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Show Volume XXV Issue XXIV The Ogden Valley news Page 11 February 1, 2020 Ogden Nordic is Loving This Winter: Elevated Mountain Cuisine at Links Wolf Creek Resort recently celebrat- family can enjoy, from savory hors d’oeuvres ed the Grand Reopening of Links, one of to innovative après ski favorites. It includes Come enjoy the trails at North Fork Park Ogden Valley’s most noteworthy restaurants. main course options for those wanting a burger Lots of people are enjoy- Lessons are open to all levels of ability. If you ing Ogden Nordic Trails! For those who are new to the area, Ogden Nordic is a nonprofit organization with a contract with Weber County to operate a cross-country ski area in North Fork Park. We groom about 20 miles of ski trails that accommodate both classic and skate skiing. We have expanded our trails with a specialized groomer for about 7 miles of dedicated trails for bikes and showshoeing. The Nordic Center (aka yurt) at the South Gate of the park is open for ski and snowshoe rentals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Ogden Nordic Ski School is PSIA certified with a group of certified and dedicated instructors. Group lessons are available Saturday mornings for both Classic and Skate skiing. Private lessons can be arranged. Sign-up for all ski lessons must be done online ahead of time (http://www. ogdennordic.com/ski-school). On Saturday, February 8, the Ski School is offering half-price group cross-country ski lessons in classic and skate technique. Included with your lesson is a free lunch at the Thai Curry Kitchen food truck that will be on site. are new to the sport or if it has been a while since you dusted off your cross-country skis, or you just want to become more efficient in your technique, our instructors will be there to help you out. The cost is half-price lessons, rentals (if needed), and a trail pass. So bring the family out and enjoy winter! All details and the online signup form can be found at <http://www. ogdennordic.com/ski-school/learn-to-ski-day> Ogden Nordic has some of the best groomed trails in the west. Grooming is expensive and requires significant time on the part of our volunteers so we ask the public to please respect the trails and refrain from hiking on them. “Post-holing” or punching through the top layer can be dangerous for other users on bikes or skis and are difficult to groom out. Please use snowshoes to prevent post-holing! We are doing our best to accommodate multiple users on the trails so we can all get out in this beautiful winter wonderland! Check our website for trail conditions at <www.ogdennordic.com> Please check driving conditions before coming and be prepared (snow tires are recommended) so you can enjoy the day! Dogs on Ogden Nordic Trails! Nationally-recognized, award-winning executive chef Chris Park and his culinary team are laser focused on delivering excellent customer service, matched by an unparalleled culinary experience. From opening day, they got the town talking and sharing their excitement throughout the Valley and surrounding area. The Links team has quickly mastered elevating the mountain dining experience, with an emphasis on expertlyprepared, locally-sourced cuisine that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate. Links’ new dinner menu is one the whole Sheshreds.Co & Global Community Hosts Retreat— Events for Female Winter Sports Enthusiasts SheShreds.co is in the throes of their weekly ladies night activations every Wednesday, 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Pow Mow, and has been planning for months the upcoming 2020 Jamboree Ladies-only event retreat at their headquarters— Powder Mountain— Feb. 6-9, 2020. A unique group of female empowering sponsors, including Smith Optics, Gnarwalls, Buzz Graphics, Lucky Slice, Niche Snowboards, Flowrider Utah, Admiral Beverage/Pepsi, All-Actionsports.com, Grounds for Coffee, KC Fowls Tattoos, Utah Outdoor Association, Compass Rose Lodge, Huntsville Mercantile, Ogden Wellness Center, Level Nine Sports, Fervora, Good Vibes Jewelry, Jones Shirts and Signs, Cross Roads Skate Park & Pro Shop, Wimpy and Fritz and Leaf Filter are all aboard to support contest podium prizes, trophies, media, music, food and general stoke for the Jamboree Weekend and weekly event series! The Jamboree program will run all weekend as a destination activation for girls and women of all ages and abilities—both snowboard and ski. You only need a lift ticket to participate in anything on snow! Group rides all weekend, their big signature rail jam contest with cash prizes for advanced divisions, and incredible prize packs for beginner and intermediate snow and ski divisions with DJ Ky Wizard on the decks followed by Grom Fest on Saturday for all the under 12 riders. Invitational evening events will be held Thursday and Friday night with film screening, inspirational speakers, One of the most incredible winter experiences for me is to be out in the snow with my dog. As a cross-country skier, I was thrilled to learn that dogs are allowed on the trails at Ogden Nordic—on leash! Since I skijor with my dog, the leash issue is not a problem. Most cross-country ski trails do not allow dogs, so we are pretty fortunate here. “Skijoring,” derived from the Norwegian word skikjøring, literally means “ski driving” (www.rover.com/blog/skijoring-dog-sportskis). Basically, in short, the sport is simply cross-country skiing with the aid of a towing agent. Skijoring can be done with a horse, but the most popular form is with dogs. In dog skijoring, both dog and human wear harnesses, and are connected to each other by a tow line. The dog runs through the snow, towing the human behind them on skis. The dog harness is like a sled-dog harness. The connection with the human is with a bungie line (~8 feet) attached to a waist belt (so hands are free for using poles). Skijoring depends entirely on the enthusiasm of your dog and the ski ability of the human. A skijoring hookup (harness on dog) is better than a leash on the neck collar because it allows the dog to move freely. The harness spreads the tension on the leash across the chest and shoulders creating less stress on both the dog and the human. Check out some skijoring harnesses at https://howlingdogalaska.com/ collections/skijoring (this website also has a how-to book) or <https://ruffwear.com/products/omnijore-dog-joring-system> The dog will be able to do its thing (i.e. run) if the human is a competent skier; thus, it is not a great idea to try this until you are comfortable on skis. If not, it is probably best to snowshoe with your dog (on leash) or leave the dog at home until you are a bit more comfortable on skis. For more information about skijoring, please ask Trish at the Nordic Center. It is a county ordinance that dogs must be on leash in North Fork Park—summer and winter. Dogs present some particular challenges at Ogden Nordic. 1) Many skiers are beginners, focused on controlling their skis and poles. Adding a loose dog into that mix is not only intimidating but is dangerous (especially down hill). 2) Dogs like to chase fast-moving things, which may include a skier coming down a hill, which is a safety concern. 3) There are many people who do not like dogs; thus, may not appreciate a happy, energetic off-leash dog approaching them. This is especially unappreciated if that person is also not yet comfortable on skis or is just learning. Many dog owners will say that their dog is more “assertive” when on leash, causing a problem when “off-leash” dogs approach an on-leash dog, making for a difficult situation. Holding a dog in close while on skis is a challenge. So…, again, if your skiing skills make it so you are not comfortable keeping your dog on leash, then it may be best to leave the dog at home until you improve your skill set or, perhaps, consider snowshoeing with your dog on leash instead. Then there are the moose…. Dogs are at high risk of injury or quick death when interacting with a moose. Moose are commonly found on our trails, as they want to get out of the deep snow. They also are stressed in the winter, and being chased or antagonized by an off-leash dog is not good. Dogs have instincts and are curious, and a leash is the best way to prevent SERVE-TO-SAVE cont. from page 1 any interactions of this type. Of course, everyone will appreciate your Serve-to-Save dinner tickets are $25 each, picking up after your dog. Please bring your and every penny goes to Boston Farr or the own bags that can be deposited into the trash school’s scholarship fund. Buy your tickreceptacles at several places along the trails ets to attend from any sixth-grader, in the and at the park’s entrances and exits. The other alternative—dog waste gets spread along the groomed trails by skiers and by grooming equipment. This can diminish the experience for other people using the winter trails. We have had three dog bites over the past several years on the Ogden Nordic trails. So, please, remember that it is the responsibility of every dog owner to figure out how to enjoy the trails safely with dogs on leash. Loose dogs jeopardize everyone’s enjoyment of the trails, and also the ability to continue having dogs on the trails. Please respect other users so everyone can enjoy the beautiful winter trails in North Fork Park. FR CUMMINGS cont. from page 7 light will surely come and will claim its victory over every form of darkness, despair, suffering, and death.” In his book Monastic Practices, Father Charles anticipated the very moment of death he faced last week, “I do not know, except by Christian faith, what lies beyond this life. In death I lose everything without knowing for sure that there is anything to follow. Faith, however, assures me that there is a God who is like a loving father or mother. The ultimate reality is not death and extinction. But God.” One Utah Deseret News reporter, reflecting in 2017 about the closure of the Huntsville monastery, recalled an earlier conversation when Father Charles told him, “I’m glad there’s such a thing as monks. I’m no good at anything else.” (Bidding adieu to a life made from honey.) Obviously, the second sentence of that humble statement is not true. It is good, however, that there are monks. And I’m glad Father Charles Cummings graced my life and our world by becoming one. Note: Mike O’Brien is a writer and attorney living in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is writing a book about growing up with the monks at the old Trappist monastery in Huntsville, Utah. mobrien@joneswaldo.com Father Charles explained how when the work was done, he loved the fruits of his labors… “The view from the deck, watching the deer and sometimes the elk; the panorama of mountains and foothills, out of sight of the abbey; indoors, the wood fire in the fireplace that provided warmth and some light and dancing flames.” While visiting places like the hermitage, Father Charles wrote wonderful words. For a website called “Monasteries of the Heart” (Monks in Our Midst: Charles Cummings OCSO on waiting) he reflected on waiting. “The monastic night watch is good practice in the art of waiting, as we patiently look for the coming of dawn. Monks and nuns wait in the dark, longing for the light of dawn but unable to hasten its coming. No one can force the dawn or bring it about in any way. It dawns in its own good time on those who wait for it. The ability to wait is characteristic of those who have learned to slow down and live in the fullness of the present moment. By quietly watching and praying through the night, I learn to live with the slow process of my own spiritual growth. I have no control over the future and I do not know exactly what will happen. I am asked only to stay awake and be ready because the TAX SPECIAL for TEENAGERS: 1040: $49.95 (no matter how many W2’s) “Kids living at home” returns only $25.00 with parents returns. and fries after a long day on the mountain; kid-friendly favorites; plus vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free winter delights. Did someone say dessert? Before you head home, treat yourself with our famous Skillet Cookie, baked fresh and destined to satisfy every taste bud. Links is located at 3873 N Wolf Creek Drive in Eden. Call today to reserve your table, and experience elevated mountain cuisine and see why Links has become the Valley’s toprated restaurant: 801-781-4150 | @linksbistro | linksbistro.com music, raffles and just plain fun for all the ladies of all ages and abilities. Things will wrap up with a free two-hour session at Flowrider Indoor Wave, Ogden, UT on Saturday night for all the ladies. “You can find out more on the big jamboree weekend at our website www.sheshreds. co/jam.” Sheshreds.co Founder, Gina Duffy shared. “We are beyond excited to host the Jamboree in year three for our global community and hope to meet lots of new girls and women looking for their people from around the Mountain West and the World! After several seasons of successful ladies’ night events, which are still held every Wednesday night at Powder Mountain by the way! Our growth with the resort into an official sponsor is humbling since this is where I got my big idea for Sheshreds.co! We are excited to take the Jamboree to the next level again this year as a local to International destination event for women and girls in snow sports!” Gina added. Sheshreds.co continues to grow as a beacon for girls and women in action sports with a structured ambassador program and community concept with live and digital parts now in 40+ U.S. States and 15+ other countries. Our ranks swelled to the 1000+ active girls and women forming the crew and driving internationally. “These girls and women are directly contributing to the direction of the brand, business, and social mission forming one collective voice. United We Shred!” Says Duffy. For more information please visit <www. sheshreds.co/pages/press> office at Valley Elementary, or call Valley Elementary at 801-452-4180. Credit cards, cash, or checks are all accepted. We look forward to seeing you at this great event; thank you for your support! |