This winter was one for the record books. The 2022/23 season was by many measures historic, with Alta recording nearly 900” of snow and Utah registering its wettest winter in recorded history. But along with bountiful snowfall, the winter presented periods of significant, and at times unprecedented, avalanche activity, which snarled canyon traffic, challenged ski resort operations and tragically killedthreepeople. The enormity of snowfall at times overwhelmed the snowpack’s and our own ability to cope.
Natural avalanche cycles led to repeated periods of interlodge at resorts like Alta and Snowbird, while periods of massive snowfall and rapid warming forced road closures in Little Cottonwood that lasted for days at a time and on U.S. 189 in Provo. Perhaps never before have Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and ski resort personnel been tasked with such an arduous and Sisyphean ordeal to mitigate avalanche danger.
The primary cause of avalanche activity this season is not difficult to understand. Continual heavy snowfall repeatedly overloaded slopes to the point that avalanches released. It’s not unusual for this to happen in Utah. Copious snowfall is the Beehive State’s calling card after all. UDOT staff and resort ski patrols are well prepared for this, and both utilize explosives to release avalanches during and after storms when members of the public won’t be impacted.
This season’s storms came so frequently with such ferocity it was simply difficult to keep pace. Further complicating matters, avalanche paths in the Utah mountains this season became greased—meaning they were filled in with deep snow and cleared out by previous avalanches—which caused avalanches to run farther than is typical.
A more thorough look at the 2022/23 avalanche season reveals a unique snowpack behavior in comparison to prior years. The notably dangerous 2020/21 season was marked by persistent slab avalanches. In very simplified terms, periods of dry, clear weather led to the formation of weak, faceted grains—think sugary, crystallized snow that doesn’t pack well into a snowball. When those grains were buried by subsequent snowfall, they became long-lasting instabilities upon which avalanches would slide when overloaded by new snow or impacted by skiers, snowboarders or snowmobilers.
This season’s avalanches, at least after New Year’s Day—were primarily caused by instabilities within the new snow. A deeper snowpack tends to be more stable than a shallower snowpack, owing to some basic principles of temperature, pressure and the rate at which water vapor moves through the snowpack. Utah’s snowpack was certainly very deep with properties that would trend towards stability this season, but snow adapts well to gradual change, rather than rapid change. With storms lining up back-to-back off the pacific depositing feet of snowfall at a time, the snowpack rarely had time to adapt to new loads.
Just as snow adapts well to gradually added loads, it adapts to gradual temperature changes. Rapid temperature increases release water into the snowpack, in between individual snow grains and occasionally deeper in the snowpack causing wet avalanches. When spring suddenly arrived in April on the heels of yet another massive winter storm, the snow didn’t have time to adapt and wasn’t able to solidly refreeze overnight. The resultant apocalyptic wet avalanche cycle led to a closure of Little Cottonwood Canyon for the better part of a week as wet avalanches on well-greased paths overran the S.R. 210 time and time again.
No season or snowpack can be defined by a singular characteristic. Terrain, sun, precipitation and wind all combine to create a degree of spatial variability that will always confound, but the 2022/23 season will forever be remembered for monumental snowfall and the remarkable depth of the resultant snowpack. The season’s avalanche activity was marked by the same properties, with seemingly endless snowfall and volatile weather creating hazards different that most are accustomed to. Between the bottomless powder days and the awe-inspiring avalanche cycles, this season has been one we’ll never forget.
On a rainy afternoon in Salt Lake City, most people aren’t thinking about the state of Utah’s court system, the role judges play in that system or how diversity on a bench improves the decision-making process. No, most people are probably thinking about how the rain is going to turn I-15 into a parking lot during the afternoon commute. But, in an intimate dining room in downtown Salt Lake City, dozens gathered to hear the three women currently sitting on the Utah Supreme Court share their thoughts on the former.
Judge Gregory Orme, who sits on the Utah Court of Appeals, moderated the event held at the Alta Club on Tuesday, which hosts regular “City Club Encounters” as an opportunity for its members to hear from not just the Justices, but local leaders like Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Mayor Erin Mendenhall. Judge Orme, who is also a club member, kicked off the Justices’ presentation with some context: there have been only 50 sitting justices in the history of the Utah Supreme Court; of those 50, five have been women; of those five women, “three are in this room.”
Diversity on the bench
It follows that one of the first questions asked of Justice Paige Petersen, Justice Diana Hagen and Justice Jill Pohlman was about diversity on the bench—does making a diverse bench (gender, race, background, etc.) enrich the courts’ decision making process?
“Yes,” says Justice Hagen without hesitation. “The questions you ask and the way you approach argument and analysis…have a lot to do with what your background is.” And, it stands to reason, if all of the judges on a bench have the same background, the questions will be much the same and the less “push back” and fewer “holes” can be poked in one another’s arguments and analysis. Even having a diversity of experience is helpful, if one member of the bench has a civil law background and another a criminal law background, for instance. “The more complex a legal issue, the more minds you want to bring to bear on the issue,” says Justice Hagen.
That said, Justice Hagen recognized that the Utah Bar is not terribly diverse. The population of Utah’s law schools is, but many of those studying the law are not staying and practicing it in Utah. It’s something, she says, the Bar is trying to change—to let those law students know that there is a place for them in Utah to practice.
Partisan politics in the courts
All three justices are adamant about what the role of judges is and what it is not. And, it is not to play partisan politics—something that might be hard to swallow, given the divisive political climate and actions and words of judges, either elected or appointed, across the nation. In the Justices’ confirmation hearings in the Utah State Senate, they say they had to remind legislators (even the ones who were attorneys) that “we are not political idealogues.”
Justice Pohlman remembers one legislator became particularly frustrated when “I wouldn’t tell him what I thought on a certain political matter.” She says, “I have views…but my personal views don’t matter. It was very hard for him to accept that I take my oath seriously.”
Justice Petersen explains, “We don’t always like the results of cases. But we are supposed to apply the law fairly…and consistently. We have to always apply the law the same.”
But, according to the Utah Courts, a new law passed during the last legislative session and signed by the governor, could put the courts’ fairness—and lack of political partisanship—at risk. Part of what makes Utah’s court system great, the Justices explain, is its merit-based judicial selection process. It works like this: Judges apply for openings on a bench, the judicial nominating commission in that judicial district conducts interviews and makes five–seven (depending on the court) recommendations to the Governor, the Governor nominates who they think is best for the job and the Utah State Senate confirms the nomination.
Up until recently (before the new law) the requirements for a judicial nominating commission were:
Each commissioner must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Utah and a resident of the judicial district it is representing.
Commissioners may not be a member of the Legislature.
No more than four commissioners may be from the same political party.
The Governor must appoint two commissioners from a list of nominees provided by the Utah State Bar. However, the Governor may not appoint more than four persons who are members of the Utah State Bar.
Before the new law, the Judicial Council also chose an eighth member of the commission to give feedback or guidance but not vote on recommendations. Those requirements serve as “guardrails” to prevent partisan judges and politics in the courtroom that we might see in other states on the news—for many, the recent judicial election in Michigan might come to mind. (“If I had to be elected as a judge, I never would have been a judge,” says Justice Pohlman.)
Now, with the new law in place, those requirements for judicial nominating commissions—those “guardrails”—are gone. The Utah Bar also opposed the bill, saying it consolidates “all power to appoint nominating commissions in the Governor” and calling it “in contravention of established best practices.”
Still, the fact remains that Utah’s Constitution states, “Selection of judges shall be based solely upon consideration of fitness for office without regard to any partisan political consideration.” And that gives the Justices some hope.
“In Utah, we try to keep our judiciary out of politics,” says Justice Petersen. “I’m hopeful that they’ll continue to make the selection of judges based on merit.”
An ethical judiciary
Another big news headline involving the judiciary—in this case, the nation’s highest court—directed conversation on Tuesday. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is under scrutiny for possibly breaking the law when he did not disclose high-value gifts—including yearly luxury trips on a private jet and superyacht and purchasing a home for his mother-in-law—from GOP mega-donor Harlan Crow.
Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices on the Utah Supreme Court have a judicial code of ethics to which they adhere. “Accidentally violating one of those rules is the stuff of nightmares,” says Justice Petersen. While the code allows for the acceptance of gifts in some circumstances, “We all err on the side of not getting close to the line,” says Petersen.
Meet the Justices of the Utah Supreme Court
Utah Supreme Court Justice Paige Petersen
Justice Paige Petersen
Justice Paige Petersen was appointed to the Utah Supreme court in December 2017 by Governor Gary Herbert. Before joining the Supreme Court, she was a district court judge in the Third Judicial District, which serves Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties. Justice Petersen graduated summa cum laude from the University of Utah in 1995, after first obtaining an associate’s degree from the College of Eastern Utah in Price. She received her law degree from Yale Law School in 1999. Petersen then prosecuted war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands, where she was a member of the trial team responsible for successfully prosecuting the former Serbian Chief of Police for ethnic cleansing and mass murder in Kosovo. She then returned to Utah and joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Salt Lake City, where she prosecuted violent crimes for three years before taking the bench.
Justice Petersen says of her time as a court judge, “I had no idea how hard it was to be a judge before that.” (That came after her time prosecuting on a war crime tribunal at The Hague.) She says her journey to the bench can be tracked through her hairstyle, which had to be “toned down” from the big ‘80s hair she rocked in rural Price, Utah when she went to the U of U and yet again at Yale Law School.
Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen
Justice Diana Hagen
Justice Diana Hagen was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court in March 2022 by Governor Spencer J. Cox. Prior to her appointment, Justice Hagen served on the Utah Court of Appeals for nearly five years. She received her law degree Order of the Coif from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in 1998, where she was a member of the National Moot Court Team and the Utah Law review editorial board. She has been recognized with a Utah Philanthropy Day Heart & Hands Award in 2014 for her volunteer work with Girl Scouts of Utah, was named the S.J. Quinney College of Laws 2015 Alumna of the Year, and received the FBA Utah Chapters Distinguished Service Award in 2017. Justice Hagen currently chairs the Judicial Branch Education Committee and serves as the appellate judge designee for the Utah Sentencing Commission.
Justice Hagen says she “applied for the appellate court eight times” before she got the job. Before that, she was recommended for a job in the U.S. Attorney’s Office because “you can write, and I know you can argue.”
Utah Supreme Court Justice Jill M. Pohlman
Justice Jill Pohlman
Justice Jill M. Pohlman was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court in June 2022 by Governor Spencer J. Cox. At the time, she was serving as Associate Presiding Judge on the Utah Court of Appeals. Judge Pohlman graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Utah in 1993 and received her Juris Doctorate from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in 1996, where she served on the Utah Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. Justice Pohlman currently sits on the Judicial Councils Committee on Judicial Outreach and has previously served on several committees, including the Utah Supreme Courts Advisory Committee on the Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Utah Supreme Courts Ethics and Discipline Committee, and the Utah Supreme Court’s Diversion Committee.
Justice Pohlman says, by 4th grade “I knew I was going to be a lawyer, and I knew I was going to be a judge.” By 6th grade, she was making the other kids in her class “play The People’s Court during recess.”
Good news for stargazers and nature enthusiasts, for the third year in a row, April has been designated as Utah’s Dark Sky Month in an effort to promote clearer night skies and to highlight areas of the state where the stars are brightest. You might be surprised to learn that Utah is one of the top destinations for Dark Sky Week with over 24 International Dark Sky Association-designated Dark Sky Places.
But what is Dark Sky Week? International Dark Sky Week takes place every year during the new moon in April. During this week residents are encouraged to keep their lights off at night in order to reduce light pollution and let the stars shine. This event was founded in 2003 by high school student Jennifer Barlow as a way to raise awareness about the negative effects of light pollution. This year’s Dark Sky Week starts on April 15th and ends on April 22nd.
Be sure to take advantage of this amazing opportunity and bask in the bliss of your cosmic insignificance underneath the starriest skies that Utah has to offer with these unique experiences;
For the Adventurer
Whitewater raftbeneath the stars for an out-of-this-world experience by using the illuminated Utah sky night as your “night light.” Let the knowledgeable guides ofHoliday River Expeditionspave the way as they share ancient history and cultural stories told by the constellations.
Flyfish under the stars in Northern Lake Powell near Natural Bridges National Monument, the first certified dark sky park in the world.
If UTVing is more your speed, take a dark sky night ride on the hundreds of miles of desert trails in Bullfrog Basin withTicaboo Adventure Center.
Kodachrome Basin is a dark sky park in Cannonville. Photo by Austen Diamond Photography; Courtesy Visit Utah
World-Class Stargazing
Utahns like to say, “half the park is after dark.” All of Utah’s designated Dark Sky Parks including the Mighty 5® National Parks and ten State Parks are hosting one-of-a-kind dark sky experiences throughout the year, from festivals such as Goosenecks State Park’s “Ring of Fire Fest” in celebration of the upcoming Annular Eclipse in October, to ranger-led tours, star parties and more.
These 7 International Dark Sky destinations are not only perfect for solitude and stargazing with close proximity to Salt Lake City, but they’re also vital to protecting the state’s wildlife from light pollution, and as a bonus, offer stargazing opportunities to locals and visitors:
Timpanogos Cave National Monument
Jordanelle State Park
Rockport State Park
East Canyon State Park
Antelope Island State Park
North Fork Park
Helper City
In addition to these seven great IDA-designated places, Wasatch Mountain State Park andCamp Floyd State Parkoffer outstanding Dark Sky experiences. Travelers on the hunt for inspiring urban observatories, planetariums, clubs, star parties and educational exhibits will find they abound in the Beehive State, including:
The University of Utah’s Willard L. Eccles Observatory — an astronomical observatory located on Frisco Peak in the San Francisco Mountains
Join up with this group of astronomy enthusiasts and amateur astronomers who share a common passion for the night sky at the Utah Valley Astronomy Club
Glance through most American kitchens and you’re likely to find two staple ingredients: Vanilla Extract and Angostura. One is typically mixed into birthday cakes and homemade ice cream, while the other is reserved for a stiff drink served after hours. One is regularly used by your LDS grandmother, and the other will get you 86’ed from the Celestial Kingdom. Despite their cultural inequalities, these two items are essentially the same thing: flavor extracts made from aromatic ingredients and high-proof ethanol.
Thinking of vanilla extract and bitters on the same playing field opens up a new realm of possibility. Sure, bitters are a go-to flavor enhancement to cocktails like an Old Fashion or Sazerac, but what about using them to flavor food? How about adding them to everyday drinks like coffee or soda water? To further add to the range of possibilities, modern-day bitters have come a long way from their astringent forefathers. Now you can find unique flavor combinations like blueberry and cardamom, or gooseberry and armageddon pepper. The latter can be purchased from a local vendor who’s working to change consumers’ perception of aromatic tinctures as a whole—Grandeur View Bitters.
Photo by Adam Finkle
A small-batch producer, Grandeur View was founded by Dr. Anne Arendt who teaches at Utah Valley University. The idea for the company stemmed from her interest in cooking and the chance to show her students how to build a business from the ground up. “There was a lot of experimentation, and a lot of hoops to jump through when it comes to getting things approved from the TTB [Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau],” she says. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, Arendt sought out to create new and unique flavor combinations. “I started to look at historical recipes and make up my own alterations.” From that quest came Grandeur View’s flagship products—Quake, Grapefruit Complex and Gooseberry Armageddon. “Each bitters has a different use, Grapefruit Complex is great for gins and vodkas or waters, while Quake is best in whiskey or black coffee,” she explains.
Considering that Arendt has only been producing and selling bitters for a little over a year, her products have already earned impressive accolades. Grapefruit Complex, her personal favorite, was recognized in the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Gooseberry Armageddon, a zesty flavor made from Armageddon peppers grown in her own home, has become a best seller among Utahns—thanks to Arendt’s marketing approach. “The reality of trying to sell bitters in Utah is challenging, because how many people in this state are looking for ways to flavor cocktails?” says Arendt, who found she had to first educate consumers on what bitters even are. “When people come up to my booth [at farmer’s markets], I always start with this sentence: ‘Just so you know, bitters have an alcoholic base but are considered a non-alcoholic product that we sell in grocery stores, not liquor stores—just like vanilla extract!’”
Having captured their interest (or having weeded out the zero-tolerance killjoys), Arendt shares the many ways her bitters can be used. “It’s about getting people to think outside the box and use bitters in other ways,” she says. “In my home, we use them to flavor fish and vegetables before or after cooking.” Surpisingly, she’s found that non-drinkers have become bitters’ biggest champions.
So why are bitters so popular among Utahns, both tipplers and teetotalers alike? Arendt believes it’s because they offer a customization factor. As evidenced by the invasion of signature soda shops and “build-your-own” menus, people want personalized experiences when it comes to food and beverages. And whether they’re used behind the bar or in the kitchen, bitters allow consumers to create an experience that’s entirely their own.
Look for Grandeur View Bitters at the Wheeler Farmer’s Market, at Salt And Hops in Ogden, and at the Neighborhood Hive. Browse the full product line at grandeurviewbitters.com / @grandeurviewbitters
With Earth Day just around the corner, it’s an opportune moment to show appreciation for our planet by participating in sustainable events. Here are a few of the various happenings taking place in Utah to commemorate Earth–our one and only home.
Engaging in thrift shopping is an invigorating approach towards sustainability, as it helps cut down on energy consumption, air pollution, and excessive waste filling up landfills and polluting oceans. Join the Urban Arts Gallery from 12–7 p.m. for this cost-free occasion, featuring an array of items including furniture, trinkets, clothing, local artwork, and even tarot card readings.
116 S. Rio Grande St., Salt Lake City
Hogle Zoo’s Party for the Planet–April 22
Celebrate Earth Day with a “Party for the Planet!”, where Hogle Zoo and various community organizations are committing to promoting conservation, creativity, and community involvement. Engage in family-friendly games, recycling projects, and crafts, and learn more about the impactful efforts of Utah’s Hogle Zoo in preserving animal habitats both locally and worldwide. This event will be held from 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Step inside Utah’s foremost cider bar and trade in one of your plant cuttings for a different propagation. In addition to the plant swap, the event is teaming up with local plant nurseries to host a kitchen herb workshop complete with custom containers, high-quality soil, and a selection of plants for purchase from Thyme & Place. Also, Hollow Tree Honey Foundation will be providing free packets of wildflower seeds. Sip on some delicious ciders while mingling with friends, taking in the fresh air on the patio, and of course, celebrating the beauty of our planet!
As Earth day approaches, you might be contemplating ways to make you diet more environmentally-conscious or just healthier. Look no further! Harmon’s has a tour that will take your sustainable eating habits to the next level. Led by their expert dietitian Heather Lieber, this tour is designed to enlighten you on the significance of selecting sustainable foods, minimizing packaging waste, and curtailing food waste. Meet them at 5 p.m. for this hour-long tour, starting at the dietitian office adjacent to the post office, and prepare to embark on a journey towards a more environmentally-sound lifestyle!
Gear up to celebrate our awe-inspiring planet and the crucial work we undertake in safeguarding it by joining Recycle Utah and Wasatch Brew Pub on Earth Day, from 5– 8 p.m. This celebration is the ultimate event to revel in the joy of life, and will boast an array of delicious food and drinks, with a silent auction showcasing the best of local businesses. All proceeds will go towards supporting the brewery’s education program, aimed at nurturing future generations to become environmentally-conscious citizens. This is an exclusive 21+ event, so get ready to raise a toast to our remarkable Earth!
Nothing says spring quite like a golden egg and an elephant’s revival. That was the scene at The State Room on Friday night. The Shook Twins, sporting their signature eggs, mesmerized the crowd with their hypnotic, siren vocals. Co-headliner, and former front man of Elephant Revival, Daniel Rodriguez warmed our hearts with transcendental folk ballads. He opened the show with “Through The Static,” a new song off his recently released album Vast Nothing. His 11-song set included deeper cuts from his growing catalog of post-Elephant Revival music.
Rodriguez finds his muse in many places. For example,“Delores” is a love song about a river, not a woman. He shared a story about traveling through Southwest Colorado one summer, in an old Mitsubishi with a broken A/C. The river – Delores – beckoned. Instead of stopping and refreshing himself in her cool water, he wrote her a song. “Delores I come to you broken and bruised/ it’s in your embrace I soak and I soothe/ to heal and mend these wounds.” With “Johnny” he took us to the borderlands and featured fine drum, bass, and trumpet solos from his backing band. The crowd sang along to his final two numbers, an unexpected cover of Springsteen’s “Atlantic City,” and “Sing to the Mountain” from his Elephant Revival catalog.
Photo credit Sam Crump
The Shook Twins began their full, 17-song set on stage alongside their signature, large golden eggs. The twins, Katelyn on guitar and vocals, and Laurie on banjo and vocals, were backed by Niko Slice on guitar, Aber Miller on bass and keyboards, and Alex Radakovich on drums. They opened with the slow-building, trippy cadence and alluring twin-harmonies featured in “No Choice” from their 2019 album Some Good Lives.
The State Room audience were treated to a sneak-peak of the twins’ newest music. They are using their aptly named Bloom Tour to beta-test new material before retreating into the studio later this year. In all, they played 4 soon-to-be recorded songs and a reworked, older tune, “Time to Swim,” mixing rap with ethereal, siren-like vocals. The Shook Twins are evolving as they experiment with vocal syncopation and other sonic textures like telephone mic distortion. Their early acoustic guitar and banjo folk sound has morphed into indie-pop-folk with electronica overtones.
The crowd joined into an impromptu singalong when The Shook Twins covered Whitney Houston’s pop-anthem “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Their perfectly balanced harmonies gave the ‘80s hit a rootsy restoration. They followed that anthem with a cover of an obscure Elephant Revival song “In Love and Rage” (which I hope they plan to record with Daniel Rodriguez).
Photo credit Sam Crump
Entering the homestretch, the entire ensemble took the stage for “Safe.” Rodriguez took lead vocals on his Elephant Revival song “Grace of a Woman” followed by the twins taking over for a few verses of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” For an encore, The Shook Twins serenaded us with their post-apocalyptic song “Shake,” a song that would provide a perfect soundtrack for an episode of The Last of Us.
Rodriguez and The Shook Twins were in full Bloom playing familiar favorites alongside some new music and a few well-selected covers. It truly was a Good Friday.
Founded when suppliers delivered wares in wagons and folks routinely paid bills with sacks of flour or heads of cattle, few Utah businesses can boast 100 years or more of survival. Those tenacious enough to have remained in the hands of family are not just endangered species, they’re practically extinct. We asked a handful of local, family-owned businesses to share their secret sauce for surviving over a century of depressions, pandemics, wars, construction, big box stores and—lest we forget—online shopping. You’ll likely recognize the names. Now you’ll appreciate what it’s taken to stand the test of time.
Historic photo courtesy UWM Men’s Shop
It turns out, superheroes aren’t the only ones who transform when they put on a suit. According to B.J. Stringham of UWM Men’s Shop, no phone booths or capes are required to become a new man—just a well-tailored, expertly-cut suit.
“I see it all the time. A guy comes in with sweats or his baggy shorts, and he tries on one of our suits,” says the company’s president. “Suddenly there’s a glint in the eye, a confident stride, a strong handshake. It’s really satisfying to see what a suit can do.”
The company has built a loyal following of luxury-loving customers who embrace its impeccably-engineered menswear and bespoke tailoring—even if it sets them back a couple of grand or more. These are not off-the-rack deals, and B.J. isn’t apologizing for it.
“We don’t play the game,” he says “We guarantee the best, that’s how we differentiate ourselves and why we’re still in business after all these years,” he says of their brands which include high-end names like Brioni, Oxxford, Kiton, Isaia and Eton. “I had a customer once say, ‘When I buy it from you, I only cry once.”
B.J. and his younger brother, Brandon (CFO), recognize the need to keep the old place from seeming stuffy…it is 118 years old, after all.
“We don’t want that whole ‘we have the finest silks and blah blah blah,’” he jokes, employing his best sneering English accent to make the point. “We’ve worked to create a space where you can come, get fitted for a suit, chat, play some pool, look around.”
From left to right: Bart Stringham, BJ Stringham, Brandon Stringham and Bri Stringham, Portrait, Adam Finkle
The Stringhams have outdone themselves in creating a swanky, men’s-club vibe. Bottled drinks, club chairs, a barber shop, guitars hanging on the wall and ping pong and pool tables welcome alike the sockless, well-coiffed hipster and the silver-haired gentleman looking to update his board-meeting attire.
In the early days, UWM manufactured blankets and knitwear, sending hundreds of traveling salesmen to extol the merits of wool. When B.J. and Brandon’s grandpa, Briant Jr., took over the business from his father, Briant Sr., he shifted it from millinery to a retail shop. His son Bart redefined it as a high-end shop, working tirelessly to build a reputation as the best men’s shop in the city.
“Their thinking was ‘a Stringham has to do it,’” says B.J., referring to the intimate knowledge of the menswear business handed down from generation to generation, encompassing everything from fabrics to cuts to designers to the names of loyal customers’ wives, dogs and grandkids.
“They worked themselves to the bone, and while we were grateful for what they built, I don’t remember seeing my dad on Saturdays (sacred in retail) or between Thanksgiving and Christmas at all,” says B.J., who felt himself missing out on his own children. “I never got to see my daughter play in one [Saturday] soccer game—I was always at the store because Brandon and I had now adopted the mentality that if we weren’t manning the shop, it would fall apart.”
The nonstop pace was enough to make B.J. fall apart.
“We needed a culture shift, we needed to entrust the knowledge with our employees, listen to feedback and adapt,” says B.J. They examined and questioned every aspect of the business, throwing out things that weren’t working (like their women’s clothing line and their scarcity mentality.) B.J. and Brandon took themselves off of the sales floor. They made deals with high-end manufacturers to introduce their own lines and expanded into a second retail space in Murray (Tom Nox Men’s Shop) with plans for a third. Finally, they wanted to instill a greater sense of purpose by creating a nonprofit organization called “Suited for Good” which donates not just a suit, but the entire fitting experience to folks getting back on their feet.
“I don’t know if we could have survived the pandemic without this new sense of purpose and optimism,” says B.J. “Not only did we have to close the store for a time, but the worldwide shift to Zoom meetings and working remotely had everyone saying, ‘sweat suits will forever replace business suits.”
photo Adam finkle
Turns out, men still chase after the swagger and style of James Bond. They want the sweep and polish that comes from fine fabrics, eye-catching design and a tailor’s eye. Instead of folding post-pandemic, he says it’s been UWM Men’s Shop’s best year ever. If B.J. has this much enthusiasm for a suit store, imagine the scene on the sidelines of his daughter’s soccer games—where he now finds himself every Saturday.
Utah Woolen Mills’ rules for wearing a suit:
Never button the bottom button of a suit jacket
Your shirt shouldn’t gap on your neck
Shirt cuffs should stop right at your wrist (and your suit jacket a half-inch above that)
Belts and shoes should match and complement the color of your suit
Ties and vests should end at or just below your belt
Discover more Utah businesses that have survived world wars, technological revolutions and pandemics.
On Monday, Salt Lake City Mayor Mendenhall showed off two huge debris basins to make a point about the city’s flood preparedness. From the basins, long-arm tractors can haul out fallen trees, large boulders and other debris to clear obstructed waterways and mitigate flooding. They were installed after the great Salt Lake City flood of 1983, when Utah’s snowfall looked much like it does now. It goes to show, the Mayor says, that without a doubt Salt Lake City is much better prepared for this year’s record snowfall than it was in 1983. The flood risk extends further than Salt Lake County, of course—the Governor declared April as “Flood Safety Month” to encourage all Utahns to be prepared for flooding and other natural disasters—but why is Utah flooding on the top of mind?
Utah flooding causes
To start, we’ve had record snowfall. By late March, the 2022–23 winter season was breaking records on a few levels. Brighton crossed over the 700-inch mark of annual snowfall for the season—a “once in a decade event.” According to Ski Utah, this is the earliest in the season that this has occurred since Utah began recording snowfall in 1943. By April, Alta Ski Area hit the 800-inch inch mark. As of Monday, Alta’s year-to-date snowfall was 877 inches.
This winter is breaking records for snowpack as well. The previous record of 26 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE)—which estimates the amount of water it would be if it melted—was set in 1983. At last check, we are sitting at 29.6 inches, according to the Utah Division of Water Resources.
— SLC Department of Public Utilities (@SLCPU) April 5, 2023
Utah gets approximately 95% of our water from snowpack. Reservoirs store the water from snowpack and runoff to get us through dry years. And we have had a lot of dry years. The American West is experiencing the worst drought in 1,200 years. That extended drought has depleted reservoirs and, along with human water usage, lowered the Great Salt Lake’s water to precariously low levels. While the record-breaking amounts of snow will help recharge reservoirs and restore the Great Salt Lake, it will take multiple years of above-average snowpack and precipitation to reverse the impact of drought.
One thing that won’t take much time at all, after all of this snow, is flooding from the subsequent spring runoff. Temperatures reached 70 degrees in Salt Lake County on Monday, with temperatures of 10 degrees higher than the seasonal average in the forecast for much of Utah, according to the Salt Lake City National Weather Service. Utah flooding happens when conditions (like unseasonably high temperatures) lead to rapid snow melt and rivers, streams and other water channels become overwhelmed.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and other leaders highlighted on Monday, April 10, 2023, the City’s substantial investments in drainage infrastructure designed to prevent and mitigate flooding risks from spring runoff. (courtesy Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office via Twitter @slcmayor)
Infrastructure improvements since 1983
During the 1983 spring runoff, the storm drain carrying City Creek flows in North Temple became clogged with debris that extended four city blocks. Since then, there’s been the addition of debris basins along City Creek so crews can remove debris before it becomes a problem.
“We’ve made significant infrastructure investments since the floods of 1983 that make us more prepared this time around. We know this is a big concern for our residents and we’re taking it seriously in our planning and preparation,” Mayor Mendenhall says. “From a robust storm water system, to debris basins and the addition of Little Dell reservoir, Salt Lake City and our flood control partners, including Salt Lake County, have been preparing for decades to ensure the best possible outcomes for our residents in high snowpack years.”
Other system improvements include grate improvements in Memory Grove to prevent potential backups, piped drainage system improvements to allow for better conveyance of spring runoff and Little Dell Reservoir (constructed between 1987 and 1993) as a flood control and water storage facility.
Flood preparedness
Flood zone risk mapping
While we can’t know with 100% certainty when and where flooding will occur, FEMA maps areas to show their potential risk for flooding. You can go to the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and enter your address to show the possible risk of flooding in your area.
Utah Division of Emergency Management in the process of distributing a 1.5 million sandbags to counties around the state. (courtesy Utah Division of Emergency Management via Twitter @UtahEmergency)
Sandbags
Salt Lake County representatives say they have been receiving a lot of questions about where to get sandbags. Residents can fill and pick up free sandbags at locations listed on their website: Salt Lake County sandbag locations. The county says that some locations will be checking IDs to verify residency.
Utah flooding risk mitigation
There are a lot of things residents can do to prepare their homes and mitigate flooding and flood damage. However, many of those things take time to build, retrofit or install. As far as what you can do now to prepare:
Clear gutters and drains of any blockages or debris and keep debris away from steams.
Sign-up for, if necessary, and keep up-to-date on disaster warnings, local emergency alerts and information. Most communities have an emergency alert system (through cell phone, email or landline) that you can opt into, such as Salt Lake City Emergency Management. FEMA’s Wireless Emergency Alerts are location-based and do not require a subscription.
Make a plan for your household, including your pets, so that you and your family know what to do, where to go, and what you will need to protect yourselves from flooding.
Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans and flash flood response.
Gather supplies, including non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies and water for several days, in case you must leave immediately or if services are cut off in your area.
If you’re a Utah State employee, Governor Cox announced that he approved eight hours of administrative leave for all Utah State employees to assist with flood mitigation.
In general, keep clear of spring runoff. Many county parks and trails are designed to be detention basins, so don’t be alarmed if you see more water than usual. Runoff can move suddenly so don’t drive or wade through it and keep kids and pets out of the water.
Salt Lake County Emergency Management has a form that allows people to register to volunteer. SLCoEM uses the list of registrants to connect volunteers with events where the help is needed. When an event arises, they will email information to the volunteers who most closely meet the need.
Washington County Search and Rescue on Johnson Canyon Trail after a flash flood. (courtesy Washington County SAR via Facebook @WCSOSARUT)
Southern Utah Flooding
It bears mentioning that some of our favorite outdoor recreational spots have a higher risk for flash flooding during spring runoff. Already, in Kane County, at Buckskin Gulch, flash flooding killed two hikers in the narrow canyon back in March. What draws hikers to Buckskin Gulch—winding through 16 miles through one of the longest slot canyons in the world—is also what makes it particularly dangerous during a flash flood.
A few days later, Washington County Search and Rescue rescued six people, including three children, from Johnson Canyon Trail who had become stranded on the far side of a wash after a flash flood turned that wash into a full-blown raging river.
On the bright side, the the spring runoff has given life to the Dirty Devil for river runners and returned waterfalls (and the crowds) to Gunlock State Park.
