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Show MARCH 1996 Don’t Be a Winter Couch Potato Cross-Country Skiing Need Not Be Risky Business By Dave Hanscom “NM >Slide Pours Into Provo Canyon.” “Snowmobiler Caught in Snow Slide.” “Searchers Find Back country Skier Killed in Avalanche.” Every winter the headlines scream about the dangers of Utah’s back country. Cross-country skiing in this environment is obviously just for powder freaks and extreme skiers willing to put their lives on the line for a few cheap thrills. You would have to be nuts to venture out of designated ski resorts If you believe that, you’re missing out on one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the nation. It’s true that our fair state has more than its peaks, windswept share of rocky bowls, and precipitous mountainsides to challenge those willing to risk the farm for powder turns on the steep and deep. The good news is that we also have hundreds of miles of groomed and ungroomed trails and roads that are ideal for those with more modest goals. You don’t have t ») become a couch potato when the ground is covered with snow Whether your interest is a leisurely walk on a sunny winter day or a hard aerobic workout, cross-country skiing CAUTION: The Yellow Pine, Upper Setting, Shingle Creek, Norway Flats, and North Fork Trails are all subject to avalanche conditions. Take note of weather and snow conditions and be familiar with avalanche safety before traveling in these areas. NOTE: Shaded trails are open to motorized use. } Slate Creek A? Yellow reek Pine A Gesccxc BNR 3 ee amay ‘ Beaver Creek om (i) BEAVER ty CREEK . ft ot ~ NORTH ~18 2 Shingle Creek x 8829 NORWAY FLATS ROAD 0, Faiture\ Canyon | \ 7 Dee baie “hp... ~ NSBR \ ae is an ideal winter alternative. Increasing numbers of hikers, runners and bicyclists are discovering the benefits of cross-country skiing during the winter months as a means of maintaining fitness without the health hazards associated with slippery roads and valley inversions. The obvious place to start is a cross-country ski area. Groomed trails, equipment rentals, and trained instruc- lifestyle. Woolens 801-645-9427 Wyomina Weac USA PAGE PLANTATIONS TR 3 8707 nm ~ Pe CEDAR &. HOLE, 3 i MINE 518 Historic Main ¢ Park City, Utah & Jackson Hole Wyoming JACKSON Boulder Creek A an important part of your mountain TETON; North Fork Provo River Shingle’. Creek \ ohows pride in organizations that protect the world we live in by continuously donating a portion of our profits to: Conservation Alliance * Jackson Hole Alliance Greater Yellowstone Coalition We hope you take a vested interest in your Surroundings by making The Wasatch Mountain Times TOAS fot “oe yoming Wyoming ROAD i OW PINE : : “es tors can be found at White Pine in Park City, Solitude Nordic Center at Brighton, and Sundance Nordic Center. The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA) maintains a packed track at the Mountain Dell Golf Course in Parleys Canyon, and the US Forest Service provides a similar service in Millcreek Canyon If you tire of touring centers but want to avoid the well-documented dangers so prevalent in the Wasatch Mountains, the answer is to the east — in the foothills between the Wasatch and the Uinta Mountains. Increasing numbers of folks are discovering the joys of cross-country skiing on public lands near Park City, Oakley, Kamas, Woodland and Heber. The closest alternatives are the Rail Trail, connecting Park City and Coalville, or Jordanelle State Park, with its many miles of trails around the reservoir. Both of these alternatives are susceptible to wind, however, and are suitable only in ideal weather conditions. An additional 20-30 mile drive opens up a world of opportunities. Thanks to the foresight and progressive management philosophy of Melissa Blackwell and her staff, many miles of trails have been set aside for nonmotorized winter use in the Kamas Ranger District of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. For years the Mirror Lake Highway has been one of the most heavily used snowmobile complexes in the state. The area has also become increasingly popular with skiers and snowshoers, looking for alternatives to the steep slopes of the Wasatch. Not only has the district responded to requests for separate trails, they have also initiated a program of grooming some of those cross-country ski trails. The accompanying map, available from the Kamas Ranger District, as well as many outdoor stores, shows where you can expect to find opportunities 6 gg : 3 PROVO i 2re iv RIVER : ere fale cersttlimurtcese NS CAUTIO! rs > KNOWN ACTIVE AVALANCHE AREA! for quiet recreation in the area. Beaver Creek and Pine Flats get most of the traffic these days. But the north side of Highway 150 has some great possibilities. The North Fork West Trail is recommended for beginning skiers, intermediates can enjoy them all. Dog owners are being encouraged to choose these less-crowded locations to help reduce conflicts with other users. ther areas are available east of Oakley, including the Upper leber River, Smith-Morehouse Canyon, and South Fork of the Weber. In the Woodland area there is Willow Hollow, Little South Fork of the Provo and Bench Creek. In Heber, there is Lake Creek, if you’re willing to tolerate the noise and smell of snowmobiles. Volume 1 of Wasatch Tours contains detailed information on these areas. Finding snow in early and late winter requires more driving. When Park City was bare in December and January this year, we enjoyed powder at Daniels Summit’s 8,000-foot elevation. The trail along the west side of the Strawberry River, Lodgepole Campground, Telephone Hollow, and Doe Knoll are plates to consider in the area. Again, Volume 1 of Wasatch Tours contains more details, and the Forest Service also has maps for skiers. Unfortunately, the Heber Ranger District has been more susceptible to vocal snowmobilers, who refuse to condone any restrictions on their riding. But we are hopeful that as the number of skiers increases, and as more of us voice requests for a few kilometers without noise and polluted air, they will agree to our requests for quiet ski trails. @ Editor’s note: Dave Hanscom is the co-author of Wasatch Tours, volumes 1 62, the popular ski touring guides to northern Utah. Hanscom and Alexis Kelner are working on a third volume to be released next fall. |
