SALT LAKE CITY — Friends and family of a 16-year-old boy killed during a hiking fall in Little Cottonwood Canyon are creating a scholarship to honor his life.
Zach Crandall was killed Wednesday while hiking Devil's Castle near Alta with three friends. At one point during the hike, Crandall fell more than 100 feet, and despite the arrival of medical personnel, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
Since his death, a GoFundMe page has been created in Zach's memory, remembering him as someone with an "adventurous spirit" who "loved pushing himself, trying hard things, finding the next adventure, and having the freedom to express himself and be fully who he was."
The money raised through the page will help establish a scholarship in Zach's name.
"The family will thoughtfully develop the scholarship to reflect Zach’s life, passions, and the qualities he valued in others," the page said.
A memorial service for Zach will be held Monday, with a Celebration of Life scheduled for Tuesday evening at Momentum Climbing Gym in Midvale.
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"Zach loved his friends deeply. He showed up for the people he cared about, and helping others came naturally to him," the GoFundMe shared. "His family hopes that the love, loyalty, generosity, individuality, and adventurous spirit he brought into the world can continue to make a difference in someone else’s life."
