Upcoming Outdoor Events and News

AS OF JANUARY 2007, WE WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATING THIS PAGE AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUT UTAHOUTDOORS.COM BLOG FOR CURRENT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES!

Also See the
REI COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR JANUARY

REI COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR JANUARY

 

DATE:  December 15th, 2006        

CONTACT:  Eric Spreng

EMAIL: espreng@rei.com

PHONE:  (801) 486-2100 ext. 207

 

SANDY CITY - The following presentations are offered free of charge to the public at the Sandy City REI store.  REI is located at 10600 South & 230 West in the northwest corner of the South Towne Mall property.  For more information, please call (801) 501-0850 or visit our website at www.rei.com and click on the stores & events link. 

 

SNOWSHOEING 101

Wednesday, January 10th, 7pm

The ease of snowshoeing has led it to become one of the fastest growing sports in the country.  Simply strap on a pair and go on a winter hike, backpack, or climb.  Join REI expert Craig Whetman, as he puts on another of our famous “how to” clinics on the basics of snowshoeing.  This presentation will also focus on the appropriate selection of gear and the initial skills needed to get you outside and on the trails.  If you have ever thought about getting into snowshoeing, this is a great introduction to the sport!  A special segment by Craig Gordon from the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center will also address and highlight winter backcountry safety.

 

SKI CONDITIONING AND INJURY PREVENTION

Thursday, January 11th, 7pm

Ski injury free this year!  Learn some basic exercises that will have you ready for the slopes. Plus learn new stretches that will help prevent common ski injuries.  Specific stretches will also help shorten your recovery time, allowing you to get back on your skis or board faster.  Join Jennifer Pruetz of Zenergy Bodywork & Massage this evening for some tips on staying healthy and performing at your peak.

 

ATLAS EXPLORE WINTER WOMEN’S SNOWSHOEING WORKSHOP

Thursday, January 18th, 7pm

Like to hike?  Like the snow?  This free clinic is for you!  You’ll learn snowshoeing basics from a seasoned athlete.  You’ll also receive a free goodie bag with a voucher for free trekking poles with an Atlas snowshoe purchase.  Plus, participants will get the chance to win one of many great door prizes.  Don’t miss it!

 

GPS 101

Thursday, January 25th, 7pm

A Global Positioning System is a fun and accurate tool that can help you navigate through backcountry terrain or even down city streets.  Join REI navigation expert Dan Stites as he unveils the mysteries of this fun and fascinating piece of technology. This presentation will cover basic GPS functions such as determining latitude and longitude, programming routes, and recording travel.

 

SALT LAKE CITY - The following presentations are offered free of charge to the public at the Salt Lake City REI store.  REI is located at 3285 East & 3300 South.  For more information, please call 486-2100 or visit our website at www.rei.com and click on the stores & events link and select Salt Lake City.

 

SKI & SNOWBOARD TUNE & WAX

Tuesday, January 9th, 7pm

Come join the ranks of do-it-yourselfers who are discovering that tuning your skis at home can not only be a great way to save your hard earned money, but one of the most gratifying hobbies you will ever undertake.  Join REI shop master tech Jon Hulse this evening for some expert instruction on base preparation: structure, major and minor repair and stone grinding.  By learning to tune your own skis and snowboards, you can ensure that your equipment will perform at its peak.

 

ATLAS EXPLORE WINTER WOMEN’S SNOWSHOEING WORKSHOP

Wednesday, January 17th, 7pm

Like to hike?  Like the snow?  This free clinic is for you!  You’ll learn snowshoeing basics from a seasoned athlete.  You’ll also receive a free goodie bag with a voucher for free trekking poles with an Atlas snowshoe purchase.  Plus, participants will get the chance to win one of many great door prizes.  Don’t miss it!

 

GPS 101

Tuesday, January 23rd, 7pm

A Global Positioning System is a fun and accurate tool that can help you navigate through backcountry terrain or even down city streets.  Join REI navigation expert Angie Zoulek as she unveils the mysteries of this fun and fascinating piece of technology. This presentation will cover basic GPS functions such as determining latitude and longitude, programming routes, and recording travel.

 

SNOWSTRUCK: IN THE GRIP OF AVALANCHES

Friday, January 26th, 7pm

Having spent decades trying to keep avalanches and people apart, Jill Fredston brings them together unforgettably in her new book, Snowstruck: In the Grip of Avalanches. She brings to life the forces of nature that can turn the mountains deadly—and the equally inexorable forces of human nature that lure us time and again into treacherous terrain.  Fredston, one of North America’s leading avalanche experts, is co-author of the well-known Snow Sense: A Guide to Evaluating Snow Avalanche Hazard and winner of the 2002 National Outdoor Book Award for Rowing to Latitude: Journeys along the Arctic’s Edge. An impressive speaker, she will give a slide show in REI’s Wasatch Conference Room.

 

2007 ACROSS THE ATLAS ALASKAN ADVENTURE TOUR

Tuesday, January 30th, 7pm

Presented by Mission Playground! In August of 2006, six adventurers completed an exhilarating, arduous and selfless journey through the undiscovered Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.  The team traversed the refuge’s remote and rugged terrain by trekking, climbing, skiing and paddling inflatable canoes down the Kongakut River to the Arctic Sea, all for the sake of a tremendous cause.   The primary goal of this journey was to promote efforts to protect wildlife, preserve the ecosystem and prevent commercial invasion of this environmentally precarious land, while simultaneously benefiting the Colorado Cancer Foundation.  Hear the adventurers share their intimate experience of union with the ancestral history and incredible wildlife of an area seen by only 5,000 people since earth was formed. 

 

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

 

WINTER TRAILS DAY

Saturday, January 6th

Looking to try out snowshoes for the first time?  Want some instruction on how to kick and glide on Nordic skis?  Fascinated by winter ecology?  Winter Trails Day at the Solitude Nordic Center is your chance to get out there with some help from the experts!  If you are a beginner or first timer on snow, come join the gearheads at REI, the pro teachers at the Solitude Nordic Center and the knowledgeable guides from Cottonwood Canyons Foundation.  This day of guided snowshoeing, cross country and skate ski instruction and outdoor interpretation is not to be missed.  Best of all, its FREE! 

Sign up in advance to reserve a spot and either a pair of snowshoes or cross country skis by calling (801) 486-2100 and asking for REI’s customer service department.  View the schedule of classes and tours at www.rei.com and click on the stores & events link, and select Salt Lake City. 

 

WASATCH CITIZEN SERIES AT MOUNTAIN DELL

Saturday, January 27th, 10am

Put on by the Utah Nordic Alliance.  The Wasatch Citizens Series (WCS) consists of five events held each year at the major cross country ski areas along the Wasatch Front and Back. Two classical technique and three free technique races are included to provide the balance local athletes need to prepare for national and international competition. In addition to our sixteen age and gender categories, the WCS includes novice classes, to encourage beginners to get involved in the sport, and expert classes, for more serious racers. Awards are given to the top three finishers in each of these groups at each race. Points are awarded to all race finishers, and the top three skiers in each age group receive special prizes at the end of the season. Participants' ages range from 5 to 70+, and many families regularly attend the races.  Please see www.utahnordic.com for more information.

 

 

CLASSES:

 

AVALANCHE AWARENESS CLASS

Friday & Saturday, January 5th & 6th

An introduction to rescue skills and avalanche beacon searches, route finding, snow pack evaluation and minimizing hazards.  Cost is $99 per person.  Please contact 801-550-EXUM (3986) or visit www.exum.ofutah.com for more information.

 

LEVEL 1 AVALANCHE COURSE

Friday, January 19th through Sunday January 21st

Learn safe travel in avalanche terrain; recognition of weather, snow pack and terrain factors contributing to avalanche hazard;  dig snow pits and perform field tests to recognize weak and strong layers in snow pack and practice efficient rescue with avalanche beacons.  Cost is $190 per person.  Please contact 801-550-EXUM (3986) or visit www.exum.ofutah.com for more information.

 

STAY SAFE IN THE OUTDOORS; WILDERNESS FIRST AID CLASS

Saturday, January 20th, 9am

Created for all outdoor enthusiasts, the Basic Wilderness Life Support® certification is a one day course designed to help you prevent and treat injuries and illnesses common in outdoor activities.  Developed at the University of Utah, School of Medicine the course will teach you to prepare for your outing, assess injuries and scene safety, decide whether to evacuate or treat a patient, and methods of evacuation.  The curriculum was developed from our advanced course used to train medical professionals and will be taught by one of our certified instructors.  The course includes morning lectures at REI and an afternoon outdoors (weather permitting) participating in hands on scenarios.  At the end of the day you will receive your BWLS certificate.  Please register by calling REI’s customer service department at (801) 486-2100.  Cost is $95 per person.  For more information, please contact Bob Richards at AdventureMed, 801-990-2800 or visit www.bwls.org.