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November | December 2009

UTAH

contents

Ready for its Close-up Page 10 | Hollywood’s love affair with the Beehive State began long before Robert Redford played the Sundance Kid and helped found a film festival.

From John Wayne-Westerns to the High School Musical series, movies of all kinds credit Utah as an exceptional location.

34 | SkyNews

FRESNO, CA

After the Flood: Still Standing but Not Standing Still Page 20 | Just a year-and-a-half after a flood so disastrous it was dubbed “Iowa’s Katrina,” Cedar Rapids emerges as a bastion of optimism fueled by cooperation, a can-do spirit and a commitment to preserve the community’s unique art and culture.

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, CO

39 | Budget Friendly Vacations

40 | America’s Best Happenings

42 | It’s Our Journey, Too

46 | Behind the Scenes

48 | Crossword Puzzle

52 | Route Map

Sure-Bets for High Country Fun Page 24 | The ghosts of Wyatt Earp and his 19th century compatriots loom large in this authentic slice of America’s Old West. When it comes to vacation options, modern sojourners find these high-country havens excellent bets.

53 | About Our Aircraft

54 | Airport Maps

56 | Parting Shot

CENTRAL OREGON Creating “Something for Everyone” Holidays Page 28 | Each winter, the high desert communities of Bend, Sisters and Sunriver offer easy access to deep powder, deluxe pampering and world-class waters. But this season is unprecedented when it comes to luring fly-fishing enthusiasts. This is the year for the highly prized steelhead trout.

Web Extras!

If you like this magazine you will love our new affiliate-website www.americasbestplaces.com.

See pages 2 and 3 for details.

operated by SkyWest Airlines

AIRPORT Trees: Greg Epstein courtesy CSHQA

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

36 | Ski Destinations

Cedar Rapids: Courtesy of Brucemore

Page 16 | Thanks to a highly realistic public art project visitors to Fresno Yosemite International Airport are welcomed with replicas of the region’s greatest natural wonder—the Giant Sequoia. These representations mimic the huge trees so accurately that many travelers wonder if the air terminal was built around a redwood grove.

Central Oregon: Visit Bend

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HIGHLIGHTS • Located in downtown McCall, Idaho • Less than (5) minutes to McCall Airport • Walking distance to Payette Lake, Restaurants and Shops • Easy access to Golf, Ski Resort and Water Activities • Less than (2) hours from Boise, Idaho • Multiple uses for this Development Opportunity

For more information visit www.skywestmagazine.com/mccall

Welcome Aboard

Reaching America’s Best Places Dear Passenger: If you’re reading this letter, chances are you’re

onboard one of our aircraft. I’m pleased to welcome you to SkyWest and share some of our unbelievable destinations with you.

I admit that when the temperatures drop, I’m thrilled at the prospect of outdoor adventure. I’m partial to ice climbing, while my sons, ages four, 10 and 13, are avid snowboarders. Even my daughter, also age four, loves to take part in the fun. SkyWest makes it easy for us to pursue all of our passions. Air travel benefits holiday shoppers destined for big-city retail excursions, folks looking for a sunny day at the beach, and of course, the resolute business traveler. Whatever your reason for flying today, SkyWest is enlarging your options with an expanded United Express route network.

This December, we begin connecting Asheville, North Carolina to Chicago O’Hare and the world beyond. We also link Chicago and Duluth, Minnesota; provide new El Paso, Texas and Los Angeles routes and initiate service between Midland, Texas and Denver.

We know that access to major airport hubs like Chicago, Denver and LA presents smaller communities with economic advantages and greater connectivity. We are also aware that the benefits of service linking hubs and regional airports go both ways. Many of America’s most intriguing places are off the beaten path and served by regional airports. Our ability to provide easy access to these gateways of quintessential American adventures is a privilege – and we take it seriously. So we welcome Duluth, and Lake Superior’s North Shore, Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains, El Paso and Big Bend National Park, Midland and the Llano Estacado to our already impressive lineup of American wonders. There are many. Check out the route map on page 52 of this magazine and let your imagination roam. National Parks, pristine beaches, mountaintop experiences, and quaint historic destinations are all part of where we serve. This edition of the magazine presents stories that take the reader from California’s Redwood forests, to the Rocky Mountains, to the heartland.

As you explore its pages, I’m sure you’ll be inspired to plan your own United Express adventure.

You can do so with confidence. We safely fly more than 1,500 flights each day, to more destinations than any other regional airline. And by bringing United Express service to even more airports, there’s no question we offer the best service to America’s best places.

So, on behalf of the more than 10,000 SkyWest aviation professionals committed to providing safe, exceptional service for you, I welcome you aboard your United Express flight. At SkyWest Airlines, we travel off the beaten path, and I think you’ll enjoy where we’re going.

Russell “Chip” Childs President and COO SkyWest Airlines

6 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

ramblings and recommends

Feeding the Spirit of the Season “When I do good, I feel good,” Abraham Lincoln

Go!

P U B L I C AT I O N S I N C O R P O R A T E D

Dear Reader: I typically reserve this space for a personal rant, rave or rallying cry. During this “most wonderful time of the year” I like to encourage travelers to overcome the stresses of the season by adopting a joyful perspective and living out the Golden Rule.

Frequent readers know I am an unrepentant Pollyanna, convinced that despite the setbacks we all encounter, it really is a wonderful life. Don’t believe me? Enter to win the classic Jimmy Stewart holiday movie in our Test Your Travel Smarts contest, page 56. The sentimental favorite always inspires me to count my blessings. And there are many. Family and friends rank high on the list, as does the opportunity to cross all of North America in less than a day. Yes, fellow traveler, air transportation remains a modern marvel, and a great reason for rejoicing— especially when it carries loved ones home for the holidays.

That said, I also know that Lincoln had it right. When you do good, you feel good.

And as this holiday season approaches, the opportunities to help those in need—to really live out the Spirit of Christmas—are great. That’s why I want to share excerpts from a letter I received from Andrew Westberg, a San Diego-based frequent traveler with a big heart and a great idea.

He writes: One afternoon, I flew from San Diego to Chicago. My hotel was in the Water Tower District and by the time I arrived, I was starving. My culinary instincts led me into a pasta house on Rush Street. I remember my meal like it was yesterday: butternut squash gnocchi in a pink tomato cream sauce. And just as is typical of most Chicago restaurants, the serving size was a bit extravagant.

So after I finished, I decided to take the

leftovers. As I strolled back to the hotel, I noticed two homeless men camped out on the sidewalk not too far from the restaurant.

“Do you have any spare change?” asked one. I answered that I didn’t and kept walking. When I was ten feet past them, I heard the other ask, “Then can we have some of your food?”

This was unexpected; I had never heard a homeless person specifically ask for food. I turned and gave them the leftovers. They thanked me several times. I watched as they opened the bag as though they were tearing the wrapping off a Christmas present.

When I got to the hotel, I wondered why I hadn’t offered this to anyone before.

I typically don’t eat everything I order and most of the hotels I stay in do not have refrigerators, so there’s no point in keeping leftovers.

This experience was very significant for me and since then, it’s become my personal crusade to get people to give away leftovers rather than throw them away. I try to take a doggie bag and give it to a homeless person every time I have the chance. It is completely free. So give it a try next time you’re eating out in a downtown area. If you’re able to help someone, do it and spread the word.

That’s just what we’re doing, Andrew. I’d also like to challenge each of you to follow Andrew’s example and do something to ease someone’s burden today. Lend a hand to parents with little ones or an elderly passenger, be patient with an inexperienced traveler, be gracious to a chatty seatmate.

You’ll discover kindness is a wonderful gift.

Happy Holidays,

Colleen

Colleen Birch Maile Editor in Chief

president Kelly D. Coles editor in chief Colleen Birch Maile colleen@gopubinc.com art director Janie W. Budell janie@gopubinc.com copy editor Bethany Maile proof readers Anna Bierman Tatro | Quincy Budell contributors Amanda Bjerke | Anna Hobart | Tamara Lee | Connie Naylor | Mike Norton

director sales and marketing Teena J. Wright l 208-333-9990 teena@gopubinc.com advertising managers AZ, NM, TX, WY, ND, SD: Keith Sauls l 208-354-5400 keith@gopubinc.com MT, OR, UT, WA, Canada: Wendy Rivers l 406-586-0439 wndyrivers@theglobal.net CO, NV, Northern and Central CA: Susan Vernier Garcia l 970-927-9599 susan@gopubinc.com for all other locations call: SkyWest Magazine corporate office 208-333-9990 l fax: 208-333-9991 205 N. 10th St., Suite B100, Boise, ID 83702 email: info@skywestmagazine.com www.skywestmagazine.com SkyWest Airlines 444 S. River Rd., St. George, UT 84790 435-634-3000 l email: info@skywest.com SkyWest Airlines Stock Symbol: SKYW

SkyWest Magazine (ISSN 1527-4152) is published bi-monthly by Go! Publications, Inc. for United Express operated by SkyWest Airlines. The opinions expressed by authors and contributors to SkyWest Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or of SkyWest Airlines.

Acceptance of advertisements does not imply official endorsement of the products or services concerned. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. No part of this SkyWest Magazine may be reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. © 2009 Go! Publications Inc. All rights reserved.

Copies available for $6 each.

This magazine assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material. This magazine does not reply to queries without SASE.

For reprints of articles in this issue of SkyWest Magazine, please call 208-333-9990.

Visit us on our website at www.skywestmagazine.com.

8 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express enviroink.indd 1

10/1/08 10:44:38 AM

Utah Worthy of a Close-Up

by Colleen Birch Maile

Gunsmoke television set in Southern Utah

A

-listers and those eager to rub elbows with celebs flock to Park City, Utah each January for one of movieland’s grandest events—the Sundance Film Festival. Inspired by Robert Redford’s love affair with the state, the ten-day celebration crowds the historic mining-town-turned-ski-resort with new and established filmmakers and those longing to impress them. Promotional parties and gifting suites specializing in schwag are the order of the day; but you don’t have to be an industry insider to enjoy the event. Sure screening tickets seem hard to come by, hotels are crowded and restaurant lines long. (That’s what happens when you’re where everyone wants to be.) But there’s so much going on at Sundance and its Rocky Mountain hometown that it’s easy to have fun just being there.

10 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

“It’s certainly possible for anyone to have a great time during the festival,” said Craig McCarthy, communications manager at the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau. “Sundance runs from January 21-31. I always recommend that people come during the second week. There aren’t as many celebrities in town and there’s more room availability. They’ll have a better chance of getting tickets to the various events.”

Marshall Moore, director of the Utah Film Commission, an original Sundance sustaining sponsor, explained that there’s much to do at

the festival besides see the movies. “There are lots of interactive displays and a digital center that features new technology. There are panel discussions and musical events. Some do require credentials but others are open to the public. It’s just a fun environment and occasionally you catch a glimpse of someone you recognize.”

Park City also hosts the Sundance alternative, The Slamdance Film Festival, held concurrently with its more renowned counterpart, January 2128, 2010. It offers an additional showcase for emerging film artists and more fun for visitors.

Past participants include screenwriter Joshua Marston (Maria Full of Grace) and directors Marc Forester (Monster’s Ball) and Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite).

Hollywood’s love affair with Utah began long before Robert Redford and Paul Newman filmed their iconic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in the state.

Stephen B. Armstrong, a professor at Dixie State College in St. George, recently completed a documentary, Return to Little Hollywood, detailing Kanab, Utah’s half-century as a favored setting for Westerns. The film traces the role that the town and its people played in movies ranging from the 1924 Tom Mix classic The Deadwood Coach to iconic TV series including Gunsmoke, The Lone Ranger and Have Gun Will Travel. For more than 50 years, locals assumed the parts of extras and stunt doubles for Hollywood’s elite. John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Jimmy Stewart, Claudette Colbert and Clint Eastwood all worked in the south-central Utah town.

When the Western genre’s popularity waned in the 1970s, Kanab’s citizens were content to rest on their laurels, marking the past with a series of monuments to the glory days. Visitors can see old movie sets and stay in the Parry Lodge, the hotel that once served as home base for Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack and other Tinseltown luminaries. Armstrong’s film makes a strong case for a movie-making revival in the community that remains much as it did when the last major movie to be filmed there, The Outlaw Josey Wales, came to town in 1975. The filmmaker interviewed former stuntman Neil Summers who visited Kanab during a recent Western Legends Round-up. Still active as a character actor, skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

11

There’s Art Up There!

Art & Cultural Destination

The Park City Gallery Association (PCGA) is a partnership of more than 20 locally owned art galleries offering art in nearly every genre. The PCGA is dedicated to promoting the visual arts and expanding the reputation of Park City as a cultural capital in Utah.

Please join us for the Last Friday Gallery Stroll from 6 - 9 pm on the last Friday of each month where community, visiting artists and fun come together!

Generous Sponsors Include: Mike Hale Chevrolet ParkCityWeek.com For More Information, Visit Us At: www.parkcitygalleryassociation.com

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12 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Summers, who worked on Josey Wales, said “Wishfully thinking, I hope somebody comes in here and breaks loose with a major film that hits big, and then Hollywood would pour in here again because hardly anything has changed. It’s still just great.”

While Kanab has yet to regain its “Little Hollywood” crown, Utah’s diverse topography, a deep pool of performers, talented technicians and turnkey production facilities continue to make much of the state a popular film location. Tax incentives help as well. The Film Commission’s Moore explained that in the current incentive program’s six-year history, it has benefited more than 40 films. “All three films in the High School Musical series used incentives. They are working on the fourth one right now. The Disney Channel has used it numerous times. Fox Searchlight took advantage of incentives for Jared Hess’s Sinatra and the Rat Pack on loca Gentlemen Broncos.”

Currently the state is running a 20% incentive program. That means productions spending a minimum of $1 million on Utah expenditures can receive either a 20% cash rebate on those expenses of up to $500,000 per project, or a 20% tax credit without a cap. The program is offered to both independent and major filmmakers who are approved by an advisory committee. “The committee meets monthly to determine if the project is a good use of state tax dollars,” explained Moore.

A former LA-based, location manager Moore came to Utah in 1993 while working on a TV mini-series, The Stand and decided to move to the Beehive State. He went on to scout settings for Touched by an Angel, a Utah-based television program and never looked back. “With that show, the story was supposed to take place in a different location every week. In Utah, we could find the variety of locales without having to travel far.

Salt Lake has all the city spaces. If you drive a

Our Classrooms Rock!

Over 70 Bachelor & Associate Degrees and Programs Available

Rat Pack: Kanab Heritage Museum

ation for Sergeants 3, which was shot in Kane County in 1961.

half hour to the west you’re in the desert, a half hour to the east there are mountains. Beyond the city there are many charming small towns and, of course, there’s the unique beauty of Southern Utah—the places like Kanab, and the national parks. [Utah is home to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon.] There is an inherent savings in not having to travel more than necessary. Utah has so much to offer,” he said. “At the same time, the ease of air travel is also a big draw. There are daily flights between LA and Salt Lake, and that always impresses producers.

If they need something or someone, they can move quickly.

“Besides great locations we have experienced camera people, lighting and grip crews, all the people to run the set and post-production facilities.

Utah possesses everything an operation needs,” Moore concluded.

Professor Curt Walker (l) and student Jayson Malufau hike to the “biology “lab” in Zion National Park where they are studying canyon tree frogs in their natural habitat.

www.dixie.edu 888.324.2998

CEBA skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

13

Utah Make Like Tom Hanks on Utah’s Own Polar Express Anytime is a great time to enjoy winter fun in Park City. During the holidays, the young and young-at-heart can ride The Polar Express—on the Heber City Railroad. Located just a half-hour south of the Park City bustle on highway 189, the railroad ride through scenic Provo Canyon features cocoa, cookies, a reading of the Chris Van Allsburg holiday favorite and a visit from Santa Claus.

The state’s only steam-powered passenger train is also up and running throughout Park City festivals. Visitors can take a break from the film-going TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s08) frenzy and enjoy a relaxing train ride combined with an Olympic-quality adrenaline rush. The railroad’s Tube ’n Train package carries guests to Soldier Hollow, site of the 2002 Olympic Nordic events where they can slide down a 1,000 foot groomed hill, with lift service. Just one more way to enjoy what Utah bills as the “greatest snow on earth.”

Beyond the movies visitors find a lot to like during a Park City winter. Skiing is the town’s primary claim to fame. It is home to three worldclass resorts—Deer Valley, The Canyons and Park City Mountain, plus an assortment of top-of-theline lodges, spas, and eateries. This season the nation’s first ski-in, ski-out distillery joins the mix of more than 100 restaurants and bars. High West Distillery and Saloon is Utah’s first distillery since Prohibition, the chamber’s Craig McCarthy said. It’s located right next to the Town Lift at the bottom of Quittin’ Time ski run.

The Olympic Park, just a mile outside town, preserves much of the excitement of the 2002 Winter Games. McCarthy expects interest to be especially strong this winter. “Because it’s an Olympic year, we think people will enjoy this more than ever.” Adventurous types can zoom down the bobsled track at more than 75-miles per hour. More sedate patrons will enjoy touring the facility’s museums. n

DID YOU KNOW? Park City, home to more than 6,000 hotel rooms, is just a 20-minute freeway drive from Salt Lake City and even more lodging options.

14 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Skier: courtesy Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

Beyond the Movies

LESS TIME GETTING HERE MEANS MORE TIME ON THE SLOPES.

` Located just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City, Utah is the most accessible resort town in the country. Which means the time you save getting here translates directly into more time enjoying our three world-class winter resorts, over 100 restaurants and bars, dozens of shops and galleries, and a winter full of

800-453-1360 or to view our frequently updated Hot Deals and book online, visit parkcityinfo.com. activities and events. For a free winter vacation planner call

FYI: Fresno Yosemite

International Airport Offers

Tree-mendous Experience

by Connie Naylor

John Muir called the big trees of his beloved Yosemite “immortal.” With life spans measured in millennia, they remain a constant in a rapidly changing world and are memorialized in Fresno’s largest public art project—the airport’s own Sequoia grove.

E

ach year thousands of pilgrims pass through Fresno on their way to the big trees. Giant Sequoia, found only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, merit a spot on everyone’s “bucket list.” Unfazed by disease, protected by chemicals that make their wood resistant to insects and fungus, they soar to over 300 feet in height and are the world’s largest living things. The big trees are top draws at Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia national parks—just an hour’s drive from Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FYI).

The Sequoias typically inspire awe and wonder. In the case of the Fresno airport, the big trees also prompted an idea that transformed a mundane—albeit extensive—airport renovation into a project of distinction.

Director of aviation and self-proclaimed nature lover, Russell Widmar explained his desire to provide something of serious interest that would engage travelers. “I’ve worked at many airports and they all seem the same.

It’s like going to a retail mall, whether you’re

16 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Yosemite National Park remains open in winter when cross-country skiing and snowshoeing through the Mariposa Grove of Sequoia trees are favorite activities.

in Fresno or Cincinnati or Gainesville, Florida, there’s not much difference. This is a 60-year-old facility and we were doing everything new, from ceilings to seating to carpeting. I wanted to have one thing that captured the real sense of this place.”

He found that “one thing” on a walk through Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove, a stand of several hundred Sequoias including two of the tallest in the world. “I must have taken 500 pictures of the trees,” he said. “They’re all shapes and sizes and they have so many stories. They’ve been burned, hit by lightning; they’re still alive.

At the airport we had these gigantic columns at a confluence where people come together exiting and entering security. So I thought if I could find somebody on a Disney-type scale— that kind of quality—who could create trees from the columns, that would give us something really interesting.”

An Internet search revealed four firms in the world capable of carrying out his vision. One— NatureMaker—was in California. Widmar said he

“floated the idea as part of the terminal project.”

Civic leaders and the public got on the bandwagon. Bringing the sequoias to air travelers cost $1 million of the total $65-million dollar renovation. “It was the largest public art project in the history of Fresno,” Widmar said.

The project was achieved with funds from private donations or pledged revenue from sources apart from the airlines serving FYI. (All the components of the airport project, including a $16-million solar power system and a $6.5-million corporate aircraft hanger, were funded in this manner.)

Gary Hanick, president of NatureMaker, the Carlsbad, California-based company charged with the project, has been transforming architectural elements into replicas of the natural world since 1983. His projects span the globe from the Grand Hyatt in Moscow to private residences in Dubai. Zoos, children’s museums, and retail centers also benefit from NatureMaker’s creative construction. “The columns we had to work with in FYI were 25-feet tall. I went to Yosemite and

P. James Nugent, M.D.

Richard Blanks, M.D.

Laura Duncan, N.P.

Christine Helsby, N.P.

Russell Biggers, D.P.T.

skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

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18 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Trees: Greg Epstein courtesy CSHQA

Sequoia & Kings Canyon national parks and we set about creating trees that would replicate the bottom portion of the Sequoias,” Hanick said. “So in the airport, viewers see a believable, forest perspective. They see a gargantuan trunk and a few branches. It gives you the feeling that the airport was built around the trees.”

Hanick said the designers went for an immersion experience. “There are areas with stumps and fallen logs that are set apart with rail fences just like you’d see in Yosemite. My favorite tree is the one with the split trunk. You can walk right through it. It represents the famous drive-through tree.”

Many of NatureMaker’s trees are built as cantilevered structures. All use precisely crafted tubular steel for the trunk’s core. The bark material is a special mix created by NatureMaker based upon a substance used in zoo exhibits. “The bark is designed for public scrutiny, it invites touch,” he said.

“I think this really positions Fresno on the map,” Hanick continued. “It alerts people that these trees are really waiting right in Fresno’s backyard. If travelers are on a quick business trip and they don’t have time to make it to one of the parks, at least they have the feeling for five minutes that they’ve been there. Texturally and visually, the airport trees feel like the real thing.”

FYI Director of Aviation Russell Widmar said response has been extremely positive. “Feedback from the community has been overwhelming. I’ve had people ask if they’re real. The park service has provided some interesting videos.

They’ve been very supportive of the project. We’re giving people interesting ways to wile away the time. We’re also planning to install artistic lighting so it seems that the sun is shining on the trees.

We like to say ‘fly Fresno, it’s like a walk in the park.’ And it’s true. I recently went to Nelder Grove in the Sierra National Forest and sat there among the Sequoia and said, ‘this looks just like our own trees,’” he concluded. n

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Cedar Rapids

Revival

by Amanda Bjerke

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hey called it “Iowa’s Katrina.” The media’s catch phrase comparing the heartland’s great flood to New Orleans’ ruinous hurricane was no understatement. In 2008 an unusually wet spring swelled rivers throughout Iowa’s eastern reaches and caused more than $7 billion in damages. Communities big and small were affected, including Cedar Rapids where a scenic location proved treacherous. The state’s second largest city straddles both sides of the Cedar River. Its city hall, county courthouse and other public offices inhabit an island midstream. A levee built more than 60 years ago was no match for the violent overflow. Estimates placed that structure under five feet of water before the river crested. More than 3,900 homes were ravaged. Government buildings, the downtown and significant cultural landmarks were especially hard hit.

Yet, just a year-and-a-half after the tragedy, Cedar Rapids emerges as a bastion of optimism fueled by cooperation and a can-do spirit. Tim Boyle, president of the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, reflects on the situation with a “glass-half-full” perspective.

“Yes, it’s true one-seventh of the city was flooded. That means six-sevenths were not. So much of our town didn’t miss a beat. Restaurants, parks, many shopping areas, and our minor league hockey and baseball facilities were totally intact.

The segments that were hardest hit are working 20 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

diligently to get back on track. The recovery, thus far, has been beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. I always say people are as good as they have to be, and we’ve had to be awfully good in the past year.”

The populace’s mutual benevolence became apparent while the floodwaters were still receding. “Many of our cultural organizations reacted very quickly. They shared locations so they could continue to function,” Boyle said. “Theatre Cedar Rapids is a poster child for the recovery effort.

They’ve made amazing progress.”

Theater images : Rob Merritt

The Iowa Theater intends to reopen in February despite major damage.

A flooded downtown

The amateur theater group possesses a rarified pedigree. Established in 1925 it counts Cedar Rapids’ most famous native son, the artist Grant Wood (American Gothic), among its founders. In 1980 it found a permanent home in the Iowa Theater, a 1928 facility that originally hosted vaudeville acts and retained much of its architectural grandeur. After the flood, four feet of water lapped against the 1928 rhinestone Barton organ that remains among its most significant features. The stage and staircases were compromised, the basement inundated.

Yet the entire 2008 summer schedule and youth education programs went on at venues scattered across the county.

“We are in an 80-year-old building right in the heart of downtown which was hit the hardest.

The wild thing is we never cancelled a program.

We moved our summer show into a high school,” Managing Director Casey Prince explained. “The local opera company was intending to do their summer production in our theater. They went into another high school. Weeks after the flood, without the use of our building, we helped get an opera off the ground, ran their box office, and ran our own show. It was High School Musical— the perfect feel-good production that put a smile on people’s faces after so many losses. We were able to bring in kids who were affected by the flood and let them have a good time, watching the show for free. Our response after the flood was that we are a community theater, so we’ll take the theater to the community. We went out to schools, the mall. We kept working.”

Within a month of the disaster the theater company joined together with Liars Theater, SPT theater, the Urban Theater Project, and the multi-faceted Legion Arts group to stage an original production about the flood, Moving Home. “Dan Bern, an area native who performs all over the place, was asked to write a song for it. He worked with local artist Gerard Estrella and wrote ten. Then he was a balladeer in the play. It tells the stories of the epic flood experience. It was very moving. At one point, during some of the sadder flood stories, a visual artist from Legion Arts created a watercolor painting reflective of those stories, then he took more water and washed it off to reveal a beautiful oil painting underneath. That was the spirit of the show.”

The production ran for a week in July 2008 at Brucemore, a storied historic estate located 20 miles beyond the flood zone. The facility’s executive director produced the show. Moving Home earned two Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance Innovation Excellence awards, the local equivalent of a Tony, and raised $18,000 for the local Community Foundation’s flood relief coffers.

The Brucemore rallied its support to other organizations as well. Built for the captain of Cedar Rapids’ first major industry, the Sinclair meat packing plant, the 26-acre showcase passed into the hands of the family that gave the world Quaker Oats. It is now owned and operated by the National Historic Trust and serves as a significant community asset. “Our symphony, Orchestra Iowa, operates out of the Paramount Theater and it was completely destroyed,” the convention bureau’s Tim Boyle explained. “They moved to the Brucemore lawn for skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

21

Theater: OPN Architects

Bohemia was settled in the summer seasons of the 1870s on the east both 2008 and 2009.” side of the river and the Despite what seemed Czech Village developed to be a total loss, Paraalong the west banks in mount Theater is slated the early 1900s. The delfor renovation and the uge swept over both arsymphony continues to A rendering of the Iowa Theater’s renovation project eas and affected many of carry out a full winter the structures, including the museum. schedule at Coe College’s Sinclair Auditorium.

Armed with $10 million in state funds, the Theatre Cedar Rapids anticipates re-opening the Iowa Theater with The Producers February 26, organization is currently restoring the historic 2010. “We were in a unique position regarding Kosek Building in the Czech Village. It will include recovery because before the flood we already had offices, the museum store and display space. A new plans for a capital campaign to renovate the theater. exhibition center and research library will follow So, we were pretty much a shovel-ready project,” at a total cost of approximately $25 million. It’s Casey Prince explained. Necessary flood repair anticipated that the first phase of construction will swelled the cost from $2.5 million to more than $7 be completed in early 2010 and will be heralded million, but Prince said FEMA funding and various with the exhibition, Rising Above: The Story of a People and the Flood. In the meantime, some stores grants will make up the difference.

Among Cedar Rapids’ most distinctive attributes, have survived and others are reopening in the the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library cultural district. “A surprising variety is open, also retains its community presence while contem- including a bakery and numerous restaurants,” plating the future. The facility forms a lynchpin for Leah Wilson, director of marketing and communitwo significant cultural and historic districts. New cation of the museum and library, said. “The

Request a FREE 2010 Cedar Rapids Area Visitors Guide to help you plan your stay!

800-735-5557

IOWA

k! c a Co eb m me see our co 22 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Raleigh

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Czech Village remains a viable commercial area.

Its context makes the museum especially relevant to the community,” she continued. During the restoration projects it’s possible to get a taste of the Czech and Slovak contributions to Cedar Rapids at alternate locations. Pack Your Bags: A Journey to America, an overview of the immigrant voyage to the New World and the traditions that continue to mark the Czech-American community is presented free of charge at the Lindale Mall. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is the setting for the Czech Museum’s Treasures From the National Collection, a compendium of lavish folk costumes, colorful glass, ornate crystal and royal dux porcelain. It also includes a silk screen by Czech-American artist Paul Warhola who is the brother of the more famous Andy Warhol.

Wilson is quick to point out that while Czechs and Slovaks made up a significant percentage of the immigrant population, Cedar Rapids was always a melting pot. Tim Boyle agreed, “If you ran the demographics there are probably as many German and Irish, but the Czech heritage is an important thread running through the fabric of

our community, the restoration efforts made in the Czech Village and New Bohemia are indicative of the overall community spirit,” he said. “We like to tell people, Cedar Rapids is still standing, but we are not standing still. Our cultural organizations still have much to offer, so does the entire community as we move into the 21st century,” Boyle concluded. n

The staff of the elegant Brucemore mansion rallied to assist the arts

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23

America’sB est Places

Gunnison-Crested Butte

Sure-Bets for High-Country Fun

by Anna Hobart

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24 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Gunnison, the county’s largest community, is home to the airport and a covey of modern hotels, including many national brands. It’s an excellent place to launch a variety of adventures.

Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest body of water, is just 15 miles to the west and a top draw for ice fishermen all winter long. (Perch and trout abound in these waters.)

Snowshoers and Nordic skiers find ample open ground around town and in the national

panoramic: Raynor Czerwinski

The ghosts of Earp, his pal Doc Holliday and their 19th-century compatriots loom large in this authentic slice of America’s Old West. Many Victorian and Gothic-style houses, shops and churches date to the 1880s, and are lovingly restored and in use. The breathtaking scenery remains virtually the same. However, for all the constants that a remote mountain location cultivates, much has changed. As might be expected, the modern enhancements—from convenient air service to a plethora of lodging and dining options—do much to provide travelers with an ultra-easy encounter with the past.

When it comes to vacation options, modern sojourners find Gunnison and its sister hamlet, Crested Butte, better bets than any that Wyatt Earp placed at the faro table.

Skier: Nathan Bilow

unnison, Colorado benefits from a long and storied heritage as a high-country hideaway. This is, after all, where Wyatt Earp took refuge after that messy business at the OK Corral. The marshal-turned-fugitive settled down in the picturesque mining camp confident that Colorado’s governor would deny his extradition to Arizona. Earp’s career as a gambling hall proprietor remains part of Gunnison’s colorful lore.

300+ INCHES OF SNOW. 1,073 ACRES OF SKIING TERRAIN. 90 KM OF GROOMED NORDIC TRAILS. You just might want to get up early.

forest beyond. Gunnison’s location in a Rocky Mountain bowl, elevation 7,700 feet, means plenty of winter white stuff and lots of sunny days to enjoy it. Downhill skiers and snowboarders pursue their pleasure just 27 miles to the north in Gunnison’s twin town—Crested Butte. The equally historic community is also home to a spectacular ski resort of the same name.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort covers 1,058 acres and includes 121 trails. Its base is at the

GunnisonCrestedButte.com · 800.323.2453

skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

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26 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Wagon: Dusty Demerson / Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association

town down the hill. Elk Avenue, Crested Butte’s main thoroughfare, is fun-central, especially during the holidays when a glistening display of Christmas lights brightens the town.

Gunnison-Crested Butte forms the nexus of a four-season playground credited with being the birthplace of mountain biking. The sport’s presence is known even in winter. The Mountain Bike Hall of Fame details the history of the thrilling pastime and pays tribute to its superstars. It’s housed in a historic Elk Avenue building that is also home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum. This is the place to pick up a map detailing the self-guided walking tour. Much of the old mining town has been on the National Register of Historic Places for decades. Crested Butte is so historically significant that the National Trust has included it in its list of the country’s dozen most distinctive destinations.

While the designation is certainly warranted, it isn’t necessary. Visitors quickly surmise that this place presents a vacation opportunity that is as unique as it is extraordinary. When it comes to winter fun in an Old West environment the Gunnison-Crested Butte area is distinctive, indeed. n

Couple: Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association

dizzying elevation of 9,375 feet. Snow falls long and deep in this winter wonderland and the ski season typically stretches into May. The abundance of extreme terrain makes it a playground for adrenaline junkies. Both the X Games and the U.S. Extreme Skiing Championships have been held here. That said, there’s plenty of more-laid-back fun to be had on this mountain.

Cross-country skiers enjoy 95 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails. In addition to dailyguided snowshoe tours offered by the resort, nighttime treks occur whenever the moon is full.

That means New Year’s Eve this year! Cross-country skiers are also welcome on these excursions.

Dinner at a backcountry yurt is a highlight of each monthly moonlit trip.

Visitors who want to take in the pristine scenery without breaking the slightest sweat can embark on a dog-sled ride or pile into a horse-drawn sleigh for a jingle-bell glide.

The horses giddy-up to a rustic 1950s cabin over-looking the East River south of Crested Butte. There the warm hospitality includes a sumptuous five-course dinner featuring luscious homemade desserts.

Gourmands and folks who enjoy more simple fare find plenty of palate pleasers, both at the ski resort and the quaint

Yurt: Xavier Fane & Crested Butte Nordic Center

America’sB est Places

colorful, unique place Coloradoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true colors shine in Crested Butte, and inspire you with a sense of place that climbs right into your soul.

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With the vibrant Mt. Crested Butte at the base area, and the historic Town of Crested Butte three miles below, a just-right mixture of new and old make for an unforgettable vacation.

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America’sB est Places

Central Oregon:

A Something-For-Everyone Holiday

28 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

by Amanda Bjerke

Jeff Perin, owner of The Fly Fisher’s Place in downtown Sisters, Oregon, explained the significance of the extraordinary numbers, “many of those steelhead head straight for Central Oregon. This could end up being the best year ever [for steelhead].”

The Fly Fisher’s Place offers a variety of guided excursions all through the holiday season, including steelhead trips on the Deschutes River through December 31. Other options include fishing on the Crooked River, a lower elevation, high-desert stream that reflects Central Oregon’s reputation for sunny skies and moderate weather.

sleigh ride: Sunriver Resort

W

hether you find your fun in snow, spa or trout stream, Central Oregon has all the makings of an exceptional holiday memory. Each winter, the high-desert communities of Bend, Sisters and Sunriver offer easy access to deep powder, deluxe pampering and world-class waters. But this season is unprecedented when it comes to luring fly-fishing enthusiasts. This is the year for the highly prized steelhead trout. The elusive fish, born in fresh water, make their way to the ocean, and then return to lakes and rivers to spawn. Last August more than 34,000 homeward-bound steelhead were counted at the Columbia River’s Bonneville Dam in a single day. The previous one-day record was 14,432.

Fishing: Greg Burke/ www.pbase.com/gb_photo/root

Hoodoo has undergone major upgrades over the past few seasons. Its 836 skiable acres are now served by faster lifts, and a new 60,000 sq. ft. lodge means more comfort and fewer lines. Both ski areas partner with local hotels to offer package deals. It’s possible to find exceptional accommodations 15 minutes to a half hour away from each, and traffic is rarely an issue. Shuttling back to town is as easy as it is advisable. After a day on the snow, a soothing massage may be in order, and Central Oregon is peppered with possibilities.

In Sisters, the Shibui Spa at the luxe Five Pines Resort is highly recommended, as is the Jensei in downtown Bend, and the lavish Sage Springs Club at Sunriver.

While the essential spa experiences may be similar at each of these repositories of peace and quiet, the three resort communities retain unique characteristics that make each worthy of a visit.

Sisters, a former logging town, benefits from a beautiful situation with a stellar view of the mountain peaks known as Three Sisters—Faith, Hope and Charity. With the decline of the timber industry in the 1980s, Sisters reinvented itself by recreating its long-lost 19th-century ambience. It now benefits from an Old West atmosphere chocka-block with faux storefronts, wooden sidewalks, antique shops, art galleries and quilting emporiums. Ten miles to the south, Bend also builds on its past, transforming the site of a former lumber Throughout the area, avid fisher-people can pursue their passion guilt-free—even if those they love aren’t enamored with hooking a big one.

Central Oregon is home to two distinct—and distinctive—ski resorts, an assortment of spas, a wealth of acclaimed restaurants, accommodations for every taste and budget, and loads of holidaythemed events and activities.

Just 20 minutes from Bend, Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort sprawls across almost 4,000 acres. One of the largest ski areas in the Northwest, it offers internationally acclaimed skiing and snowboarding and is noted for deep, dry powder. Beginners and experts alike find perfect runs, and those who are weary of the slopes can enjoy a guided snowshoe romp, cross-country trails or dog sled rides.

A folksier alternative, Hoodoo Ski Resort, is a long-time favorite with locals. Located 20 miles northwest of Sisters, (about 45 minutes from Bend)

Steelhead fishing on the Deschutes River skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

29

Live wild animals.

1880s pioneers.

The Spirit of the West.

operation into the Old Mill District, a vibrant shopping and entertainment center within walking distance of the historic downtown. Even Sunriver, a planned residential/resort community on Bend’s outskirts, incorporates elements of an intriguing yesteryear. Developed more than 40 years ago on the site of a former World War II Army camp, it includes golf courses, residences, guest lodging, restaurants and a retail mall as well as the spa. In the midst of all the modern amenities, the massive Officers’ Club, featuring timbers from the nearby forest, stands as testimony to its military heritage. It was transformed into Sunriver’s Great Hall and is now used as a meeting and banquet space. It also serves as a focal point for Sunriver’s annual Traditions holiday celebration.

it’s closer than you think. five minutes south of bend, oregon 59800 s. hwy 97 | 541-382-4754 open daily | highdesertmuseum.org

During December, Sunriver guests and the general pubic enjoy more than 150 family-friendly Traditions activities. Highlights include Central Oregon’s most elaborate light display, the Northwest’s largest exhibition of gingerbread houses, sleigh rides along the banks of the Deschutes River and weekend breakfasts with Santa Claus.

Each Saturday parents, children and their favorite teddy bears are invited to tea at the Lodge’s Hearth Room. A Family Concert is presented in the Grand Hall during Christmas week.

Central Oregon entices visitors with great mountain snow, expansive public lands, trout-rich waters, inimitable shops and eateries and a ubiquitous seasonal spirit. Here, holiday memories come easy. n 30 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Skier: Visit Bend

Telemark skiing in the Central Oregon backcountry

Play in our backyard.

Escape to Sisters Country nestled in the heart of Central Oregon. Ski, snowboard, sled or snowshoe through our 1.6 million acre playground known as the Deschutes National Forest.

Enjoy our annual Cowboy Christmas activities throughout the months of November and December, stroll through our quaint 1880â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme downtown, or simply relax with a cup of hot chocolate by the ďŹ re at one of our unique lodges.

Stay 2 nights and get up to a 3rd night free at participating lodging properties.

Visit www.sisterscountry.com for more unique lodging and winter specials.

www.sisterscountry.com Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce

866.549.0252

WAITING FOR A FLIGHT? SEE THE SIGHTS. Take a FREE shuttle and a tour of historic Temple Squareâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in less than two hours.

Pickups at Terminal 1 (door 1), Terminal 2 (door 12).

When you Come to Utah, be sure to visit

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to the glorious music of the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir, rehearsing and performing in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.

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your roots in the FamilySearch Center, where helpful volunteers can assist in retrieving family history information from the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest repository of genealogical records.

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through two upscale visitors' centers that include the Christus statue by Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen.

Visit the interactive map of ancient Jerusalem (kids love it!) and much more.

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SkyNews

| Traverse City, MI

The Music House Museum: Encountering Gershwin’s Ghost

by Mike Norton

Rhapsody in Blue was never meant to have the stately, dramatic finish that’s been imposed on it by generations of symphony conductors. Instead, the final movement of George Gershwin’s jazz-inflected classic is more of an out-of-breath scramble across the piano keys, a controlled free-fall down a mountain of slippery notes. I know, because I saw Gershwin play it—and so can you.

In 1925, 12 years before his death, Gershwin sat down at an Aeolean Duo-Art Weber reproducing piano and created an exact record—note for note, pause for pause, inflection for inflection—of his famous composition. Today that piano is in a quaint air-controlled barn at the Music House Museum near Traverse City, and Gershwin plays his music for visitors there several times a day. This is not one of those scratchy old vintage recordings; the piano is playing just as though the long-dead composer were still tickling those ivories. In fact, as the keys ripple away, you can almost imagine a pair of ghostly hands dancing over them.

The Music House occupies a farm near the village of Acme on East Grand Traverse Bay and is home to a one-of-akind collection of rare antique automated musical instruments and music-making machines created between 1870 and 1930. “Our instruments all play by themselves,” said Director Sally Lewis. “That’s what makes them special.” n

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Results to be published in SkyWest Magazine 34 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

SkyNews

ie mov

Calling All SkyWest Fans

Every issue of SkyWest Magazine brings letters bearing praise for our publication. From time to time, you write to offer corrections or suggestions about ways we can improve. That’s great, too.

To encourage this ongoing communication, we’ve teamed up with Hollywood to reward some of our terrific “correspondents” with a FREE DVD of a recently released movie. In this issue, we’re offering a smorgasbord of treats—all available in time for the holidays.

Action-lovers find thrills during Quentin Tarentino’s Inglourious Basterds, featuring Brad Pitt as the leader of a group of JewishAmerican soldiers who manage to spread fear throughout the Third Reich. They ultimately instigate a very un-historic, albeit satisfying, end to World War II.

Dramedy fans will warm to Julie & Julia, a delicious hit based on the true stories of America’s beloved French chef Julia Child and the blogger who spent a year determined to prepare every recipe in her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Meryl Streep turns in a spot-on rendering of the iconic Child while Stanley Tucci is terrific as Julia Child’s mid-level diplomat husband.

The young and young-at-heart will delight at Scholastic Storybook Treasures, Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories. This four-disc set includes animated versions of 28 popular tales, featuring beloved characters such as Corduroy, Curious George and Harold of Harold and the Purple Crayon fame. James Earl Jones, Mia Farrow, Pete Seeger and Laura Dern are among the celebrity narrators.

Film noir enthusiasts will find Sony Pictures’ new five-disc collection a must-have. Critically acclaimed masterpiece, The Big Heat, starring Glenn Ford and directed by Fritz Lang, is joined by four lesser-known movies making their DVD debuts. The Sniper, Five Against the House, Murder by Contract and The Lineup remain stellar examples of the genre. Commentary from Martin Scorsese and Film Noir Foundation founder Eddie Muller add to the entertainment.

To win a free copy of one DVD, just be among the first 20 people to write and tell us what you like best about this publication. Sorry, no e-mail.

You have to use a stamp!

I’m a Fan SkyWest Magazine 205 North 10th Street, Suite B-100 Boise, Idaho 83702 This contest runs November 1 through December 31, 2009. It is not open to employees of the airline or this magazine, members of their families, or previous winners. Void where prohibited.

skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

35

Ski Destinations

TOP 5 Reasons to Play in the Snow This Winter

1. Feel younger: Playing in the drifts erases years from your life. Make a snow angel, catch a flake on your tongue, toss a snowball. Bet you’re smiling just thinking about it.

2. Get stronger: Whether you’re a black diamond downhill racer or contemplating your first foray on the slopes, you’ll find a physical activity to suit your ability. Inexpensive lessons and topnotch rental equipment make exercise as easy as it is fun.

3. Be calmer: Breathe the fresh air, take in the exquisite scenery and count on a change in altitude to improve your attitude.

4. Enjoy a smorgasbord of fun: Winter resorts offer lots of entertainment beyond the slopes.

Options often include spa treatments, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, dogsled and sleigh rides, fine dining and retail therapy.

5. Save money: Package deals are absolute steals this season. There’s never been a more economical time to enjoy yourself in the high country.

Aspen/Snowmass

Colorado

When it comes to winter destinations, Aspen/Snowmass offers the most exciting winter escape in the world—the best skiing/riding experience on 5,303 acres, cultural activities, great shopping, exciting nightlife, one-of-a-kind restaurants. And with over $130 million in on-mountain improvements—11 new lifts, two new gondolas, the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, three new restaurants, two superpipes, additional terrain and 100% hands-free gates with NEW direct-to-lift capabilities and more – there has never been a better time to visit Aspen/Snowmass.

The Perfect Storm Package—Buy 4, Get More!

Great deals on lift tickets, lodging and equipment rentals combine to create The Perfect Storm at Aspen/Snowmass! Buy 4, get 5 on lift tickets, lodging and equipment rental through Four-Mountain Sports. PLUS get The Perfect Storm card, discounts throughout Aspen and Snowmass Village.

Kids Ski & Stay Free in March Purchase a minimum 4-day/5-night lift ticket and lodge package by January 15 and your child age 7-12 skis and stays completely FREE in March 2010. Add equipment rentals for an adult through Four-Mountain Sports as part of the package and kids rent FREE, too. n

An escape to Aspen/Snowmass starts before you hit the slopes. Check out these packages and more great deals!

Tickets: 877-282-7736

|

36 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Lodging: 877-250-8708

|

www.aspensnowmass.com

Colorado

Gunnison-Crested Butte Some of the most beautiful places on earth are lesser-known and undsiturbed.

There’s a special sense of wonder that goes along with discovering a place like this.

You feel somehow it belongs to you. You take that place with you, even when you leave. Gunnison-Crested Butte is like that. It’s a breathtakingly beautiful, luxuriously civilized place that has fortunately remained very much the same over time. Here you will find genuinely friendly and helpful locals and towns so authentic, it’s like taking a step back in time.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is known for Colorado’s best grooming, diverse terrain and off-piste skiing. And, the longest lines you’ll see are behind your skis! A true destination resort, unlike many of Colorado’s “day tripper” ski resorts, Crested Butte attracts visitors who like to come for a longer visit and get to know the place.

Winter also brings such delights as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding and snowmobiling in glistening forests and magnificent backcountry.

Getting here is easy. Leaving is much harder. Fly into the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport this ski season, 11/25/09 – 4/4/10. Visit our website for flight, lodging and package information. Experience Colorado’s true colors and inspire your passion for adventure. n Lodging: 800-323-2453

www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com

Snow Report: 970-349-2323

Ruby Mountains Helicopter Experience

Nevada

The Ruby Mountain Heli Experience is 33 years of pure mountain adventure, featuring 11,000 foot peaks, 200,000 acres of skiable terrain and impeccable wilderness skiing and snowboarding, just 20 miles east of Elko, Nevada. RMH’s central location between Utah and California, and close proximity to other western states, make it one of the United States’ most accessible heli-outfits—right in our own backyard.

RMH’s 39,000 vertical feet of skiing and riding is guaranteed, in addition to gourmet meals, beautiful lodge accommodations at historic Red’s Ranch and top-of-the-line equipment. Heated snowcats ensure terrain access, making this vacation a great fit for family, friends or business colleagues, with intermediate to expert abilities.

Safety is first priority for RMH (personal avalanche transceivers included and used on every trip). Experienced, professional guides are trained in snow, terrain, and weather, as well as emergency care. Guides serve small skier groups on three-day or oneday trips, while owners Joe and Francy Royer apply their “obsession with customer service” to every visit.

Located on I-80 between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Reno, Nevada, travel to Elko is simple via car, airplane, or train. Rental car or taxi provides easy access to dining, gaming, and entertainment. The Ruby Mountains are just a short flight away, we invite you to come experience a true backcountry skiing adventure. n Ruby Mountain Heli-Skiing, Inc., P.O. Box 281192 Lamoille, Nevada, 89828 775-753-6867 | www.helicopterskiing.com | info@helicopterskiing.com skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

37

Sun Valley

Idaho Sun Valley opens its 74th winter season on Thanksgiving Day with the debut of the new Roundhouse Gondola. The eight-passenger Doppelmayr Gondola will rise from the River Run Plaza, whisking skiers and boarders nearly 2,000 feet to the Roundhouse Restaurant mid-way up Bald Mountain. Winter vacationers in the know have been flocking to Sun Valley since 1936.

Why? For skiers and boarders it is unquestionably the Bald Mountain experience. A reputation well-earned, many proclaim Sun Valley’s signature mountain provides some of the world’s best skiing. Variety of terrain, consistent pitch, gourmet on-mountain dining and meticulously groomed slopes. Nordic skiers enjoy 25 miles of groomed terrain and a luxurious new 58,000 square ft. clubhouse that rivals any in the West. And, the Nordic experience is just one option in Sun Valley’s exclusive Lift Ticket Exchange Program.

Skiers wishing a “day off” can exchange a multiple-day lift ticket for a variety of wintertime adventures off the mountain.

Please call 800-786-8259 to find out about early and late season ski packages, kids ski free programs and special pre-holiday packages. This winter start making Sun Valley memories your family will cherish for generations. n

Colorado

Telluride

Unmatched in North America. Stashed among the highest concentration of 14,000 foot peaks in North America, breathtaking views are just a part of what makes Telluride stand out among mountain destinations. Historic buildings, quaint bakeries and local watering holes blend with world-class hotels, restaurants, shopping and spas.

After opening Revelation Bowl last winter, Telluride is thrilled to announce the opening of Gold Hill Chutes 2-5. Telluride’s incredible expansion in the past few years includes public hike-to access to Black Iron Bowl, Palmyra Peak and Gold Hill Chutes 1, 6-10. All told, the resort has expanded by nearly 400 acres, offering some of the most stunning skiing and riding on the continent.

Getting to Telluride is easy with nonstop flights from nine U.S. cities on six commercial carriers to the Telluride/Montrose airports, including direct flights on United from Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles. Once you’re here Telluride’s free Gondola is the main source of transportation between historic Telluride and European Mountain Village—no traffic or long lines, and no driving once you’ve arrived!

Touting the combination of awe-inspiring views, world-class terrain, the new Revelation Bowl and Gold Hill Chutes, and hassle-free destination, Telluride is truly unmatched in North America.

Call 800-525-3455 for Stay & Ski packages starting at $95 per person/per night*, or visit www.visittelluride.com to book your Telluride vacation today. n *(Stay & Ski packages subject to availability, blackout dates may apply, based on double occupancy, rate applies to four nights or more).

38 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Budget Friendly Vacations

This season consider the gift of travel.

Whether you want to make a lasting family memory, enjoy a romantic getaway or have a little alone time, it’s easy to find your own personal playground with a budget-friendly break. Some of America’s best places promise an unforgettable experience. Here are two of our top picks for affordable adventure.

Winter Park & The Fraser Valley, Colorado With a network of more than 600 miles of no-fee trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, Winter Park & The Fraser Valley has more budget-friendly adventures than you could explore in a year. Add in affordable lodging, great dining and a day or two of world-class skiing at Winter Park Resort and you have a getaway tailor-made for anyone looking for affordable, active fun.

For details and great deals on lodging packages visit or call: 800-979-0338 www.PlayWinterPark.com

Double Arrow Lodge – Seeley Lake, Montana Relax with a good book and a glass of wine in front of a crackling fire. Enjoy a scrumptious dinner at Seasons Restaurant. Stress melts away like the snow on your boots after a day of Nordic Skiing, snowmobiling, sleigh riding or snowshoeing. The history and tradition of our peaceful log lodge bring people back year after year. Treat yourself to a snowy mountain getaway—3-day winter packages start at $249 per person. www.doublearrowlodge.com

Holiday

Gift Idea

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Snake River Farms This holiday season, treat your friends and family to the uncompromised quality of Snake River Farms American Wagyu (Kobe) Beef and Kurobuta (Berkshire) Pork. Specially raised to be succulent in flavor and rich in marbling, Snake River Farms products are favored by the most respected restaurants around the world. The pure simplicity of these affordable luxuries is now available for your home kitchen via overnight mail. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a special gift for the food lover in your life, Snake River Farms premium roasts, steaks and specialty cuts embody the richness and flavor that create memorable eating occasions!

208-338-2632

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www. snakeriverfarms.com

skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

39

America’sB est Happenings

| November PALISADE, CO | THROUGH DECEMBER 31 Third Annual Miniature Art Show at the Blue Pig Art Gallery presents a diverse assortment of art from more than 30 local artists. Featured work ranges from oil and pastel paintings to woodcraft, jewelry and more.

WAUSAU, WI | NOVEMBER 21 – JANUARY 24 In Search of Norman Rockwell’s America explores the question: “Did Norman Rockwell paint an idealized version of the nation, or was he depicting what he really saw?”

Award-winning photojournalist Kevin Rivoli presents photographic images that provide the answer.

MISSOULA, MT | THROUGH DECEMBER 31

Minidoka On My Mind by Roger Shinomura is the artist’s fourth major painting series generated by his World War II experience in an Idaho internment camp for JapaneseAmericans. It is presented by the Missoula Art Museum.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | THROUGH JANUARY 10 Not Just a Housewife: The Changing Roles of Women in the West explores how many women pushed beyond the traditional duties of wife and mother to help shape the future, presented

by The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

NASHVILLE, TN | NOVEMBER 7 - DECember 31 A Victorian Christmas at the Belle Meade Plantation adorns the Victorian mansion—one of the grandest in Tennessee—with stunning seasonal treatments, inside and out. Built in 1853 and now situated on 30 acres it reflects the grandeur of the Antebellum Era.

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA | NOVEMBER 6 – 15 The Annual Mushroom Festival celebrates the harvest season with mushroom dinners, wine-and-beer-pairing workshops, musical performances, educational exhibits, guided mushroom foraging walks and much more.

MONTEREY, CA | NOVEMBER 13 - 15 Monterey Wine Country’s Great Wine Escape Weekend salutes Monterey County’s world-class wines and gastronomic delights.

A winemakers’ dinner and cooking classes add to the fun.

DES MOINES, IA | NOVEMBER 13 - 14 Iowa’s Premier Wine & Food Expo brings back the Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizarre Foods and welcomes the Food Network’s Duff Goldman, host of Ace of Cakes as culinary enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest explore innovative cooking techniques.

DURANGO, CO | NOVEMBER 20 – DECEMBER 28 All aboard the Durango-Silverton narrow gauge railroad for the annual holiday excursion on the Polar Express. The award-winning book comes to life during this magical journey through a Colorado winter wonderland.

RAPID CITY, SD | NOVEMBER 21 Buffalo Auction offers a glimpse of an important part of America’s heritage. The American Bison once faced extinction. Now thanks to the conservation efforts of organizations such as Custer State Park there are more than 250,000. During this annual Buffalo Auction the park sells surplus animals to the highest bidder.

BOISE, ID | NOVEMBER 25 – 29 Festival of Trees in Idaho’s capital city kicks off the holidays by filling the Grove Convention Center with lavishly decorated trees and wreathes. They’re all auctioned to benefit the local hospital but not before thousands of visitors enjoy the jolly display.

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT | Nov. 23 - 28 Yellowstone Ski Festival Kick off the winter season in West Yellowstone, Montana! Early snows, superb grooming, events for novice to expert skiers, and the annual Nordic Skiing Exposition. December brings more skiing, snow-shoeing, snowmobiling, dog sled races, and winter tours including Yellowstone Park. Call (406) 646-7701 for help in planning your winter adventure. For a full list of winter events and activities go to: www.destinationyellowstone.com

COOS BAY, OR | NOVEMBER 26 – JANUARY 1 Shore Acres Light Display includes more than a quartermillion lights illuminating the five-acre park on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. The Garden House is also decorated and open to the public each evening. Cookies, hot cider and coffee add to the celebration’s warmth.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM | NOVEMBER 27 – 29

The 10th Annual Rio Grand Arts and Crafts Festival Holiday Show remains among the Southwest’s premiere juried exhibitions of its kind. Featuring more than 200 fine artists and craftsmen, demonstrations, entertainment, children’s creative station and a holiday cookie walk.

Do you know America’s Best Places?

Vote for your favorites at

www.americasbestplaces.com 40 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

America’sB est Happenings

| December MILWAUKEE, WI | THROUGH JANUARY 11

The Captain Frederick Pabst Mansion, known for its nationally recognized holiday displays, features more than a dozen rooms decked out for the season by talented local designers. Historical exhibits and activities add to the enjoyment.

COeuR D’ALENE, ID | THROUGH DECEMBER 31

The Annual Holiday of Lights Celebration at Coeur d’Alene Resort includes the nation’s largest on-the-water holiday light show and the world’s tallest living Christmas tree, a 161foot giant twice the size of Rockefeller Center’s tannenbaum.

ASPEN, CO | Dec. 28

Dennis Basso FREESTYLE This annual Aspen Art Museum après-ski gala at the St. Regis Aspen resort is an evening of champagne, cocktails, caviar, and high fashion with Aspen’s most stylish and philanthropic crowd, all benefiting the AAM’s groundbreaking contemporary art programming.

970.925.8050 or www.aspenartmuseum.org

CHARLESTON, SC | DECEMBER 3 - 6 FestiVELO, 2009, a family-friendly weekend of bicycling near Charleston is also an opportunity to enjoy 16 all-youcan eat meals featuring regional favorites such as steamed oysters, Southern barbecue and a chocolate garden.

COLUMBUS, OH | DECEMBER 3, 10, 17 The Man Who Drew Santa Claus presented by the Echoes in Time Theatre, at the Ohio Historical Center, tells the fascinating story of the illustrator Thomas Nast who gave form to the rendition of Saint Nicholas we know and love today.

PARK CITY, UT | DECEMBER 5 Funicular Opens. With the opening of ski season at Deer Valley Mountain Resort, the new St. Regis hotel inaugurates the nation’s first ever funicular—a Swiss-style cable car that transports riders between two hotels. Gangloff of Berne, noted for Rolls Royce bodywork, designed it.

BIRMINGHAM, AL | DECEMBER 5 - 6

The Arlington Antebellum Home and Gardens with its antique furnishings and historic displays is a delight in any season but this holiday weekend is a special treat as top-notch local floral designers transform the house and grounds into images of Christmases past.

CHICAGO, IL | THROUGH DECEMBER 24

LITTLE ROCK, AR | DECEMBER 9 – 19

Christkindle Market Chicago brings the German mercantile tradition to the Windy City. Authentic food and drink add to the merriment as vendors, craftsmen and artisans fill Daley Plaza with holiday hustle and bustle.

Jingle Bell (Little) Rock enchants the whole family with seasonal tunes and carols performed by the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. The pre-performance Deck the Halls Children’s Fair is an added attraction.

BETHLEHEM, PA | DECEMBER 1

OMAHA, NE | DECEMBER 18 - 20

Moravian Singstude is a highlight of a jam-packed holiday season in America’s Christmas City. This sing-along presentation of favorite carols and Advent hymns is held in the historic Central Moravian Church.

Christmas with the Symphony conducted by Ernest Richardson. Broadway entertainers team with local talent to create a spectacular production featuring classic holiday hits, amazing vocalists and dancing Santas.

WAUSAU, WI | DECEMBER 1 – 6

GREEN BAY, WI | DECEMBER 19

Conversations with Norman Rockwell is a special presentation by Indianapolis character actor Sam Harper who brings Norman Rockwell to life at the Woodson Art Museum.

CHURUSBUSCO, IN | DECEMBER 2

WindSwept Farms Annual Christmas Open House includes a stroll through the barn for a visit with the new baby alpacas. The farm store is jammed with products made from dense alpaca wool. Visitors get a glimpse of the Andes in America’s Midwest.

The New Zoo gets in the spirit of the season with its annual Holiday-Fest. The young and young-at-heart will enjoy the holiday decorations, Christmas lights, wagon rides and breakfast with Santa.

QUEBEC, QC | DECEMBER 21 Kadou, Noëls d’ici et d’ailleurs presents traditional Christmas stories from all over the world at the Palais Montcalm, while the Strada orchestra offers a musical odyssey through songs, dance and narration.

Do you know America’s Best Places?

Survey Results at

www.americasbestplaces.com skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

41

It’s Our Journey, Too

Named Most Reliable in the Americas

by Tamara Lee

F

or the second straight year, SkyWest Airlines has earned Bombardier’s prestigious Annual Airline Reliability Performance Award.

Besides topping the CRJ100/200 product category for the Americas region, the airline also received top honors for overall dispatch reliability.

The reliability performance award recognizes the efforts of more than 10,000 team members who work together to safely complete more than 1,500 flights every day.

Reliability is what Shawn Smith, SkyWest production manager, and his Fresno-based team of SkyWest mechanics strive for on a daily basis. Smith began his SkyWest journey 10 years ago as a mechanic. Today, he combines his front-line experience and leadership

42 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

qualities as he oversees dozens of highly skilled mechanics to ensure safe, reliable aircrafts for SkyWest passengers.

“As a whole, SkyWest is very different compared to other regional airlines.

It starts with our upper management.

SkyWest puts a high value on the success of the company and the individual employees, whereas it seems that other corporations are looking only at profits,” said Smith who worked for two other regional carriers before securing his SkyWest position.

Investing in quality people who deliver exceptional results is proving to be a successful formula for SkyWest. Mike Hartline, a coordinator for SkyWest’s fleet of 228 regional jets said, “Because we have such a great management team—from the supervisors, managers and directors—the people in our department want to work harder for them.”

Smith added, “They really give mechanics the tools they need to do the job that they want to do anyway. We’re not just talking about tools to fix the aircraft; mechanics receive extensive training to familiarize themselves with the aircraft.”

The mechanics’ specialized skills help SkyWest safely fly from point A to point B—with minimal cancellations and delays. “We work hard in our department to ensure that reliability,” Smith said. “If we identify a component that has a high failure rate, we’ll target that component and the manufacturer, either through engineering to improve reliability or we’ll change it out sooner than we planned so we continue to build reliability in our program.”

Highly trained, experienced professional mechanics who thoroughly enjoy the work they do for SkyWest and its passengers day in and day out are a testament to the company’s operational excellence. This prestigious award is a huge example of the tireless efforts of the entire SkyWest team, and it speaks volumes about the reliability passengers have grown accustomed to onboard any SkyWest aircraft.

Tamara Lee is SkyWest Airline’s Corporate Communications Coordinator. n

Pictured Left to Right: Todd Young, Jeffrey T. Anderson, SkyWest President and COO Chip Childs (holding award), Bombardier representative James Hoblyn, Dale Cook, Joe Sigg, Mike Hartline, Paul Kolbenschlag, Chris Brown

skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

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Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best places Redmond \ Bend, OR

Gunnison \ Crested Butte, CO

Aspen, CO

Fresno, CA

Salt Lake City, UT

Palisade, CO

El Paso, TX

Midland \ Odessa

www.skywest.com

are off the beaten path Celebrating New Service Starting December 17, 2009 Between:

Duluth and Chicago El Paso and Los Angeles Midland \ Odessa and Denver Asheville and Chicago

Duluth, MN

Traverse City, MI

Cedar Rapids, IA

Asheville, NC

ssa, TX

www.united.com

behind the scenes

Aircraft Safety Comes First at SkyWest Airlines “Safety First” is more than a mission statement at SkyWest Airlines; it’s a way of life.

SkyWest’s impeccable safety record spans more than 35 years, beginning with the highest caliber of trained professionals and extending to a proven fleet of aircraft.

The People: Each day, thousands of SkyWest employees are responsible for the safety of hundreds of thousands of passengers. SkyWest’s experienced mechanics, pilots, flight attendants and ground personnel have the know-how and ability to keep their passengers safe.

In the Flight Deck: You also have the comfort of knowing you’re flying with some of the most experienced and thoroughly trained pilots the airline industry has to offer. It takes years of training and experience to become a commercial airline pilot, and many come to SkyWest well prepared averaging 1,500 to 2,000 hours of flight time. However, their training has just begun. Before they ever fly a passenger flight, SkyWest spends approximately $30,000 on their training which is geared towards safety.

This is a two-month process beginning with three weeks of ground school followed by 50 hours of flight simulator training. The final stage of their training is called the Initial Operating Experience, during which they actually fly one of SkyWest’s aircraft accompanied by a qualified check airman instructor for another 50 hours.

All pilots continue their training with mandatory recurrent simulator training for captains every six months and for first officers, every year. Additionally, each year both captains and first officers must participate in a two-day training session similar to ground school. All pilots are also required to undergo a comprehensive medical examination testing their vision and overall physical and mental well-being to determine if they are fit to fly for SkyWest. Captains do this every six months; first officers annually.

In the Cabin: At SkyWest, a flight attendant’s first responsibility is your safety. Like pilots, SkyWest’s in-flight team undergoes comprehensive training before they take to the skies. Each SkyWest flight attendant must complete an intense three-week training program emphasizing onboard safety and security. They are well-versed in emergency procedures,

46 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

evacuation protocol and passenger service. While at SkyWest, flight attendants continue their training throughout the year and are required to recertify in First Aid and CPR annually.

On the Ramp: SkyWest stresses safety not only in the air, but also on the ground. SkyWest trains its customer service personnel for two weeks, both in the classroom and on the job in ground safety issues. These agents become specialists in aircraft weight and balance. They know the best way to load and unload hundreds of pounds of cargo and luggage without damaging the luggage, cargo, the aircraft or injuring themselves. They are also trained to operate the various ground equipment and park the aircraft once it arrives at the gate. This navigation can often be challenging in airports with busy ramps. In colder climates, they must learn how to properly de-ice an aircraft allowing for a safe take-off and flight.

Under the Wing: For every hour one of SkyWest’s aircraft spends in flight, one of their mechanics spends two hours servicing that aircraft. SkyWest maintains a strict maintenance schedule and undoubtedly, an experienced SkyWest mechanic has recently inspected or serviced the aircraft carrying you.

All mechanics come to SkyWest with extensive training, including three years of A&P (Airframe and Power) training and certification. Also, every two years SkyWest mechanics undergo three weeks of mandatory training.

Each day, all of SkyWest’s aircraft are given attention by a mechanic. Every third day, each plane receives standard service. On the fifth day, a more thorough service and inspection is conducted. Extensive maintenance is scheduled every 54 days with a major inspection every 540 days.

Flight Control: This department consists of aircraft dispatchers, system controllers and customer service coordinators located in the Operational Control Center at SkyWest’s headquarters in St. George, Utah. All play an integral role in the airline’s operations.

SkyWest dispatch personnel undergo six weeks of intensive training courses, learning in-depth aircraft systems, meteorology and flight planning to become certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Upon arrival at SkyWest, their training continues with three weeks of classes followed by an average of eight weeks of on-the-job training, culminating with a two-day competency check.

Dispatchers are responsible for preparing the flight release, including fuel planning, route selection, Federal Aviation Regulation compliance and weather analysis, as well as monitoring flights to ensure safety. Before each aircraft leaves the runway, dispatchers and captains share responsibility for the safety of the flight.

The system controllers are responsible for all coordination, cancellation, delaying and reflow of SkyWest flights. They ensure optimum coverage of and adherence to flight schedules, economics and utilization of the operation. The customer service coordinators assist the controllers, working closely with the stations to maintain a customer service advocacy, always keeping the passenger in mind.

These highly trained individuals work with the rest of the SkyWest team to provide a safe flying experience with incomparable service and quality.

The Safety Department: SkyWest has a department wholly dedicated to the operational safety of the airline.

Its team monitors all aspects of safety and ensures that the highest standard of safety is maintained. The safety department coordinates with all the departments involved with ground and flight operations and acts as a compliance liaison between the airline and the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration. It is also responsible for the safety and well-being of all employees and equipment at the airline.

The safety department conducts internal safety audits and evaluations of all operational departments. Additionally, SkyWestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety department voluntarily participates in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP); a reporting program for pilots, flight attendants and dispatchers to flag potential safety concerns. n

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skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express |

47

crossword

Signs of

1

2

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the Season

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Solution on page 52

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10

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48

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Clues in bold correspond to a holiday theme.

ACROSS 1. ” _______ to the World . . .”

4 Master (in Africa) 9 Present 13 Ahmal’s condition 14 Sponsorship 15 On sheltered side 16 Capital of Yemen 17 Staggers 18 Old Italian money 19 Small cask 20 Covers 21 Long flat piece of timber 22 Huge appetite 24 Republic in West Africa 26 Singleton 27 Ungrammatical usage 31 “_____on Earth, goodwill to men.”

34 Fault 35 Born 36 Slender 37 Wrapper’s final act 38 “_____ of wonder . . .”

39 Night before Christmas 40 Assumed attitudes 41 Happy look 42 Perplex 44 19th Greek letter 45 Zeta Puppis star 46 Shameful expression 50 Brawny 53 “ . . . my true ______ gave to me . . .”

54 Nocturnal bird 55 12th month of the Jewish calendar 56 Long for 58 Earthen pot 59 Poi source 60 External 61 How Jack Frost leaves windows 62 Where skiers and boarders play 63 Back of the boat 64 Allow

20

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DOWN 1 Worn-out 2 Last letter of the Greek alphabet 3 Monetary unit of Japan 4 Barium sulfate 5 Neglected lawn 6 Matures 7 Naught 8 Donkey 9 Characteristically French 10 Hip bones 11 Plant having fronds 12 Wood for yachts 13 Loch 20 Queue 21 Entreaty 23 Rooster 24 Burrowing animals 25 Matterhorn’s mountain range 27 The highest degree 28 Monetary unit of Peru 29 Authenticating mark

58

30 Nothing more than 31 Common man 32 Where holiday lights hang 33 Again 34 Lawsuits 37 Commotion 38 Complacent 40 Drama 41 Having a sound mind 43 Valve monitoring liquid source 44 Saloon 46 Flutter above 47 Italian sweet 48 Little hoot 49 Delighted 50 Wagers 51 Dash 52 Continental monetary unit 53 Overdue 56 Long-leaved lettuce 57 Furrow 58 Petroleum

Do you know America’s Best Places?

Test your Travel Smarts at

www.americasbestplaces.com/magazine 48 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

WhitmanFineProperties MAROON CREEK TOWNHOME The most exquisite opportunity at the Maroon Creek Townhomes! Situated in the best location, this contemporary masterpiece enjoys dramatic views looking up Tiehack, Highlands, Aspen Mtn & other surrounding peaks. Quality of construction & custom finishes exceed any other townhome on the market. $5,495,000

SUBLIME PERFECTION The quintessential Victorian beauty of this five bedroom, six and one half bath home has been preserved on the outside, while the inside has been magnificently transformed! Expansive, chic, warm modern interiors, Aspen Mtn views and spacious outdoor patio/garden areas. Brand new private guest house. Exquisitely furnished $7,450,000

DOWNTOWN ASPEN Rare opportunity for a five bedroom home in the core that enjoys all the amenities of an estate. This spectacular property enjoys direct views of Aspen Mtn, two living areas, billiards/media room, three fireplaces and multiple decks/ patios. Garage, elevator, hot tub, luxury finishes throughout. Just steps to downtown! Offered furnished turnkey. $7,900,000

EAST ASPEN ESTATE Tranquil two acre estate overlooking Aspen’s Northstar Nature Preserve. Stacked stone exteriors, vaulted wood ceilings, hardwood floors, wraparound decks and custom furnishings make the property ultra unique. Five bedrooms and five baths all with breathtaking panoramic views. Just minutes to downtown Aspen! $6,950,000

FO

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PITKIN GREEN LUXURY Exceptional five bedroom home has been completely renovated! Expansive mountain views, wraparound decks and a huge yard. Extras include an infrared sauna, exercise room, therapeutic light tub, outdoor jacuzzi, new top of the line finishes in the kitchen and gorgeous furniture throughout!

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N RE

T

G ALENA P LACE Newly remodeled four bedroom, four and one half bath townhome located right at the base of Aspen Mountain! Gorgeous interiors with four spacious guest suites perfect for a family or guests. Extras include underground parking, elevator and airconditioning. An unbeatable location!

PENTHOUSE This three bedroom top floor layout plus bonus separate apartment has tremendous potential. Exceptional core location and views of Aspen Mountain, the living area boasts cathedral ceilings and a woodburning fireplace. Private parking, two spacious decks, garden area. An amazing value, a great rental! $2,995,000

Wendalin Whitman • Lisa Turchiarelli • Lauren Bullard • Denine Nakagawa • Charles Engelbert •Patricia Marquis • Robin Schiffman TEL 970.544.3771 • FAX 970.544.3772 • www.whitmanfineproperties.com • 210 E. HYMAN AVE., STE 101 • ASPEN, CO 81611

SkyWest Travel J a c k son H o l e , W y

J a c k son H o l e , W Y Live, Work and Play in Paradise!

SPLURGE!

3 bdrms/2.5 bath - double 20 ft. fireplace - vaulted cathedral ceilings - custom appliance upgrades granite throughout - walk-in-shower / jacuzzi tub double decks / landscaped - minutes from golf course / ski resort - 35 minutes from Jackson Hole, Wy.

November 27 - December 15 Get away before the holidays, relax, shop, and pamper yourself! Take advantage of significant discounts and packages offered from some of Jackson’s finest hotels, boutiques, and cafes!

307-733-3316 www.jacksonholechamber.com

$450,000.00 Call Today: 208-354-5400

ZION NATIONAL PARK

SOUTHERN UTAH

Best western zion park inn will provide the comfort and amenities while you enjoy the majestic beauty of Zion National Park. Restaurant, gift shop, convenience and liquor store, hot tub HSIA, Brian Head skiing one hour away. Ask for “SkyWest Package.”

Come Play in Our Back Yard! Southern Utah’s Kane County offers easier access to more national parks and monuments than any other place on earth!

We are central to Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon National Parks! Come, experience life! www.kaneutah.com

Photo: Tanya Milligan

800-934-7275

www.zionparkinn.com

Yose m i te N at i ona l P ar k

Call Yosemite West Reservations today! Centrally located between Yosemite Valley and Wawona, near Badger Pass Ski Area, Yosemite West offers rooms, condos, cabins, cottages and vacation homes, fully-furnished, each with complete kitchen, private bath, fireplace, BBQ, decks. Ideal location for exploring Yosemite National Park!

559-642-2211 YosemiteWestReservations.com

B o i se , I D To advertise in this section, call Teena Wright 208-333-9990

cottonwood grille has been rated four stars for the finest in contemporary American cuisine, and features a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. Located on the Boise River with a relaxing outdoor patio and an inviting ski-lodge feel.

208-333-9800

Do you know America’s Best Places?

Vote for your favorites at:

50 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

cottonwoodgrille.com

www.americasbestplaces.com

Route Map

Edmonton

Saskatoon Calgary Winnipeg Regina

Vancouver Kalispell

Victoria

Spokane Moses Lake

Seattle/Tacoma

Pasco/Richland/ Kennewick

Great Falls Missoula

Fargo

Bismarck

Helena Bozeman

Quebec

Billings Ottawa

Portland Cody

Redmond/Bend

Eugene

Boise

North Bend Medford

Wausau Traverse City Green Bay

Rapid City

Idaho Falls

Saginaw Milwaukee Lansing Grand Rapids Detroit Cedar Rapids Des Moines Cleveland Chicago South Bend Moline Omaha Peoria Fort Wayne Madison

Klamath Falls

Crescent City Eureka/Arcata

Appleton

Sioux Falls

Hayden/Steamboat Springs

Redding

Indianapolis

Denver Grand Junction

Sacramento Oakland San Francisco Modesto San Jose Fresno Monterey

Lincoln

Salt Lake City

Chico Reno

Montrose

Aspen Colorado Springs Gunnison

Columbus Dayton Cincinnati

White Plains

Charleston

Louisville Wichita

Durango

Scranton Allentown Pittsburgh

Lexington

Springfield

Norfolk

Las Vegas

BakersfieldInyokern San Luis Obispo Santa Maria Santa Barbara Burbank Oxnard Ontario Los Angeles Palm Springs Phoenix Orange County Carlsbad Imperial/El Centro Tucson San Diego Yuma

Tulsa

Northwest Arkansas

Oklahoma City

Albuquerque

Nashville

Knoxville

Memphis Huntsville

Little Rock

Birmingham

Dallas

Charleston

El Paso

Austin San Antonio

United - Regional Jet

Houston

United - Turbo Prop Seasonal Time Zones

Pacific

Mountain

Central

Eastern

Atlantic

8:00

9:00 (Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings)

10:00

11:00

NOON

EFFECTIVE October 2009 (may not reflect recent service updates)

RUBESŠ

By Leigh Rubin

SKYWEST AIRLINES CURRENT ROUTE MAP SEPTEMBER 2009 (updated monthly, may not reflect recent service updates)

L A K E P L E B B E T S

J A D E D E A V E E L A N

O M E G A A N E W E U R O

Y E N

B A R L I C I T O N E C E K T P O I L D N A O F Y L C O O W S

W E E D Y C A S E S R U T

A N A G I S E L S S P M A L S O L E U L P A P E S E S S R T A H A N L O V E A V E T E R E R N

Solution to Crossword on page 48 For more of Leigh Rubinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s humor check out his new, 2010 Rubes Zoo in a Box daily desk calendar, available at your favorite neighborhood or online bookstore, visit www.rubescartoons.com or call: 800-850-9453.

52 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

G A L L I C

I L I A

F E R N

T E A K

I N S T M I U G D O O L I C L E

S E A L

M E R E

O W L E T

G L A D

about your aircraft

The Aircraft galley

emergency exits

lavatory

galley

emergency exits

lavatory

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

Main entrance Main entrance

7

6

7

8

9 10 1 1

12 13

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12 13

emergency exit

galley

emergency exits

lavatory

galley

emergency exits

lavatory

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2

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8

9 10 1 1

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Main entrance

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13 14 15 16 17 18

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13 14 15 16 17 18

emergency exit

eMB 120 eMB 120

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B c

(ForWard galley)

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(ForWard galley)

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lavatory

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Main entrance

galley

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Main entrance

emergency exit

Main entrance

emergency exits

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eMB 120 (aFt galley) eMB 120

1

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6

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emergency exits

lavatory lavatory galley

a

SkyWest has safely been flying the EMB 120, commonly referred to as the “workhorse” of the regional airline industry, crJ700 since 1986. Don’t be fooled by the propellers you see; the same crJ700 technology that powers jet aircraft actually powers the EMB 120 as well. Like jet engines, the EMB 120 is powered by a gas turbine design, allowing for the superior reliability and power that jet engines enjoy. The EMB 120 is also economically sound, allowing it to serve communities that may not support jet service.

Additionally, the EMB 120 possesses state-of-the-art technology allowing for maximum passenger safety. Each SkyWest EMB 120 is equipped with a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS). GPWS is a warning system designed to alert pilots when the aircraft is not in landing configuration or is getting too close to the ground. GPWS detects terrain ahead of and below the aircraft and warns pilots when there’s an obstruction ahead.

Each EMB 120 also has an onboard Global Positioning System (GPS), which uses satellites to calculate an aircraft’s position on the earth’s surface.

Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) are also included for your safety. A more advanced radar system, TCAS in the flight deck is similar in theory to the equipment used in air traffic control towers to detect the position of all aircraft in the area.

6

5

(aFt galley) Main entrance

11

emergency exit

Main entrance

galley

11

emergency exit

a

EMB 120 AIRCRAFT

5

emergency exit

a B c dB c d

While SkyWest’s employees are truly what set the airline apart, the equipment used also plays a significant role in passenger safety. SkyWest’s fleet of 280 regional aircraft is one of the industry’s newest. The average age of an aircraft is under seven years. The fleet consists of three different aircraft types: the 30-passenger Embraer 120 Brasilia (EMB 120), thecrJ200 Bombardier crJ200 Canadair Regional Jet 200 LR (CRJ200), and the CRJ200’s sister aircraft, the Canadair Regional Jet 700 ER (CRJ700).

CRJ AIRCRAFT SkyWest has operated the 50-passenger CRJ200 since 1994.

And in 2004, SkyWest welcomed the CRJ200’s sister-aircraft, the nearly identical 66-passenger CRJ700, with a two-class cabin and United’s explusSM service.

The CRJ200 and CRJ700 offer a balance of the best economics in their class and outstanding performance with the Collins Pro Line 4 Avionics Systems. This onboard technology allows pilots to better observe the flying environment. Both regional jets have the ability to monitor performance of aircraft systems as well as track nearby aircraft and galley terrain clearances. The aircraft are also lavatory equipped with a weather radar system which helps pilots see potentially crJ200treacherous weather long before it is encountered.

Passengers can rest easy knowing that the technology onboard 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 12 13 SkyWest’s aircraft provides for a safer, smoother flying experience Main entrance emergency exits

emergency exit

for both passenger and pilot. That’s safety first! galley

galley

lavatory

emergency exits

crJ700

crJ200 6

7

8

9 10 1 1

12 13

Main entrance

2

3

4

5

6

emergency exits

7

8

9 10 1 1

1

lavatory

12 13

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8

9 10 1 1

12

A B

2

3

emergency exits

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lavatory 12 13 142 15 3 16 4 17 5 6

eMB 120

UNITED ECONOMY PLUS

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lavatory

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UNITED ECONOMY

(ForWard galley) skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express | a

galley

emergency exits

13 14 15 16 17 18

10

11

Emergency Exit

UNITED FIRST

crJ700

6

emergency exit

Main Entrance

emergency exit

5

Main entrance

emergency exit

A 1

1

B c d

Main entrance

5

galley Main entrance

53

emergency exit

a

4

B c

3

C D

2

C D

1

galley

Lavatory

lavatory

emergency exits

200

lavatory

Emergency Exits

Galley

galley

n

emergency exits

PDX

Airport Maps

Denver (DEN)

Portland (PDX)

DEN

57 59 15

17

19 21 23 25

16

18

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27 29 31 33

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CONCOURSE E 26

28

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C

CONCOURSE B

E1 D

81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 94 80 82 84 86 88 90 92

E2 E3 E4 E5 E6

B

United Gate Areas United Express (SkyWest Airlines)

E7

Ticket Lobby

A

CONCOURSE C

E

Parking

United Gate Areas

CONCOURSE B

United Express (SkyWest Airlines) CONCOURSE A

Terminal West

Terminal East

SEA

Seattle (sea)

Los Angeles (LAX) 80

71A 70A

71C-K

64

67B

68A

72 75A

Main Terminal

84 85

N1

88

SOUTH SATELLITE

N8 Parking

N7

NORTH SATELLITE

ay

TERMINAL 7

87

w

69B

76

ad

74

77

N15 N16

N10 N9

D

A

Ro

68B

TERMINAL 6

83

86 75B

69A

N11

way

2

73

N12 N13 N14

C

B

ad

66

70B

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67A 1

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N6

N2 N3

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TERMINAL 8 United Gate Areas

4

5

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8

United Express (SkyWest Airlines)

United Gate Areas

SFO

United Express (SkyWest Airlines)

ORD

Chicago/Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hare (ORD) CONCOURSE F

C

82

80

71

87A 87 85 83 81

89 Star Alliance Bus to Gates 91-102 (departs every 10 minutes during peak periods)

72 73 74 75

CONCOURSE G (Gates G91-G102 )

ne

B

K

3

1

Parking Garage LOT A

L

M Roadway

To Remote Parking

84

lO

2

86

ina

G

H

78A 77B 77A 76B 76A

90

m Ter

E

F

78B 79

TERMINAL 3 CONCOURSE F

88

CONCOURSE E

E15 E13 E14 CONCOURSE C E11 E12 E9 C2 C4 E10 E7 C1 C6 E8 C3 C8 E6 C5 C10 E4 C7 C12 E3 C9 C16 E2A C11 E2 CONCOURSE B F2 E1A C15 C18 E1 F1 B3 B4 C17 C18A B2 Terminal Two B1 B5 C20 B6 C19 C22 B7 C24 C21 B8 C26 C23 C28 C25 C30 C27 C32 B9 C29 C31 B10

F14 F12 F11 F10 F9 F8 F7 F6 F5 F4 F3

San Francisco (SFO)

United Gate Areas United Express (SkyWest Airlines)

B11 B12 B14 B15 B16 B17 B18 B19 B20 B21 B22

F

3

G

1

A

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United Gate Areas United Express (SkyWest Airlines)

54 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

68 70 69

Save up to 50 % on a United flight.

The more you fly this year, the more you can save next year.

HOW IT WORKS QUALIFYING TRIPS †

1 2 3 4 5 6+

% DISCOUNT E-CERTIFICATE

5% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

• Save from 5% to 50% on next year’s travel.* • Use your business travel to save on your vacation.

• Start earning your savings as soon as you book and fly.

Visit united.com/savemore now to learn more or to register.

†To qualify for this offer, members must register, then purchase and complete at least one paid, qualifying roundtrip flight on United ® or United Express ® operated flights within the following ticketing and travel periods. For this offer, roundtrip travel is defined as two each-way segments with outbound travel from an origin city to a destination city and return travel from the original destination city to the original departure city. All segments must be on United or United Express, booked under one reservation and on one ticket. Open jaw and circle trips do not qualify. Offer valid for members residing in the U.S. (including Hawaii), Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ticketing period: September 14 - December 31, 2009. Travel period: September 14 - December 31, 2009.

Not combinable with other noncombinable offers. Registration requirement: Registration is required anytime prior to travel, or within 30 days after travel, but must be completed by December 31, 2009 in order to qualify for the program. Passenger must be a member of United’s Mileage Plus® frequent flyer program in order for travel to qualify for this offer. Flights must be credited to the member’s Mileage Plus account in order to qualify. Offer valid on all paid, published fares in United First,® United Business® and United Economy.® Not valid on government fares. *E-certificate is valid for travel between February 1, 2010 and May 31, 2010. Some blackout dates may apply. E-certificates will be emailed 4-6 weeks after the offer period ends, to the email address associated with the Mileage Plus account at the time of mailing. E-certificate is valid for travel within the United States, or between the United States and Canada, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands. Valid for travel on United- and United Express - operated flights only. Not valid on United-marketed code-share flights operated by other carriers. Miles accrued, awards issued and bonus offers are subject to the rules of the United Mileage Plus program. The Mileage Plus program, including accruals, awards and bonus miles offers, is subject to change without notice. Taxes and fees related to award travel are the responsibility of the passenger. United and Mileage Plus are registered service marks. For complete details about the Mileage Plus program, visit the Mileage Plus section of united.com. Offer subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. (MPD579) ©2009 United Air Lines, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

| Parting Shot

Test Your Travel Smarts

Can you identify this impressive location?

Need a hint?

If you’re among the first three readers to correctly identify the location pictured above, we’ll send you the recently released deluxe edition of the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life.

To win, visit americasbestplaces.com and be among the first three visitors to register the correct answer to this Travel Challenge. If you are successful we’ll send you the It’s a Wonderful Life DVD gift set, including a two-disc Collector’s Edition DVD with a beautifully colorized version of the film and the original fully restored black-and-white movie. The documentary The Making of It’s a Wonderful Life and a special tribute to Frank Capra are also included. Happy Holidays!

56 | skyWest Magazine November/December 2009 united express

Movie Box: TM, ® & Copyright © 2008 by Paramount Pictures

It’s just 60 miles from one of the SkyWest destinations featured in this edition of the magazine.

While you’re contemplating the possibilities, also consider the wonders of regional air travel.

Service to our nation’s mid-sized cities and small-resort markets make it easy to embark on extraordinary adventures. Exploring new places adds so much to a rich and full life. Where have your travels taken you? Share your experiences at www.americasbestplaces.com. The top entries will be included in the lavish picture book America’s Best Places 2010. While you’re at the site, check your answer. n

Aspen’s best locations, at some of its very best prices.

NEW LISTING

Aspen’s Majestic Mountain Home Enjoy all that Aspen has to offer year-round in this impressive 5-bedroom home. Features include a dramatic back yard waterfall and endless views from an elevated hot tub and patio. Five minutes to the downtown core or easy access to skier shuttles. Easy & liveable floor plan with one -level living & master bedroom on main floor, top-floor guest suite, and lower level game & media rooms.

Stunning great room, dining room area with spectacular patio and decks; ideal for entertaining or quiet family BBQ. $6,995,000

NEW LISTING

Mountain Contemporary

Deluxe Duplex

Premier Corner Lot

Fractional Ownership

Over 3,700 sq. ft. of living space in Aspen’s exclusive West End. Views of Aspen Mountain, gracious floor plan with hardwood floors, wood-burning fireplace, office, multiple living/media areas and garage. $4,200,000

Warm and inviting new listing! At over 3,400 sq. ft., this 4 bd/ 4.5 ba is classic in style, with wonderful entertaining space, and a private & pleasant setting. Surprising views, large yard, firepit, & 2 car garage. It is priced to sell at $3,900,000.

Desirable 6,000 sq. ft. in the West End. Great views, location, and opportunity. Build your personal residence as a single family home or a duplex development. Current duplex home on site is 6 bedrooms/5 baths. $4,200,000 $3,800,000

The Residences at the Little Nell, St. Regis Club, Ritz-Carlton Club and Hyatt Grand Aspen offer extensive vacation ownership options.

Membership provides access to these exclusive Aspen properties as well as access to other coveted destinations.

Starting at $129,000

TRACY HAISFIELD EGGLESTON

BUBBA EGGLESTON

970-948-7130 tracyaspen@yahoo.com www.tracyaspen.com

970-309-9291 bubbaegg@yahoo.com www.bubbaaspen.com

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