Bicycles not tar sands group ride in the Book Cliffs
Bicycles not tar sands group ride in the Book Cliffs
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Bicycles not tar sands group ride in the Book Cliffs
Bicycles not tar sands group ride in the Book Cliffs. Sunset at Willow Creek Overlook, Seep Ridge Road.
Bicycles not tar sands group ride in the Book Cliffs
Group bike ride in the Book Cliffs
Bicycles not tar sands group ride in the Book Cliffs
Bike Riders near Red Leaf Resources oil shale strip mine near Indian Canyon.
Bike Ride camp site near Red Leaf Resources oil shale strip mine near Indian Canyon.
Bicycles not tar sands group ride in the Book Cliffs
September 1-3 2018 Bicycles Not Tar Sands!
The 2018 Bike ride was a great success.
Join Utah Tar Sands Resistance for a resilience bike ride in the beautiful Book Cliffs of Utah. The Bicycles Not Tar Sands bike ride is on the Tavaputs Plateau within the Ute nation’s Uncompahgre reservation boundaries.
For a total ride of approx 40 miles over 2 days we will travel on Seep Ridge Road a nearly empty highway through highly scenic nature and desert beauty threatened by strip mining.
Starting at the “Horn” overlooking, US Oil Sands bankrupt tar sands operation, we will depart at 1pm on Saturday September 1st.
We start the bike ride at the “Horn” an 8000 feet elevation.
This is about the highest point on the Tavaputs plateau. From here we will head down hill to the site of Red Leaf Resources failed oil shale project and camp out near by. These 2 failing mine sites show a small sample of the history of speculation and bust and boom scams that are the legacy of strip-mining in this area.
Day one is approximately 18 miles, mostly downhill.
On day 2 we continue down the “road to nowhere” and stop at the Green River overlook (12 miles) for lunch and hiking. We will continue after lunch down to Willow Creek Overlook (10 miles) for our second night.
UTSR will provide transportation for your gear and food from stop to stop and we will bring water and support vehicles plus trailer to return folks and bikes to the horn on Monday morning. Folks can arrive on Friday night and visit the vigil or sleep at the horn or folks can arrive on Saturday morning up until we depart at 1pm.
Seep ridge road was built at great tax payer expense
After years of lobbying from tar sands and oil shale development companies. The 45 mile road cost a total of $86.5 million. The road is of very high load standards and is actually a higher quality road than Utah hwy 40 however there is very little traffic or use of the road. It provides a very smooth traveling road for bicycles through an amazing scenic plateau known as the Eastern Tavaputs. Many of Utah’s politicians, SITLA, Uintah county leaders and the federal department of Energy have all labeled this area an “energy sacrifice zone” and attempt to take this land from the Utes.
Tar sands and oil shale must be left in the ground. The cost is too high. The water is not available and the infrastructure resources are best used for more practical projects. How much bicycle or pedestrian roads could be added for $86.5 million? Bicycles not Tar Sands!
The Bicycles Not Tar Sands bike ride is within the boundaries of the Ute Tribe’s Uncompahgre Reservation. UTSR does not protest against the Ute Indian Tribe. We do not protest the Ute’s involvement with natural resource development or any use of their land as a sovereign nation. UTSR recognizes Ute tribal sovereignty, further more, we support that all lands within the Uncompahgre reservation be restored to the ownership and control of the Ute people as their sovereign land.
For more information or if you would like to volunteer to help organize this event contact: UtahTarSandsResistance@gmail.com
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PAST events
June 22-24 2018 The Inter-Generational Camp Out
Youth protesters at Red Leaf Resources oil shale strip mine near Indian Canyon.
The inter-generational camp out brings together all ages for fun and learning geared to include hildren.
There will be guided hikes, and other activities, community meals, tours and information about the area. For more information or to volunteer for this event contact:
UtahTarSandsResistance@gmail.com
Youth at Inter-generational camp out marching to Red Leaf resources offices at oil shale strip mine.
June 9-11 2017 5th annual Inter-generational “Family Camp out”
This year we look forward to celebrating 5 years running of families returning to enjoy and protect the spectacular wilderness at PR Springs.
Inter-Generational camp out at PR Springs in area leased for Strip Mining.
The inter generational family camp out brings together all ages for fun and learning geared to include children.
We will provide a group dinner on Friday and Saturday night and breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday morning. Please bring your own lunches and snacks. There is fresh spring water from pr spring.
We will plant native seeds in an unreclaimed disturbed area and explore the amazing biodiversity of the tavaputs plateau.
Witness the Waters July 8-16th 2016
PR Springs Utah is a magical place with abundant water and life. The state of Utah has declared the area to be without water and therefore safe for unfettered tar sands strip mining. Utah Tar Sands resistance will host “Witness the Waters” a celebration of water and protest of Utah’s corrupt regulation system. The fact is US Oil Sands, and the State of Utah are lying about the existence of water at PR Springs.
We will honor, investigate and document the naturally occurring water at the numerous springs, seeps and rivers in the area.
Come and see for yourself and learn more about the threat of tar sands mining and why we fight.
Bring your own tent, sleeping gear and some food. We have a community kitchen. There is potable spring water. We will provide tours and information about the area, the threat of tar sands and the status of the US Oil Sands mine.
2016 brings new opportunities to continue our resistance by keeping up the pressure to restore this land and its precious ecosystems during this so called “slow down” for US Oil Sands and Red Leaf as well. We will return to PR Springs this Spring to begin the next chapter in this struggle.
We will hold our 4th annual intergenerational family camp out on June 10-12 2016 at PR Springs. This event brings together all ages for direct action and learning geared to include children. We have seen over the years that adults have a lot to learn from the children who attend. This year we will focus our efforts on documenting the status of the site and plans for reclamation and protection from further environmental damage during any inactive or ‘slowdown periods’ at the PR Springs mine site. The nearby Bryson 4 mine abandoned in the 1980’s shows us that now is the time to secure a clean up plan before US Oil Sands goes belly up and joins the long list of failed projects in this amazing area.
Join us for a fun-filled weekend for people of all ages! There will be guided hikes and other activities, community meals, and a great community of people concerned about the future of our world. More info coming soon. Please email tarsandsresist@riseup.net if you plan on attending.
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