Finding the good in the bad can be trying. When I badly injured my wrist last winter, I felt like my active life was temporarily over. While recovering, I decided to focus that negative energy into mastering something new: peak bagging. Being a Utah native I’ve hiked a lot, but I’ve never committed to the long treks required to reach summits.
I started with Utah’s smaller peaks before working up to my first 14er, Telluride’s Wilson Peak, this summer! While thunderstorms prevented us from summiting, climbing to 13,500 feet is one of the most fun, difficult challenges I’ve undertaken. I’ve grown to appreciate the solace of full-day hikes and find myself increasingly enchanted by the views atop mountain peaks.
While the road to recovery’s been tough, I’m grateful that my injury helped me to escape my routine and discover the magic of mountaineering in Utah’s backcountry. Whether you aspire to climb mountains or not, use this issue to venture off course this summer; try riding a bike on Salt Lake’s streets, glamping at Bear Lake, or even climbing Wilson Peak yourself! Happy adventuring!
Jenny Willden
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