Outdoor Programs goes on spring break

Despite forecasts predicting bad weather, Utah State University students headed south to Moab for Outdoor Programs’ annual spring break rock climbing and mountain biking trips.

Justin Kay is an OP employee and served as a trip leader for the rock climbing group. 

“I first got into leading outdoor trips when I started working for a backpacking guiding company that worked out of the San Rafael Swell,” Kay wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. “I enjoyed that job a lot but decided to go back to school. Thats when I found the trip leader position at Utah State.” 

Both groups left on March 13 and returned on March 16.

“The advantages of having both groups in Moab at the same time is that we share all of the same kitchen gear and food, so we can just share all of the same camping gear instead of having to split it up amongst two trips,” Kay wrote.

Forecasts said rain and possible snow would occur during the weekend, threatening to shut down the climbing group’s ability to climb on those days. According to Kay, the group was able to climb both full days due to surprisingly positive weather.   

“Our Moab trip pretty much went exactly how we envisioned it; it honestly went better than we expected,” Kay wrote.   

Madison Wilcox is a sophomore who participated in the rock climbing trip. 

“I just thought this was a good opportunity to meet new people and spend spring break outside,” Wilcox said. “I’ve never tried rock climbing before, and I thought this would be a great place to learn how,  and it was pretty cheap — like, the trip — because it was only $160, and everything was covered.” 

Wilcox emphasized how the trip leaders made sure the trip was accessible for climbers of all levels.   

“There were climbs for people who never climbed before and then there was also climbs for people who were pretty experienced and knew what they were doing,” Wilcox said. “So, I feel like there was a good range. I didn’t expect that.” 

The climbing group went to well-known climbing spots such as “The Wall,” “The Ice Cream Parlor” and “The Cinema,” and both the climbers and bikers went on a night hike to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. 

“When we did the Delicate Arch hike in the middle of the night — that was a pretty cool experience,” Wilcox said. “How bright the moon was — and when we were sitting under the arch in complete silence — that was really awesome. It was  a moment to connect with nature as a group but then also individually.”

Kay wrote his favorite aspect of the trip was gaining new experience and having fun with the climbers throughout the trip. 

“My favorite part of the trip was leading trad routes at the ice cream parlor crag and hanging out/joking around with all of our climbers throughout the trip,” Kay wrote. 

Both Kay and Wilcox recommend students go on outdoor trips through the OP because of the low prices and educational experience. 

“It is a great way to improve one’s mental health and a great way to boost confidence,” Kay wrote. “Especially with OP trips, being around new people and trying new things is the kind of discomfort that people grow a lot from.”