Community fun the focus of 2023 City events

Eagle Mountain City is known for its free, family-friendly events. In addition, the City Events department is regularly recognized for providing award-winning, all-inclusive adaptive events programming. That trend is expected to continue in 2023.

The annual Easter Egg Hunt, Community Clean-Up, movies in the park, Summer Concert, Summer Bash & Laser Show, Ties and Tiaras, Halloween Town & Drive-In Movie, Adaptive Trick-or-Treat, Turkey Trot, Santa Parade, Christmas Village and Silent Santa are once again planned.

The City’s annual Pony Express Days celebration will also be held again this year the week of Memorial Day.

The free, Family Fun Night event during Pony Express Days includes a dozen inflatable attractions, Touch-A-Truck and food trucks. Residents can attending this event to play games at the vendor booths.

The remaining three-day Pony Express Days carnival will include a vendor boutique, concert in the park, local talent showcase, food vendors, grand parade and fireworks display.

Dawn Hancock, Eagle Mountain special events manager, says the City is very excited for the coming events season.  

“The City strives to provide activities that fit the needs of all those in our community,” says Hancock.

Here are the tentative dates for the 2023 Eagle Mountain City Special Events season:

  • April 1 – Easter Egg Hunt
  • April 20-24 – Spring Dumpsters Available
  • April 22 – Community Clean-up effort
  • May 29 – Memorial Day Ceremony
  • May 31 – Family Fun Night
  • June 1-3– Pony Express Days
  • June 3 – Grand Parade
  • June 3 – Demolition Derby
  • June 3 – Fireworks Display
  • June 8-10 – PRCA Rodeo
  • June 23 – Movie in the Park
  • July 8 – Summer Concert
  • July 14 – Movie in the Park
  • July 29 – Summer Bash & Laser Show
  • Aug. 4 – Movie in the Park
  • Sept. 9 – Ties & Tiaras
  • Sept. 7-11 – Fall Dumpsters Available
  • Oct. 7 – Halloween Town & Hocus Pocus
  • Oct. 14 – Adaptive Trick-or-Treat
  • Nov. 11 – Veterans Breakfast
  • Nov. 23 – Turkey Trot
  • Dec. 2 – Santa Parade & Christmas Village
  • Dec. 6 – Angel Garden Ceremony
  • Dec. 9 – Silent Santa

More information will be forthcoming for each event.

Additional information can be found on the Eagle Mountain City website Events Page.

Information will also be posted on City social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as event dates draw near.

All dates are subject to change.

Precipitation on track to exceed monthly average

With heavy winter storms all across the western United States, Utah has seen one of its wettest winters in 50 years. December 2022 ranked 6th in Utah’s history for snowfall.

In the new year, the precipitation hasn’t stopped – though warmer temperatures have meant rain rather than snow. The weather station at the Salt Lake City Airport has recorded 2.27 inches of rain to date this month.

Through partnership with Utah State University, Eagle Mountain has two weather stations of its own, one located in the Ranches and one in City Center. These weather stations are capable of recording current temperature, wind speed and direction, precipitation, dew point, humidity, and solar radiation.

To date this month, these weather stations have recorded an average of 2.28 inches of rainfall for Eagle Mountain. The average amount of precipitation (snow or rain) for Eagle Mountain in January is 3.75 inches, meaning that total rainfall this month will likely exceed the average.

In some areas of the state, increased rainfall has caused some flooding. Made worse by melted snow, rain water has poured into several homes and closed a dog park in the Draper area.

While Eagle Mountain homes and parks have been safe from flooding, some road maintenance projects have been delayed due to rainy conditions.

Rain and snow are expected periodically throughout the next several days, and Eagle Mountain City will be sure to keep residents updated on any changes that need to be made to road maintenance schedules.

Residents who notice roads that in need of maintenance are encouraged to create a request with the City’s Resident Portal.

Winter storms cause delays for local road upkeep

Recent storms have taken a toll on some of Eagle Mountain’s dirt and gravel roads — including unpaved portions of Lake Mountain Road.

If motorists have traveled this area, it’s likely some damage, such as potholes, has been observed.

Eagle Mountain City’s Streets Department is aware of these issues, and crews are currently attempting to remedy the situation between winter storms.

Sustained rain and snowfall have made it difficult to make repairs to Lake Mountain Road. The City’s Streets department is asking for patience from residents while work is ongoing to remove standing water, grade in certain areas and repair potholes.

Zac Hilton, Eagle Mountain Streets Department manager, says the City is waiting for conditions to change.

“The repairs will take place as soon as weather allows,” says Hilton.

Not only has recent weather impacted maintenance to Lake Mountain Road, but the moisture has also delayed re-painting efforts on certain sections of Eagle Mountain Boulevard. That work has been rescheduled to next week.

Flooding was also reported in the roadway following heavy rains this week.

Eagle Mountain City Storm Water Supervisor Larry Diamond says that is something the City wants to respond to right away.

“Flooding should be reported, as well as calls for sandbags, which the City has on hand to mitigate or prevent flooding, on our Eagle Mountain City Emergency Hotline (801) 789-5959, option 4,” says Diamond.

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, the City’s Streets Department was able to perform some grading on Lake Mountain Road. Crews are hoping to make further restoration progress this week to coincide with a break in the precipitation.

For some time, residents who live along, or frequently use, Lake Mountain Road have indicated their interest in learning when the road will be fully paved.

Eagle Mountain City does not currently have plans for improvements to Lake Mountain Road in its Transportation Master Plan.

The City recognizes that many factors, including new development, discussions with the Unified Fire Authority and communication with residents, will be weighed in future considerations for improvements.

Given the complexity of land ownership between Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and private individuals and entities, the City anticipates those considerations will require significant time and planning before any action is taken.

Funding of further improvements to the roadway has also proven difficult without the application of impact fees to fund construction.

Meanwhile, Eagle Mountain City is making every effort to keep up with the impact of recent winter storms on local roadways.

The City encourages residents to report potholes and similar road issues on the brand-new Resident Portal.

Proposed Lower Hidden Valley site reviewed for development amendments

An action item that came before the Eagle Mountain City Planning Commission this week is generating a response from affected residents.   

The proposal amends the Lower Hidden Valley Master Development Plan in preparation for the construction of new residential dwelling units near Hidden Hollow Elementary School. The land developer hopes to begin construction as early as May or June of this year. 

Several residents have communicated their concerns regarding what this development means for some of the community’s hiking and mountain biking trails, as well as the City’s wildlife migration corridor.    

The proposal under consideration   

Before construction can begin, the land developer, Perry Homes, has indicated an interest in adjusting the location and the density of some of the housing within the development proposal.    

While the project originally included a proposal for a variety of multi-family units, the amendment that was under consideration at this week’s Planning Commission meeting proposes the prioritization of single-family homes over multi-family complexes.  

The amendment also makes some accommodations, at the City’s request, to generally maintain the City’s wildlife migration corridor.    

Eagle Mountain City accommodated development plans years ago   

In 2011, Eagle Mountain City and OMR Investments completed signing a Master Development Agreement (MDA) that allowed Perry Homes to construct 1,256 residential dwellings, including a mix of housing types and densities, in the Lower Hidden Valley area.  

Vested rights  

Developers were granted “vested rights,” which allow the land to be developed anytime the developer decides to move forward with a development project, despite future changes to City ordinances.    

According to Cornell University Law School, a vested right is “an absolute right or title to something, to be enjoyed either now or in the future.”    

Eagle Mountain City Community Development Director Steve Mumford says the 2011 Master Development Agreement solidified building in the area.  

“[The MDA] gave [developers] the right to develop their property with what was approved including the road locations, the types of development, the type and number of units and the open space areas where they’re shown,” says Mumford. 

The impact on hiking and mountain biking trails

While the land has remained undeveloped, several trails have been constructed on the property intended for development that have become very popular among residents and visitors for hiking, trail running and mountain biking.  

One resident shared data at this week’s Planning Commission meeting suggesting that, according to the Trailforks App, Eagle Mountain has four mountain bike trails in the top 1,000 trails in the world, and that the Deadwood trail, located further up the hill, is ranked as #567 globally.     

Because many of these trails were built on private property, most of the trails will need to be relocated or removed when the property owner uses their property rights to develop. 

Portions of the trails, however, have been constructed on undevelopable land and will likely not be affected because of the slope of the hill and Eagle Mountain’s ridgeline protection ordinance.  

Mumford says that whether the new proposal is approved, or the existing “vested” project is constructed, the City and the mountain biking community are working to find suitable locations to relocate and preserve many of the trails so they remain accessible to residents and visitors. 

“I consider myself part of the mountain bike community,” says Mumford. “I’ve ridden these trails many times and would hate to see them disappear. I also understand that the property owner has rights and that the trails were created without his permission. I’m hopeful that we can work together with the land developer to relocate and preserve as many of these trails as possible while still allowing development of his land.”  

The impact on wildlife   

When the Master Development Agreement was approved in 2011, there were not yet plans to preserve space for the wildlife migration corridor.  

The proposed amendment to the MDA would make some accommodations for the wildlife corridor by providing fencing and a wildlife passage area within the development.  

The Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance presented an alternative plan for the wildlife corridor at the Planning Commission meeting, which included preserving a 38.5-acre City-owned parcel for a bike park and the wildlife.  

Todd Black, Eagle Mountain City Wildlife Biologist, has been working with the Eagle Mountain Wildlife Alliance and appreciates the developer’s willingness to work with the City to preserve the corridor. He looks forward to adding wildlife fencing and making improvements for the wildlife as soon as possible.  

“I think this plan is a win for the wildlife,” says Black.  

City staff have been working closely with the developer and wildlife experts to maintain the safest passage possible for wildlife to travel through the area intended for development.  

Robert Hobbs, Planning Manager with Eagle Mountain City, says talks have been productive with the developer. 

“The City has been trying to lobby the developer to provide the wildlife corridor some fencing and make sure we have correct access points on Pony Express [Parkway] and a way for deer to cross,” says Hobbs. 

City-owned parcel up for debate   

Eagle Mountain City owns a 38-acre parcel situated near the proposed development. The parcel was acquired by the City years ago through the payment of back property taxes (Special Improvement District taxes).  

What will be done with the land will be under consideration by the City Council in the near future. They will decide whether to preserve the parcel for open space and recreation, or to sell or trade a portion of the parcel to the developer. This would increase the number of single-family homes and reduce the multi-family buildings.

If the 38-acre parcel is developed, only a portion would be built-out due to the slopes of the geography and its potential conflict with the City’s hillside development standards.  

While they indicated an appreciation of the efforts made to protect the wildlife corridor and the reduction of multi-family units, the Eagle Mountain Planning Commission ultimately recommended denial (4-0) of the developer’s proposed amendments to the project on Tuesday night.  

The proposal is anticipated to be reviewed by the City Council in February.  

Mule deer habitat remains diverse

What constitutes mule deer habitat?

Mule deer are adaptable to different food sources and living in different environments.

If you asked mule deer biologists in the Sonoran Desert, they would tell you something completely different than someone in the panhandle of Idaho. As would someone from the Arizona strip, the Badlands of Montana/North Dakota, the Sandhills of Nebraska, or the Wasatch Front of Utah. 

These are all areas where mule deer live. They all have very different habitats. So how is it that a species which seems to be in trouble from a habitat standpoint can live in these vastly different, ecologically diverse areas?

In general, mule deer are a very adaptable species in their distribution across the west. We can find them in 18 different states, four Canadian provinces and in Mexico. The habitat they use spans seven different eco-regions. 

They have been documented eating hundreds of different plants and plant parts such as cactus, bark, fruit, vegetables, grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees. They can find thermal and escape cover in grasslands, sagebrush, rocks, thickets of brush and trees, and in back yards. 

As such, a mule deer’s habitat in-and-around Eagle Mountain is limited. Houses are not habitats, but yards, gardens and open space can be. Therefore, a habitat on a small and fragmented scale has been created in the city.

There are several areas where we have year-round residents who have adapted nicely to eating and living among homes and people. They seem to do well at navigating within these neighborhoods. This is a greater problem along much of the Wasatch front where you have year-round resident urban mule deer populations.

Ideally, mule deer around Eagle Mountain should migrate from the Oquirrh Mountains and Camp Williams through the city south to the Lake Mountains.

Mule deer habitats must consist of three important components: food, water and cover/shelter. 

How the food, water and cover is arranged on the landscape; what is adjacent to it; how far away are they from each other; and what condition each of the three are in are all equally important.

Arguably, the most critical component of mule deer habitat is food.

Mule deer can make it without water for a few days. Much of their water can be gleaned from the food they eat. We know that cover can be in a wide-open field if needed. What, then, constitutes mule deer food?

It has been demonstrated through studies that mule deer need, and do best with, food that is high in protein, easily digestible and readily available. Again, this varies from place to place but most of these groceries can be considered, or are found in, areas where plant communities are in an early successional stage.


In Eagle Mountain, a plethora of green groceries (grasses and forbs) that are high in nutrients, easy to digest, very accessible and perfect for what mule deer locate are found. They are a much-needed resource for does, fawns and bucks to grow antlers. Across the west, too many of the vegetative communities have reached climax stage where there’s no overgrown revegetation.

Once vegetative communities reach climax stage, they are not very good for mule deer or many other species other than from a cover standpoint. Additionally, they become vulnerable to catastrophic fire where large tracks of land are burned.

Wildlife agencies can’t continue status quo with our mule deer habitat. It’s not good for mule deer for so much of the habitat to reach climax stage. There needs to be diversity and many different successional stages found across the landscape. 

Close work must be conducted with our land managers who can slowly start to identify issues, define goals, objectives, and implement actions and strategies to make changes. These changes will take time and even longer to see changes in mule deer numbers. 

Next time you are out in your neck of the woods, ask yourself what is missing from this particular mule deer habitat? What was once here in abundance that is not there now? What are the causes of this change? What can be done to improve the situation? 

Only by understanding what the needs are and what can be done from a practical standpoint can we work to really improve, restore, and conserve mule deer habitats.

Eagle Mountain City prepares for 2023 road construction projects

Eagle Mountain’s population has reported strong growth in recent years. This has put pressure on the city’s current road infrastructure. To keep up with traffic demands, Eagle Mountain City engineers have planned several road projects for the spring, summer and fall of 2023.

Here is a quick glimpse into what changes residents can expect this year:

Traffic light at Major St. and Eagle Mountain Blvd.

Traffic at the intersection of Major Street and Eagle Mountain Boulevard near the skate park is currently mediated by a four-way stop sign. Before the end of 2023, the City plans to install a traffic light at this intersection to help residents safely navigate in and out of the Autumn Ridge neighborhood and toward Mountain Trails Elementary.

Traffic light and intersection reconfiguration at Eagle Mountain Blvd. and Pony Express Pkwy.

In addition to the traffic light at Major Street and Eagle Mountain Boulevard, the City plans to reconfigure the intersection between Eagle Mountain Boulevard and Pony Express Parkway. The roundabout that currently stands at this intersection will be removed and replaced with a traffic signal. This project will be combined with the Major St/Eagle Mountain Blvd traffic signal project and will be completed before year’s end. The estimated combined cost of both projects is $1.75 M.

Traffic light at Pony Express Pkwy. and Woodhaven Blvd.

Commuters trying to enter and exit the Silverlake neighborhood via Woodhaven Boulevard must currently yield to heavy traffic on Pony Express Parkway. To mitigate this, the City will also be installing a traffic signal at this intersection. This project is estimated to be completed by the end of the 2023 calendar year.

Traffic light at Ranches Pkwy. and Stonebridge Ln.

The City will install a traffic signal at the corner of Ranches Parkway and Stonebridge Lane. This will allow for smoother access to Rockwell Charter High School and other recently-opened establishments such as Tagg-N-Go Car Wash and Inquisitive Minds Montessori School.

Lengthen left turn lane from eastbound Pony Express Pkwy. to NB Ranches Pkwy.

Commuters who turn left on to Ranches Parkway from eastbound Pony Express Parkway may have noticed traffic back up with other commuters making the same turn. The City has plans to lengthen the left turn lane to allow more space for motorists to wait at the traffic light. This project will be completed in conjunction with the traffic lights at Pony Express and Woodhaven and at Ranches Pkwy and Stonebridge Ln. The estimated total cost for all three projects is $750,000. All three are expected to be completed within the 2023 calendar year.

Widening of eastbound Mid Valley Rd. from Sheps Ridge Ln. to Pony Express Pkwy.

Eagle Mountain City will be widening Mid Valley Road to a five-lane section, which will ease traffic in front of Frontier Middle School. This project is estimated to cost $1.3 M and is expected to be completed by September 2023.

Eagle Mountain City has several plans to ease traffic congestion throughout the City as its population grows. Read more about these plans in the Transportation Master Plan.

Update 4/27/23: The intersection reconfiguration at Pony Express Pkwy and Eagle Mountain Blvd has be postponed and will not be completed in 2023. A timeline for completion is not yet available.

New Year, new tips for exercising outdoors in the winter

Most runners want to know when it is too cold to run outside. There are no clear-cut rules under which all experts agree. It is ultimately the runner’s personal tolerance and comfort level.

Runners with conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Raynaud’s syndrome and low body fat may be particularly sensitive to running in cold weather.

Some runners find they can only handle running in temperatures just below freezing (32° F), but not below that. If they do run in lower temperatures, they have difficulty breathing or experience numbness in their fingers and toes.

Other runners find that if they are dressed suitably, they can reasonably handle running at any temperature, no matter how far below freezing the weather is.

However, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends runners exercise caution when deciding to run outside when the air temperature falls below -18° F because tissue injury can occur in 30 minutes or fewer under these conditions.

It is also important to be aware of the wind chill factor, as even seemingly mild winds can have a significant effect on lowering the temperature on a cold day. For instance, when the air temperature is 30° F and the wind speed is 10 mph, the resultant conditions will behave as if it was actually 21° F.

Most weather apps will state the current wind chill factor for an exact location.

Risks of Running in the Cold

Frostbite is a direct freezing injury of body tissue that occurs with exposure to extreme cold. The nose, ears, fingers and toes are particularly prone to frostbite. Runners who notice the early signs of frostbite, including cold, red skin (which will progress to a tingling, numbness or a burning sensation) should immediately seek shelter to rewarm the skin.

Hypothermia, which is a drop in core body temperature to below 95° F, occurs when the total loss of body heat exceeds your physiological heat production. There are three grades of hypothermia and, unfortunately, severe hypothermia can be fatal. Shivering is an early warning sign of hypothermia, but shivering ceases as the condition becomes increasingly dire. 

Breathing can also be a challenge in the cold, with many runners experiencing a burning sensation in the throat or lungs. This can be especially problematic for runners with asthma.

Precipitation, which can include snow, sleet or freezing rain can make an outdoor run dangerously slippery. Icy conditions are particularly difficult. During these occasions, running indoors on a treadmill or other indoor options should be considered.

Underfoot conditions, even when roads have been plowed, the shoulders and sidewalks are often still covered in snow, slush and ice, adding to your running risks. Falling while running can result in an injury that could take you out of the game for some time. It is always best to err on the side of caution when road conditions are questionable. Some runners use ice spikes or products such as Yaktrax which increase the traction of running shoes on slippery surfaces.

Darkness is often the running time of choice due to the short daylight hours. Always ensure your path is well illuminated with a headlamp or nearby lighting, if available. Wear reflective clothing so that you are visible to drivers who might not otherwise see you.

Tips for cold weather running

Warm up indoors first. Sip a warm drink and conduct your warm-up routine indoors so that you feel ready and warm before heading out into the frigid air. This can also prevent pulling a cold muscle and make the blast of winter air a little more refreshing as opposed to heading out without the warm-up phase of your run.

Dress properly. Your clothing can make all the difference in your ability to run in the cold. Wear synthetic or wool-base layers and windproof outer layers. Avoid cotton. Overdressing can lead you to be overly hot and sweaty when running. Once you’re damp, you will end up feeling colder. Using layers is ideal since they trap heat and can be removed if you are feeling too warm. It is also important to wear warm socks, gloves, a hat and a gaiter to avoid exposing as much skin as possible.

Alter your route. Run small loops close to home or several short out-and-back routes. This will allow you to easily head back inside if you feel too cold or start noticing signs of hypothermia or frostbite.

Modify your mindset. Rather than focusing on your performance, focus on safety. At the first signs of harmful symptoms, think safety and head back inside. Be satisfied with what you were able to do under the circumstances.

Hydrate with warm liquids. During and after your run, drink warm (not hot) water or tea to make sure your core temperature remains at the proper level.

Shower in warm water as soon as you get home. Be careful not to adjust the temperature of the water too hot, as your perception of hot and cold may be distorted due to your limbs being cold or numb.

Finally, before heading outside in the extreme cold, ask yourself if you have safer options such as a treadmill or cross-training at a nearby gym. Weigh the options and consider what you really gain by running outside.

The Eagle’s View – Dec. 2022

The December edition of The Eagle’s View is ready for your enjoyment. This month, we learn more about holiday decorating safety and cover how local birds cache their seeds. Read here.

Golden Retriever sitting in the snow

Keeping pets safe in cold winter temperatures

With the dangerously frigid temperatures we’ve been experiencing, Eagle Mountain City would like to remind pet owners of the dangers of leaving dogs outside for extended periods of time.

Hypothermia can kill

Dogs can experience hypothermia just like humans. According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), this condition can be fatal. Even during mild weather, a dog with wet fur in a chilly breeze can experience this emergency just as easily as dogs left out in freezing temperatures.

Many owners falsely believe that the dogs fur coat keeps them sufficiently warm in the cold. Of course, dogs cannot tell their owners that something is wrong, so it is up to the owner to assess winter conditions before leaving their dogs outside.

Some dogs are more susceptible to hypothermia than others depending on certain characteristics. Very young and old dogs are at a higher risk, as well as those with short fur. There are some who might also have hypothalamus issues (the part of the brain that controls body temperature).

Regardless of the dog’s age, breed or health, it is unhealthy for dogs to remain in the cold for extended periods of time, even if they have shelter. Just as humans need warmth in winter, so do our furry friends.

If work keeps a pet owner away from home for long hours, as a responsible pet owner they should consider an indoor day care that would keep their pet safe. Or perhaps a trusted neighbor could check on the animal in the home, letting them out at intervals as needed.

Speak Out

When temperatures begin to drop, Animal Humane Society’s and law enforcement receive a significant increase in calls. Animal lovers understand that extreme weather conditions can be deadly for pets.

Leaving a pet outside in extreme temperatures without food and shelter can be a criminal offense.

If you think a pet is in danger due to cold weather, it’s important to consider the variables. With dogs, size, age, and breed are important factors. Certain canine breeds – like Huskies, Akitas, Chow Chows and Alaskan Malamutes – actually appreciate the colder weather and can withstand longer periods of time outside, even in subzero temperatures. Cats are more capable of seeking shelter on their own and thus are less likely to suffer the effects of freezing temperatures.

Access to shelter is another important thing to consider before registering a complaint. Pay close attention to body language. Is the dog lifting its paws? Shivering? Whining or barking? Acting stiff or unable to move about freely?

If, after considering these points, you suspect an animal is being neglected or is in danger due to cold weather, politely let the owner know you’re concerned. There are some pet owners who genuinely do not know the risk that cold weather poses to their pets. If they respond poorly and continue to neglect the animal, the HSUS encourages you to contact your local law enforcement. Here in Eagle Mountain, that is our Utah County Sheriff’s Office – which can be reached at (801) 798-5600 any time of the day or night.

Before reaching out to law enforcement, document as many details as you can about the situation, including date, time, location and type of animal(s) involved. Photos or video can also be helpful. Our dogs rely on us to make good decisions for them. So, when the ‘weather outside is frightful,’ let’s do all we can to keep them warm, happy, healthy and safe.

Pioneer Christmas – A brief history of the area’s first Christmas celebration

In December 1847, the first Christmas in what was then Mexico but would eventually become Utah, was celebrated.

“It had only been five months since the pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley,” according to LDS Church News Archive, Article 28796. “By December more than 1800 had gathered in the valley where a large fort had been erected.”

Compelled across more than a thousand miles of unsettled prairie and mountains by their faith, these pioneers were firm in their commitment. Their observance of that first Christmas holiday they did in keeping with their extreme circumstances.

“Everyone had moved into the 29 cabins that were built inside the adobe walls of the fort, each 8 by 16 by 14 feet,” according to a Deseret News article published on Dec. 24, 1995. “While their menfolk worked outside, women faced the ongoing challenge of caring for children (558 were included in the group) and keeping order in cabins whose leaky roofs frequently oozed mud and water onto dirt floors and where mice were a constant challenge. On this day, they might have recounted to their children, as they went about their chores, the age-old story of Bethlehem and the birth of a special baby.”

Perhaps they talked of earlier Christmases, unrestricted by poverty.

No stores for shopping, no electric lights to delight the eye, no gifts to distribute among their children, no traditional Christmas feasts to fill their tables. Only the bare necessities to sustain life and faith in a hopeful future.

Their cabins were located near the former Rio Grande Railroad depot on Third West between Third and Fourth South Streets — the current site of the Rio Grande Café.

When Christmas 1847 arrived, Elizabeth Huffaker, a young girl in residence at the fort, left this account.

“I remember our first Christmas in the valley. We all worked as usual. The men gathered sagebrush and some even plowed – for though it had snowed the ground was still soft and the plows were used nearly the entire day. Christmas came on Saturday. We celebrated the day on the Sabbath, when we all gathered around the flag pole in the center of the fort, and there held meeting. And it was a great meeting. We sang praise to God, we all joined in the opening prayer, and the speaking that day has always been remembered. There were words of thanksgiving and cheer. Not an unkind word was uttered. The people were hopeful and buoyant because of their faith. After the meeting, we all shook hands with each other. Some wept with joy. The children played in the enclosure, and around the sagebrush fire that night, we gathered and sang…in the sense of perfect peace and good will, I never had a happier Christmas in all my life.”

The family of the girl who wrote of that first Christmas ate boiled rabbit for Christmas dinner, along with a little bread.

The usual daily ration was a half-pound of flour supplemented with thistle tops, berries, bark, roots and sego lily bulbs.

“All had enough to eat,” she wrote of the holiday meal.

Rebecca Riter, 32 years of age and another pioneer who migrated to the valley at the time, also spent Christmas 1847 in the Old Fort.

“The winter was cold,” Riter wrote. “Christmas came and the children were hungry. I had brought a peck of wheat across the plains and hid it under a pile of wood. I thought I would cook a handful of wheat for the baby. Then I thought how we would need wheat for seed in the spring, so I left it alone.”

Pioneer leader Brigham Young was not in the valley for that first Christmas. He had returned to Winter Quarters, Nebraska — staging point for the westward trek — to prepare for the greater migration the following year.

For the group he left behind in the valley, it was a holiday to remember.