Challenges & Tips for Finding a Sustainable Balance The mountains of Utah are known throughout the world for their abundant snowfall, breathtaking landscapes, and limitless opportunities for recreation. But the beauty of Utah is bringing new residents in droves, making it the fastest growing state and filling the Salt Lake Valley with continual urban expansion. But all this growth means negative effects on Utah’s air and water, threatening quality and safety for our residents. With this in mind, we investigated the Wasatch’s main environmental concerns: our primary watersheds, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, and the inversions produced by the Salt…
Author: Amy David
Amy David
Amy David is an outdoor sports athlete and content producer. She grew up in the mountains of Wyoming and spends the majority of her time guiding wilderness trips, producing outdoor-themed media, and seeking adrenaline rushes on skis. With a degree in the Psychology of Communication and minor in Outdoor Education and Leadership, her work fuses the outdoor and entertainment industries. Keep up with her adventures at @AmyJaneDavid.
The Godmother of the Wasatch Backcountry The first morning light reaches Big Cottonwood Canyon, and the rays beam onto the new snow crystals, creating a sparkling carpet of snow. Momentarily entranced by the beauty of the Wasatch winter wonderland, I snap my focus back to observing my touring partner for the day. She rapidly heaves shovels of snow, digging a deep snow pit like a wild woman. Smiling between shovel strokes, she eagerly shares her knowledge of snow science concepts and explains the process of analyzing avalanche danger as a forecaster. This is Evelyn Lees. She is the godmother of…
Why Snow Makes Us Happy Snow just feels magical. Its beauty can leave you speechless, playing in it makes you feel like a kid again, and the fluffy white flakes can even have a positive effect on personal happiness. Snowy adventures can also be one of the best all-around health remedies; simultaneously clearing your mind, releasing positive reward chemicals in your brain, and increasing muscle strength and circulation—all while you’re having fun. These feel-good effects draw people from around the globe to the snowy outdoors to find peace, play, explore the natural world, and seek thrills. The film, “Truth in…