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.
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
