Climb Utah!

A Look Into Climbing the Beautiful Wasatch Range

Nestled at the southern base of the Rockies lies the Wasatch

Mountain range, a 160 miles of amazing climbing, skiing, dining and
hiking. Unlike many climbing areas throughout the nation, the
Wasatch is an excellent choice for both novice and expert climbers
alike.

Above is an excellent example of the incredible views found many places

throughout Utah. This particular photo is looking West into Big
Cottonwood Canyon from the top of the a climb. Note the proximity to
the road, climbers are pampered with short hikes to numerous routes
scattered up and down many canyon roads.
 Ask any Utah native and they will
tell you, if you don’t like the
weather here, wait 15 minutes and
it’ll change. On days that your
climbing outage is met with dark
clouds. Salt Lake City is also home
to a world class climbing gym. With
a combination of top rope, lead
and bouldering routes. Weather
won’t have to mean the end of
being on a rope

As the weather clears you can pick

what kind of rock you want want to
climb on. Due to how the Wasatch
formed there is variability in the rock
from canyon to canyon.

In the picture Jim Nobels tops out a

route that started out smooth marble
and transitions into sandstone.
For those who think the climbing has to stop as the Greatest Snow
on Earth begins to fall, think again. If you would rather be on
crampons than ski’s there is no shortage of Mountaineering Routes.
Utah boosts many peaks over 8,000 feet with many above 10,000
feet! Even if you choose to not summit you can be treated with
amazing views of Utah’s city laying at the base of the mountain.
What other aspect makes Utah special is in how one approaches the
mountaineering routes. In the above picture is a flat at the base of
Mount Timpanogos. To be an effective climb you would make an
approach to the base and then summit. For anyone who has day
dreamed over climbs in Patagonia, Chile, Canada, these are eerily
similar, and immensely safer. Making these routes good for training
or those just getting into the sport.
At 11,749 feet, part of Mount Timpanogos, looms in the distance. This
the approach from the East face, early in the season. Like so many
other peaks in the region, there are several approaches that can be
found based on skill level and desired difficulty. What makes
Timpanogos is the “Everest Ridge”. An approach to the summit that
many climbers use as practice for summiting Mount Everest. But if
you want something less terrifying, there is a common hiking trail
that can be used.
Another supreme benefit is how many of our most popular climbing
destinations sit above large metropolitan areas with quick access to
food, lodging and entertainment. Above looking through Tibetan
prayer flags you can see Ogden city. Ogden is a 45 minute drive from
Salt Lake City International Airport and also has train to and from
Salt Lake if desired as well.
The same rings true if you want to climb further south in Utah
County, which also has a regional airport if you would rather fly
closer. Similar to Salt Lake City and Ogden, it also has a train for
easy travel along with a host of lodging and entrainment options.
American Fork Canyon (pictured above) is less than an hour from
Salt Lake City, and less than 20 minutes from Lehi, the closes city to
the canyon.
As you debate where your next climbing adventure should take
place, there is little reason to not consider Utah. With its host of
possible climbing locations, proximity to other things to do, safety
and easy of access, you will be hard pressed to find better options.
Rather you want to ski to your ice climbing destination, or have
breakfast then climb for a couple hours prior to coming into Salt
Lake for a dink, the options are endless.

About the Author:

Alex Dale is a born and raised native of Salt

Lake, he currently works as a 911 dispatcher and
Advanced EMT aboard an ambulance service. In
his free time you’ll find him camping in the high
Uinta Mountain Range, skiing at one of the
many local resorts, climbing in Big Cottonwood,
of American Fork canyon’s or fly fishing. While
still learning he has begun mountaineering with
a small group of friends with a sizable summit
list of most of the major peaks in Utah.