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I've never lived there, but went for a conference a couple of years ago. Got lots of great feedback on things to do from the Wasatch Mountain Club, decided to climb the Pfeifferhorn. Started planning the trip and discovered that the buses to the ski lifts would drop you off right at the trailheads! Getting on public transportation in downtown SLC, nobody even batted an eye when I boarded with two alpine axes and sharp crampons strapped to my pack!

Lots of great gear shops to check out, too!

For Utah and for any western state that's predominately mormon. Theres like this "tone" in the air, something you can't quite put your finger on. A buz in the background. Its not exactly a shadow but its like a shadow. Haunted is a closer word. Its all over the land. You're never really alone, theres alway the "shadow", witnessing what goes on. Its definatly dark though. Not a entity of light. Always lurking. I don't know. Maybe its under some "other" sort of authority. A different Power or Principality.

Spent last summer out in Utah. In short, most everyone is completely nuts. People basically fall into two categories. First, there are the super mormons with 5 kids and a hatred for all good things in life. Perhaps more disturbingly, there are the people who grow up reacting against the mormons. These folks will be covered in tattoos, won’t hesitate to lie and steal and generally have a disregard for nature, common courtesy, etc… Basically, you will meet very few normal people. They will either be a religious fanatic or an alcoholic.
The climbing community is made up of good folks though. You will have a shitload of rock climbing close to you, with places for weekend trips, day trips and even quick after work sessions. Even though the rock quality is often not the best, the sheer volume and proximity of climbing routes might make your time here bearable.
Just remember that you are going to a place where a majority of the population believes something like Jesus came to America and converted a bunch of native Americans to Christianity. All these stories are Chronicled on golden plates, buried somewhere in new York that only one person can see or read. These people believe that story so much, they form their whole lifestyle around it, give up a large part of their finances, etc…
Any place where the ruling majority is that brainwashed has to be pretty messed up, you know?

+1

gregkerzhner, sounds like good ole kentucky only very few Mormons here. The virgin Mary story is just as crazy. . . for starters. Look at the damage and trash at some of the popular camping sites in the upper gorge--yikes!

For example: The sign as you are entering and leaving the southern region promises to explain how baptism saves you. If you can get ANYTHING out of their biblical quote (1 Peter 3:20), PM me. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=NIV

Yet the climbing community here is pretty damn good. I think venues filter the population. Consider walking into an eclectic used record store in 2010 and think about talking to the first 5 people you meet. Now do the same at Walmart and write an essay.

won't that be the same five people caribe? probably the same wieners pawning their old vinyl....

pigsteak wrote:probably the same wieners pawning their old vinyl....

I lived in utah for about 6 months in 2000. As mentioned above the closer to SLC the better. There are lots of cool non-mormon climbers/hikers/skiers around there. However, the further you go from SLC the more morman things will get. Provo will probably not be that exciting for a young climber unless you don't really do anything other than climbing.

However, I did climb with some young mormon people while I was there, and they were all very nice. Just don't start any political/religious discussins and you should be fine.

my sister lived on the outskirt of SLC for three years, Sandy, the side closer to amfork; big ikea. i went for three weeks and had a good time. the drivers kind of suck and it can be crowded on the roads but if you have commute times at off times it isn't bad. like kerz said, you have access to lots of good climbing and when the winter hits you have a lot more skiing and a little longer drive to climb.
the liqour thing and the mormons are what everyone talks about. some of us would do better with less alcohol. i saw polygamy porter(4.2%, on the bottle) in the grocery. liqour was at a state store and usually cheaper than here. you couls buy on sunday if i remeber right, try that in the gorge.
as for the mormons, i grew up around large catholic, christian, baptist, and jewish units. South east christian cult anyone.
as for climbers, same everywher. some are cool, some are dicks, and some are new and just don't know any better.

i'd move there

Not my favorite Bible quote, but right now it is up there.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=NIV
I know that there are a lot of freaks in Jesus. But, I would rather have a true God fearing man standing at belay holding my life in my hands than...




Actually I trust about any of my consistent belayer's because they we are all trained on years of an ATC.