Exploring Salt Lake City's Wilderness

View from Sunset Peak, elevation 10,600'

The last week of July, my friend Thomas and I decided to do an early morning hike on a day when we didn't need to get to work until mid-morning. We left my place at 6:30 AM and reached the Catherine's Pass trailhead up in Little Cottonwood Canyon at 7:00. In 45 minutes (after skirting past two very large moose in different parts of the trail) we had reached the summit of Sunset Peak, elevation 10,600 ft. We read a few Psalms, enjoyed a lovely panoramic view of the Wasatch Mtns and then headed back to the car. I was simply amazed at the breadth and the beauty of the wilderness we were able to access on a workday before 10:00 AM! 

This is just one of the many reasons why I love Salt Lake City. It boggles my mind weekly that I live in an urban area with the amenities that SLC has, yet am never more than a 20 minute drive away from extreme mountains and wilderness. Having this kind of access to the outdoors provides us great opportunities to escape and retreat to the solitude of the tall forests, bubbling streams and rugged cliffs in the Wasatch. And this creates the backdrop to one of the core pieces of the Salt Lake Fellows program; outdoor adventure and exploration.

View of the Twin Peaks from Mill A Basin, Big Cottonwood Canyon

Sundial Peak and Lake Blanche

In the last few months the Fellows have peaked two summits in the Wasatch, rafted down a portion of the Colorado River, visited 2 National Parks, trekked to alpine lakes, repelled over 200 feet, and spent several nights under the stars. In December, we will begin winter excursions; snowshoeing, skiing and possibly some ice climbing.

​This is part of the GREAT OPPORTUNITY we continue to allude to here in Salt Lake. While the economy provides great professional opportunity and the culture creates a huge spiritual opportunity as a Christian, the outdoors provides the opportunity for rest and recreation to find its way into the rhythms and patterns of our lives. We find that retreating to the wilderness quiets our hearts and minds and allows us to be still and wait upon the Lord. We appreciate the beauty of his creation and the wonder of his workmanship. And we are able to push ourselves outside of our comfort zones to create space for life and growth.

If you or someone you know desires to be pushed in a place that is utterly unique and grow through exploration and outdoor adventure, please let us know. We would love to share life with you here in Utah! Check out this video below for a 360 tour of our mountains from the summit of Mount Baldy, 11,300'.

Ben L.
​Salt Lake Fellows
Founder & CEO