The Wasatch Mountains are chock full of amazing trails, many of which are very steep and challenging. If you are looking for a more leisurely hike, or perhaps something the entire family can enjoy, then hiking to Desolation Lake might be the perfect idea. The trail is mellow, shaded in many places, and ends at…
Category: Hiking
MSR Surelock UL-2 Trekking Pole review
Trekking poles are a life saver, or more appropriately, a knee-saver. They also come in handy when crossing streams, negotiating tricky talus slopes and slogging through snowfields. The two biggest “must-haves” for any trekking pole are light weight and sturdy construction. The MSR Surelock UL-2 Trekking Poles are designed with those concepts in mind. I’ve…
Backpacking 101: Choose Your Bag
It’s a perfect day on the trail: blue skies with warm temperatures, and not a cloud in the sky. You’re hammering out the miles; only three more until you hit camp for the night. Your shoulders feel good, your feet don’t ache and your back is not a sweaty, uncomfortable mess. Everything you need is…
Hiking Mount Tuscarora
Here in Utah we are living the good life: numerous top-notch ski resorts are just a short drive from northern cities and towns. When the powder flies, just point your car up a canyon and you’ll get to the goods. In the summer, the resorts are also the perfect place to bag a big peak….
Hiking to Cecret Lake
Need a fast hike in the high alpine that’s kid friendly, has amazing scenery, and ends at a gorgeous jewel of a mountain lake surrounded by wildflowers? Cecret Lake in Alta’s Albion Basin has all that and more. All you need to do is lace up your hiking shoes, grab a pack, some water, a…
Hiking Sugarloaf Peak
Want to get high the easy way? Settle down, Ziggy Marley, I’m talking about elevation. As in, over 11,000′. Sugarloaf Peak is a great way to bag a big peak with minimum effort. Along the way you’ll see vibrant wildflowers, a gorgeous mountain lake, and maybe even some wildlife. Sounds good, right? Well, grab your…
Backpacking 101: Getting Started
Backpacking is awesome. There might be no finer way to truly experience the great outdoors: exploring remote areas, observing wildlife, and the unmatched solitude of a far away campsite are just some of the rewards awaiting you in the backcountry. There is also something to be said for the feeling of self reliance that comes…
Hiking Desolation Trail to the Salt Lake Overlook
Sometimes, you just need a quick hike to get away from the city. Lucky for those of us living in Salt Lake, we have many options, like the Desolation Trail to the overlook with a view of the entire metropolitan valley below. This short, 5-mile round trip hike over 1,310 feet is ideal for a…
Stop and smell the flowers at the 2012 Wasatch Wildflower Festival
Summer in the Wasatch. Where we once were skiing deep powder in the winter, summer lets us mosey through fields of wildflowers that spread across the high alpine. To celebrate this explosion of mountain color, the Wasatch Wildflower Festival is there to take us through our favorite mountains and give us a close-up look at…
Kelty Rally 45 Backpack review
I had a chance to visit the Kelty booth at last summer’s Outdoor Retailer convention here in Salt Lake City. They were showcasing a wide array of products, but the ones that excited me the most were the brand-new “Agile Series” backpacks. Needless to say I was very happy when the Kelty Rally 45 arrived…