Just Summit

The final steps are brutally painful, but as the ground gives way to the sky blending into the mountains, there is no better feeling. The summit of a mountain offers spectacular views, a incredible, cool breeze, and a fantastic place to rest.
 
Utah is home to many large peaks, offering great day hikes to conquer with some friends on the weekend. The Wasatch and the Uinta ranges both offer the most scenic and the best height-wise hikes. The Wasatch range is great for locals close to Salt Lake City and looking for a hike with easy access and relatively short times. However the Wasatch range sees the most use in the state. The Uinta range is perfect for someone looking to get lost for a weekend. About a two or three hour drive from SLC, the Uintas offer long summits great for short backpacking trips. The Uintas see a lot less usage, but still are popular in the summer months. Wether going to one of these two ranges or any others in Utah, you can't go wrong.

Summit hiking is fairly easy for most in-shape adults, but it is much better with a little bit of preparation. Plan a date, time, and group. Check the weather and make sure that it'll be a nice day and that you are able to leave early. Hike in smalls groups, 2 or 3 is probably the best. Prepare your gear and find directions in advance. In short, be prepared, before the day of the hike. The key for new hikers is preparation.

The second key is to pack correctly. When packing it is important to be prepared, but also to be light. Clothing wise, bring an extra shirt/jacket--a summit can get pretty cold. Food wise, bring some high energy foods. Find a food that you enjoy, something that will energize you, and something that will be convenient. Also in you pack, bring some basic survival gear. Include fire supplies (matches, fire-starters, etc), water purifiers (tablets or a filter), light, basic shelter, a knife, and anything else you might need if you had to spend a night. Finally bring water, for a summer hike, 2-3 liters will be enough for the average adult. Anything else you want to bring is up to you, but just be conscious of how much weight you are packing.

One of the most important aspects of summit hiking is to monitor your pace. Most summits are already around eight hours long and the last thing you want is to extend that time another few hours. The key is to keep hiking. Don't go so fast that you are panting for air, but walk as quick as you can under that level. Once you have that perfect pace down, don't stop for breaks that often. The worst time killer is taking ten to fifteen minute breaks. Every half hour or so, take a less than five minute break. Catch your breath, eat some granola, grab a drink, then go. Taking long breaks kills you time and it also allows for your muscles to stiffen, which makes it that much harder to start.

Lastly, leave no trace. Be courteous to others, clean up your mess, and respect the trail.  

Summit hiking is well worth the pain and the time invested. It is very enjoyable and is incredibly rejuvenating. Take some time and try one of the iconic Utah summits. Mount Timpanogos is a great hike to try out for a first summit.

Adventure's best Friend

  Adventuring is best with friends by your side. Sometimes though there might not be anyone available to accompany you. One of the best options for times like these is to bring man's best friend--a dog. The benefits to having a dog with you are attractive. They bring protection, loyalty, company, laughs, and they never will complain. Adventuring with a dog, honestly, just lightens the load. Obviously there are many different different types of breeds and each have their strengths and weaknesses. If planning on taking a dog adventuring, think about what qualities you want to see in the dog. Dogs can do anything from hiking, boating, paddle boarding, swimming, hunting, even to skiing.

  While many people just buy a dog because it is cute, it is important to buy a dog suited to your lifestyle. For instance, my family bought a Weimaraner, which is a bird dog. My family has never bird hunted and that quality of our dog has gone to waste. Another thing to think about is the area in which you live. Living in Utah, it is important to think about how your dog will respond to the various weather conditions--the sweltering summers and the bitter winters. Think about how much sun, snow, water, and rough terrain the dog will encounter, and narrow down breed types from there.

  Although thinking about the activity and the environment is very important, make sure you love the dog! A dog is a ten to twenty year investment that will invade many aspects of your life, so make sure you love the breed and the dog itself. Dogs are incredibly resilient, and they will adapt to what they need. On a side note, don't skimp on the cost. I would greatly recommend to buy a pure-bred animal, it is greatly worth the price in the long run.

  So what type of dog is right for you? Outside magazine put out an article about three months ago on finding the right dog, and here's some of their top breeds. For water sports choose the Newfoundland, the Portuguese Water Dog, or the American Water Spaniel. For mountain activities go with the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Norwegian Lundehund, or the Jack Russell Terrier. For endurance sports buy a Siberian Husky, a Weimaraner, or a Border Collie. Finally, for a classic family dog go with a Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever, or a Beagle.
Outside magazine also did some photo galleries on the best active, best cold-weathered, and the best hot-weathered dog breeds. Here are those links to mix and match your way to your dream breed.

Active Dog Breeds
Cold-Weather Dog Breeds
Hot-Weather Dog Breeds

Now that you may have an idea of what type of dog you want to buy, you can look ahead to adventuring with your pup. It is a common misconception, that dogs can jump into any sport and do fine, but that is not true. Dogs need to be trained to the specific sport and they sometimes need to have the proper gear. Wether it is running or backpacking make sure your dog is physically and mentally up for the task. Do some research on how to prepare a dog for your specific sport. One thing is for sure, once your perfect dog is ready to adventure, your trips will never be the same.

Siber, Kate. "How to Pick the Perfect Dog for You." Outside Online. 23 July 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. <http://www.outsideonline.com/2001951/how-pick-perfect-dog-you>.

Canyoneering

   Utah is home to some of the best slot canyons in the nation. Zion, Escalante, and the San Rafael Swell are full of beginner to intermediate canyon hikes. Professionals from around the world come to be challenged by the slots, but first time hikers are able to have an experience of a lifetime as well. For a beginner though, canyoneering can seem incredibly intimidating. Here is a guide to the basics of canyoneering. 

    

    First of all it is very important to understand how the canyons are rated, and using that rating to prepare effectively. Canyons are rated using the American Canyoneering Academy (ACA) rating system. A standard rating looks like this--2BIIIR. The first number can be 1-4, which rates the technical difficulty. 1 would be non-technical, 2 could include scrambling and or bouldering, 3 contains single pitch rappelling and requires rope, and a 4 is very technical, only for advanced hikers. Next comes A,B, or C which rates the water. A contains minimal water, B contains pools and expects swimming, and C contains strong currents and waterfalls. Next comes I - VI, which rates the time required. I is a few hours, II is a half day, III is a full day, IV is an extremely long day, V is an overnight trip, and VI is more than two days. Finally, a R or a X may be present at the end of the rating, which gives warning on the risk of the hike. R stands for risky, and includes advanced climbing technique and possible unforeseen circumstances. X stands for extreme, and includes possible injury or death with bad judgement. Now that you understand the rating of canyoneering, you are ready to learn the basics. 

    Most importantly to canyoneering, is to find someone who can teach you. Slot canyons are very dangerous and it is important to go with an expert--not alone or with beginners. At major canyoneering destinations, there are guides available at outfitter locations. Next, make sure you are prepared for what you will encounter down below. The basic outfit for canyoneering is a helmet, a wetsuit (if needed), repelling equipment (rope, anchors, harness, etc), a dry bag, and specialized climbing shoes. Preparation is key to both finishing and having fun. Also before you go, check the weather and make sure there is no storms happening anywhere close to your area. Safety is always a first, make sure you have a guide and you are prepared. 

    While it may seem like you are the only one to ever go down a slot canyon, many of them receive heavy traffic--be polite to those who travel on the same path. Some basic etiquette is to pack out everything packed in--even bodily waste. Leave as little trace as possible, leave nature just as you found it. Be polite to everyone that you come across, the canyon has to be shared by everyone. 

   In Utah, there are 6 canyoneering destinations: Zion, Robbers' Roost, Cedar Mesa, Escalante, North Wash, and the San Rafael Swell. Zion National Park is a great place to get acquainted with the slots. Zion Narrows is an incredible non-technical hike that is great for beginners. Escalante is another great destination with some of the most scenic slots. Nothing can be said bad about the other destinations though, you can't go wrong. 

  First starting out, invest in repelling equipment, a dry bag, shoes, and at least a partial wetsuit. Go from there and invest as you feel. 

   Canyoneering could easily be one of the most down to earth, outside, adventures. It is a sport that one could never tire of, and holds hours of paradise. However it is not something to take lightly, as with all outside activities, take care or yourself and of this great state.

Jones, Tom. "Understanding Canyon Ratings." Canyoneering Ratings. Canyoneering USA, 2015. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

No Escape

   Utah is home to the majestic Zion's National Park. During the summer Zion's is extremely popular, bringing tourists from across the globe. Zion's is famous for its immense red rock cliffs and its narrow slot canyons. For those who don't know, slot canyons are narrow cuts in the rock, typically with stream and pools covering the bottom. Canyoneering is a popular sport in Utah, but it requires technical spelunking and repelling skill. However the challenge is well paid off by the beauty of the red sandstone walls, which reflect the sun through the canyon. Although these canyons seem perfect, they are able to turn in an instant. When rain hits Zion's NP, these slot canyons fill with water in minutes, if not seconds.
   
   As you can tell from the video, water comes from all sides of the park. The video was taken on a hike called angels' landing. That hike is a massive overlook, and still it was collecting a large amount of water. The slots fill with all the water falling from the sides of the park, which is an unbelievable amount. The video mentioned the seven hikers that were killed in Zion's popular Keyhole canyon. The storm system moved in quickly on September 14th, and the hikers were unaware of the impending danger. This is not the first time flooding in the slot canyons has killed someone, and it won't be the last. The problem is that flooding doesn't hinder thrill-seeking hikers. The day of the flooding, there was a 40% chance of heavy rain, and a flash-flood warning was issued.
 
   Park officials have thought long and hard about how to prevent unnecessary deaths in the slot canyons. While park rangers do close the canyons if rain is imminent, that does no good to the hikers already in the canyon. The National Weather Service, also issues flooding warnings, but in Zion's, that warning appears almost every day in the summer. So once again, it is not the greatest help. One idea that has surfaced, is to place ropes along the slots which could be used to escape if needed. However, preservationists do not care for the idea, as it pollutes the park and it would be costly and time consuming to maintain. One other option it to install a siren system that would warn hikers as soon as there is danger. This would involve wires and speakers throughout the park. The downside is the pollution of the natural beauty of the park. It boils down to the advantages and disadvantages of having technology throughout the park. Which is more important to care for, the park or the tourist? How much would a few speakers and wires really disrupt the habitat? There already are bathrooms all down the canyon, and a massive lodge is located in the middle of the park. It would be worth the slight disruption of the land to preserve the lives of hikers.
 
  One simple solution would simply be for hikers to be aware of the upcoming weather, and to stay away. Though, for some, the thrill is more important than the danger.

Elk Hunting

 
  In two days the Utah rifle elk hunt officially opens. Saturday, October, 3rd will be one of the most popular hunting days of the year. If you are new to hunting, the idea can be both ominous and appeasing. While hunting can be complete skill, the majority of the hunt depends on pure luck. The state of Utah opens around 29,000 elk tags per year. As of 2012, the estimated elk population was at 72,000 head. While those numbers seem inviting, there's no guarantee of success. Only about 15% of tag holders actually come out of the hunt with an elk. The odds, it turns out, are not in the hunters' favor. It begs the question, is elk hunting a worthwhile investment?
 
  The average elk will provide anywhere from four to seven hundred pounds of meat. While hamburger sits close to four dollars a pound, an elk kill could save anywhere from a thousand to three thousand dollars, minus the butcher fee. In order to actually kill an elk there is a lot of expense involved in the process. A rifle could cost anywhere from four hundred to thousands of dollars. Then there is the in-depth needs of camping, hunting, and transportation which rack up the expenses quickly. The initial investment of hunting is, in all honesty, a very costly endeavor. Based on the numbers, the cost just to hunt is an extravagant luxury. However, if hunting became a way of life, and a gradual investment, after a few successful seasons, the expense would be paid off in full. The cost to pay-off ratio would be worthwhile.

  The next question then is how can success be based on skill and not on luck? The keys to hunting are simple.
The first is simply to be around hunters. Anyone who has been around the hunting and fishing crowd knows they like to tell stories, either about success or about the one that got away. The wisdom that comes from seasoned hunters is priceless and is a lot of times the key to success.
Next, don't be afraid to get out, way out. Elk are nervous creatures, and they tend to move away from the pressure put on by hunters. The more you can get away from the 4-wheelers and the pop-up trailers, the better. Get out and hike in the trees and the chances of seeing an elk will be greatly improved. A lot of people focus on the gear and the strategy of the sport. Really though, spend time away from people and get into nature. That's where the animals are. The more you understand the animal, the more of a chance you have.
Finally, have the time of your life. How often do people get a free opportunity to hike... with a gun? Hunting is great time to camp out with your friends and family and get away from the chaos of life.

  With determination and some simple smarts, hunting is not a far-fetched idea. While it may be expensive, the pay-off is a great investment of both your time and your money.



Plenty of bull elk in Utah. (2012, September 28). Retrieved October 1, 2015.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/wildlife-news/926-plenty-of-bull-elk-in-utah-sp-1004377917.html