Scouts in the Vernal area of the High Uintah District are gearing up for their annual Klondike Derby with a few changes from the usual event. The annual event has typically been held at the James Bacon Memorial Park but thanks to last year’s heavy winter snow, the venue is not an option for this year’s Klondike. When volunteers arrived at the Bacon Park a year ago to scout out conditions, they discovered that the four large pavilions had buckled under the weight of the heavy, saturated snow. The large picnic tables under the collapsed pavilions were also a total loss. As a result, this year’s Klondike is being held at Steinaker State Park where ice fishing, sled racing, fire starting, and scouting fun is on the agenda. For anyone concerned about the ice conditions on Steinaker, the park management has assured that safety is a top priority. Steinaker State Park Assistant Manager Josh Hansen says that if it keeps freezing at night the ice should be okay but regardless, conditions will continue to be monitored.
