Salt Lake area climbers - Ruth Lake Crag Day

-- Last edited 7/18/06 -- 

Join Backcountry.com, the US Forest Service, Salt Lake Climbers Alliance and the Access Fund for a day of trail building and crag terracing at Ruth Lake in the Uintas.  The event is on July 22, 2006 at 9:30am and will run to 3:30. If you cannot make it for all of the day, any time you can donate is fantastic.

If we get a great turn out of volunteers and are able to get the work done before 3:30 you're welcome to climb after the gear raffle. (yea, you should bring some gear)  The gear raffle will take place after the work is done which is anticipated to be 3:30pm. 

The day will include:

• Bagels provided for breakfast
• Trail building and designation from the Ruth Lake Trail to the base of the first crag
• Terracing the base of the crag and the west talus
• Beverages and crag clean up power fuel supplied (Gatorade, CarbBoom Gels and ProBars)
• BBQ - join us for a BBQ starting at 5pm (you don't have to show up at 5 sharp - this is not work and we're not your boss.  The BBQ will be going for a couple of hours) at group campground LINCOLN at Washington Lake provided by Backcountry.com.  FREE
• Camping - Camping the night of July 22 at the group campground site is FREE for anyone who attends
• Gear Give-Away - each attendee will recieve gear swag and a raffle ticket for the raffle which will take place at the end of the event.
• Access Fund Membership Drive

We'll keep updating this site with information about the event, details of the work invovled, prizes to be raffled away and the various companies who will be supporting this event.  This event and the trail work will undoubtably make a long term difference for the climbing area as well as a positive impact for the relationship between the climbing community and the US Forest Service.

Directions to Ruth Lake

Coming from Salt Lake -  Take I-80 eastbound.  Exit Highway 40 (the exit just past Kimball Junction/Park City).  Follow Highway 40 to the Kamas/Park City exit (2nd exit from I-80) and turn east to Kamas. When you arrive in Kamas take a left at the stop-light.  At the next stop-light turn right and follow this, Highway 150, to mile post 35.  Please park at the Highline Trail parking lot which is about 1/4 mile before the Ruth Lake parking.

Coming from Provo - Take Highway 189 through Provo Canyon to Heber.  When you arrive in Heber turn left onto Highway 40 which goes through town.  After exiting town you'll arrive at a stop light just before Highway 40 starts to climb the hill to Park City (adjacent to the Jordanelle Resevior).  Turn right at this light and you'll be on Highway 25 headed for Francis.  Upon arriving in Francis turn left at the flashing red light.  You're just 2 miles from Kamas.  Proceed through the first traffic light in Kamas and turn right at the second light. Follow this, Highway 150, to mile post 35.  Please park at the Highline Trail parking lot which is about 1/4 mile before the Ruth Lake parking.

About Ruth Lake

Ruth Lake is one of two very popular rock climbing crags in the Uintas that have seen an increase in traffic over the past few years.  I remember when in the summer of 2001 the only beta for the area was a couple of scribbled drawings that I photo copied at White Pine Touring.  At that time Ruth Lake had a few bolted routes and there really wasn't a trail from the main hiking trail to bring climbers to the crag. 

Over the years a few meandering trails have been created with no commonly accepted route. Additionally the two "warm up climbs" are located at the top of a talus that wraps around to the west of the crag.  This talus is a mess to negotiate and has seen a fair amount of erosion.

Now, with the publishing of a full fledged guide book in 2005 the area has seen the number of climbers and dogs increase dramatically as many are fleeing the 100+ temps of the cottonwood canyons to find solid rock and sweatshirt weather in July and August.

Interested in helping out?

If you are interested in helping in any capacity with this event please contact Kendall Card at Backcountry.com by clicking the "Email Me" link to the left.