The first flakes of winter have welcomed themselves to our mountain tops, letting residents in the valley below know that the ski season is not far ahead. Resorts have been working tirelessly this summer on improvements and expansions, getting ready for snow-enthusiasts to enjoy the slopes this winter. Here is what you need to know, and what you can look forward to in the snowy months ahead.
On-Mountain Expansions
Powder Mountain Resort continues to be a destination for powder-hounds and those who love off-piste adventure. They are currently in the process of building two new lifts and clearing out new ski runs accessing Lefty’s Canyon and Mary’s Bowl, both previously accessible only by snowcat. In addition to this expansion, Powder Mountain has made a commitment to preserving its open spaces, that even on the busiest of days’ guests will have a whopping three acres per skier. Pow Mow is keeping this promise by limiting season pass holders to 3,000 annually and capping ticket sales at 2,000 per day.
On the other side of the Ogden Valley, Snowbasin Resort is working on expanding its already impressive snowmaking system with an additional 40 high-efficiency automatic Rubios Evo snowmaking guns this winter. These guns use 90% less electricity than traditional snowmaking guns, creating a sustainable way to make “designer snow” so you can hit more of the mountain early season.
New Backcountry Experiences
There is a new backcountry resort in town. Whisper Ridge Cat Skiing operates on over 60,000 acres of private terrain east of Eden, and provides powder bound skiers and boarders an all- inclusive, pure backcountry experience. Whisper Ridge has eight custom PistenBully Snowcats and one helicopter for mountain access, so you can get the most vertical and more time in the pow.
Whisper Ridge also offers guests the opportunity to stay in luxurious mountaintop yurts with 360-degree views of the Wasatch Mountains. This backcountry paradise has a total of 10 yurts with diverse lodging options that range from Bunk Yurts that sleep up to 12, Suite Yurts that sleep up to eight, and a Master Yurt that sleeps up to four. All lodging packages are fully inclusive with chef-prepared meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, wood-fired hot tubs, fire pits and stand-alone bathrooms and showers. Those staying in the Yurts can do more than just cat-ski, other activities include snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sledding/tubing, Hardware Ranch tours and snowmobile tours.
Learn to Ski or Ride This Winter
Skiing can get expensive, and for those who are wanting to try the sport, can easily get discouraged from high prices. Our resorts have come up with affordable ways to incentivize people who have never been on the slopes.
Nordic Valley offers a Group Learning Package. For $79 new timers will get a lift ticket, 2 hours of instruction and rental equipment. First timers heading to Powder Mountain can get a lift ticket, rental and 3 hours of instruction for $120. For $399 a novice skier or snowboarder can sign up for Snowbasin Resort’s Learn & Earn Program. This price includes three all-day lessons, three lift tickets, custom rentals and once the lessons are completed participants will receive a season pass for the rest of the winter. Snowbasin Resort has also teamed up with SNOW Operating and Snow Park Technologies to offer guests Terrain Based Learning. Those taking lessons will encounter features designed to assist in building fundamental skills needed for skiing or snowboarding and eliminates the fear caused by the urge to fight gravity, giving guests a more confident learning experience.
Little Kid Zone
Kids have the advantage of being fearless, flexible and curious about trying new things. To help parents pass on the thrill of skiing to the next generation Nordic Valley, Snowbasin Resort and Powder Mountain offer kids six and under the opportunity to ski or ride for free.
Powder Mountain’s Powder Play program is for groms 3.5-5years old. Classes are limited to two children per instructor so that kids get the personal attention they need to succeed in learning how to ski or snowboard. These classes are designed to encourage kids to play in a snow environment, and to cater to each child’s unique learning needs.
Snowbasin Resort has made learning fun for the little tykes. From 3-6 years old, kids start at the Dinosaur Riglet Park and on the Adventure Trails. This is a small area with a dinosaur slide, small arches, and small slopes. This park is designed to teach kids how to balance, get excited about skiing and snowboarding, and how to control themselves on the snow before heading up Little Cat Lift.
The learning experience doesn’t stop there, Nordic Valley, Powder Mountain and Snowbasin Resort all offer unique classes to kids big and small.
Après-Ski
Après-ski is a staple after a thrilling day on the slopes. This is a time to relax, listen to live music and watch the sunset and reminisce about all the fun that was had. While the resorts all have live music on the weekends and bars that you can easily retreat to, here are some alternative and new ways you can enjoy the après life.
New World Distillery, located in the Ogden Valley, is Utah’s newest craft distillery, producing naturalistic and gmo-free agave spirits, gin and vodka. They believe in being as sustainable as possible and have invested in a state-of-the-art still, cutting-edge fermenters, and a recirculating water chiller that recycles 100 percent of all cooling water. Scheduled to open early December, New World Distillery will offer educational tours of their facility, tastings and sales of their spirits, to those wanting to learn more about their cutting-edge technology and how the distilling process works.
Talisman Brewing Company is Ogden’s newest brewery. They are a small batch craft brewery who produces high quality beer to Northern Utah. Their beers range from 4.0% to 11.4% alcohol by volume and range from pale ales to stouts and everything in-between and are home to Utah’s first Triple IPA weighing in at 11.3% ABV. After your day on the slopes head down to Talisman Brewing Co. and take an educational/scientific tour of the brewery while sampling all of their product. Cost is $10 per person or $14 per person with a souvenir tasting glass to take home, reservations are recommended.
For more information on what to look forward to this winter at our resorts and beyond visit:
Nordic Valley: www.nordicvalley.com
Powder Mountain: www.powdermountain.com
Snowbasin Resort: www.snowbasin.com
Whisper Ridge Cat Skiing: www.whisperridgeutah.com
New World Distillery: www.newworlddistillery.com
Talisman Brewing Company: www.talismanbrewingco.com
Visit Ogden: www.visitogden.com
About Visit Ogden
The greater Ogden area has been continually marked as one of Utah’s leading destinations for travel and recreation. Forbes and USA Today both declared Ogden as “one of the top ten best places to live.”
Ogden, the crossroads of the west, located in Weber County is 35 minutes north of the Salt Lake International Airport. The area inspires visitors with more than 170,000 acres of National Forest, three ski resorts, more than 210 miles of single-track trail for hiking and mountain biking and 13,000 acres of lakes connected by pristine rivers for paddle sports and fishing. For additional information visit www.visitogden.com
Contact:
Sydnie Furton, Visit Ogden
(801) 778 6258 sydnie@visitogden.com
visitogden.com
