Moderate routes, easy access, and nice climbing on blocky quartzite, means the S-Curves in Big Cottonwood Canyon is among the more well known climbing areas along the Wasatch Front. The S-Curves have a wide variety of bolted routes from easy, to Jedi Master-only roofs. Among the buffet table of grades at the S-Curves, there is…
Tag: trip report
Hike Mount Raymond
Mount Raymond is a classic Wasatch Mountain hike; the pyramid-shaped summit can be viewed from many points both in the Salt Lake Valley and from high in the Cottonwood Canyons. Rising to 10,241 feet, Raymond’s peak is a lofty perch that provides spectacular views of the surrounding summits. The best part about it? All that…
Indoor Chick runs the 2010 Ragnar Wasatch Back Relay
It started off like any other day but it was race day for the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back. What can I say about running the Wasatch Back? It was an experience. Would I do it again? I really don’t know. My problem is when I see my other friends expressing interest in doing it again…
Volunteering for the Ragnar Wasatch Back
I don’t run. I’ve tried and failed to see the pleasure in the monotony of right-foot-then-left-foot pounding on pavement with only the sound of my breath as a companion. If you see me running, it’s because REI is having a 1-hour only 90% off sale on new powder skis, and even then, my run would…
Mountain bike the Glenwild Loop at Kimball Junction
Park City is home to many classic mountain bike trails, but there aren’t many as popular as the Glenwild Loop. Located just north of Interstate 80 at the Kimball Junction exit, Glenwild offers a fun ride on moderate terrain with many different options, while crossing lots of different terrain from lowland sagebrush to old growth…
Hike Storm Mountain
The Wasatch Mountains are a peak bagger’s paradise: named and unnamed summits litter the canyons near Salt Lake City, inviting the intrepid to conquer their heights. Mount Olympus presides over valley residents while the mighty Pfeifferhorn lays hidden deep in the Lone Peak Wilderness area. If you’ve hiked, climbed or gazed for any amount of…
Explore Kodachrome Basin State Park
Kodachrome Basin State Park is one of those places in Utah where the scenery is so colorful and strange that it could be a National Park in its own right. If it were located in any other state, it might be. But in Utah, the fact that it’s designated as a state park is a…
Surfing the Reef Part II: Cohab Canyon
Just a few days among Capitol Reef National Park’s intricate canyons and scenic viewpoints can feel like much longer. High walls, vibrant colors and forgotten coves just a mile off the main road will convince you that civilization has been left far behind. Even a short hike in the Reef can capture that feeling; one…
Surfing the Reef Part I: Navajo Knobs Trail
Capitol Reef National Park is nestled comfortably in the Middle of Nowhere, south central Utah. For hikers and campers seeking a true desert experience, this location couldn’t be more perfect. As with all the National Parks, there are crowds to deal with, but it’s a far cry from the hordes at Zion or Arches. At…
“Transformer” a moderate climb on the difficult Static Wall
Transformer is a lesser-known sport climb in the otherwise overcrowded Storm Mountain Area in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Located at the Static Wall, Transformer is a good chance to get away from the crowds lining up to climb the easier routes. There are only three climbs on Static Wall, and unless you are an expert 5.13 climber, then…