Project Details

jacobkupono
Jan 18, 2017
6 min read

EDGE Project Outcomes

The EDGE program at Southern Utah University (SUU) is designed to give students the opportunity to gain some real world experience in future careers or to learn more than just what they are taught at school. EDGE is compiled of a few courses throughout a student’s time in school and a solid project that helps the community in some way or another. I decided to do my EDGE project in the great outdoors, because I am an Outdoor Recreation major and I have a passion for what I do. My project is mainly focused on developing and restoring climbing areas near Cedar City, UT. This project will help me see what exactly my part is in my community rather than just some college student. I expect that doing this project will give me some experience outside and also give local and visiting climbers a more enjoyable time at local crags. Taking this step to help climbers might help me learn about what climbers want to see at each climbing spot and what I can do to give them a better experience. As a climber as well, I want to be able to give more people opportunities to get outside and enjoy something such as climbing. This project will also give me some insight on land agencies that I may work with during my EDGE and possibly in my future career. It will be nice to learn about what ethics are used when creating trails or placing bolts on what government or private properties.

Final Budget

Tools

Shovel - $20
Brush set - $15
Rake - $10

Total = $45

Gear/Equipment

Climbing Shoes - $109
Hiking/approach shoes - $92
Gloves - $15
Boulder pad (from SUU Outdoors at discount) - $50

Total = $266

Gas

Total = $240

Other Expenses

Chalk - $15
Tape - $3

Total = $18

Grand Total = $569

The Swett Hills are located about 12 miles west of Cedar City, UT right off of U.S. Highway 56. They are owned by the Bureau of Land Management and have been set aside as land for the enjoyment of the public. Over the past two years, I have been making regular visits to the Swett Hills to participate in Outdoor Recreation activities including, rock climbing, hiking, OHV riding, mountain biking, rappelling, shooting and camping. Throughout this area, there are many cliffs, boulders, trails and perfect camping spots all within a fifteen-minute drive from Cedar City. I personally find these hills very interesting and unique, so I spend a considerable amount of time out there every week, and have been doing this for almost three years. I have also hiked up and down every wash within the Swett Hills in search of new climbing areas and have summited the many small peaks (hills) throughout the area as well. I camp in these hills for a few nights every week (because I am living out of my car, the Swett Hills are a close place for me to stay the night) and have seen much of the wildlife, plant species and scenery in these hills. That being said, I am including information about the Swett Hills that has never been published or perhaps recorded before. As far as research goes, the Swett Hills are almost nonexistent on Google searches and very hard to find any information online, besides where they are and that they are ran under the BLM. There are no current maps of the area and making my own is out of my knowledge and expertise, so I have received some help by Leisel Whitmore, an employee for the BLM. Providing this information, to me, is relevant in how I am conducting my research of the area and how I will be able to connect a visitor with this place. This information/research is mostly pictures and firsthand accounts of my own experiences in the Swett Hills and how I have learned to introduce such a place.

As far as history goes for the Swett Hills, most of the area had been explored and developed as a rock climbing destination along with some other assumptions by findings of my own. There are a few rock climbing guidebooks that have a small background of the Swett Hills including early discovery and rock climbing development. Throughout these climbing guidebooks I was able to come up with a brief history of the Swett Hills and how they are today. The Swett Hills are mostly composed of a rock type called welded tuff. This type of rock is an igneous rock formed by volcanic eruptions depositing ash and other sediments which later were compressed together. The rock is sharp, but solid and contains many interesting features, pockets and holds for some spectacular climbing. Bob Drainey and a few other Cedar City locals, headed out to the Swett Hills, in the early 90’s, with climbing in mind and developed most of the sport climbing and bouldering throughout the area. There were also some other Cedar City residents, Randy Orton and Zach Bradford, who explored deeper into the hills and found “The Wash”, plus some other areas, The Haven, Sarsen Blocks, etc., that have now become developed bouldering spots. The climbing areas mentioned, are not just full of easy routes and problems but contain some true test-pieces for climbers in the area. These hard routes and problems show the commitment and dedication to climbing of early developers in the Swett Hills.

Besides climbing, the Swett Hills seem to contain some other history. While hiking throughout the numerous areas in these hills, I have found many remnants and remains of Native American culture and life. I have found two arrowheads, a knife, and some hieroglyphs in the area. I am not an expert on the lives of Native Americans in and around Cedar City but I think it is safe to assume that the Swett Hills were used for hunting grounds long before any of us were around. There is an enormous population of deer, rabbits, coyotes and other game animals in and around the Swett Hills. The people I see most in the hills are hunters. They are always riding around in camouflage, on their ATV’s and shooting at anything that moves. I normally tend to avoid these hunters and unfortunately clean up a lot of trash and bullet shells that they leave around campsites.

There isn’t too much current information about the Swett Hills. Most information I can only guess based off of the many days I have spent out there. There aren’t any up to date maps of the Swett Hills besides images based off of Google searches and some topographic maps of Cedar City and surrounding areas. There has been a lot of deforestation happening in the Swett Hills and I am not sure why, but many Juniper trees and other forage has been sawed down and torn out of the ground. There seems to be no explanation for the removal of the trees besides maybe home development or possibly to prevent wildfires. A lot of mule deer roam around the Swett Hills and can be seen along with jackrabbits, ravens, hawks, mice, lizards, squirrels and chipmunks. I have also found a few tarantulas throughout the Swett Hills. I don’t know what species are native and which ones are introduced to the area.

The theme around my project was to inspire exploration on our public, BLM lands. There is a huge opportunity to explore upon BLM owned properties. On National or State Park, and Forest Service land, there are so many rules and regulations that visitors must follow. No fires outside of fire pits, hike on designated trails, no OHV’s, etc.… On most publicly owned land, many limitations on federally, or state owned land are acceptable. While I have been exploring the Swett Hills, I rarely see other people on trails, or the dirt roads. I have walked miles upon miles without seeing any sign of a human being. Some areas in the Swett Hills have a feeling as if no one has stepped on this land; at least not for a long time. I enjoy spending time outdoors not driving on a road or standing in line. I appreciate the “alone” feeling when on a hike or climbing some boulder. These experiences have come through my exploring of the Swett Hills, and my purpose of my interpretive sign was to inspire the idea to explore. Some universal concepts connected to my theme were progress, purpose, freedom and nature. I am not very sure if those are universal concepts, but I am sure these words add some meaning to my sign.

This interpretive project has somehow made me appreciate interpretation. Understanding interpretation has always been hard for me. I now understand that interpretation is a unique way to provoke a thought, belief, an idea or purpose. Interpretation deserves an individual’s definition and not a definition out of a dictionary. The pictures, maps and explanations upon my Swett Hills sign can possibly incite a viewer to explore.