Author: Alexa Morgan

Got a chill in your bones? Warm up with an invigorating soak in one of Utah’s most unique and appealing hot springs. Mystic Hot Springs Location: 475 East 100 North in Monroe. 175 miles from SLC. Directions: Take Exit 188 off I-15 South. Go east on US-50 for about 25 miles to I-70 West, then proceed to Exit 31. Turn left, continue for 2 miles, and turn right on Highway 118. After 3.5 miles, turn left on 100 North and head up the hill. Long after its early 20th-century heyday as central Utah’s “home of mirth and merriment,” Mystic has…

5 Must-do Adventures You don’t have to be stuck indoors as temperatures soar. From slot canyons to ski slopes, here are five of Utah’s “coolest” adventures to check off your bucket list this summer. 1. HIKE SOUTHERN UTAH’S BEST SLOT CANYONS Shade plus water equals paradise when temperatures in southern Utah’s beautiful red rock country reach the triple digits, and slot canyons offer both. Willis Creek Slot Canyon (4.8 miles roundtrip) This dog- and family-friendly retreat is a fun introduction to slot canyons for hikers of virtually all ages and fitness levels. Accessible via Skutumpah Road off Highway 12 in…

A Challenging, Unpredictable Triathlon Experience Stunning red rock vistas and immense community support in an outdoors-oriented locale characterize the ultimate southern Utah triathlon experience, IRONMAN 70.3 St. George. “It’s the perfect culture and environment for a race,” says Ryan Rowbury, who competed in the 2015 event. “To participate in a local race just confirms how great of a place St. George is.” Rowbury says locals are fortunate to have countless miles of trails available; training never feels like a chore. IRONMAN in Southern Utah The event started in 2010 as a full-distance IRONMAN triathlon. In 2013, it transitioned into a…

How These Pups Sniff Out Victims, Save Lives Being trapped or buried in the backcountry is a skier’s worst nightmare—injured, lost, and alone, willing to give anything to see a friendly face. Perhaps that face will belong to Ninja, a 5-year-old pointer/lab mix employed as an avalanche search and rescue dog at Deer Valley Resort in Park City. Sue Anderson, who works as the resort’s avalanche mitigation supervisor, brought Ninja home when he was only 49 days old. He spent his first summer riding the chairlifts and socializing with hundreds of visitors. Deer Valley has two or three avalanche dogs…

Cory Reese Goes from Bucket List Runner to Badwater Finisher Ultrarunner Cory Reese knows that slow and steady may not win the race, but it will get you across the finish line. Reese, a 38-year-old social worker, lives in Hurricane with his wife, Mel, and their three kids. Always up for a challenge, he ran a marathon in 2009 and soon discovered his passion for running on trails. He completed his first 100-mile race in 2011 and now has more than 20 ultramarathons under his belt. “I’m not necessarily a gifted athlete,” he admits. “I’m not fast, but I just…

Highflying Extreme Adventures in Moab Climbing, slacklining, skydiving—Moab is a thrillseeker’s mecca. In recent years, this redrock paradise has become home to an elite group of athletes taking human flight to the next level through BASE and wingsuit jumping. Often considered the world’s most dangerous sports, the adrenaline rush is only part of the attraction. “It’s a lot about connections with people, in addition to the clarity and focus you get from doing air sports,” says Ian Mitchard, a photographer and BASE/wingsuit instructor with a skydiving background. “There doesn’t need to be a conversation in terms of thinking about what…

Amber Green and Aaron Metler St. George is a well-known marathon that people enter a lottery and travel just to compete in, but the race’s real stars are locals Amber Green and Aaron Metler who made history in 2015 as the only man and women ever to win the race three times. Born and raised in St. George, Amber Green is a stay-at-home mom of three boys who made the transition from casual runner to elite competitor, culminating in her recent appearance at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Aaron Metler, a native of Michigan, moved to St. George for a job…

5 Daring Snow Season Adventures The fun doesn’t have to stop when temperatures drop! Even if you don’t ski or snowboard, there are plenty of ways to enjoy winter in Utah. So bundle up and hit a trail, slope, or lake this winter for some of the most exhilarating outdoor activities our state has to offer. Bobsled, zipline, sled at Utah Olympic Park The Utah Olympic Park, the legacy of the 2002 Winter Olympics, offers an array of winter sport activities at a world-class venue. Thrill-seekers can hop aboard the Comet Bobsled for the ride of a lifetime. A professional…

The NOLS Experience Every year, more than 3,000 students begin an epic adventure by enrolling in the National Outdoor Leadership School at one of their 14 locations across six continents. Headquartered in Lander, Wyoming and celebrating 50 years in 2015, NOLS is the largest nonprofit wilderness educator worldwide. Andy Blair, assistant director of NOLS Rocky Mountain, says that the majority of enrollees are in their late teens to early twenties and seeking high school or college credit, granted primarily through the University of Utah. Older students come from many different walks of life, whether to advance their career, start a…

Salt Lake’s Urban Bike Explosion Since ditching her car in 2009, Kristin Beck takes two wheels to work (a flat, easy five-mile roundtrip), to the market, and pretty much everywhere else, using public transit only when the weather doesn’t cooperate. For someone who already enjoyed riding on a regular basis, joining the growing ranks of Salt Lake City bike commuters was a natural transition. Many of her co-workers, friends, and neighbors have also embraced this trend. “There’s a lot more people talking about it now. I think that there’s a generation that doesn’t necessarily want to be encumbered by a…