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Show Page 14 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume II, Issue XI 1 June 2000 Student News Calling All Winners! That’s exactly what the Ogden Valley Pathways Committee is doing calling all the winners from the essay contest! You’ll be hearing soon if you’re a winner. But here is one winner that has been notified! Meet Abbie Rasmussen - our first grade first place winner! Abbie wins $25.00 and some of these other prizes! Here is a list of all of the prizes that will be awarded, and the donors. 10 - Twenty-five dollar cash awards from Radford Corp. 10 Ten dollar gift certificates from Bingham Cyclery 10 Five dollar gift certificates from Jackson Fork Inn 2Day passes from Powder Mountain Ski Resort 4Stuffed animals from Smith and Edwards 4Five dollar gift certificates from Smith and Edwards 200 - Ice cream cones from The Oaks 200 - Sodas from Eden General Store Pathways Essays A System of Trails Ogden Valley Pathways in the Valley Would Be Neat by Raquel Kendell By Abbie Rasmussen Sixth Grade, Valley Elementary First Grade, Valley Elementary I think a system of trails in the Valley would be neat because: We wouldn’t have to use the car all the time. On a sunny day it would be good to take a walk. We wouldn’t have to walk on the side of the road. The air wouldn’t be so polluted. It would be quieter. You might see some animals. You could exercise better. I love living in the Ogden Valley, but it is hard to go anywhere without driving. Pathways would help connect one town to another, to be able to walk or ride bikes. I live right in the town of Huntsville and ride my bike mostly around the town. I can’t ride anywhere outside of the town because it is too dangerous. There aren’t even shoulders on the road to ride on. My mom likes to ride her bike and to take walks for exercise, but although she is trying to get healthy, she is really putting her life in danger by being on the roads. It doesn’t make sense. Abbie Rasmussen There is a sign on Highway 89 that describes the Ogden Valley as a recreation area. The Ogden Valley offers many fun things to do, but being able to walk and ride your bike safely, isn’t one of them. National Trails Day June 3 National Trails Day, now in its 8th year, is organized nationwide by the American Hiking Society. By participating in National Trails Day, you can demonstrate your support for outdoor recreation opportunities and for trails in your community! Weber County Pathways is a local private, non-profit organization whose mission is to promote, plan, and preserve a coherent network of nonmotorized public pathways in Weber County. Through its Board of Trustees and local chapters, WCP is involved in several major trail projects, including the creation of a trails master plan in Ogden Valley, the construction of the Eden Trail, the completion of the Weber River Greenway, the construction of a Kayak Park on the Weber River, the creation of a visitors center and trial connections at the mouth of Ogden Canyon, and the conversion of 10 miles of abandoned railroad to a biking and equestrian trail in Plain City. Activities planned for June 3 include a formal Ogden Valley Pathways official kickoff ceremony, including a breakfast, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Eden Park. Trail building activities and hikes will be held throughout the region during the morning, including projects and/or hikes at the Pineview West Trail, the Ogden Nature Center North, Rainbow Gardens, and top of North Ogden Divide. Go Take a Hike This National Trails Day Compiled by Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Staff June 3 is National Trails Day, but living in Ogden Valley affords residents the luxury of having every day being Trails Day because of the many opportunities for hiking in our own backyard. The Sierra Club publishes an excellent guide for hikers, bikers, and crosscountry skiers describing and outlining many trails available to the public in the Ogden Area entitled “Outings Guide.” Two of the many trails detailed include the North Ogden Pass to Ben Lomond and the Pole Canyon Trail that we have reprinted here by permission of the Sierra Club. So this week . . . go take a hike! Pole Canyon Trail (Nordic Valley) Strenuous 1.7 miles (one way to Skyline Trail junction) Elevation gain 1900 feet From the base of the Nordic Valley ski area, follow 3500 E. southward as it becomes Nordic Valley Way, then 3850 E. Eventually this road climbs very steeply and then bends west and levels off. At the end of the road is a pullout where the trail begins. The route first crosses the creek and follows Pole Canyon upward, but after 50 yards you turn right and begin heading out of the canyon, directly upslope. With a gain of 1700 vertical feet over a distance only slightly greater than a mile, this is one of the steepest trails in northern Utah. Eventually the path levels off on a broad ridge offering fine views in all directions. After another .4 miles it meets the Skyline Trail. North Ogden Pass to Ben Lomond Strenuous 8.2 miles (one way) Elevation gain 3500 feet This segment of the Skyline Trail begins at North Ogden Pass, across the road from the trailhead parking area. (To reach the pass from North Ogden, take 1050 East to 3100 North, then head eastward up to the pass.) The first two miles of the trail climb relentlessly up a shade less series of switchbacks, but then the trail crosses to the northeast side of the ridge and passes through a very pleasant conifer forest. Before long the trail crosses back to the southwest side and mostly levels off, offering spectacular view to the south and west as you pass through a meadow of summer wildflowers. Eventually you reach a signed junction where the trail from North Fork Park comes up to meet the Skyline Trail at a broad saddle (8700 feet). From here it is another 1.5 miles up a series of steep switchbacks climbing the summit cone of Ben Lomond (9712 feet). The Skyline Trail continues northwest to Willard Basin. Volunteers are being recruited for many trail projects planned for June 3. The Back Country Horseman are sponsoring a trail improvement project that will begin on top of the North Ogden Divide at 10:00 a.m. To participate, come with gloves, and tools such as shovels, picks or sledge hammers. The group will be installing water bars on the old pioneer trail to provide for erosion control on the trail. They will also be replacing tie rails. For more information contact Harold Edwards at 745-0227. Note: The complete Sierra Outing Guide can be purchased from most bookstores in the area. For more information check go to: utah.sierraclub.org/ogden or call the Sierra Club Utah Chapter office in Salt Lake City at (801) 467-9297. National Trails Day Activities Planned June 3 events: 8:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:00-10:00 a.m. 9:00-10:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:00-noon 10:30 a.m. Noon Run at Rainbow Gardens Breakfast at Eden Park (by Eden Park board) Kickoff ceremony, breakfast, and equipment expo at Rainbow Gardens Trail Building at Pineview West Trail Come Volunteer - Just show up. Hike at Rainbow Gardens Trail Building at Nature Center North Pineview West Trail Dedication and Award Ceremony, followed by hike on Pineview West Trail Trail Dedication, Lunch, and Nature Center demos at Nature Center North |