Utah Adventure Journal

  This past Memorial Day weekend, while most of us were grilling brats and drinking our favorite beverages, Buzz Burrell, Jared Campbell, and Ryan McDermott were engaged in the quirkiest ‘triathlon’ you’ll probably never hear of again.   In a nonstop push, the trio traversed Zion National Park from its west to east. Not by […]

  Pushing Past the Limitations of Diabetes in Zion National Park   This is not the first time 8-year-old Kaia Behrstock has strapped into a climbing harness—but this time, the stakes are much higher. Rappelling into the one-human-wide slot canyon just outside Zion National Park, fears about heights, slipping and rockfall would naturally swirl in […]

  “I can honestly say I don’t need to revisit this adventure again but I can say that I’ve done Choprock Canyon.  It’s one of those lifetime adventure achievements.”  -Jim Holland Sometimes being in the middle of nowhere means you are in the middle of everywhere.  Our location is N37 36’ 44”, W111 10’ 44”, […]

I’m sure you’ve heard about the bark beetles wreaking havoc across the forests of North America. And that the beetles have been killing pine trees at historic levels. But how’s Utah weathering the storm? People have talked about massive kill-offs south in Dixie National Forest and about some preventative efforts near Fish Lake in central […]

  In my youth (read pre-thirties) I endured a traumatic event that neatly divides my past into before and after. You may have heard about it due to its improbable nature. My girlfriend and I were hit by rockfall as we slept in Grand Gulch in 1995, many miles from a trailhead. She suffered compound […]

 “Remember how we saw the 9th pitch pendulum on the topo and said we’d figure it out when we got there?” “Yeah,” Tim muttered at my asinine question. “Well, we’re there. And I have no idea how to do it, especially using these jumars and this hook thing.” “To start, the hook has absolutely nothing […]

An Anthem to a Single Ride in St. George St. George rocks. In the most literal, geological sense. They’re pretty phenomenal from a historical point of view. Red rock and crumbling mesas flank the horizon in every direction. Get close enough and you’ll spot petroglyph artifacts that are bleached into the smooth walls of sandstone […]

Five National Parks, a twelve-pack, and one really big blister.   Some states get excited about things like fruit that grows exceptionally well, or trees that block out the sun. Others hype things like historical monuments or an impressive mineral supply. Sure, every state has something unique to offer. But none are as drool-worthy and […]

“Nice work, Man!” I exalt as Paul joins me on ledge 1 of Castleton Tower’s North Chimney. The strenuous, 140 foot, 5.8 pitch he’s just conquered is one of the best and hardest of its grade anywhere. And it happens to be on the quintessential desert tower, aka Castle Rock. This 400-foot icon is irresistible […]

I take pleasure in discomfort. It’s a masochistic game that drives me to grind the chain ring a little further, glide the skin track a little longer or scramble the trail a little steeper. More often than not, this works in favor of many outdoorswoman or man on the pursuit of fresh air or first […]

Someone stole Adam’s bike. He calls to tell me this on the eve of our long-planned mountain bike trip to Vernal. For years I’ve been itching to discover the hype of desert singletrack only three hours east of Salt Lake City, but various scheduled trips were always sidetracked by weather, partners cancelling, and life itself […]

  Steve Allen is widely recognized as being one of the foremost canyoneers and explorers of remote areas in the Southwest. He has made numerous first descents of slot canyons across the region, and has published several books on canyoneering and hiking, introducing untold numbers to the sport. His books and insight are recognized as […]

  It’s been a brutal and unfortunate summer for hikers in the Deserts of Southern Utah. So far this year, 3 people have perished due to heat related symptoms in the Paria Canyon- Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness along the Utah/Arizona Border in the Coyote Buttes area. The hikers were visiting the popular Wave formation that has […]

  My dog is the best dog in the world. Now, he hasn’t always been that way. He’s a Springer Spaniel/Labrador or a “Springador” and he was the puppy from hell. He chewed three pairs of reading glasses and the top off of one of my cowboy boots. He didn’t do too well in puppy […]

Tucked deep within a secluded fold of sandstone on the west side of Zion National Park is one of the world’s largest arches. Kolob Arch has long been a quiet destination for those looking to get away from the crowds. Miles of washes, cascades, buttresses, trees, and flowers lead through a majestic desert landscape peppered […]