Bennion Gardner <\/strong>is the Founder and Executive Director of The Oquirrh Foundation. Growing up on the west side of Salt Lake County, he often wondered what lie beyond Kennecott’s barbed wire fences. After getting married and moving even closer to the mountains he became very involved in the Magna community. He began to explore portions of the Oquirrhs that are open to the public and found a place of beauty and solitude worth protecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Liz Oates<\/strong> grew up in the shadows of the Oquirrhs.\u00a0She loves hiking and backpacking and hiked 400 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail solo in 2018. She believes that everyone should have access to beautiful, wild places and is proud to support the mission of the Oquirrh Foundation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n
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Kiera Marie<\/strong> is a graduate of the University of Utah with a Masters degree in social work and women’s health. She is passionate about the planet and proudly calls herself a tree-hugger. She grew up in the shadow of the Oquirrhs and they have always been special to her. Her grandparents often told stories of freely camping and horseback riding in the Oquirrh Mountains, but never being able to experience that herself. She hopes to see more of the Oquirrhs opened again for outdoor recreation one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mike Hawker<\/strong> is an avid outdoorsman, who has always felt at home in the mountains. “For me, there is peace and serenity that comes while surrounded by Mother Nature. I love the feeling of being somewhere that not many others have been, and that’s why the Oquirrhs are so special to me. Over the past eight years I’ve been blessed to live at the base of these amazing mountains and they, to me, are a lost and forgotten gem. They are often overshadowed by our other gorgeous mountains to the east but I’ve learned over the years that the Oquirrhs offer epic scenery, rugged trails, wildlife, and the alpine feel that every mountain lover dreams of. As I run the trails of the Oquirrhs there is a feel of history and mystique that is special and unique. There is amazing history carved into rocks all over the range. I love the Oquirrhs and want to share and preserve all of it that we can.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clint Hamblin<\/strong> completed a career in the military with the US Coast Guard and now works in finance for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He spends a significant amount of time exploring and enjoying the beauty that is the Oquirrh Mountains as a trail runner and backcountry snowboarder. His passion for connecting with nature and ensuring the preservation, conservation, and protection of wild, open spaces and ecosystems for future generations motivates his involvement with his community and the Oquirrh Foundation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Growing up in the Wasatch mountains, Joshua Landvatter<\/strong> was first introduced to the serenity of the Oquirrhs as a young scout. Twenty-four years later, it has become his primary range of recreation. When he is not busy with graduate studies at the University of Utah, you can often find him either running, snowboarding, or skiing in the Oquirrh mountains. \u201cOver the years, the Oquirrhs have become my refuge from the over-populated Wasatch and it is truly a hidden gem that is now being discovered and needs to be preserved.\u201d His goal is to help preserve this wonderful mountain range, so that many others can discover this wonderful mountain oasis that Joshua has been able to enjoy over these many years. \u201cIt\u2019s time we start exposing this place to the general public in order to procure advocacy for its preservation before it\u2019s too late.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nGet Involved<\/h2>\n\n\n\n We are a growing organization and always looking for individuals who share our vision to join us. We are currently looking for volunteers in various capacities along with adding additional members to our board. To express interest in volunteering please email us using the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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