sent to Earth First! Newswire
This year’s Rendezvous will take place in the western Uinta Mountains, on occupied Ute land, in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, east of Kamas, Utah. Nearest large town is Heber City. Nearest city is Salt Lake City. Site is at: 40.546472, -111.005306.
Here is a google map pin.
We will be 45 minutes from the nearest town with any amenities so please plan ahead for things you will need at camp. There is no cell phone service at the camp site, nearest reception is probably 30 minutes away.
Directions coming from coming from Salt Lake City, points west on I-80, the North, PNW, Upper Midwest.
Get yourself to Kamas, Utah (last town from this direction with services. It’s a little town but has some good restaurants and stores).
Head south on UT-32 S/S Main St toward E 100 S
Continue to follow UT-32 S for 2.2 mi
Turn left onto UT-35 E/W Main Village Way
Continue to follow UT-35 E for 16.4 mi
Turn left onto FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (we will put signage here but be alert for the turn in case the sign has fallen down or been taken. This is a dirt road that gets a little narrow and rough in the beginning. Seems fine for most vehicles but please be careful) 0.6 mi
Turn left to stay on FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (stay on main road). 1.0 mi
Turn left to stay on FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (stay on main road). 2.0 mi
Continue onto FR304 (we will put signage here as well. In case it’s lost or taken you should go forward here to get on 304 instead of left which would keep you on 037).
Destination will be on the right (this is a rocky/bumpy road but should be fine for low clearance vehicles. Just take it slow). 1.2 mi
You can’t miss us. Glad you made it!
Directions coming from the East or Southeast:
Get yourself to Duchesne, Utah (last town coming from this direction that will have services and good cell signal). Then, follow the directions below.
Head North on UT-87 N/N Center St (there are highway junction signs from both directions on 191)
Continue to follow UT-87 N for 6.0 mi
Turn left onto UT-35 W and follow for 45.4 mi
Turn right onto FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (we will put signage here but be alert for the turn in case the sign has fallen down or been taken. This is a dirt road that gets a little narrow and rough in the beginning. Seems fine for most vehicles but please be careful). Follow for 0.6 mi
Turn left to stay on FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (stay on the main road) 1.0 mi
Turn left to stay on FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (stay on the main road) 2.0 mi
Continue onto FR304 (we will put signage here as well. In case it’s lost or taken you should go forward here to get on FR304 instead of left which would keep you on FR037).
Destination will be on the right (this is a rocky/bumpy road but should be fine for low clearance vehicles. Just take it slow) 1.2 mi
You can’t miss us. Glad you made it!
Directions coming from the South and Southwest (LA, Tucson, Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Moab etc).
Get yourself to Heber City, Utah (last town before rondy site with bigger grocery stores, walmart, camping stores, etc).
Head north on US-189/US-40 W/ S. Main St. toward W. Center St.
Continue to follow US-189/US-40 W for 3.7 mi
Turn right onto UT-32 N/ W State Rd 32, follow for 10.4 mi
Continue straight onto UT-35 E/W Main Village Way
Continue to follow UT-35 E for 16.4 mi
Turn left onto FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (we will put signage here but be alert for the turn in case the sign has fallen down or been taken. This is a dirt road that gets a little narrow and rough in the beginning. Seems fine for most vehicles but please be careful). 0.6 mi
Turn left to stay on FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (stay on main road). 1.0 mi
Turn left to stay on FR037/Soapstone Basin Rd (stay on main road). 2.0 mi
Continue onto FR304 (we will put signage here as well. In case it’s lost or taken you should go forward here to get on 304 instead of left which would keep you on 037).
Destination will be on the right (this is a rocky/bumpy road but should be fine for low clearance vehicles. Just take it slow). 1.2 mi
You can’t miss us. Glad you made it!
………….
Before coming to the Rendezvous, please read this page carefully. Please also read our page on cultivating justice.
To offer or find a ride to the Rondy, use this Ride Share Forum.
What to Expect
Weather – We will be in the Uinta Mountains, at very high elevation (almost 9,000 ft). The sun will be fierce, the weather both hot and cold. Bring plenty of warm clothes, long underwear, layers, and rain gear as well as warm weather clothes that provide sun cover, hats, and sunglasses.
Camping – Be prepared to camp and to be outdoors (see list of what to bring, below). If you need to borrow any gear, get in touch and we will try to help.
Approaching the rendezvous and while in the area – The area we will be in is not super rural and is frequented by tourists and weekenders from the nearby cities of Salt Lake, Heber, and Provo. This area is also very Mormon, which means the folks you encounter will probably be extremely nice, but also maybe scared of your tattoos. This area is also heavily used by locals who camp in their RVs and zip around on ATVs, especially on the 4th of July weekend. Most of these locals are white, many of them are super nice, some of them are bigots. If you come in from the South or East (through Duchesne), you will be driving through the Uintah/Ouray Reservation and the oil and gas fields of the Uinta Basin. A lot of folks in that area are employed by the very companies we wish to see destroyed. Supporters of the fossil fuel industry in Utah have been threatening and problematic during past conferences hosted by local organizers. If there are any concerns or questions about getting to the Rendezvous please get in touch with us before your arrival. We will do all we can to help you feel safe and comfortable during your time in this region.
Food – This year, the Rough & Ready Kitchen Collective will be cooking breakfast and dinner for everyone, and will do their absolute best to respect dietary preferences and restrictions (there will be vegan options for every meal). Please bring your own snacks and lunches. If you have multiple and/or severe dietary restrictions, we will try to be accommodating, but please plan on bringing some of your own meals for the week. Rough & Ready is a collective that facilitates community kitchens, and their work is grounded in an ethics of mutual aid and collective participation. Everyone is encouraged to volunteer in the kitchen and to help clean up after meals. Also, please bring food to donate to the kitchen.
Alcohol – Common spaces at the Rondy will be sober spaces. This is to make the gathering more welcoming and productive, and to be in solidarity with indigenous communities fighting the colonial weaponization of alcohol. This is not to stigmatize alcoholism or make the gathering inaccessible if you can’t be completely sober. There will be a “rowdy fire” where folks are free to be a little inebriated while celebrating with friends. Practicing consent culture is as important as ever in this space. We do request that though alcohol is tolerated in private spaces and at the rowdy fire, if you are inebriated please don’t come into other group spaces.
Drugs – Folks with trauma around substance abuse can be adversely triggered by exposure to drug use in their presence. We do not seek to judge or shame anyone for using drugs. We do ask, however, that you respect the purpose of the Rendezvous and keep in mind the safety of everyone attending. Weed is still illegal in Utah.
Kids! – Last year’s Rendezvous was the most kid heavy and kid friendly ever, and we’re hoping this year’s will be as well–with workshops, responsibilities, and discussions, with and for the kids. You can help by bringing your kids, or encouraging and helping your friends who have kids, to attend. Those without kids who want to help can also come prepared to sign up for a childcare shift, or to teach a workshop. Also if you have kids or experience working with kids, send us requests, and ideas.
What to Bring
What NOT to bring
Location and Directions
This year’s Rendezvous will take place in the western Uinta Mountains, on occupied Ute land, near the town of Kamas, Utah. Nearest large town is Heber City (within an hour’s drive from the site). Nearest city is Salt Lake City. We will post directions to the exact site soon.
Workshops and Panels
We already have a lot of awesome workshops, panel discussions, and other presentations lined up, but much of the workshop scheduling will occur on-site, and we encourage anyone who is interested in teaching a workshop/training to do so. Some examples of what we have so far: Panel discussions on Indigenous land defense, Salt Lake City justice organizing, and resisting borders; workshops on direct action, basic camping and woods skills, herbal medicine, grassroots media, and tons more; and presentations on climate change and forest ecology, Earth First! history, know your rights, and more. If you know that you are coming and have a specific training or discussion that you would like to facilitate, please let us know so we can include it in the schedule.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.