SNOWBASIN GETS IT ON!
It wasn't very well advertised, but Ogden Valley Pathways hooked up with Snowbasin Resort on Sept.15 to hold an all-day wilderness 'celebration' that was worth every penny of the $40 ticket cost.
The many activities were a grab bag of goodies, with the entire mountain turned into a playground. A range of guided hikes, from the strenuous to hikes easy enough for the kiddies and their parents, wove through the forest trails. Guided mountain bike rides were offered with a similar range of effort, from the easy meadow at the base of the mountain, to a ripping ride from the top of the Needles gondola.
Horse owners were invited to bring their rides. About 40 people brought horses, and even offered short rides to the horseless. There were trailers full of mountain bikes available from Biker's edge; riders could demo various kinds of bikes and suspensions on the many Snowbasin trails. The day also included free and unlimited gondola rides.
There were even bird watching tours for those who wanted to see winged sky riders heading south for the winter.
Tickets gave purchasers a year's membership in Ogden Valley Pathways, a non-profit organization that develops wilderness trails and does trail maintenances at various sites.
OVP's Chairman, Kim Wheatly, said, "We are a group whose purpose is to create recreation and community trails throughout the upper Ogden river drainings. We've existed for seven years as a chapter of Weber Pathways, but broke away last year to form a separate organization focused on the upper valley instead of more urban areas."
Snowbasin laid out its usual impeccable service. At the top of the Needles gondola, cups and a large cooler of water was available. Beside it was a glossy flyer showing common Snowbasin wildflowers, complete with a drawing in each flower's color. Passengers were urged to take both a drink of water and a flower flyer so they could identify the paintbrush and lillies and yarrow that are still blooming all over the mountain.
One of those who can easily identify all the plants is Holly Ahern, who is a ski patroller in winter and head of the brush crew in summer. "I clear the ski trails so you can ski on them," she laughed.
Ahern was one of the many Snowbasin employees who took mountain bikers out for guided tours. She said, "A lot more people showed up than I thought there would be."
Among them was Provo's Flewallen family; Kim, Steve, their three-year old son Cameron and the couple's parents.
"We never expected anything like this. We just came up for a hike, and found this event. We haven't been here since the Olympics, and we were surprised to see how much work they've put into Snowbasin since then," said Kim, as little Cameron danced around the Cirque hiking trail.
Heading down on the clear-walled gondola car gives almost a sense of flying. If you place your head at the window, so that your view is free of cars and cables and the craggy cliffs and sky are all you see, you feel like an eagle.
It's strange to see the runs of winter, so smooth when covered with soft snow, now bared and covered with mean boulders and cruel jagged rocks, while ground squirrels move in dot-dot-dot jerky motions over the stones.
The trees are still green, with an occasional explosion of flashy red or orange.
"The colors just started changing three days ago. They will be at their peak in about two weeks," said Snowbasin honcho Denzel Rowland. He added, "The lifts will run until 6:00 p.m. every day until the end of September, depending on the colors. If they're still spectacular, we will stay open another week."
The 'Basin is famous for its fall colors, considered the best and most colorful of any resort in Utah.
Rowland said the day's event had about 600 people, with 180 tickets sold by midday. The money will benefit the Ogden Valley Pathways organization.
A barbeque buffet was also part of the festivities, with delicious ribs and chicken. Then things got down to business.
The plaza was crowded as an auction was held for enthusiastic bidders. New and pricey skis, boots, bikes, artwork and other items had been donated for the event. There was even a lift chair from a lift that had been replaced by a quad, which came with a framework to turn it into a porch swing.
The auction was professionally called by Cory Todd Johnson, who, surprisingly, said it was only his fourth time calling an auction. But he had the professional too-fast-to-make-out-the-words technique down pat. He was pleased with the results. "I'd bet we raised over $10,000.
One of the successful bidders learned just how good karma can be.
Ogden's well known orthopedic surgeon Jeff Harrison bid $1,500 for a Felt bike with Dura Ace components. He was happy being the winning bidder, saying that the bike normally retailed for about $2,500. Then, in the raffle which followed the auction, Harrison's winning ticket was drawn for one of the top prizes; a full season Snowbasin pass, worth $1,100.
"It's like I paid nothing for the bike," Harrison crowed, as friends surrounded him with congratulations, and his sons, Cooper and Bridger, clamored to ride the new bike.
Snowbasin's famed "Uphill/Downhill Race" takes place Saturday, Sept. 29. Meanwhile, there will be a 'moonlight gondola ride' party Sept. 22; combined with a star viewing party. The ride will begin from the top of the Needles gondola, and will be well-lit by both moonlight and guides bearing bright flashlights.
One of the new highlight events is "Friday Night Dining," a gourmet dinner buffet with carved roast beef and seafood offerings at the Needles Lodge. Diners take the Needles gondola to the lodge, eat their fill, then either walk or ride the gondola down. Snowbasin's luxe food prices don't apply; the entire dinner and gondola ride is only $35.
Time it so that you start the hour long walk in time to watch the sun set over the peaks as you reach the base, and it will be a genuine highlight of your summer and fall.