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The Outdoor Magazine of the U

Wasatch Magazine

The Outdoor Magazine of the U

Wasatch Magazine

The Outdoor Magazine of the U

Wasatch Magazine

Sofia Sant'Anna-Skites

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites, Writer

Sofia is studying modern dance and English and is completing her final semester at the U. After serving as co-editor of Wasatch for a year, she is excited to return to writing. Sofia enjoys connecting with natural landscapes via a multitude of outdoor activities and always in good company. She strives to spread her love for the outdoors and to make these spaces more inclusive and welcoming of all people.

All content by Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
Prosperity 2030 to Improve Utah's Air

Prosperity 2030 to Improve Utah’s Air

Sofia Sant’Anna Skites, Staff Writer
March 10, 2022

Toward the end of 2021, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alexa Swanstrom about her involvement in o2 Utah, a non-profit environmental organization that promotes clean air along the Wasatch front. Swanstrom...

Backpacking is as Real as it Gets

Backpacking is as Real as it Gets

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites, Staff Writer
January 27, 2022

Let’s talk about backpacking. Why does it get the reputation it gets? Why has it been demoted to the bottom-of-the-ladder rung of outdoor sports? Within the privileged outdoor bubble I am a part of,...

Working in Wilderness Therapy: Loper's New Journey

Working in Wilderness Therapy: Loper’s New Journey

Sofia Sant’Anna Skites, Staff Writer
December 2, 2021

Berkeley Loper graduated from the University of Utah in the spring of 2021 with a degree in environmental and sustainability studies and an emphasis in land management and conservation. Since then, she...

Backcountry Eats

Backcountry Eats

Sofia Sant’Anna Skites
October 25, 2021

Through several years of outdoor eating and many trials and tribulations, I have finally perfected my personal backcountry menu. Below is a compiled list of my favorite lightweight meals to eat on overnight...

Talking About Activism With Caroline Gleich

Talking About Activism With Caroline Gleich

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites, Staff Writer
September 6, 2021

After grueling stretches of time during which I overload my plate with coursework, extracurriculars, and social commitments, nothing fuels my soul the way a day outside does. The feeling of dirt beneath...

Run Local: A Review of Three Salt Lake Park Routes

Run Local: A Review of Three Salt Lake Park Routes

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
August 2, 2021

As a former track and cross country competitor, I’ve dabbled my athletic shoes in several types of running since moving to Salt Lake City in 2017. Sometimes I go for quick laps around the University...

Why Outdoor Leadership Is a Prime Path to Follow

Why Outdoor Leadership Is a Prime Path to Follow

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
April 20, 2020

Outdoor leadership often insinuates growth on behalf of the people receiving the leadership, however, developing leaders are likely to have transformative experiences as well. I became a trip leader for...

H.B. 163— A Potential Source of Cultural Resource Protection

H.B. 163— A Potential Source of Cultural Resource Protection

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
March 11, 2020

Utah’s desert and mountain landscapes are breathtaking, but humans are irreversibly altering them. When people abuse natural resources, they are not only harming the environment, but they are also often...

Artist Crossing: Alli Schuh's Body-Oriented Canvas

Artist Crossing: Alli Schuh’s Body-Oriented Canvas

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
February 17, 2020

Gloomy winter months can be emotionally draining. Ongoing cloud cover, lengthy nights and unexpected storms often contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Fortunately, there are coping mechanisms. Some...

To Meat or Not to Meat: A Flexetarian’s Journey

To Meat or Not to Meat: A Flexetarian’s Journey

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
February 17, 2020

I have not always been a vegetarian. I used the transition between high school and college as a transition into a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. I decided to take small steps in reducing my...

Opinion: Elitism and Privilege in the Outdoors

Opinion: Elitism and Privilege in the Outdoors

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
December 31, 2019

As an outdoor-lover from the flatlands of Chicago, I strive to empower other people who show immediate interest in the outdoors, while still focusing on improving my own outdoor skills and attempting to...

Photos by Julián Askov. University of Utah Hacky Sack club hackys it up outside of the Student Life Center.

Hacky Sacking at the U

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
December 17, 2019

A Society in the Making: Hacky Sacking at the U From home, to classes, to the library and back home again. Life as a college student can become overwhelming, and finding time to get fresh air without...

Photos Courtesy of Caroline Himbert

Another Crown for the Backpacking Queen: U Student Caroline Himbert Completes the Continental Divide Trail

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
October 23, 2019

Caroline Himbert, a third-year Ph.D. student in population health sciences at the University of Utah, has added another through-hike to her list. Three years ago, Himbert solo-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail...

Girl Power: The Importance of All-Women Trips

Girl Power: The Importance of All-Women Trips

Sofia Sant’Anna-Skites
October 2, 2018

Nothing beats adventures with lots of people and few limitations, but every once in a while it can be fun to mix up the group members-- or un-mix them. Spending time in the outdoors with those who are...

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