Snow Canyon- Climbing & Conservation Work

We got to Snow Canyon in St. George, Utah on the cold afternoon of February 27th. We settled into our new cooking groups and got acquainted with Coleman stoves. Our set up looked different than it did at the Kofa given that we were front country camping! We enjoyed eating and cooking with luxurious foods like avocados, cucumbers, milk, and eggs. 

Early in our trip the weather made rock climbing impossible, but we adjusted by taking classes, going to the library, and hanging out in our campsite. During our library day we had discussions, a ted-talk presentation, and a research project on the wildlife, geology, and Native Heritage history of southwest Utah. 

During our climbing days our instructors, Chris, Sydney, Faith, and Maddie helped us get acclimated with basic skills and safety mechanisms associated with rock climbing. We possessed varying familiarity with rock climbing, but we all excitedly dove into belaying, rappelling, and covering steep and exposed terrain with our peers. We also took classes guided by our instructors on risk management and leadership styles. 

On some of the mornings and evenings, a few of us had the opportunity to run and hike around the Snow Canyon trails. 

Two days of the week we volunteered with Conserve Southwest Utah, planting joshua trees and prickly pears. Additionally, we gathered data on the local desert tortoise population by identifying burrows in critical survey areas. Along the way, some of us encountered a lost calf and tried to reunite it with its mother. We made new friends that are residents of St. George and had some good conversations with them. 

We spent the last two days of this exped exploring the lava tubes and preparing for our next exped in Cedar Mesa. Our group had an amazing time here, and we are all excited for the next journey ahead!