Utah !
Date: from 1/4/2008 to 1/6/2008
Posted by: Karen Hellmuth

Please post any question or comments about the trip below.
Click here to view trip details

Hey Guys!

  This sounds really great! And amazingly cheap too! Kara & I were already thinking of spending NYE in Bryce with my buddy from St George. Maybe I'll just take a whole week off! I'll be poor but really relaxed....

Anyway, I asked my friend if he'd heard much about the place and he said he'd only drriven past it. But he did mention this much in regards to the costs:

"One thing the directions should probably mention is that in order to
drive through the park you must pay the entrance fees which are not
cheap. They are good for a week and I'm sure most people will be
going into the park anyway but should the weather be inclement and
for those planning on staying indoors for the duration it will about
double the cost."

That's all I have to say for now but I guess I better figure out if I'm going soon before all the good rooms are gone!

Hey back:

I guess I was not too clear on the Park fee, but YES, you will have to drive through the park in order to get to the Ranch itself (please see the DIRECTIONS section of the trip), it does say it there and if you look at the other note it also says:
Don't forget your National Parks Pass if you have one, the Zion National Park Fee is $20.00 per car for 7 days.

Sorry if I was not clear on that, and thank you for mentioning it, Andy. :-)
The FEE is per vehicle, so it really helps to CARPOOL and or to bring a National Park's Pass.

Also: WEATHER!!!! It can get quite cold, 30s and 40s and up at the ranch at 6500ft elevation there can be SNOW but the road up to the ranch will be plowed and clear.
But it is usually warmer inside the Park itself due to elevation difference

This will be a FUN trip regardless of the weather and there will be PLENTY of stuff to do :-)

Karen

CARPOOL:

It helps to carpool, save money and split driving time;
Dave offered to co-ordinate a carpool from OC/ LA area, e-mail him for info
     sullivandt@gmail.com

Karen

Quote: Originally posted by Andy Hoyer on 31 October 2007

---

Anyway, I asked my friend if he'd heard much about the place and he said he'd only drriven past it.

---

I have stayed there before (camped out)and with this many folks (provided you have a 100% turnout) this is the place to stay at specially if you getting a duplex...
You do have to drive through the park but "Oh What a drive this is" !!

FYI: you get cell reception in some areas of Zion but you will not get any at the ponderoza area

Karen,

Can we sign up for the accomadations now and also do you want the payment ahead of time or when we arrive? Can we choose our roommate?

Can we come up on Thursday the 3rd so we have 2 full days and 3 nights?

Laura

Hi Laura :-)

I will send out an e-mail to all who have signed up for the trip and I will ask for everyone to send payment (by check or paypal) along with preferred accommodation. If you want to stay in a abin with certain people, please let me know as well and I will do my best !!! to take care of that request as well. And YES, if you would like to come up on Thursday, go ahead and do that, some of us will be there already as well.
Please be patient with me/ us as we are waiting to see how many people actually sign up before we send out info. Also, we are inviting other groups as well and we are expecting around 60 to 80 people. Give or take as there is always people flaking and people wanting to go last minute.
Karen

Update:

Check-in time is 3pm and check-out is 11 am. If you want to come up on Thursday, go ahead, some of us will be there as well.

Below is a link for Zion weather report:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=SLC&llon=-114.146247&rlon=-112.793747&tlat=37.879584&blat=36.529584&smap=1&mp=0&map.x=217&map.y=122

Temperatures at the ranch may be colder as we will be in 6500ft elevation, usually it is between 30-40 F that time a year.

Carpool, Carpool, Carpool, Dave Sullivan is taking charge of carpool logistics, so please contact him directly sullivandt@gmail.com

Karen

I was just informed that the PARK's fee went up to $25/ 7 days

Karen

Hi Karen, I am mailing you the fee for 3 nights for the cabin suite ($25 per night) which totals to $75.00.  Chris Spee and I would like to be roommates we are also carpooling up if anyone else needs to carpool from Pasadena.

This looks like such a fun trip!!!  Thanks for putting it together.

Hiking canyoneering and some climbing sounds great!!

I wil mail the check to the address you provided and make it out to you.

Looking forward to a great time!!

Laura Sieb

 

I was signed up for this trip and got bumped to waitlist. I was really hoping to go. Why did I get downgraded?

Jon Van Leuven

Hi Jon,

Anyone who didn't pay by Dec. 3rd got bumped to the waitlist.

Hi Jon :-)

If you had read any of the posts and emails you would know that YOU CAN STILL go, I really need everyones money so that I can finalize all arrangements with the Ponderosa Ranch.
Nothing personal, really. You are on the waitlist and as soon as you pay, you are back on.

Cheers

karen

Hello everyone :-)

I hope you are ready for some fun in Zion!

I am very excited to announce to you our special event for Saturday night:

Hello Zion party ppl!

We invite you to join us for some dancing and some winter madness after your day of outdoor adventure. Saturday night will be a birthday party, Capricorn style.=) Follow the white rabbit int the rec barn for some hot food and drinks in our Winter Wonderland. The theme of our party will be Alice in Winterland and we are very excited about what we have planned.

We hope you can join us and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't hesitate to dress up as your favorite Alice in Wonderland character. After all, who doesn't want to be among mad people. hehehehehehe

If you are a Capricorn, let us know here --> aiukli2@yahoo.com


ALSO I want to remind you all to CARPOOL, dang it !

If it helps at all there is a web link which we can use in order to better track WHO is GIVING a ride versus WHO NEEDS a ride.

Just advise when you are leaving and when you want to drive back, mention either that you NEDD a ride or have room for xxxx amount of people/ gear.

I have been getting conflicting information about the ride shares, so I am asking everyone willing to give a ride to either check out the link:

http://tikif**kos.org/carpool.htm


and contact Bob (his e-mail is on that link) and/ or check in with Dave who is organizing the carpool


sullivandt@gmail.com

Maybe this link will help keep things clear and makes it easier, not sure.

Dinners will be "served" Friday evening and Saturday evening, it will be vegetarian friendly, if anyone is VEGAN,
let me know.

Please remember the weather will be cold, possibly snow, dress accordingly or stay indoors, Ok or the Hot tub :-)

We have been putting a lot of work into this event and are so excited to hang out with all of you, there will be DJs,
dancing, a wonderful theme party, all kinds of activities or plain old relaxing.

ALL mountain homes are FULL, if anyone you know wants to go, Cabin Suites and Cowboy cabins ONLY!


Thank you all for signing up, we are looking forward to a good time with you all

:-)

Karen

Wow the link to carpool site got censored,

Just add the letters uc where the ** are !
That should do it

Cheers
Karen

We need to see if we can get the web page to say f**k.  What else does not work.  sh*t?

http://www.tikif**kos.org/carpool.htm

Replace ** with uc.

Carpool info have been moved online to hopefully make it easer.

              Bob

Hi...Im super last minute..just wrote a letter to karen..Im new to this..and I can car pool, no problem...Im easy to room with..Im fine with a cabin that does have a bathroom in it, so please Karen, let me know whats up, Rebecca here..I go by Rand Om...just signed up....

I'll look for your response tomorrow on mail..or what not..

thanks. Rand Om

UPDATE :

There is snow at the Ranch, more snow on the way!
Check the weather here:

www.weather.com zip code 84755

Please bring utensils for dinners on Friday and Saturday night!

And remember our theme for Saturday night's party:

Alice in Winter Wonderland

We will be decorating the Rec Barn accordingly, be prepared to be amazed, dress up encouraged!

We will have a full bar, Margarita Machine serving 80 servings, any TEQUILA donations for the machine are welcome!

Bob is managing the carpool website:
http://tikif**kos.org/carpool.htm

** are the letters uc !

Contact a person you feel might be able to ride with you.

See you there

Karen

Snow... anyone bringing cross country skis or snowshoes?  There might be enough snow to have some fun.