Frigid water splashes upon the face of a student nervously clutching their rowing paddle as they enter their first whitewater rapids. Meanwhile, another student feels the hot dry heat of the desert sun as they glance down the 50 feet of winding red rock canyon they are about to propel down. Fear and anxiety may be the first things on these students’ minds, but they are far from alone as the encouraging voice of their trip guide coaches them through their newest adventure.

With its student body representing over 50 states, the University of Utah is a major draw for students across the U.S. seeking an outdoor adventure. Surrounded by high mountains deserts, thousands of trails, five national parks and “the best snow on earth,” applicants are drawn to the state’s natural opportunities. However, some students arrive at the university with little to no experience in the great outdoors, and the idea of finding the right equipment and techniques can feel intimidating. That’s where the University of Utah Outdoors Adventures (OA) guides come in. For current OA guides and University of Utah students Luke Witzel and Logan Going, their first outdoor adventure had to start somewhere too.

Luke Witzel: Celebrating Growth Beyond Your Own

OA guide and Utah local Luke Witzel is a current senior at the University of Utah studying geological engineering. With his passion for outdoor activities, his journey with OA began in the shop renting equipment until he was recruited to join the adventure team. After guiding trips for about a year, he says his experience in the outdoors has had exponential growth through training trips and new technical skills – in addition to expanding his leadership capabilities and interpersonal meeting skills. 

Witzel began his climbing journey two years ago and says it quickly became one of his favorite outdoor activities. Recently, he went climbing and hiking throughout the High Uintas, where he experienced climbing on different types of rock and learned how to combine climbing and hiking into a single weekend trip

When it comes to guiding trips, his favorite so far has been guiding students through City of Rocks National Reserve in Idaho. The trip consisted of students with little to no climbing experience who were tasked with scaling massive granite rock. He says this climbing trip, and others, were some of the most rewarding when witnessing students accomplish a new climb – especially after their third or fourth try. 

“Seeing them get to the top of a pitch and getting like super static, super stoked in themselves was such a cool thing for me to see,” said Witzel. “Being in their place at one point and now I’m part of [that] teacher instructor role.” 

Witzel says another rewarding factor of OA is the opportunity to meet new people. He says growing up in Utah was like living in a bubble, but while working with OA he has had the opportunity to meet many people from different states and countries, with perspectives that differ from his own.

“I’ve learned a lot about some really cool people working here, and it’s really cool seeing… their perspective on the world compared to mine,” said Witzel. 

Logan Going: Building a Community of Adventurers

OA guide and Portland, Oregon local Logan Going is a current University of Utah senior studying Entrepreneurship and Environmental Science. During his freshman year, Going discovered OA as a way to explore the beautiful outdoors when many of his friends didn’t have cars on campus. After hearing the exciting stories from students he knew who had attended the trips, he decided to apply and has now been guiding trips for three years 

“Coming in… I was like, a little nervous about… not being the most well-rounded trip leader, to seeing all the activities they did, but I applied,” said Going. “Just kind of having… my own outdoor log of times where I’d go out on my own… personal or friends [and] family adventures.”

When it comes to Going’s favorite OA trip, he credits his first multi-day rafting trip on the Green River in Wyoming. He says the experience immersed him in raft guiding and taught him to love the feeling of letting the river carry him downstream. This later encouraged Going to work as a raft guide in Glacier National Park, Montana. 

“There was a lot of fish in there and you’d see fishermen as you go by… catching giant fish and pretty clear green water,” said Going. “It was really just a fun way to… be out in nature for multi-day raft trip.”

While there are many aspects of OA that Going enjoys, he says the most important has been witnessing the community built by the Outdoor Adventures program year after year. From leading trips with OA, Going has met people of all different majors and enjoys recognizing them on campus. He says he tries to avoid the snobby outdoor mentality some pro level athletes have and tries to be welcoming to all skill levels when guiding trips. His community with both participants and other trip leaders is his favorite part of the job. 

“I feel like we’re all just really tight-knit group and, kind of share the same open love for the outdoors,” said Going.

As an entrepreneur, Going also creates and produces ski masks. He says he’s had the idea since his freshman year to improve the functionality of a ski mask, and with the combination of management skills from both the David Eccles business school and guiding trips – his vision has come to fruition. 

“It really just fuels the passion of… where the ski mask inspiration started from in the first place,” said Going.

Venture Out from your Comfort Zone

For students who feel intimidated by outdoor adventures, both Witzel and Going emphasized that OA is a beginner-friendly organization that ensures trips are oriented toward students of all skill levels — even those who have little to no outdoor experience.

By building skills from the ground up, trip leaders set a pace that works for everyone in order to avoid singling anyone out. Even if it is a student’s first or tenth time climbing, the same principles and safety techniques are encouraged for all participants, according to Going.

“We… have to adhere to that, understand them, and set that pace for everyone else in the group,” said Witzel.

Going also mentioned his technique of reassuring students who are scared by being vulnerable and sharing times when he was afraid of a new activity as well. He wants to ensure students know that everyone has been in the beginner stage themselves, and that it is not so much about skill level, but about enjoying the activity.

Both Witzel and Going encourage students to sign up for an outdoor adventure as an opportunity to meet new people, make new friends and learn a new outdoor skill in a low-stakes environment that pushes students beyond their comfort zones.

“It’s been cool to see people come back years later and be like, oh, that was my, my 1st time ever rafting and, I just want to let you know that… me and my friends are now doing our own rafting trips with the gear from the rental shop,” said Going.

Most new hires at OA are former participants according to Witzel, who also encourages students to apply for trip-leading positions if they enjoyed their Outdoor Adventure program. Going also said the experience of trip leading has been life-changing for him in college and recommends gaining as much leadership experience as possible.

“I would definitely say like go on a couple trips, understand the process… see where the trip here is coming from, and just apply,” said Witzel.

OA offers a wide variety of adventures, including hiking, rock climbing, canyoneering, whitewater rafting and more. Both Witzel and Going encourage anyone with questions to stop by or call the OA shop anytime. To learn more about gear, upcoming trips and more ways to get outside visit the Outdoor Adventure website here. With the University of Utah Outdoor Adventures, one step outside of a comfort zone can lead to the adventure of a lifetime.