Outdoor Recreation Day on the Hill

On February 10th, 2023 the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance attended the Outdoor Recreation Day on the Hill at The Utah State Capitol building. We were excited to be able to talk to our local Utah Representatives and thank them for all the legislative work they have done, as well as speaking further on why we believe in a gondola free Little Cottonwood Canyon.

The SLCA has been a recipient of the Division of Outdoor Recreation Grants since 2017 and depends on these grants to provide sustainable recreation infrastructure at outdoor climbing areas. Our trail and anchor maintenance stewardship ensure that the public can safely recreate at Wasatch climbing areas now and into the future. We are very thankful for the continuous support of receiving this grant and we were very excited to show the work that has been completed thanks to the Division of Outdoor Recreation Grant.

We wanted to express how lower Little Cottonwood in particular has been a focus of our organization over the past decade as this historic climbing area is the root of our community with world class climbing and hiking. We also talked about how we advocate for a flexible, scalable, and fiscally responsible transportation system that serves all canyon users in Little Cottonwood. The gondola would be a mistake that fails to solve the LCC traffic problem. It would permanently alter the canyon by destroying and removing irreplaceable climbing resources, iconic natural character and views, while aso compromising state historic sites.

Having the opportunity to be present at the Outdoor Recreation Day on the Hill proved to be successful. Seeing our board, committee, and staff members introduce themselves and talk to their Utah Representatives about who we are and what we stand for, and working together to find a solution that can work for everyone was a highlight for us all.