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Editor's note: Before attempting any of these outdoor adventures, be sure you have the proper equipment, skills and knowledge necessary to stay safe. Always check weather conditions before heading out into the backcountry. THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Skiing double black diamonds is a ton of fun, but after years of hitting the slopes, it's easy to feel restless. It's definitely normal to look for a new, different adrenaline-packed winter adventure.
Whether you're a worn-out ski bum or an adventure junkie looking for your next winter sports fix, this list highlights some of the lesser-known action-packed winter sports available in Utah.
Ice climbing
If you pay close attention while driving through Provo Canyon during the winter, you may be lucky enough to see a few people climbing the frozen water of Bridal Veil Falls.
Ice climbing is growing in popularity and is one of the more difficult — yet rewarding — winter sports. You're literally climbing frozen waterfalls, anchored to the ice with a few ice screws, ice tools and a rope.
Bridal Veil Falls, and the nearby Stairway to Heaven route, is a world-famous ice climbing destination. Jon Krakauer even mentioned the falls in his landmark book, "Into Thin Air."
Mountain climbing
It's hard to find a deserted hiking trail in Utah during the summer. From King's Peak to Mt. Nebo, the love Utahns have for climbing to the tops of our mountains is plain to see.
In the winter, however, summiting takes on a whole new meaning. Suddenly you need crampons, an ice axe and cold weather gear that is up to the challenge of keeping you warm and dry.
The Pfeifferhorn is a popular winter mountaineering destination due to the technical climbing challenges and respectable altitude of 11,326 feet. It's no Mt. Rainer, but if you'd like to start serious mountain climbing, Utah is a great place to begin.
The Everest Ridge
Back in the '90s, a group of mountain climbers from Utah used a certain route on the south-facing slope of Mt. Timpanogos to train for a summit attempt on Mt. Everest, the world's highest peak. Since then, the route the group used for training gained the moniker, "The Everest Ridge."
This is not a climb for the faint of heart. The crux of the route is a climb through a "step" of rock very similar in angle and technical difficulty to conditions that one would see on Mt. Everest or other larger mountains. If you've never climbed mountains during winter before, definitely tackle something smaller first before attempting the Everest Ridge.
Have you done any of these activities? What's your favorite winter activity? Let us know in the comments.
