Articles

You Have the Power to Protect the Past Archaeological sites — places where past people lived — are all around us here in Utah. Maybe you have even visited a few like McConkie Ranch or Nine Mile Canyon. Did you know that many of the ruins and artifacts here in Utah are more than 1,000 years old? And some are even older than that! These cool places are still here because people like you protected them! Archaeological sites are important to people in a lot of different ways. Some people like to visit them because they are fun and interesting, while others come to some sites for religious or traditional reasons. Ruins and artifacts can connect people to the past in deep ways, and we can be a force for good by keeping them safe as we visit.

ADVENTURE TIPS: Inclusiveness in the Outdoors An Interview with Local Black Moms Publishers note: Last year in celebration of Mother’s Day, we met-up with a group of local moms at the Great Salt Lake Shoreland Preserve. The goal of our outing was to photograph some special mom moments and have a conversation with Black moms about time in the outdoors with their kids and some of their thoughts on raising the awareness of inclusion and diversity in the outdoors, especially when living in a state that is predominantly white. The outdoors and our public lands ARE for everyone to enjoy. It’s a place where I find solace and comfort. My hope is that WE can ALL welcome and encourage others to explore the outdoors and reap the benefits of being in nature.

One of the biggest challenges when playing outdoors in the winter is knowing how to “dress for success.” Success, in this case, is keeping the kids cozy and dry, and everyone happy. Layer, Layer, Layer are the three most import aspects of dressing for successful winter adventures.

Backcountry Basics What does backcountry mean to you? Is it the areas that are only accessible by hiking or backpacking for several miles? Or, must you venture out on remote, super gnarly, high-clearance-only dirt roads? By definition, a backcountry area is a geographical region that is isolated, remote, undeveloped, and difficult to access. So the answers to the above questions are yes… but… there are plenty of backcountry areas in Utah that are fairly easy to access. And, thanks to the influence of social media, they are heavily visited by people who may not necessarily have the knowledge, skills, understanding, gear, etc. to be safe.

Climbing 101 for Families  By Amanda Edmonds  Climbing as a family is an outstanding way to spend hours together in nature while fostering an early love for the outdoors. Getting our family into rock climbing was a no brainer. We crave the outdoors and wanted to teach our children adventure. Sometimes, climbing and outdoor activities don’t always work as planned. Getting your kids outside while experiencing these challenging moments teaches them how to overcome obstacles and react when the world does not go according to plan. Climbing is something you can do at any age, making it the perfect outdoor family activity.  

Winter in Utah is filled with many, many awesome and cool adventure options. North to south, there are endless places to explore. Here is our list to inspire some new family adventures this winter- 

Dark skies are as rare as a happy political discussion for most of us urban- and suburban-dwelling citizens, but, lucky for you, Utah’s star gazing access is as quick as an hour away or as a much-needed 4-hour road trip away. Utah is kind that way–she likes to hand out cosmic extravaganzas night after night after night.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the great Utah outdoors with my family. Some of my much loved early memories are of Lake Powell, Bear Lake and, perhaps my favorite, the land of the Dinosaurs, aka "Dinosaurland!"