Our Mission
Students for the Wasatch advocates for commonsense transportation solutions in Little Cottonwood Canyon and fights the proposed gondola in order to protect the delicate watershed, maintain the canyon's unique character, and ensure its accessibility for future generations.
Why we love LCC
From skiing down powdery slopes to hiking along cascading streams, every adventure in LCC is interlaced with magic. Little Cottonwood Canyon offers unique recreation opportunities that ignite our passions and nurture our souls. As students, we come to rejuvenate, to escape the daily grind of exams and deadlines.
But Little Cottonwood Canyon is more than just a recreational haven; it provides the precious water that makes life in the Salt Lake Valley possible.
Little Cottonwood Canyon has woven itself into the very fabric of our lives, becoming an indispensable piece of our story. It's a place where friendships are forged and memories are etched deep within our hearts.
Together, let's preserve and protect it, ensuring that future generations can bask in its majesty and experience the same sense of wonder and love that it has bestowed upon us.
“To destroy or replace something as special and almost sacred in one sport to just make another sport slightly more convenient seems crazy”
Director: Mitch Henderson, Editor: Parker Landgren, DOP: Parker Landgren & Kevin Landgren, Copywriter: Mitch Winter, Talent: Miles Anderson & Audrey Miller
Education
We aim to educate ourselves on the issues about the gondola and alternative transportation solutions. We share that information with students and members of the public.
Action
We provide opportunities for students to take action through political involvement. We encourage students to vote and personally communicate with their elected officials.
Community
We build community within our members and the greater university community
Meet the Team!
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SFW President, 2024
Why did you get involved in SFW?
“Over the past year I have been involved with SFW. It has been so great to see the impact we have been able to have on this issue. This issue is so important to me as it will have an everlasting effect on one of Utah's greatest natural resources. I want my kids and grandkids to experience our canyons in the same way that my grandparents and parents have.”
Zach is a senior in business administration. He grew up in Salt Lake City.
Fun fact: My one not so humble brag is that I am incredibly good at Wii sports, and I don't know why.
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Why did you get involved in SFW?Growing up in a big city in China makes me appreciate the beauty of LCC and the accessible outdoor recreation provided by it. I joined Students for the Wasatch because I want to do my part to protect this canyon!
Axe is a senior in computer science. He grew up in Sichuan, China.
Fun fact: I dropped my Mega Jul in a crack on top of the elephant rock in City of Rocks
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SFW Vice President, 2023-2024
Why did you get involved in SFW?
As a life-long skier, from Logan, Utah, I have seen the issues of transportation to ski resorts and how inaccessible the ski resorts have become. When I heard about the gondola, I knew I needed to do something to get involved with the issue, and Students for the Wasatch was the place for that. I hope we can have equitable and common-sense solutions with issues of the traffic.
Maddie is a sophomore in political science and envronmental studies and sustainability. She is from Logan, Utah.
Fun fact: Maddie has never broken a bone!
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Why did you get involved in SFW?
“I grew up at the mouth of LCC. Ski free after three put me on skis at Alta since I was a toddler. In the summer time, I would explore the hiking trails and take thousands of pictures of the wildflowers. Students for the Wasatch drew my attention because of its passion for advocating on behalf of the canyon.”
Sydney is a Sophomore in Business and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. She grew up in Sandy, Utah.
Fun fact: Sydney paints with dirt!
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Why did you get involved in SFW?
I was born and raised down the road from Little Cottonwood Canyon and the mountains have always been my sanctuary. I am passionate about preserving the beauty of my home for the decades to come.
Emily is a junior in psychology.
Fun fact: Emily has a pet parrot named Basil. She is 8 years old, and has quite the personality for such a small creature.
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Treasurer, 2022-2024
Why did you get involved in SFW?
“I grew up around these mountains (Park City) and got involved to keep LCC accessible for everyone and conserve its natural beauty.”
Dalton is a senior in mechanical engineering. She is from Park City, Utah.
Fun fact: I have a goldfish named James, he loves frozen peas.
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Why did you get involved in SFW?
“I am passionate about social and environmental justice - both of which are issues when it comes to the gondola. I love spending time outdoors, plants, and Wikipedia!”
Mia is from Salt Lake City and studies social work with a minor in chemistry.
Fun (wikipedia) fact: From 1926-1936, women who were residents of Toronto, Canada competed in a contest of who could produce the most babies to win, called the Great Stork Derby. This contest was the product of a scheme by Charles Vance Millar, an eccentric millionaire who bequeathed the residue of his estate to the woman in Toronto who could produce the most children in the decade after his death, among other practical jokes relating to his will.
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Why did you co-found SFW?
“I moved to Utah because I loved the mountains from the minute I saw them (I might have shed a tear or two), and after I moved here, LCC quickly became my favorite place, maybe on earth. Basically, my love for the canyon fuels my fire to save it from the gondola.”
Emily is a 6th year Biochemistry PhD student from Weatherford, Texas.
Fun fact: Emily’s least favorite food is parsley.
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Why did you get involved in SFW?
“I am a freshman here at the U, and one of my passions is environmental sustainability and advocacy! Students for the Wasatch is a perfect fit for me because I love learning more and helping preserve our environment.”
Tyler is a freshman from Fort Collins, Colorado. He studies geography and economics.
Fun fact: Tyler once got stranded in Canada without a car for a week!
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Why did you co-found SFW?
“I was driving down the canyon one day with my friend, Mallory (another co-founder), and we got really fired up about the gondola and decided we wanted to do something about it. We emailed a group called Friends of Little Cottonwood to see if we could get involved, and they connected us with Emily. When the three of us met for the first time, we formed a club within the hour. I call it “club at first sight”.”
Claudia graduated with degrees in biology, Latin American studies, and environmental and sustainability studies. Claudia is from Missoula, Montana.
Fun fact: Claudia is currently writing her second book!