Rock climbing in the Wasatch Mountains

June 8, 9:18 AMSalt Lake City Outdoor Recreation ExaminerJared Hargrave

Previous Next

1 comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Salt Lake City Outdoor Recreation Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Vince Pierce pulls a roof at Challenge Buttress

Rock climbing has a long history on the Wasatch Front, and for good reason. Canyons filled with world-class crags spill down from the mountains right into the backyards of a major metropolitan area.

• Check out the Wasatch Mountains Rock Climbing Slideshow

Names like Harold Goodro, Fred Beckey and George Lowe are passed with reverence between Salt Lake area climbers, as many of the most popular climbs in the Cottonwood Canyons were first ascended by them and others. The routes put up by climbing legends who came before opened the door to a sport and traditional climbing playground that gains in popularity every year.

Over 1,450 climbing routes are described in the guidebook, “Rock Climbing the Wasatch Range,” and since its publication in1998, many more climbs have been discovered. The Wasatch Mountains have climbs suitable for everyone, from the first-time novice to the expert. Traditional climbing, sport climbing, bouldering, top-roping and even aid climbing can be done on the cliffs that cover the range. Even the different types of rock give climbers some variety. One day can be spent on quartzite in Big Cottonwood Canyon, the next day on granite in Little Cottonwood and another day on limestone in American Fork Canyon.

In the coming months, various rock climbs will be featured right here. From top-rope beginner areas like Dogwood to the crack climbing meccas of Pentapitch and the Schoolroom, if it's a moderate climb that first timers and intermediates can enjoy, it will find it's way onto this website. In the meantime, get the quickdraws and slings organized, flake out the rope, check the harness loops, and start planning a summer's worth of climbing trips in Utah's high country.