Skip Breckenridge and Make Ogden Your Next Ski Destination

February 14, 2018February 25, 2018 admin 595 Views 0 Comment Breckenridge, Destination, next, Ogden, skip

We’re in the midst of yet another Winter Olympics, this time in Pyeongchang, and all of that action on the slopes might have you itching to plan a weekend in the mountains. Well, you’re not alone, and we’re here to tell you that the perfect trip is waiting for you in Utah. The state’s wildly popular ski hubs, Salt Lake and Park City, have long been heralded as ideal destinations for powder hounds. But nearby, a less traversed ski town, Ogden, offers the same slope-shredding with more charm and fewer crowds. Here’s everything you need for a long weekend of skiing, sightseeing, eating, and drinking in Ogden Valley.

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Book your trip now.

You should book your flight into Salt Lake City International Airport for anytime between now and the end of March, when snowfall is frequent but prices are still reasonable. From the airport, rent a car or take a cab—it’s only 35 minutes to downtown Ogden, which will put you near the three major resorts in the area, all within 15 or 20 minutes of one another.

Book

Pick the window seat.

Even if you’re a dedicated aisle-goer, you won’t regret the inside spot once you’re gazing at the Rockies below, or as the blue-green hue of the Great Salt Lake comes into focus just beyond Utah’s Wasatch mountains, where you’ll be skiing.

Here’s what to bring.

Aside from the obvious winter essentials, be sure to pick up a hydration pack. This way you can spend less time at the lodge for water breaks, and more time getting runs in before lunch. An all-weather camera wouldn’t hurt, either. Strap one to your helmet before hopping on the lift and you’ll have interactive, POV footage to show off to your friends back home.

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CamelBak HydroBak, 50 Oz.

Buy$ 49, amazon.com

This lightweight pack will keep you hydrated on the slopes, and stores essentials like your phone, cash, and skin salve in a zippered pocket.

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GoPro Hero6
Buy $ 400, amazon.com

Record video and snap photos while you’re shredding with this rugged, portable camera. The brand’s newest model will automatically send footage straight to your phone.

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Eider Twin Peaks Hoodie
Buy $ 280, moosejaw.com

With mild temps in Utah’s dry, continental climate hovering in the low- to mid-40s, you’ll need mountain-friendly layers, but not so much that you overheat when putting in work on the slopes. Not only is this geometric-patterned zip-up reversible, it also rolls up into a compact sack that easily fits in your carry-on. Seriously.

Here’s where to stay.

If you prefer room service and turn downs to an Airbnb, the best deal is to stay at one of the nine hotels that offer the “Ski 3” pass. Created by Ogden Valley’s tourism board, the deal gets you three lift tickets to each of the resorts (Powder Mountain, Nordic Valley, and Snowbasin) for just $ 157—so long as you book two nights at one of the participating hotels, such as the historic Bigelow Hotel, kitted with original crystal chandeliers from 1927. What’s more, Utah Transit Authority busses will shuttle you from hotel to mountain—and even from resort to resort—if you’d rather not rent a car.

Bigelow Hotel

In nearby Eden, Powder Mountain Getaways offers condominium-style lodging for large groups, about a 5- to 10-minute drive from the summit. There, you’ll have a working fireplace and access to outdoor hot tubs for post-ski soaks. (Pro tip: You can also score one of these set-ups by renting directly from the owner.)

Fuel up for your runs.

Before setting out for the mountain, hit up Pat’s Food Shack, where you can snag $ 4 breakfast burritos loaded with breakfast meats and scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, melted cheese, and fresh sauteed veggies. It’s literally a shack across the street from a gas station, so keep your eyes peeled for signs at the foot of Powder Mountain or you just might miss it. The hefty tortillas are worth the pit-stop, and they’ll keep you powered up until it’s time to break for lunch.

Then, it’s time to hit the slopes.

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The three major resorts in Ogden Valley offer a range of amenities and trails, from no frills to totally tricked out.

Looking for long runs and impressive lodges? Head to Snowbasin.

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The host of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games offers 3,000 feet of vertical terrain. At the peak, panoramic views span both Eden and Ogden valleys and the encompassing Wasatch mountain range. Trust us: you’re going to want to ogle for a few minutes. Though the summit sits at over 9,000 feet, there are trails for beginners and experts alike—just watch out for heavy traffic flow at peak hours. For lunch, John Paul Lodge offers 360-degree views and a grand fireplace to warm up.

Prefer a more laid back experience? Try Powder Mountain.

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The massive mountain boasts over 8,000 acres of terrain, and with limited crowds, you’ll have plenty of untracked powder and open space to yourself. “Lots of people tell me this feels like their hometown mountain, like the one they grew up on,” says Lamar Nall, ski and snowboard instructor at the resort. That said, “PowMow” does offer unique slopes and runs, some of which can only be accessed by snowmobile pulls, and even a vast canyon you can traverse into before returning to the lift. Powder Keg, the resident pub, serves sauced wings (pineapple-habanero, chipotle, teriyaki) and pitchers of local craft beer (Uintah, Publican, Talisman) in addition to tonkotsu and miso-style ramen, of all things.

For a little bit of everything, look to Nordic Valley.

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Nordic Valley packs a ton of activity into a petite 140-acre resort. Most of the terrain is intermediate level, but you get features like after-dark skiing and boarding until 9 p.m., and snow tubing for all ages.

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Embrace the après-ski.

You’d be remiss not to crack a cold one at Shooting Star Saloon, one of the country’s oldest bars west of the Mississippi. Situated in nearby Huntsville, this old-school watering hole flips a namesake burger that’s smothered with melted cheese, grilled onions, and nearly topples over thanks to the split Polish knackwurst crowning it.

If you’d rather toast with a couple of cocktails by an open fire, head to Snowbasin’s Cinnabar, where a rotation of live bands entertain skiers throughout the evening and you can find belly-warming cups like German-style mulled wine, bourbon-spiked cider, and cocoa laced with vanilla vodka. You can even order a shotski with whatever poison you prefer. (For the uninitiated, four shots are attached to a ski and four friends must toss them down the hatch in unison.)

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And if you’re in the mood for something a little more filling, the quintessential meal while you’re in town is found at Hearth on 25th. Local fare like elk steak and yak meatballs take center stage at this upscale eatery that grows its own herbs, shakes craft cocktails with local liquors and house-made shrubs, and imports more than a dozen flavored balsamic vinegars to sample while you mull over the menu.

Finally, cut loose.

Ogden has long been known as the yin to Salt Lake City’s yang. Its rough-and-tumble history in the pioneer days lead to debauchery during Prohibition. The main drag running through downtown, Historic 25th Street, was once home to brothels and bootleggers rolling through the rail town’s iconic Union Station. Today, that outlaw spirit is still alive and well, but takes shape in the intimate tufted-leather booths of speakeasies, on stage at underground dueling piano and live music bars like Funk ‘N Dive, and upstairs at the elaborate Beatles shrine that is City Club (complete with a Paul McCartney-signed Fender).

If you continue along 25th, lit as much by neon signage as by street lamps, be sure to pop into one of the city’s archetypical dive bars, such as Historic Place and Kokomo Club, where Miller High Life goes for $ 2 and the combination of wood paneling, vinyl swivel chairs, taxidermy, and pool tables will transport you back to your grandparents’ basement. Start bar-hopping early, though: Watering holes close at 1 a.m. From there, all that’s left to do is rest up, sober up, and start it all over again.

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