Expanding Access: SLCA Facilitates Historic Hike with Division of Outdoor Recreation and Extreme Motus

On May 27, 2025, the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA) facilitated a special hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon with the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and our friends at Extreme Motus, a Utah-based manufacturer of all-terrain adaptive wheelchairs. The hike explored sections of the Alpenbock Loop, recently designated as the nation’s first historic climbing area, and marked an important moment in efforts to make climbing history more inclusive and accessible.

Participants included state land managers, accessibility advocates, and SLCA staff, all focused on testing the feasibility of adaptive access to the loop using an Extreme Motus wheelchair. The team traversed both the lower and upper sections of the loop, gathering valuable insights about terrain, slope, and trail design needed to accommodate backcountry wheelchair users.

“This was a powerful step forward in reimagining who gets to experience climbing history in the Wasatch,” said Julia Geisler, SLCA Executive Director. “We are honored to steward the Alpenbock Loop and committed to ensuring that more people—including those who use adaptive equipment—can access these cultural and recreational treasures.”

While the lower loop offered relatively manageable terrain for adaptive use, the upper loop presented steeper challenges. Both routes are currently being assessed for updated wayfinding and accessibility descriptions.

What’s Next

SLCA is working with Extreme Motus to better understand and document trail conditions from an adaptive user perspective. We will soon publish detailed information about both versions of the loop on our website, with specific notes for adaptive users and trail visitors. These updates will appear at:

🔗 www.saltlakeclimbers.org/lcc-historic-climbing-area

As the stewards of the first-ever federally recognized historic climbing area in the United States, SLCA remains dedicated to honoring the legacy of Wasatch climbing while ensuring its future is inclusive and accessible to all.

Stay tuned for more progress as we continue to break new ground—literally and figuratively—in outdoor access.