For 50 years our community has been urging you to Save Our Canyons. Now, nearly every single canyon in Salt Lake County is confronted with a harmful proposal all with a singular purpose, monetization. What legacy are we going to leave to future generations?
Dedicated to protecting the beauty and wildness of the Wasatch Mountains
sPRING 2022 Newsletter • • • • • • • • • •
Citizens Committee to Save Our Canyons 3690 E Fort Union Blvd STE 101 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 801.363.7283 info@saveourcanyons.org https://saveourcanyons.org ALEXIS KELNER Editor Emeritus
Director’s Message: P2-P3 Parley’s Canyon Proposal A Bad Idea For Air, Water, And Wildlife: P4 Is More Pavement The Only Solution? P5 Advocacy Corner: P6-P7 50 Years Of Advocacy: P8-P9 Why I Want To Protect The Wasatch: P10 A Great Wasatch Advocate — Rick Reese: P11 State Of The Wasatch: P12-P13 Empowering Students and Preserving Trails: P14 Skiing & Mountain Living Through Art: P15
Director’s Message The Wasatch needs your support and attention Written by Executive Director, Carl Fisher
The Wasatch Mountains are no stranger to controversial and damaging propositions and endeavors. Ever since the mormon pioneers came to this valley the tale has been a relationship of taking more than we give. We took the land from native peoples who inhabited this area for thousands of years. We took the trees. We took the ore. This led to a request and a massive undertaking to replant and restore the vegetation we decimated. We asked the USFS to come in and heal these canyons. Congress directed them to work with Salt Lake City to protect our watersheds. While we never made amends with the first peoples, for about 50 years things were looking like they’d improve. Suddenly, Snowbird happened in 1972, ever since then, we’ve begun to slip into our old ways - take, take, take. Of course for these past 50 years, Save Our Canyons has worked tirelessly not only to slow the take, but to give back to the place that gives us all so much. So many incredible natural wonders and exciting adventures exist just minutes from one of the fastest growing regions in our country. They’ve shaped me and I’ve seen how they’ve shaped our community too.
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So here we are at 50 and working to change the season back to giving - it must as we are confronted with staggering loss. Nearly every single canyon in Salt Lake County is confronted with a harmful proposal all with a singular purpose, monetization. • • •
• •
Little Cottonwood: A ruinous road or a grotesque gondola Big Cottonwood: Next up for transportation and recreation enhancements Millcreek: Salt Lake County and the Forest Service are working to significantly widen the road in the upper canyon and build more parking lots Parley’s Canyon: Threatened by road widening and a 634 acre mine City Creek: A tricky balance between conservation and recreation interests
Many of the formative experiences I’ve enjoyed in the Wasatch are because of the work done by those before me. The wildness exists in the Wasatch not always because of protective policy, but because of a community that rallies to defend these places. One of SOC’s founder’s, Alexis Kelner reminds us in his 1980 book, Skiing in Utah: A History, www.saveourcanyons.org
“The threat of Snowbird’s expansion onto several thousand acres of near-wilderness helped make Lone Peak Wilderness a reality. Similar threats of encroachment by other destination resorts in other portions of the Wasatch may likewise give birth to public outcries for more stringent protection.”
For 50 years our community has been urging you to Save Our Canyons. We’ve said the Wasatch is in desperate need for a comprehensive and holistic approach to managing the environments that play host to so many community values. Us humans have a sordid relationship with proactivity the politicians we elect arguably struggle the most. www.saveourcanyons.org
The looming climate crisis and rapid loss of nature are living proof. These issues are daunting, but we change policy and behavior to do better for ourselves and those who come after us. Protecting the Wasatch should be easy - it could be easy. While these complex challenges make us fear what we may lose in the Wasatch, what excites me is the opportunity that stems from the threats of today, and what they may yield for the protection of the Wasatch Mountains. We have much planned for our 50th year. We welcome your engagement, your partnership and cooperation. Attend an event, join an issues working group, serve on a citizen board. The Wasatch needs your voice - our community needs your passion. We have work to do and invite you to be part of it.
Save Our Canyons, Spring 2022
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Parley’s Canyon Proposal A Bad Idea For Air, Water, And Wildlife Written by Alex Schmidt, Campaigns Coordinator
Soaring over the patchwork of political jurisdictions and management polygons is the Golden Eagle. Showing blackish-brown with yellow tones these birds mate for life and are not known to migrate often. The Golden Eagle recently declared by Governor Cox as the “Utah State Bird of Prey” also finds itself on Utah’s list of “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in part because the habitat of jackrabbits and other small mammals that this soaring carnivore depends upon is being destroyed. Despite the intrigue and fanfare for this spirit of the mountainous west, this bird and its prey are at risk of losing their habitat. The applicants who seek to own and operate the mine in Parley’s Canyon have found Golden Eagle nests on their proposed mining area. Of the many important species worth standing up for, the Golden Eagle is certainly an iconic candidate. We have already allowed policies, development pressure, or our own appetite for recreation to tip out of balance. Taking action to influence current decisions being made about your favorite areas of the Wasatch can make a difference. We see it in many of the proj-
Yet the need for defenders of the Wasatch Mountains has never been greater. In November of last year, Tree Farm LLC submitted an application for a limestone quarry and gravel mine. Later choosing Granite Construction to operate the mine, their applications for a Small Mine Operation (SMO) (>20 acres) and Large Mine Operation (LMO) (634 acres) shocked communities and alerted us to take action. Save Our Canyons has been leading out in response to mine opposition, Salt Lake County moved to amend their ordinance to prohibit new mining operations in the Forest and Recreation Zones. Letters of opposition to the application have come from Millcreek and Salt Lake City Mayors, as well as a joint letter from the Central Wasatch Commission. Over 24,000 people signed the Change.org petition and thousands of comments have been sent to the County and State Officials. More details of the proposal and process are available at our website, here I want to highlight one of the dozens of
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We sit in awe of the many beauties around us while considering our ability to preserve the place for our communities now and into the future. “Might we lose it all in order to appreciate what we might have had? The deepest tragedy is that we will not be able to get it back (Ellie Ienatsch, SOC supporter). We’ve fragmented our ecosystems to the point that conservation is running behind and restoration is the necessary step to heal the land for a viable future with clean water and wild spaces.
Is more pavement the only solution?
Parley’s Canyon I Winter 2021/2022
The Wasatch Range and Parley’s Canyon are no stranger to the impacts of growth. Industry, commercialization, and recreation have altered and reshaped our canyons. For decades community leaders and conservation advocates have done a stalwart job to leave a legacy of open space, Wilderness Designation Areas, and year round recreation opportunities for all to enjoy.
ects and initiatives that you have helped support. For example, in partnership with the Forest Service, State of UT Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, and SL City Public Utilities we have undertaken a Shared Stewardship Initiative to mitigate wildfire risk in Lambs and Parley’s Canyons. We’re using scientific data and sharing resources to invest in rewilding practices that address the need for a more resilient and natural landscape to undo the harm caused by decades of emphasis on fire suppression in deference to protecting property values and other values that don’t exist in nature.
Written by Claire Parsons, Wilderness Stewardship and Education Coordinator
species that rely upon this area as it is today. But first, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what is at stake? Parley’s Creek lies within the protected Salt Lake City Watershed beginning near Mountain Dell Dam and Reservoir. Extending north and east, it includes Little Dell Dam before flowing south and east to include the mountainous south wall of the Parley’s Canyon. If another Parley’s Mine were to be approved, this important water source, depended upon by our communities, could be used to manage the disturbed dirt known as “fugitive dust” that blows off such mines. Look across the canyon or at the point of the mountain quarries where fugitive dust is a serious concern, already impacting residents and our airshed. Salt Lake City Public Utilities has a century long history of exemplary water delivery and management which is why we are appreciative of their public concern and involvement on behalf of our water. Rarely a day goes by when the Wasatch’s mood doesn’t carry you away even for a moment. The seasons change along with your chosen activity or the time you find to break away to visit the trails, valley’s, peaks, and sheltered corners of the many canyons. If you’re lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of a rarely seen creature.
www.saveourcanyons.org
Growth and climate change have been on a speeding path that has now forced us to develop a strategy for mitigation and management over prevention. The Wasatch Mountains are just one piece of a much larger puzzle. In the fall of 2021, Salt Lake County, Millcreek City, and the US Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest were awarded a $15.4 million grant through a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) to reconstruct Millcreek Canyon Road and widen the road from Elbow Fork to Winter Gate. Construction for the project would begin in late fall 2024 with a projected end date of fall 2026. These partners, in addition to the Federal Highway Administration Central Federal Lands Highway Division, have proposed the reconstruction of 4.5 miles, installation of larger parking lots, and pedestrian crossings will cost a total of $19.6 million - requiring locals to pay over $4 million to cover the difference. It is absolutely valuable to recognize that this canyon, as do many other Wasatch Canyons, needs attention to mitigate the impacts we are seeing to the land and recreational pressures. While we see the benefit of some of the projects, others cause us to question what exactly is our collective vision for Millcreek Canyon.
www.saveourcanyons.org
The FLAP grant would reconstruct Mill Creek Canyon Rd, improve picnic areas, install additional trailhead parking, add pedestrian crossings at high-frequency areas, improve roadway drainage, and install emergency infrastructure. Our fundamental question is about access and capacity, primarily that the projects continue to be automobile-centric at a time when we believe we need to be looking at transit-based solutions for all our canyons. If our collective goal is to continue to have a car-based system in the canyon, then we should decide how many cars we want to accommodate before converting user-created sites into formalized spots, enlarging other parking areas, and encouraging more traffic. We support the improvements to drainage and closing of user-created parking, but are concerned about accommodating that parking elsewhere in the canyon because it isn’t sustainable. We also take issue with deceleration lanes and road-widening projects and believe that safety goals can be better achieved by reducing the number of personal vehicles and establishing a public transit system. We should be asking how we can reduce congestion, increase safety and provide opportunities for all people to enjoy these lands while preserving the water, habitat, and ecosystem of this area. Save Our Canyons, Spring 2022
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UNITING TOGETHER AROUND A SHARED GOAL...
Advocacy Corner We can show unity in a variety of ways by: attending a public meeting, a Save Our Canyons event, signing a petition, volunteering with our organization, or writing a Letter to the Editor or Op-Ed. Ways to stay informed: • Email list: Sign up for our action alert emails through our website • Facebook: Save Our Canyons • Instagram: @saveourcanyons Here you will find a snapshot of social media outreach and advocacy efforts that transpired during these events held at Fisher Brewing Company or Black Diamond Millcreek. For the privacy of our social media followers we have blocked out people’s Instagram handles and photos.
One of the first rules of backcountry safety is that you don’t go it alone. It’s not just the credo for backcountry safety, it’s also how you protect the backcountry. You don’t go it alone, it requires a community. And it’s incredible what can be accomplished when we unit together around a shared goal of protecting the Wasatch! The past few months have been full of advocacy and it’s uplifting to see all of the support and passion for protecting the Wasatch Mountains. Save Our Canyons would like to say thank you to everyone that attended Fisher Brewing Company or Black Diamond Millcreek for the “Backyard Boulder Problems” and “Into The Smog” films.
Backyard Boulder Problems
Takes an inside look into two climbers’ experiences climbing in Little Cottonwood Canyon and how the climbing community would be affected by the UDOT Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) alternatives. Director: Mitch Henderson (@mitchellhendy ) Editor: Parker Landgren (@parker.landgren ) DOP: Parker Landgren & Kevin Landgren Copywriter: Mitch Winter (@mintchellwinter ) Talent: Miles Anderson & Audrey Miller (@milesfawkes) and (@ audrey.l.miller )
“Into The Smog” by Maeve Reiss
Covers how a mining proposal in Parley’s Canyon would impact so much of what our region holds dear: land, water, wildlife, air quality, and persevering the majesty of the Wasatch, to name a few. At a proposed size of 600+ acres, after being dug, blasted, and hauled away, the areas north of Grandeur Peak and Mt Aire would be permanently scarred. Leaving our communities including non-human populations to live with the degraded habitat, water, and air.
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Fisher Brewing Company I Jan.23,2022 www.saveourcanyons.org
Fisher Brewing Company I Jan.23,2022 www.saveourcanyons.org
Black Diamond I “Into The Smog” I March 14 ,2022
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50 Years of Advocacy These people — Gale Dick, Alexis Kelner, and so many others knew that while the mountains and canyons of the Wasatch took eons to be created, the political changes and policies that ruin them can happen as quickly as one legislative session. They knew that protecting these mountains would require an equally tireless group, one as committed to preserving the Wasatch as the developers are committed to bulldozing them.
50 years later, we’re still at it. Still committed and still relentless. Still a passionate group of mothers and fathers, climbers and hikers, mountain bikers and picnickers, skiers and snowboarders working to protect the Wasatch Mountains.
Louis Arevalo Photography; https://www.louisarevalophotography.com/index
50 years ago a few hikers, climbers, scientists, mothers and fathers united together and formed Save Our Canyons.
SAVE THE DATE: Our 50th Anniversary Celebration will be held on September 10th at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Celebrating 50 years of community, advocacy, and appreciation for the Wasatch Mountains. If you would like to donate product or help sponsor the event — please email info@saveourcanyons.org.
The Canyons Today
The Wasatch Mountains are the cornerstone of the community, and an essential part of the history of Salt Lake City. Currently, our watersheds, the critical habitat for over 1,200 species of flora and fauna, and the pristine wild lands are in danger of being developed.
Photo courtesy of Alexis Kelner I Taken in 1975
Salt Lake City was officially incorporated in 1851, after which Brigham Young turned over authority to city government.
That ordinance, building on three years of established water management practices, began a legacy lasting over 170 years of careful, responsible watershed protection by Salt Lake City.
One of the new City Council’s first acts was to put in place watershed protections: “Be it ordained by the City Council of Great Salt Lake City no person or persons shall be allowed to build cow yards or deposit any filthy substance in or near any of the streams through this city so as to affect the waters thereof.”
While Salt Lake City was founded and relied upon the Wasatch Mountains for water; this area was not immune to the pressures of mining, logging, and grazing. When more pioneers came into the valley, they needed resources so they went to the Wasatch Mountains for trees, mining and grazing.
The beginning
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www.saveourcanyons.org
The Wasatch is facing serious threats ranging from the world’s longest gondola, a 600+ acre mining proposal in Parley’s Canyon, land management directives rather than codes, impacts to headwater areas of the Central Wasatch due to wetland destruction and tree removal for ski area expansion, and uninformed theories about wildfires driven by limited data.
www.saveourcanyons.org
Hope For Tomorrow
Clearly, our watershed and recreational heritage are in danger. Wilderness is fast disappearing. Development of some kind is planned for almost every canyon along the Wasatch Front and Back. With the increasing demand for canyon use by both local and out-of-state residents, overintensive development leading to irreparable damage to some of Utah’s most valuable assets becomes a real possibility. As in the 19th century mining boom, instant wealth has blinded some developers to the wants and needs of future generations. Often, little consideration has been given for those who live in the many communities along the Wasatch Front
and Back. High density recreation facilities, multiple dwellings, traffic jams, and pollution are rapidly increasing in the name of “progress”. The Wasatch Mountains are what connects us all together. It’s why so many of you are passionate, dedicated, and loyal to helping protect the areas we all love. And let there be no doubt what can be achieved when we come together as a community passionate about protecting the Wasatch Mountains! Quite simply, we can’t do this without you. Scan to join Save Our Canyons Today:
Save Our Canyons, Spring 2022
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Why I want to protect the wasatch Written by Save Our Canyons Volunteer Ilana Fogelson
My dog and I went for a run the other day up in the foothills. There was a muted quality to the air as I pulled on my gloves and zipped my jacket up under my chin. Only a handful of other cars sat empty in the parking lot and steady snow was coming down by the time I got started. My feet pressed off of familiar ground dusted temporarily white— a string of trails that my mother introduced to me when I still struggled to keep pace with her adult legs.
“In my mind, these encounters are reason enough to fight for the protection of these ecosystems to which we all, as it turns out, happen to belong.”
“Something like that,” I told him as I headed past. I was headed to a bend in the trail that would bring me back around to a gully I planned to climb up to the ridgeline. By the time I arrived, my liner gloves were soaked through and my cheeks were nearly numb. My dog sniffed at the air as we ran, slowly coming to a standstill. His snow-speckled nose pointed me across the open field back toward the stretch of trail we’d started on. At first, I thought he was watching the old man continuing his trek, but he was long gone. I dropped my gaze a little lower and found myself smiling at a coyote who stood watching us a safe distance away. One of the brave few.
February 16th, 1942- January 9th 2022
While I had known Rick for sometime, it wasn’t until the SkiLink fight that our bond really formed. You’ll see a hint of that in our Newsletter from November 2011 (found online). This editorial was a sea change in the SkiLink campaign, having Rick weigh in and hand deliver our newsletter to Governor Gary Herbert and the Outdoor Industry really changed things and helped to defeat the bill.
Here’s a note he sent me a few years ago when discussing the struggles we are still having: “This is at the heart of the argument that most recreational USE on the land is somehow innocuous, and that all public land should be opened up to more such use. But as we now know, many aspects of recreational use (especially with the enormous, unprecedented volume of users) is far from innocuous. Today, many forms of recreation--in the volume we’re seeing, is now an “extractive industry” as logging, mining, drilling, etc were in the past. Recreational use can be managed, but most public agencies are way behind in dealing with this issue and its impacts.
I’m waiting for the snow to thaw higher up so I can make these sorts of excursions through aspens instead of scrub oak. My partner and I have made a list of all the places we’ll go when it gets too hot in the valley— Mt. Aire, Alexander Basin, Pfeifferhorn, etc. When the trails dry out and we make our way up into the Wasatch, we won’t be looking for coyotes across the field, but instead maybe a moose chewing cud in an alpine meadow or a marmot scrambling somewhere up above the tree line. All sights I have encountered before, and all sights I am determined to encounter again.
Meanwhile, protection of highly significant VALUES on vast expanses of public land (wildlife, water, ecosystem services and others, to name a few) get little or no attention. Back in the 70’s, extractive industries were criticized for their attitude that “If you can’t log it, dam it, drain it, drill it, cut it down, build it up, pave it or otherwise put a dollar sign on it, what value does it have? Now in 2017, the new mantra seems to be: “If I can’t play on it, whenever I want, in whatever manner I want, in whatever numbers we want, without genuine consideration for wildlife, water, ecosystem services and other values, what worth do these lands have?”
Every one of these creatures—canid, ungulate, sapiens, rodent—the canyons and their foothills have a history of use for all of us. On occasion we overlap, watch one another from a distance, and then move on our way. Save Our Canyons, Spring 2022
Written by Executive Director, Carl Fisher
Rick always shared articles, ideas, and cautioned about aligning too much with the recreation industry as they fail to recognize the value of our landscapes, beyond recreation, even though he pioneered so many routes and even the notion of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. It was never about recreation, always about trying to understand the place and get closer to the wild. He also pioneered the idea of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, founded the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, just to name a couple highlights.
“We’re the brave few, huh?” an older man said to me with a smile through the flurries as he shuffled, his head down against the onslaught, on his way back to the trailhead.
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A Great Wasatch Advocate — Rick Reese
www.saveourcanyons.org
www.saveourcanyons.org
Rick Reese was a Utah native, who helped found the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Utah nonprofit that established the famed trail along the shore of the ancient Lake Bonneville, died Jan. 9, 2022 at 79.
Recreation is an “extractive” use on the land, and probably the primary extractive use, and with the the greatest impacts.” This guidance is a key component of the comments we sent to UDOT about the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) alternatives. The Wasatch and the west are a better place because of Rick’s vision and advocacy. There’s still much work to be done despite his lifetime of work. I promised Rick before he passed away, we’d continue to push and to grow and teach new advocates, to help elevate voices and the values of these places. The values are always here, until they aren’t, people have to find them and if protected and managed correctly, future generations will be afforded the time and space to realize despite the urbanization happening immediately adjacent - the values of magical places like the Wasatch can continue to awaken something in each of us.
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State of the Wasatch
Louis Arevalo Photography; https://www.louisarevalophotography.com/index
The Wasatch Range is our source of clean water, a window into the wonders of the natural world, and the reason so many people come to Utah year-round — and it’s in danger of being destroyed! As the population in the valley continues to grow rapidly, it is crucial to understand the sensitivity of this landscape to external pressures. The pressures this area sees in visitation alone are unmatched in any other forest in the country. This area receives more annual visits than all five of the National Parks located in Utah and averages about 5.7 million people per year in just the Central Wasatch. It does not come as a surprise to anyone that development of some kind is planned for almost every canyon along the Wasatch Front. Of course, there are some positives with development like more correctly constructed trails, parking accessibility, and better public transportation. On the other hand, there are definitely negative components too like resort expansion, lack of housing, more hotels, more impacts on the entirety of the environment, and a tainted watershed. With
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proposals for large mining operations, gondolas, road widening projects, unsustainable fire mitigation, and recreational homes aplenty, you can’t help but think we cannot make more mountains, we can only preserve and restore the ones around us.
now. It is crucial, now more than ever, that the important Central Wasatch watersheds in both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon are protected from further development to keep our drinking water clean and pure from the source.
We would like to see that this extraordinarily unique environment is kept pristine for the sake of wildlife, ecosystem preservation, and the health of the citizens that depend on the one resource that is essential for life in this valley: water. Over 60% of the water used by residents of the Salt Lake Valley comes from canyons in the Wasatch Mountains. Protecting watershed resources of the Wasatch Range not only protects the aesthetic and scenic value of these lakes and rivers but ensures a healthy future for the growing populations in the valleys below. As we continue to get less snow each year, we are facing a threat to the quality of our water. Less snow means our water is more vulnerable to a higher concentration of pollutants. There is this undeniable “drying of our mountains” happening right
Wilderness designation is the best way to protect the integrity of the Central Wasatch. It is the highest level of protection that our public lands can receive and can only be created or removed by an act of Congress. One of the main driving forces behind the urgency of confirming the establishment of more wilderness designations throughout the Wasatch is because not all public lands in the US are eligible for protection under the Wilderness Act. In order for lands to qualify, they must be pristine, “untrammeled” landscapes that have been Inventoried Roadless. If an area, for whatever reason, loses its Wilderness character, or people leave their mark on the landscape, it becomes ineligible for future protection. Once these special places are compromised, they could be lost forever!
www.saveourcanyons.org
www.saveourcanyons.org
Save Our Canyons strives to educate the public and further the goals of protecting the natural environments around Salt Lake City. We achieve this through active involvement in planning processes at the city, county, state, and federal levels. We also spend substantial time and energy working with local government entities, and their staff and elected officials, as approximately 20% of the landmass in the Wasatch Mountains is privately owned and, therefore, under the jurisdiction of these local government bodies. By getting citizens actively involved in public land issues we can collectively support laws, ordinances, and policies that integrate science and push for an ecologically minded approach to create resilient landscapes for future generations. Remember to stay engaged and active! Vote for the protection of both the Wasatch and the environment, public lands, breathable air, and clean water.
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Empowering Students and Preserving Trails Written by Claire Parsons, Wilderness Stewardship and Education Coordinator
SKIING & MOUNTAIN LIVING THROUGH ART Written by Christian Sant at 77mm
A key component of 77mm’s core mission is to provide greater access to the world of skiing & mountain living through art, design, and architecture—without sacrificing on environmental concerns. 77mm takes its name from the tail width of the first Howard Head aluminum standard ski. In 1947, Howard Head, a self-educated structural engineer working in airplane manufacturing, was convinced there was a way to make a lighter ski using the material and structural analysis from airplane construction. He quit his job and put all resources into creating a makeshift workshop. After 40 iterations, he birthed the first successful non-wood ski in history. In 1949, he produced 50 pairs, in 1950, he produced 300, and by 1953, he had produced and sold over 4000 pairs of reformed skis. By the end of the decade, Head became the largest ski manufacturer in the country.
Nicole Schulter; originsbynicole.com; Instagram @originsbynicole
One of the best ways to protect the mountains is through educating the community around the threats the region is facing and to share with others how we can all actively best protect our water supply, live sustainably, and encourage people to believe in a healthier ecosystem. In addition to advocating for public land protections and working alongside policymakers, we work to increase stewardship efforts across the Wasatch wilderness and strive to educate students from all backgrounds. The Wilderness Stewardship Project comes from the recognition that our local wilderness areas are gradually becoming degraded due to overuse. It is our responsibility to actively care for this landscape by helping to maintain it and educating those who use it. In collaboration with the Forest Service Salt Lake Ranger District and our volunteers, we are able to facilitate trail work days where we rehabilitate and restore sensitive areas, pack out garbage, and reconstruct trails to be better suited for sustained use. We will be starting our trail work season in late May and are always looking for more volunteers so keep an eye out for dates in our upcoming Action Alerts!
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We also have our Save Our Canyons Kids (SOCKids) program that facilitates access to and education about the Wasatch Mountains to youth throughout the valley by partnering with different after-school and summer programs. Bringing these students into the mountains to hike and to learn more about their home helps them develop a sense of place. This also demonstrates just how close and important this ecosystem is to their communities. Introducing and connecting youth to the Wasatch Mountains, giving them hands-on experiences, appreciation, and understanding of our watershed and ecology. By familiarizing local kids and teenagers with the beauty of the Wasatch and creating a positive experience - we are teaching them to care about this environment. It is essential for us to remember the importance of keeping our environment healthy and instilling those values in future stewards. We are always looking for more partnerships with educators and youth programs - if you are interested in learning more or working together, please contact claire@saveourcanyons.org.
My fascination with this story is rooted in the unintended cultural and architectural impact of Head’s product innovation. The significant improvement in ski functionality created a cultural reset: more people interested in skiing, improved capabilities for current skiers, and a greater demand for ski resorts and ski-related products. This catalyst resulted in new events and competitions, further product innovation in apparel, and innovation in cinematography/digital media—the birth of a completely new culture. It’s with the fascination of the causal relationship between physical product and development that 77mm explores the physical manifestations of culture derived from skiing and mountain living. My driving thesis is that the reshaping of physical products inevitably changes culture, manifested through perceptions, actions, language, art, design, music, film, education, transportation, and architecture. Simply put, if we can reinterpret ski culture through product innovation, we can influence the architectural development and overall perception of mountain living. Thanks to organizations like Save Our Canyons we can ensure that any progress in development considers the environment as a serious, paramount concern. For this reason, we’ve decided to donate a portion of proceeds to SOC from all ‘UTAH’ products — starting with our
Become A Member Your tax deductible donation enables us to continue protecting the beauty and wildness of the Wasatch Mountains. Becoming a member by donating online or by mailing in a check to: 3690 E Fort Union Blvd STE 101; Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121.
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Save Our Canyons relies critically on the support of individual members and local businesses. Join today for only $35: https://saveourcanyons.org/join!
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Membership Benefits • • • • • • •
Connection to a community passionate about conservation Discount on ALL Save Our Canyons event tickets Direct access to our brightest conservation leaders Ability to serve on a Save Our Canyons advisory committee An exclusive Save Our Canyons membership event Quarterly newsletters delivered to your door or via email (your preference) Action Alert emails that focus on direct actions to protect the Wasatch
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signature ‘UTAH’ Cap: https://77mm.online. www.saveourcanyons.org
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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH PERMIT NO. 7271 Citizens’ Committee to Save Our Canyons 3690 E Fort Union Blvd STE 101 Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
As a community driven organization, our members guide and direct our work. Join us! Annual memberships are $35 and allow us to continue to advocate loudly for our water, land, recreational access and quality of life that result from a connected and protected Wasatch Mountains. It’s easy — donate online via saveourcanyons.org Photo Taken By Nicole Schulter Instagram @originsbynicole I originsbynicole.com