Outdoor
fitness opportunities abundant in Logan
By Megan
Wiseman
October 20, 2008 | "You can't call those caves," says
Mark McLaws a student at Utah State University who recently
hiked the
Wind Caves Trail up Logan Canyon.
McLaws said he is used to hiking through caves in
Missouri and Rexburg, Idaho that take you deep into
the earth and allow you to explore. The Wind Caves were
nothing compared to the other caves he'd hiked, they
were just little indents in the side of a hill, he said.
Students have mixed reactions when it comes to hiking
in Logan. Some see all the trails and canyons as an
adventure to go and have fun where as others are disappointed
and think that there is too much hype about hiking in
Cache Valley.
"When I hiked the
Crimson Trail I was a little disappointed with
that too," said McLaws. "Everyone talked about this
trail like it was the greatest thing ever; I just thought
it was really steep and never ending."
Instead of being disappointed, other students see
the Logan area as a place full of endless possibilities
for outdoor fun.
"Logan Canyon has great camping, hiking, and rock
climbing," said Amber Winward a sophomore at USU. "I
love to go up the canyon and just do anything. There
are so many different types of trails and so many different
things you can do on them. I never get bored."
For most students, homework, friends, and a busy work
schedule leave it hard for to find time to exercise
and stay active. The
Outdoor Recreation Center on campus makes it easy
for students to rent equipment for almost any outdoor
activity along with planning various hiking and camping
trips.
"We rented canoes from the ORC one weekend for only
$30," said Jackie Lambourne a freshman at USU. "It was
definitely hard work but we didn't notice because we
couldn't stop laughing at how much fun we were having.
It's a fun and cheap way to stay active."
The ORC tries to give students the opportunity to
experience new activities that they might not have tried
before by providing students with the resources, equipment,
and instruction to do so. With the wide array of activities
to do in Cache Valley and the ease of equipment rentals
at the ORC, it doesn't matter if Logan hiking is not
up to par for some, they can always try a new activity.
NW
MS |
