Project Overview & Description

Title and Abstract

• Southern Utah Rock Climbing Development

• Swett Hills Wash Bouldering Development

• For my EDGE project I intend on developing climbing areas in and around Southern Utah. The areas that will be developed are going to be chosen out of guidebooks (Rock Climbs of Southern Utah and The Arizona Strip by Todd Goss) and local listings on websites (mountainproject.org, and wikiboulder.com). I plan on finding volunteers for the project during the summer of 2016 through social media (Facebook, Instagram and twitter) also through coworkers in the outdoor center at SUU. I intend on starting the project in August of 2016 and finishing by December 2016. The project will consist of bolting routes, making trails and fixing old materials on already established routes. This project will help Southern Utah remain an ideal climbing destination for locals and travelers alike. I hope that the EDGE will give me experience working in the outdoors and create a volunteer like atmosphere while helping others. I have noticed over the past few years of climbing around Southern Utah that many of the climbing areas are being destroyed and becoming not climbable. The beauty and enjoyment of the areas in this region are important to a lot of people. Making these areas sustainable for years to come would be ideal for my project.

• For my EDGE project I developed a climbing area West of Cedar City, UT called the Swett Hills. The area contains more than thirty sport climbs and a couple dozen boulder problems. Because of my passion for bouldering, and convenience of time, the most development I accomplished was in a bouldering area called The Wash. I spent a total of 4 months hiking, climbing, cleaning and capturing photos of the Swett Hills. I tracked out and maintained the trail that leads to The Wash, and I discovered many other man made trails that are useful to finding other areas within the Hills. I discovered new boulders and climbing faces and claimed a few first ascents. The most expensive part of doing the project was money spent on gas driving in and out of Cedar City to the Swett Hills. I hope that this project will help the Cedar City climbing community be able to have easier access to a more established climbing area. The rebuilt trails and new problems will give a variety of climbing close to Cedar City.

• I ended up spending most of my time in one area for the duration of my project. I had become obsessed with the Swett Hills and couldn’t invest my time anywhere else. I had intentions of developing many other areas in and around Cedar City but felt almost overwhelmed with the amount of rock there is locally. I definitely plan on attempting to develop many climbing areas within the state of Utah. The longer I am alive the more climbing I will be able to do within these areas and therefore more development.

Goals and Objectives

• 1. To make climbing areas in and around Southern Utah more enjoyable. 2. To have experience working on and discovering public lands for myself. 3. Inspire other climbers to help maintain and grow the sport. 4. Become a better rock climber. 5. Help other people discover more inspiring climbing routes and problems from this area.

• 1. Helped create a cleaner, safer, more explored climbing area near Cedar City, UT. 2. Experienced days and nights on publicly owned land (BLM). 3. Became a better all-around rock climber by spending hours climbing on a variety of rock. 4. Made new friends by spending time on public lands. 5. Gained an appreciation for government owned property and respect for the individuals who made this project possible.

• My goals became more oriented towards the Swett Hills over the duration of my project. Similar goals but now contained to one area.

• 1. Find more climbing area's in Southern Utah. 2. Develop (build trails, establish routes, create landings, replace or insert new bolts) these areas legally. 3. Create a map or website for these new areas and climb's. 4. Make climb's accessible to the public. 5. Maintain pollution and keep climbing area's tidy.

• 1. Found new potential for a climbing area near Cedar City. 2. Developed more boulder problems in the Swett Hills’. 3. Created a map of the Swett Hills and an interpretive sign with the help of Liesel Whitmore (BLM employee). 4. Built a better trail to a popular climbing area in the Swett Hills. 5. Cleaned up large amounts of trash in the Swett Hills.

• I have a few pictures of the boulders that I believe I was the first ascensionist. I am not sure how I will represent proof within a Microsoft word document besides attaching pictures to the file. I don’t have before and after pictures of trash I cleaned up, as I deemed unnecessary. I don’t have pictures of the trails I built but I can get some if needed. I also have an attachment for the map and sign I created. \\Stusersl\stusers\Users\jacobwahinehookae\sign 2.pub

• An objective that I wasn’t planning on achieving was how much better of a climber I became. I always wanted to be a better climber but didn’t think that developing an area would add to my ability. I also didn’t expect to get any help on this project but I obtained many volunteers to help me succeed throughout the duration of this project and I’m grateful for their time and energy.

Deliverables

• 1. Improved climbing area's in and around Southern Utah. 2. Easier access to climbing areas. 3. Cleaner and safer climbing areas.

1. An improved climbing area near Cedar City, UT. 2. Improved access to this area. 3. An array of new problems and routes to explore. 4. Improved directions throughout the Swett Hills. https://jacobkupono.wixsite.com/mysite