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Show 12 THE SIGNPOST WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 Yurt reborn in high country Outdoor Program rebuilds `outdoor classroom' By Dakota Hyde ment. The funds helped the price of a day pass to correspondent I The Signpost to obtain necessary yurt a resort," Bauter said. components, which were Reservations to rent Weber State Univer- then assembled by mem- the yurt will be taken sity students will soon be bers of the Outdoor Pro- starting Nov. 1 for interable to utilize a new yurt gram staff. The materials, ested student groups and installed in Bloomington purchased from a Wash- the general public. The Canyon by WSU's Out- ington-based company WSU Outdoor Program specializing in yurts, in- also coordinates severdoor Program. Nestled in a grove of cluded wood lattice struc- al student trips offered quaking aspens, the per- turing and a durable woven throughout the ski season.These trips are ofmanent tent-like struc- canvas covering. According to Turner, fered on the weekends of ture lies at 7,619 feet on a ridgeline of Bloomington the yurt can be shared Martin Luther King Day Canyon in the Bear Lake by 12 individuals and is and President's Day. "The rate for stuValley, approximately 108 equipped with a woodmiles from WSU's campus. burning stove, gas cook dents is unreal," Nguyen said. "Students can rent "Opening the front stove and kitchenware. "It's another way to the yurt for $75 a night. door and seeing the mountains in your face, survive the winter," said That's $6.25 apiece." This gives people the it's like 'boom," said Ben Tim Nguyen, assistant coordinator of the Outopportunity to get out Bauter, a trip coordinator for the Outdoor Program. door Program. "People and enjoy the outdoors "You open the door to say they hate winters out during the winter, and here, but you need to em- most people aren't used paradise." to that. The current yurt re- brace it." Turner said the yurt is "It's a beauty you don't placed an original structure that was built in the most easily accessed by normally get to experiearly 1990s by local out- snowmobile, but can also ence," Bauter said. The yurt is only one of door enthusiasts. After be accessed via touring changing hands several skis or snowshoes. Within many outdoor activities times, the permit to op- 15 minutes of the yurt, the Outdoor Program oferate the yurt, which is the surrounding area of- fers to students. These on Forest Service land, fers diverse terrain with opportunities are defell into the hands of the 30-35 degree slopes and signed to teach students WSU Outdoor Program, areas of 800-900 vertical new skills and gain valuable experiences. which jumped at the op- feet of skiing. Students in an annuFor more information, portunity to have such an al cross-country skiing students can contact the asset for students. "In essence, it's an out- class taught at WSU make WSU Outdoor Program at door classroom," said Dan- trips to the yurt every 801-626-6373 or online iel Turner, coordinator for winter to experience all it at www.weber.edu/outhas to offer. door. the Outdoor Program. "With the yurt, you can The new yurt was in part funded by student fees get a whole weekend of Comment on this story at through a one-time allot- backcountry (skiing) for wsusignpost.com . SOURCE: DANIEL TURNER Above: A member of WSU's Outdoor Program works in the skeleton of WSU's new yurt in Bloomington Canyon. The Outdoor Program will start taking reservations for the yurt Nov. 1. Below: The former yurt is enveloped in snow last winter. A presentation by Floyd Norris Chief Financial Correspondent, The New York Times Photo cred it: FredR. Co nrad/The New Yo rk Times THURSDAY, OCT. 27, 2011 Noon -1 p.m. Weber State University at the Wattis Business Building Smith Lecture Hall Room 206/207 Reception to Follow ADMISSION IS FREE Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics and the Ralph Nye Lecture Series )0 y c. GODDARD SCHOOL O BUSIN ESt'sigc kaffillittr 1r Xeto pork Mao COLLEGE |