Pioneer Day — the obligation-free Utah holiday.

Each year on July 24th Utahns celebrate the historic entry of the pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley. The day technically celebrates the arrival of the Mormon pioneers into the valley and their declaration that “This is the Place” where they would finally settle after much persecution. Nowadays the holiday has morphed into a patriotic day full of fireworks and one of the nation’s largest parades. As a state-recognized holiday, for many of us that means a free day off of work.

Taking full advantage of this day off, the cooler temperatures from an incoming storm and a few nice hours of sunshine, a group of us weekend warriors set out to get a session in. Offices were closed making spots that are generally a bust free-game.

Malfunctioning camera gear forced me to shoot a sequence of Manuel Rodriguez solidly lacing this rough dropin to wall ride. So here’s a Pioneer Day GIF for you all.