Skip to Main Content
The Outdoor Magazine of the U

Wasatch Magazine

The Outdoor Magazine of the U

Wasatch Magazine

The Outdoor Magazine of the U

Wasatch Magazine

Nate Caines

Nate Caines, Writer

Nathan Caines is a transfer student at the U finishing up a psychology degree and cognitive minor, and has been a writer for Wasatch since 2018. His other writing can be found various places on the internet and literary magazines. He moved from Chicago to Salt Lake because there wasn’t a mountain or canyon in the whole state of Illinois. When he isn’t coaching kids to rock climb, he’s in a slot canyon, climbing or probably just reading

All content by Nate Caines
Climbing in the Time of Corona

Climbing in the Time of Corona

Nate Caines
April 27, 2020

On Friday the 27th, Governor Herbert announced Utah would be under a Stay at Home “directive”. Making it voluntary (and most likely wise) for all those in the state, besides residents of Salt Lake...

Why We Need the Outdoors: The Psychological Benefits

Why We Need the Outdoors: The Psychological Benefits

Nate Caines
April 20, 2020

Most Utahns wouldn’t be hard-pressed to admit that they enjoy nature. From simple walks by the foothills to ski slopes, slot canyons, lakesides and more, people here are drawn to natural locations. Even...

Solitude Asks Drivers to Pay Up or Cozy Up

Solitude Asks Drivers to Pay Up or Cozy Up

Nate Caines
March 4, 2020

The implications of accessibility in the outdoors are controversial. When issues like environmentalism conflict with usability, people are bound to get left out. Until we learn to truly leave no trace,...

Photo by Peter Creveling

Crime in the Canyons

Nate Caines
December 31, 2019

Salt Lake City has a reputation for many things, but crime is usually not one of them. A surprising fact about Salt Lake City is that it also has a high rate of property crime, which includes offenses...

Photos Courtesy of Ruth's Diner

Ruth’s Diner: Her Dogs Are Gone, but the Legacy Remains

Nate Caines, Staff Writer
November 6, 2019

Ruth’s Diner is a legendary Salt Lake restaurant and my favorite poorly-kept secret in Emigration canyon. Ruth’s has been around for close to a century now and has collected a list of awards that speak...

Photos by Peter Creveling. Featured: Climber at the Front Climbing Gym in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Climbers Fight Gravity and Their Local Gym Rivals

Nate Caines
October 24, 2019

When I ask about why people chose to move to Utah, I often hear one response: "I came here for the mountains." Plenty choose to stay for that reason as well. Salt Lake City is undoubtedly one of the best...

Photo by Nathan Caines

An Evening in the City with Naresh

Nate Caines
July 10, 2019

Few have lived in Salt Lake City long without seeing a parade of hundreds of bikers suddenly ride by and shout "Happy Thursday!" at you. That parade would be the “999” bike ride, an unofficial event...

Courtesy of Steph Davis

Six questions with Steph Davis

Nate Caines
May 8, 2019

Steph Davis is a professional rock climber, free-soloer, BASE-jumper and more. She's written the books Learning to Fly and High Infatuation. She answered six questions for Wasatch on risk and the outdoors. 1.)...

Photo by Kelly Loutzenheiser

Inherent risk in the outdoors

Nate Caines
May 7, 2019

What is the “inherent risk” of the outdoors that warrants it being stamped on all the gear I buy? Even after all these centuries of outdoor exploration we can’t seem to shake the feeling that death...

A member of the University of Utah's official climbing club.

The University of Utah finally gets a climbing club

Nate Caines
March 11, 2019

Getting into some activities can be intimidating, especially when it seems like everyone’s already an expert. This feeling is compounded when it also looks like a really intense activity, something you...

University of Utah men's ski team competes in the Giant Slalom at Park City, Utah (Park City Mountain Resort) on Wednesday, January 6, 2015

Alternative Student Athletes; How Do They Do It?

Nate Caines
February 11, 2019

Utah may be home to some of the best outdoor spaces on the globe, both in diversity and quality. People flock to Utah, to appreciate the outdoors and sometimes to compete in their bounds. It's not entirely...

Cliff Bars and Climbing: An Interview with Nikki McGee

Cliff Bars and Climbing: An Interview with Nikki McGee

Nate Caines
November 18, 2018

I had the chance to sit down with Nikki McGee before she went down to Austin Boulderfest with her non-profit, Elevated Mountain Guides. I first heard Nikki’s name through a manager of mine at Momentum,...

Load More Stories