Dennis Brandt will
present highlights from a number of recent mountain biking and
hiking trips in the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands
National Park. Island in the Sky overlooks the confluence of the
Green and Colorado rivers, near Moab, Utah. The white rim is a
striking feature of the park consisting of a resistant layer of
white sandstone - the most prominent feature of a 100 mile loop road
enjoyed by mountain bikers, motorcyclists, 4WD vehicles, and hikers.
There are spectacular views of near-by snow-capped mountains, sheer
cliffs towering above, and a vast maze of canyon country below.
Nearby are expanses of slickrock country that offer wonderful rock
climbing, mountain biking, canyoneering, and whitewater boating
opportunities.
Dennis Brandt at the "White Crack".
Dennis Brandt has been
involved in mountaineering activities for the past 39 years. His
first trip was a Los Alamos Mountaineers Grand Canyon backcountry
adventure in 1973. Dennis took the Los Alamos Mountaineers climbing
school in 1974 and has been continuously involved in outdoor
activities ever since. His Early Mountaineering experiences included
Arizona canyon trips, local rock climbing, climbing Colorado’s
14ers, climbing volcanoes in Mexico, mountaineering in the Pacific
Northwest and caving in southern New Mexico. He focused mainly on
whitewater canoeing and alpine skiing through the 1980s and 1990s.
He renewed his mountaineering focus in recent years by participating
in winter hut and yurt trips, mountain bike trips, backpacking
trips, and Utah canyon trips.
View of "The Maze" in the distance.
Dennis' current
interests include mountain climbing, several forms of skiing, white
water boating, mountain biking, backpacking, day hiking, and
international travel.
Cyclists along the White Rim road.
He retired from Los
Alamos National Laboratory after 35 years of work in various aspects
of nuclear material management.
Dennis was President
of the Los Alamos Mountaineers in 1987 and again in 2009.
