Gripped

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON

- Mark Wilson is based in Salt Lake City and will be spending his winter in the Utah canyons.

Most of the ice climbing routes in Big Cottonwood Canyon are located on the north side of the canyon. Since the canyon does receive a lot of sunlight most of the ice is thin, so it’s not really recommende­d for beginners and it’s more for those that have ice climbing experience already. Storm Mountain Park is the go-to place in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Classic ice routes include: Sundial Falls WI3; Scottish Gully WI3 M4, three pitches; and Storm Mountain WI4, two pitches.

When ice climbing, safety should always be your number one priority. Since falling ice is one of the most dangerous parts about ice climbing you should always wear a helmet. For beginners, it’s important to know the basics of ice climbing and to always wear the proper equipment. Utah is a very ice climbing friendly state where you’ll find a lot of people with the same interest. It’s easy to make friends and join clubs, so go out there and have some fun.

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