This project, supported by both the American West Center and Special Collections of the J. Willard Marriott Library, concerns the history of mountain climbing and ski mountaineering in Utah, primarily within the Wasatch Mountain Range.

The history of recreation is not a new topic for either the American West Center or Special Collections; in the late 1980s the now-renowned Utah Ski Archives was just taking shape. Part of the library’s Joe Quinney Recreation Archives, the Ski Archives are an excellent source for those interested in the development of ski resorts and lift-serviced skiing. The Outdoor Recreation Project will add the story of self-powered “ski touring” and trace the development of Wasatch rock climbing. This work will benefit scholars across academic disciplines, including environmental history, cultural studies, and geography.