Alexis Kelner Digital Memorial

On Wednesday, 9/23/26, Alexis Kelner, Save Our Canyons’ last remaining founder, passed away at the age of 87. He was surrounded by his son, Eric, and other cherished friends.

Please read Alexis Kelner’s obituary

For those who knew Alexis, this loss is deeply personal. He was not only a founder of Save Our Canyons, but a longtime friend, advocate, mentor, and an important part of the organization’s history and spirit. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the lives of his family, friends, and the many people who had the privilege of knowing him.

On this page you will find some commemorative words, thoughts, and photos of Alexis and the legacy he leaves behind. It is our great work to carry on this passion for the mountains and wild space and we hope you will feel inspired to do well by the Wasatch in memory of Alexis.

Lots of Alexis’ photographs, work, and writing is scattered throughout our shared communities. As we collect more of it, we will update this resource. If you have a memory or photo you would like to share publicly, please email us.

If you’d like to help carry on Alexis’ legacy of advocating for the mountains and the places we love outdoors, you can make a donation in Alexis’ honor through the Kelner Legacy Fund. Your support helps continue this important work going into 2027

Alexis Kelner Legacy Fund

A Note From Our Executive Director

As a child in a World War II “displaced persons camp,” he started to learn how to climb mountains. After the war, he and his family emigrated to Salt Lake City. It was here that he continued to expand his passion for alpine rock climbing and ski touring. In 1958 he put up the first technical ascent of Lone Peak’s Summit Wall. He ski toured all over the Cottonwood Canyons and wrote the first guidebooks for the range.

But, like many of us who have come after him, he saw the encroaching threat of development in the Wasatch. So, with his friend Gale Dick, and other confidants, founded Save Our Canyons in 1972 and started the movement that maintains today. His early advocacy was critical in passing the Lone Peak Wilderness, one of the first big conservation efforts not only here in the Wasatch, but in all of Utah.

Beyond Alexis’ work on conservation, he brought a humor and joy to the space that few others did. He saw the whimsy in things, making fun publications or creative sculptures and communications to help address a great many social, political, and environmental issues of the times.

Over the last year, I have been able to get to know Alexis. I have spent time with him at his home, which is almost as storied as his life, going through the amazing archive he has there. It is hard to emphasize how important Alexis has been to the Salt Lake community over the last 65 years. He also shared stories from the Great Saltair and caving with his life with his beloved wife Karla, who predeceased him in 2019.

While we mourn this loss, we are forever thankful for the foundation he laid out for us. He showed us to think big, stay true to our values, and to fight for the land we care so much about. It will be hard to see a future without Alexis’ massive presence, but we will do our best to carry that legacy forward.

When you walk in the Wasatch this year, I hope you’ll think of Alexis and the remarkable story he leaves behind. So much of what we love about these mountains, and so much of the work that continues through Save Our Canyons, is connected to the vision, dedication, and passion for the Wasatch that Alexis carried throughout his life. We hope you’ll look up at the peaks, take it in, and remember him.

Thank you for standing with us, and for helping to keep Alexis’ dream alive.

– Jack Stauss