Special Guests Join Alpenbock Loop Historical Hike
Warm fuzzies all around this past weekend as the SLCA kicked off Archaeology & Historic Preservation Month with an Alpenbock Loop Historical Hike, in partnership with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office.
About 15 community members joined us in Little Cottonwood Canyon to explore the area’s climbing legacy. The group included some very special guests—friends of the original Alpenbock members—Dave and Penny Smith, and Lenny Nelson. Dave and Penny authored an early guidebook to Little Cottonwood Canyon, drawing from the Alpenbock scrapbooks, while Lenny established the first free ascent of Bong Eater in 1964, one of the historic routes featured on the tour.
Hearing firsthand stories from the 1960s brought the landscape to life. A shared connection was clear among those who climbed these routes decades ago and those still climbing them today. Dave and Penny even shared that their first date was climbing Schoolroom in the 1970s—mirrored by a younger couple on the hike who said their first date was also climbing in LCC.
Throughout the tour, Lenny, Dave, and Penny were often handed the mic to share stories and context, making the experience especially meaningful. The group reflected a wide range of backgrounds and generations—from an eight-month-old participant to multi-generational families, first-time climbers, and longtime locals with deep ties to the canyon.
Stay tuned for more Alpenbock Loop Historical Hikes later this season.
