Advocacy and Stewardship Program - 2024 End of Year Report

The Salt Lake Climbers Alliance had a landmark year for stewardship in the Wasatch. In August 2024, the Alpenbock Loop area in Little Cottonwood Canyon became the nation's first recreational climbing area to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places! This milestone acknowledges this climbing area as culturally significant while emphasizing the need to protect Little Cottonwood Canyon and its surrounding landscape. This recognition sets a precedent for future climbing areas, both within Utah and beyond, to receive similar acknowledgment.

The SLCA received an Access Fund Climbing Conservation Grant to create and host interactive historical hikes at the Little Cottonwood Climbing Area Historic Site, also known as the Alpenbock Loop. With the expertise of consultant Kirk Huffaker, we’ve developed an interpretive tour to share the site’s rich history with the public and elected officials. Stay tuned for announcements about upcoming hikes

In 2024, fundraising and filming began for Alpenbock, a film capturing the legacy of the Alpenbock Club, its contributions to American climbing, and the generations that have followed. This film celebrates climbing culture, the landscape, and the community that upholds this legacy. Because we can save a place a thousand times, but lose it only once. 

The SLCA undertook a major project to rebuild the climbing trail leading to Beckey’s Wall/East Gate in the Gate Buttress area by hiring a sister non-profit, the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation’s, professional trail crew. The trail had been destroyed by a massive rockfall in August 2023. The reconstruction took five weeks and included reseeding native plants to stabilize the steep slopes. Thanks to the volunteers who contributed to this effort during our Adopt a Crag volunteer stewardship opportunities. Thanks also to Peter Lenz and the Wasatch Graffiti Busters for cleaning up the vandalism at the Gate Boulders this season.

The SLCA also collaborated with Utah’s State Trail Crew on projects at the Alpenbock Loop and Gate Buttress areas in Little Cottonwood Canyon. For two weeks, the crew worked to clear brush on the Alpenbock Loop and climbing access trails at the canyon's mouth. Additional clearing and trail work were completed on the 5-Mile and Fin approach trails at Gate Buttress.

We once again attended the Intermountain West Trails Conference hosted by the Division of Outdoor Recreation to gain insight and partnerships for regional recreation infrastructure and conservation efforts.

The SLCA partnered with the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation as climbing experts to enhance infrastructure in Big Cottonwood Canyon. This collaboration included teaming up for National Trail Day, installing new signage at Storm Mountain, and offering guidance for the Reservoir Ridge belay platform rebuild

We remain dedicated to our mission of advocating for climbing in the Salt Lake area. As a key stakeholder in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, we actively represent climbers' interests by supporting year-round public transit, the addition of crosswalks, improved parking solutions, and stewardship of this invaluable resource. 

For 2025, the SLCA plans to enhance the approach trail to the Hard Rock Area in American Fork Canyon, bringing the Access Fund’s professional trail crew back to town. Planning for this project be

gan this year in collaboration with the Forest Service, and it is expected to be completed in multiple phases

Climbers and Coffee events were held at major climbing areas across the Wasatch—including Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, the Uinta Mountains, and American Fork. These gatherings provided a relaxed setting to engage climbers on stewardship topics, distribute wag bags, and complete light maintenance work such as brush clearing, fire pit dismantling, and micro-trash pickup—all with a coffee sponsored by Alpha Coffee in hand. These events have proven a fantastic way to connect with climbers while caring for our climbing areas. 

This spring, we attended the Mountain West Trails Conference in Vernal, UT, hosted by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. The conference brought together advocates, land managers, industry professionals, and community leaders from Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming. It provided a unique platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to enhance the future of trail experiences.

By Andrew Brodhead, SLCA Advocacy Coordinator