Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25059
column: text: daniel caruso - photography: r a diu h 0 U r: si rock climb in American Fork Canyon How does getting pumped on some overhanging limestone jugs sound? Take 1-1 5 South. Exit just after the prison at Alpine, Utah. Hang a left under the highway and head east into the canyon. In the chilly spring and fall months, climb well-bolted 5.1 Os on the sunny, south-facing Escape Buttress along the canyon road on the left. During the hot summer months, climb more bolted routes (5.1 1 s) in the shade on the Membrane Wall or the Division Wall. Additional sightseeing: drive the Mount Timpanogos Alpine Loop and ven ture into the Timpanogos Cave. Have lunch with Robert Redford at Sundance. Call Black Diamond Equipment (801 -278-0233) for equipment, information and guides. snowboard Snowbird Wanna freeride some freshies? Head up Little Cottonwood Canyon (State Road 210). Exit 1- 215 at 6200 South or 1-1 5 at 9400 South and travel eastbound up LCC. The curvy eight-mile road brings you from 5,000 feet in Sandy to 8,000 feet at the 'Bird. The aerial tram takes you up another 3,000 vertical-in eight minutes-to Hidden Peak at 11 ,000. The Greatest Snow on Earth still awaits in areas like Silver Fox and Anderson's. Apres-ride, go to The Wildflower for appetizers and cocktails. Powder Tools has all the boards and gear for rent, and the Snowboard School can show you how to use them. Open through the end of May. Snowbird: 801 -742-2222. mountain bike the red rock paradise in Moab About as surreal as outdoor adventures get. Head out of Salt Lake Valley on 1-1 5 Southbound, swing a left onto 6 East and drive through Soldier Summit. Cross over 1-70 and continue south on 191 into Moab. Legendary desert rides such as Poison Spider Mesa, the White Rim and the Slickrock Trail are all right outside of town. While you're down there, walk through the Fiery Furnace in Arches National Park or the Needles in Canyonlands National Park. After a long day under the desert sun, get a cold one at Eddie McStiffs Brew Pub. Contact Kaibab Bike Shop in Moab (435-259-7423) for rental and permit information. h 0 u r radius fly-fish at Flaming Gorge Quit wishin' and go fishin' ! Stay on 1-80 East towards Vernal, Utah, until it becomes 40 East. Then head north on 191 and follow signs to the Flaming Gorge Recreation Area. Catch and release (Love 'em and leave 'em) is the etiquette here on the Green River, but if you're hungry you're welcome to eat a few of the cutthroats, rainbows and brown trouts. For more information, call Western Rivers Flyfishers (801-521-6424). hour radius gem hound at Topaz Mountain Tired of paying outrageous jewelry store prices? Find free gems! Take 1- 15 South past Provo, and then exit on 6 West towards Lynndyl Junction. Turn right, onto Hwy 174W, towards Topaz. Go about 40 miles and take the left on a dirt road, following the signs to Topaz Mountain. Walk up towards the U-shaped mountain and search the gullies for glittering rock. All you really need is a rock hammer and a keen eye to find topaz and, if you're really lucky, you may find some red barrel. Topaz Mountain is the only known source of red barrel on the planet and it glitters like a pink diamond in the sunlight. Beware of alien abduction-in this lonely part of the West Desert UFO sightings are common. Contact The Vug (801-521- 6026) in SLC for equipment and information. set the land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats Got the need for speed? Get on 1-80 West, head past the Great Salt Lake and punch it towards Nevada. Take the last Utah exit (Wendover) before the border and creep past the race track. Then put the pedal to the metal and speed into the abyss. Beware of police as well as federal nuclear and chemical testing areas. Don't tell anyone that you intend to do this and act naive if arrested. (PS I've gone over 120 mph in a rental car.) Cross the border and visit West Wendover, Nevada, for golf, gam bling, and other debauchery.