In 2006 one of the world’s best rock climbers, Dean Potter, visited Arches National Park and climbed to the top of Delicate Arch. His action created a controversy that rippled out through Utah’s climbing community. The National Park Service took swift action to clamp down on rock climbing rules and to rethink their policy that no climbing is allowed on named…
Tag: Utah
Utah photogs win awards in Ski Salt Lake Shootout
Two Utah photographers won awards in this year’s Ski Salt Lake Shootout. Both Lee Cohen and Steve Lloyd snagged some recognition for their photos of skiers in their element among Salt Lake’s ski resorts. According to the folks at Visit Salt Lake, local uber-photographer Lee Cohen won first place in the “Urban Meets Mountain” category…
Backcountry skiing No Name Bowl on the Park City Ridgeline
No Name Bowl, located on the Park City Ridgeline, is a lesser known backcountry ski area that tends to play second fiddle to places like South Monitor or Radar Love. There’s no reason for this, however, since this little gem is just as easy to access from Big Cottonwood Canyon, features a nice pitch, wide…
Utah’s Apa Sherpa to attempt 21st ascent of Mount Everest
Apa Sherpa, the world record holder for most ascents of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, will seek to break his own record by summiting the mountain (and making his wife worried) for the 21st time. Apa Sherpa is 51-years-old, lives in Draper, Utah, and is known the world over as the “Super Sherpa for…
Backcountry skiing South Monitor
Park City Ridge separates Big Cottonwood Canyon from its namesake town and the Canyons Resort, and is like a backcountry ski resort in its own right. The ridge runs from east to west for over six miles from Brighton to the top of Mill Creek Canyon at a consistent elevation of 10,000 feet. Both sides…
Bluehouse Skis to be produced locally in Utah
The Bluehouse Ski Company has seen a popular surge in Utah the past few years. Spend a day at Snowbird, and you’ll see mostly young dudes sporting their Maestro, Maven or District skis. Bluehouse is a local company based in Salt Lake City, and was founded in 2007. Their success can be traced to their…
Best Kiteboarding SuperFly Open at Strawberry Reservoir
The ice fishermen at Strawberry Reservoir won’t know what hit ’em when the Best Kiteboarding SuperFly Open goes down on February 18th through the 21st. Last year’s event happened at Powder Mountain, and for 2011 the venue is moving to Strawberry which is well known among the kiteboarding community as a place with ideal terrain….
La Sal Mountains backcountry ski hut open house
Imagine an open house for a backcountry ski hut where the real estate agent is showing prospective buyers around the place. “Over here we have the propane heater, the bunk beds come with these designer mattresses, and just a few steps outside is the custom built outhouse.” This is no joke, however, as there really…
Backcountry skiing God’s Lawnmower
It is huge. It can be seen from Big Cottonwood Canyon road. Its very presence makes every skier driving to Solitude or Brighton look up and imagine skiing that line. It’s called God’s Lawnmower, and this enormous slide path on the north face of Kessler Peak is an icon of backcountrry skiing in the Wasatch….
Backcountry skiing Lake Desolation
Lake Desolation is surrounded by quality backcountry skiing, from south-facing open glades, to tree skiing on north and east aspects. The area draws all kinds of backcountry types – from weathered telemarkers out for a long tour, to modern twin-tippers barreling down from the Canyons ski resort next door. They all come to this tiny…