Tourism is slowing down in Baker, but it’s a month of great events!
Snake Valley Festival
September kicks off with the Snake Valley Festival through September 3.
Highlights on September 1 include a pancake breakfast at Kerouac’s, community yard sale, silent auction, booths, book sale, bake sale, free entertainment, free kids games, free water fight, parade, lunch by Salt & Sucre, and beer tasting at The Whispering Elms. Sunday, September 2 will feature the Snake Valley Slither, a 5k/10k trail run/walk, a breakfast buffet at the Border Inn, a traditional BBQ dinner at the Baker Ranch cook house, and a dance at the Border Inn. Monday ends the festival with a Farmer’s Market next to the Church. Money raised during the Festival supports the Great Basin Water Network, which is working to help keep Snake Valley’s water in Snake Valley.
Astronomy Festival
The new moon is September 9, perfect timing for the September 6-8 Astronomy Festival at Great Basin National Park. Astronomers from many states come with their telescopes, making it a super opportunity to view the distant worlds from some of the darkest night skies in the country. Telescope viewing starts at 7:30 p.m. each night in the picnic area near the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Special events will be at 6:30 p.m.: on Thursday, the annual Ranger Talent Show; on Friday, keynote speaker, Dr. John Barentine, Director of Public Policy for the International Dark Sky Association; and on Saturday, PhD candidate Greg Furlich from the University of Utah. Greg will discuss high level physics and the cosmic ray observatory in Delta, UT. He will also be staffing a display table on Saturday afternoon, using a cloud chamber to demonstrate the condensation trails left behind from ionizing particles. Learn more at the event website.
Horseshoe Tournament
Like to pitch horseshoes? The Whispering Elms is ready for you! Sign up for the 13th Horseshoe Tournament on Saturday, September 15. Teams will compete for cash prizes and trophies. They will have a raffle with lots of great prizes, plus food is free for tournament players and available for a low cost to spectators.
First Day of Fall
September 21 is the first day of autumn. Snow sometimes come in September to the higher elevations, making for some dramatic contrasts. The aspens in the high country, particularly near Bald Mountain and the Wheeler Peak Campground, turn an array of colors from yellow to red. For a short hike, take the handicapped-accessible Sky Islands Forest Trail at the end of the Scenic Drive. It starts at the same trailhead as the Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes trails, but is just 0.4 miles long. Special decking material makes it accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. On cold mornings, you might even be able to see a little ice clinging along the edge of the creek. Hurray for cooler temps!
— Gretchen Baker
Don’t miss Gretchen’s marvelous outdoor adventure blog, Desert Survivor.
