The SLCA is set to Update Fixed Anchors on Climbing Routes at Hellgate in Little Cottonwood Canyon

The Salt Lake Climbers Alliance is set to Update Fixed Anchors on Climbing Routes at Hellgate in Little Cottonwood Canyon

 September 21, 2020

Snowbird and Alta Ski Area recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA) to steward Little Cottonwood Canyon’s Main and East Hellgate climbing areas. The two resorts have allowed climbers to access and climb on their private property in the Hellgate area for years. However, there has never been a formal agreement in place allowing legitimate access to this area, nor a stewardship plan in place to maintain this popular climbing resource.

The SLCA worked with Access Fund to craft a MOU that points to the SLCA as stewards for the purpose of conservation with more sustainable trails, staging areas and fixed anchors. MOUs like this are seen across the country at other climbing areas. Access Fund has some great resources available to land owners.

The SLCA’s professional Anchor Replacement Crew will start to replace fixed hardware at Hellgate starting this fall.

Professionalizing anchor replacement has been a goal of the SLCA for many years. SLCA’s dedicated Wasatch Anchor Replacement Initiative (WARI) Committee Members have put countless volunteer hours into developing best practices and methods that have led the nonprofit to being able to train and hire the nation’s first professional Anchor Replacement Crew this year.

Please help SLCA to gather observations on anchor conditions at Hellgate. You can report anchor observations on this form.

Learn more and donate to this effort at SaltLakeClimbers.org.

Photos by Jon Vickers