Bluff, Utah
Bluff is a small town (population 240 according to the 2020 census) in the southeast corner of Utah just north of the San Juan River. 230 Mormon pioneers arrived in this area in 1880 after an arduous trek of 200 miles. Evidence of the passing of their wagons just outside of town will be seen on one of the field trips. There are few services (hotels and restaurants) in Bluff. The larger town of Blanding, about 25 miles to the north, has more services. Blanding was also founded by the same group of Mormon pioneers. (Source: Wikipedia)

People looking for hotels should probably be looking at locations in Blanding in addition to Bluff. 

Bluff has a pleasant climate in October. The average high temperature is 71 degrees with cool nights. There is little average precipitation during October. (Source: US Climate Data)

For rock art and archeology enthusiasts this area is a haven. People have been living in this area from Paleolithic hunter-gatherer times until the modern day. There is even a Chacoan "great house" within the town borders and evidence of several Chacoan Great Roads connecting this area to the influential Chaco sites. For more information on this Great House site attend the Thursday afternoon event.

Rock art styles in the area include Glen Canyon Linear, Basketmaker and later Ancestral Puebloan styles, and the more modern Ute and Navajo rock art. This area was heavily populated during the Puebloan period where corn, beans, and squash were farmed and there is considerable evidence of habitation sites. 

Food options are limited in Bluff. We will have food options included with the symposium. Food venues in Bluff are the following: Restaurants are Comb Ridge, Canyon Smokehouse, and Duke’s. There is also the Cedar Shack Café at The Dwellings plus the Cow Canyon Coffee Shop which has burritos and treats. The one gas station also serves homemade burritos. The Twin Rocks Restaurant is closed and will not be serving meals. 

To simplify meals, during the Saturday and Sunday presentations we will offer free lunches consisting of sandwiches, cookies, chips and drinks. For the Friday and Monday field trips you can pre-order sandwiches with a piece of fruit, cookie, and chips but no drink. The cost is $12 and must be ordered during the registration process. 

High Level Agenda:

• Registration will open on August 20 and close September 20.
• If you haven’t made motel or camping reservations do so as soon as possible.  October is a busy time in Bluff.
• Most of the events will take place at the Bluff Community Center at 190N 3rd E. 
• Thursday: Tour of the Edge of the Cedars Museum in Blanding with curator Jonathan Till. Bluff Great House Tour with Jonathan Till; Field trip leader meet and greet at the Outdoor Pavilion at the Bluff Community Center and a telescope star gazing event hosted by the Bears Ears Education Center 567 West Main Street, Bluff.
• There will be field trips on Friday October 9th and Monday the 12th at 8:00 a.m. Field trips will leave from the Bluff Community Center 190 N 3rd E. Members will be notified when field trip descriptions are available. Members will have to be logged into the website to see the field trip information.
  
• Friday evening:  and the watermelon social Bluff Community Center at the Fire Mesa Kitchen 190 N 3rd E .
• Presentations will take place at the Bluff Community on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th starting at 8:00 a.m. Sunday will also include a Board meeting and voting.
•  The banquet will be held at the Bluff Community Center and include The Oscar Awards, and Live Auction.
• Not a part of the symposium but might be of interest to members who are sticking around a bit: Wednesday Oct 14 there will be a special presentation by Leigh Marymor on Western Message Petroglyphs. Also the Bluff Arts Festival will run Oct 15 - 18. 
•  If you have any questions regarding the Symposium, please contact ???.

Banquet, Oscars, and live auction
Our banquet will be in the form of a buffet this year. You will be able to choose any or all of the following: Parmesan breaded chicken tenders with mushroom cream sauce; Grilled ham steaks with mustard brown sugar glaze; or a soy based meat substitute cooked with flavorful sauces which is high in protein and fiber. All main course choices include a festive garden salad with buttermilk ranch or creamy Italian dressing, fresh baked rolls, herb and garlic roasted new red potatoes, raspberry cheesecake bars, spice cake with whipped cream frosting and caramel drizzle, and sparkling cranberry punch.

The banquet will take place at the Bluff Community Center Saturday 6:00 pm. Alcohol is not allowed. After the banquet the Oscar Awards and live auction will take place.

TShirts (available through your symposium registration)
Our registration committee is going all out to provide you with a range of options for T-Shirts. Both men and women will have three different color choices for the T-Shirt. We will use the conference logo in either black or white on the front of the shirt (whichever color looks best). You can choose an image for the back of the shirt with choices of the Thunder Head design or the Cloud Head design. We'll choose a color to contrast with your T-Shirt. 
Men's TShirt colors will be black, bluff (light tan), and light blue. 

                                                                   Thunder head design

                                                                       Cloud Chiefs design

                                                                     Thunder head design

Women's TShirt colors will be an off white (heather), an orange/pink (fiesta), and a light gray/blue. Sizes are Small to 2XL. 

                                                                    Cloud Chiefs design


                                                                      Thunder head design
                                                                 

                                                                          Thunder head design