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

Aashna Shah, Writer

Aashna is a third year student at the U studying math. The outdoors serves as a very special atmosphere for her because it has provided a platform for personal growth where the value of her accomplishments and experiences are solely intrinsic and absent from comparisons that plague her everyday life. It has provided unique moments of tranquility and joy that she finds herself actively chasing. She acknowledges that outdoor recreation is a privilege not often afforded to both racial and class minorities and is passionate about transforming this from a privilege to a right that can be experienced, valued, and conserved by all people. She is excited to write for Wasatch to use it as a platform to increase awareness of disparities in the outdoors as well as conveying her personal appreciation and passion for conservation.

All content by Aashna Shah
Intro to Trad Climbing

Intro to Trad Climbing

Aashna Shah, Staff Writer
February 28, 2022

Trad climbing can be a bit of a daunting sport to get into initially. Leading any climb can be spooky mentally, but at least with sport climbing, you have the mental security of bolts as your protection....

To Helmet or not to Helmet: Brought to you by @hotgirlsinhelmets

To Helmet or not to Helmet: Brought to you by @hotgirlsinhelmets

Aashna Shah
February 3, 2022

My sophomore year of college, my friends and I started a fun Instagram called @hotgirlsinhelmets. We were inspired by Sustainability U of U’s Bike Week. They were giving out flyers printed with the slogan...

Journey to 14a with Anna Hazelnutt

Journey to 14a with Anna Hazelnutt

Aashna Shah
October 28, 2021

This past summer I went to the climbing festival in Lander, Wyoming. One night, they hosted a dyno comp. Dynos are basically a powerful and dynamic move in climbing that generally involves jumping. It...

Thirteen and Strong with Aja Lindley

Thirteen and Strong with Aja Lindley

Aashna Shah, Writer
September 16, 2021

Aja Lindley is a 13-year-old climber living in Utah who has already shown a lot of promise in the sport. She was initially a competitive gymnast with an intense schedule. For six years, she trained for...

Type 2 Fun: Ishkabibble Edition

Type 2 Fun: Ishkabibble Edition

Aashna Shah
July 19, 2021

Enjoyment of outdoor experiences can generally be classified as Type 1 fun or Type 2 fun. Type 1 fun is when every moment of your experience was fun and enjoyable. Resort skiing or a chill sunny day at...

Opinion: Problematic Discourse in Skiing

Opinion: Problematic Discourse in Skiing

Aashna Shah, Staff Writer
March 17, 2021

Skiing is a Utah staple as well as one of the most prevalent outdoor activities in Utah. When you are a part of the outdoor community, it's easy to forget that most people do not partake in the same activities...

A Dreamer’s Perspective on Inclusivity in Outdoor Spaces

A Dreamer’s Perspective on Inclusivity in Outdoor Spaces

Aashna Shah, Staff Writer
March 3, 2021

JJ A. is a recent graduate from the University of Utah. He moved to Utah from Peru when he was six and has lived in the Salt Lake City area since then. He graduated with a major in biology, which in a...

Prioritizing Personal Health During Online School

Prioritizing Personal Health During Online School

Aashna Shah, Writer
February 22, 2021

This has been an unprecedented semester and, for the majority of us, online school is definitely not an ideal option. I personally have felt like this semester has been more emotionally and mentally draining...

Opinion: On Backcountry Affordability

Opinion: On Backcountry Affordability

Aashna Shah
February 2, 2021

Accessibility to outdoor spaces and sports can be challenging for people in lower-income brackets. You need to be able to afford the gear, afford the instruction, and have a community to engage with. Often,...

Book Review: Three Thought-Provoking Stories for the Winter Season

Book Review: Three Thought-Provoking Stories for the Winter Season

Aashna Shah, Staff Writer
December 27, 2020

Winter is almost upon us, which means it’s the perfect time to get cozy with a brand new book. If you are on the prowl for some books to keep you company this season, these novels will hopefully provide...

A Personal WURL Record

A Personal WURL Record

Aashna Shah, Staff Writer
November 18, 2020

In the wake of the pandemic, many people found themselves with a lot of unanticipated free time this summer. I personally threw myself into many miscellaneous projects, with some hiking and climbing tossed...

Opinion: The Emotional Conflict Behind Privilege and Recreation in Outdoor Spaces

Opinion: The Emotional Conflict Behind Privilege and Recreation in Outdoor Spaces

Aashna Shah
September 12, 2020

This summer, after several months of responsible social distancing, I took trip to McCall, Idaho for a couple days. The thought of going on one trip, which would make me feel like this was a normal summer,...

Load More Stories