The Wasatch Mountain Club is a sweet way to meet new friends and motivate you to get outside. The Mountain Club has been around forever (since 1920) and has created outdoor communities for generations. From skiing to snowshoeing, hiking to rock climbing, rafting to kayaking, the organization aims to bring people together for some playtime outdoors. If you’re new in Utah, or are looking to add to your roster of outdoor buddies, then the Wasatch Mountain Club is a damn good place to look.
The original Wasatch Mountain Club Charter reads as follows:
- to promote the physical and spiritual well being of its members and others by outdoor activities;
- to unite the energy, interests and knowledge of students, explorers and lovers of the mountains, deserts and rivers of Utah;
- to collect and disseminate information regarding the Rocky Mountains in behalf of science, literature and art;
- to explore and picture the scenic wonders of this and surrounding states;
- to foster awareness of scenic beauties; and
- to encourage preservation of our natural areas including their plant, animal and bird life.
When I moved to Utah in autumn of 2001, I didn’t know anybody when I arrived. Leaving all my outdoor partners behind in Colorado made it difficult to get into Utah’s mountains to rock climb or ski the backcountry. Finding like-minded people in a strange place became a challenge… until I came across the Wasatch Mountain Club.
Since the early ’20s, the Wasatch Mountain Club has united people who love to explore the mountains, rivers, and deserts of Utah. The club offers all sorts of weekly activities including hiking, climbing, backcountry skiing, river rafting, camping and biking.
Certainly, many people can participate in most outdoor pursuits alone or with current friends, but it never hurts to have a network of fellow enthusiasts to fall back on when your cohorts on speed-dial wimp out on you.
Membership into the Wasatch Mountain Club is $35 per person, $50 per family and $20 for full-time students under 30 years old. Membership includes a monthly subscription to The Rambler, the club’s official publication featuring trip reports and an activities calendar.
Access to the Wasatch Mountain Club Lodge at Brighton is another perk. Social events with fellow club members and discounts on lodge rentals are all available with your membership. Plus you get access to thousands of potential friends who will encourage you to get outdoors whether you’re a beginner or an extreme adventurer.
Soon after I joined the Wasatch Mountain Club, I met rock climbing and skiing buddies who are still good friends to this day and are now on my “powder day speed-dial.”
To join, or for more information, visit www.wasatchmountainclub.org