Hikin' in the Rain

(this photo, titled "Foggy Riverside" was taken by
Fremont High School student, Jordan Roe,
winner of Weber Pathways' 2009 High School Photography Competition)

Earlier this week, I asked our buddies on Facebook the following questions: "What's everyone's advice for hiking in the rain? How do you keep warm and dry and happy?! (besides staying home...)"

Here were the answers...

Keep moving to keep warm!

good gear and keep moving!!!

Polypro or polyester long underwear, top and bottom, not too thick. I just wear nylon shorts over that, and a thin rain shell that I can pull off when I get too hot. Wool/polypro socks. Haven't shopped for these things in a while but I should think Canyon Sports or Smith & Edwards would have everything you need.

Gore-Tex.

Walk fast and wear rain gear and be tough

the Happy part : just knowing you are probably the only one out hiking that day, and ponder that feeling - enjoying the solitude and magnitude of it all!

Hike to the library and get a good book.

Take someone warm and happy with you and stick close by him. :)

SMART WOOL SOCKS- GORE TEX - AND SCOTCH IN YOUR FLASK

And/or carry some warm and happy in a bota bag! Cheers.

good jacket, good shoes and most importantly a good attitude! The rain is great to hike in, it's refreshing and a chance to truly feel nature and be part of it!

Put your Kindle in a zip-lock plastic bag and pretend you're in Seattle.

Soft merino wool top- they make them whisper thin or thick and warm and they are biodegradable and not made from nasty petroleum products. I like pieces made by Icebreaker, Ibex and Smartwool, in that order and they are good almost year round (they even make t-shirts). Top it with a good lightweight breathable water resistant shell with pit zips. ... See MoreSoftshell pants (or old school lanolin rich woolies) are good too if it's a bit chilly- they fend off water and if they do get soaked they tend to still keep you warm. I have a bombproof Pelican case for my point and shoot camera but that's not practical for an SLR.

Thanks everyone! Happy Hiking!

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What is Ogden Nordic?

If there's ever trails that come alive in the winter, it would be the North Fork Trails in Ogden Valley. With over 12 miles of snowy pathways for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, these trails are groomed five (yes, five) days each week for the nordic enthusiasts' delight.

Ogden Nordic is a chapter of The Utah Nordic Alliance (TUNA) a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the sport of cross-country skiing and racing in Utah through information, education, coaching, facilitation, events, and social gatherings -- and boy do they ever!

Ogden Nordic always has something going on. Today, for example, is a 5k or 15k community ski race for skating and classic style ski racing. The race is the last of the O'Nordic races for 2010 and will take place on President's Day, February 15, 2010 at 10am at the beautiful Snowbasin Resort. All proceeds from the race will be donated to Hospitalito Atitlan, a hospital in Guatemala that was destroyed by a mud slide.

And coming up...Weber Pathways and Ogden Nordic are hosting 3 moonlight glides this coming winter in North Fork Park -- and there's two more left! Come and enjoy the scenic cross country trails under the light of the moon! Natural light reflecting off the snow means no lights are required. Bring your friends and Ski or Snowshoe out to a warming fire and then enjoy hot drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Cancellations possible due to weather. Check www.ogdennordic.com prior to departure. For all outings: participants leave the parking lot at 7pm. What to Bring: $5, Snowshoes/X-Country Skis, Mixers, Hors d’oeuvres, Head lamps optional What is Provided: Lots of Smiles and Red Noses, Fire, Hot Chocolate, Hot Cider, Coffee Friday Feb 26: Northgate Friday, March 26: Northgate For more information, please call Terry at (801)690-6400

Ogden Nordic is great for families and people of all ages. They even have an after-school program Monday through Friday at 4pm! In operation since 1997, this program is perfect for ages 8-18 and all levels -- beginners to competitors. Kids can even join a ski team; there are different teams and coaching available for each level of skier.

Don't forget! Whenever using these fantastic trails, please donate $5 each day you ski or $75 for a season pass. This donation goes towards the cost of fuel and equipment for grooming.

So come on out and give it a try! You won't be disappointed!

Check out www.ogdennordic.com for more details.

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Parkways Map

This is a very, very, VERY rough sketch of some of the parkways and trails in Weber County, attempting to demonstrate where the new 2.5 miles of Weber River Parkway will go. It's crude, yes, but hopefully it helps!

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2.5 More Miles of Trail Corridor Secrured!

It's time for a celebration!

The Utah Department of Transportation has officially transferred ownership of several land parcels to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) along the Weber River. Now, DWR will be working with Weber Pathways to build 2.5 more miles of the paved Weber River Parkway, from the Riverdale City limits to the town of Uintah!

The trail will follow along the south side of the Weber River and will include an 85' bridge and several boardwalks.

It's no doubt that this additional 2.5 miles will be HUGE for the recreational fun in our community. From the mouth of Ogden Canyon, The Ogden River Parkway follows the Ogden River west, past several parks and botanical gardens, around the 21st Street Pond (1-mile loop), to the confluence of the Ogden and Weber Rivers in West Haven.

Then, the trail becomes the Weber River Parkway as it follows the Weber River south. After meandering past the 24th Street Kayak Park, the trail continues into Fort Buenaventura.

Once in Fort Buenaventura, there are several loops and dirt trails that wander through grassy grounds, huge trees, and wetlands. One trail, the Kingfisher Trail, is particularly known for wetland wildlife viewing.

Heading south from Fort Buenaventura, the Weber River Parkway heads into Riverdale City. (This portion of trail is currently under construction by Ogden City and will soon be complete!)

Once in Riverdale, the Parkway follows past another Kayak Park to the Riverpark Disc Golf Course. Now, with this new 2.5 miles of trail secured, the Weber River Parkway will be able to continue to Uintah. This will make about 15 miles of paved, river-side trail! And if you connect to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from the mouth of Ogden Canyon...you could be on the trails for days!

The Ogden and Weber River Parkways are great for walking, bike riding, wheelchairs, strollers, anglers, kayakers, canoe-ers, and birdwatching. And there are plenty of places along the way to stop for a picnic.


Directions to Ogden Botanical Gardens:
Exit 12th Street in Ogden from I-15. Head East. Turn Right (South) on Monroe Blvd. Turn Left (East) into the MTC Botanical Gardens Parking lot 1800 S.

Directions to 21st Street Pond Loop:
624 W. 2100 S. on the north side of the 21st Street Expressway.

Directions to 24th Street Kayak Park:
From 24th Street, turn North on B Ave. (West of the Rail Road Tracks) Cross the Rail Road Tracks. Turn right (east) at stop sign. Pavilion and Parking will be on the south side of the street.

Directions to Ft. Buenaventura:
From 24th Street, turn South on A Ave. (West of the Rail Road Tracks) Take the first left. Follow south to parking area.

Directions to the Riverpark Disc Golf Course:
I-15; Riverdale Exit (exit 342, 35 Miles North Of Salt Lake City). East On Riverdale Rd. 2 Miles To A Right On 700 West (last Road Before Bridge). Go 250 Ft., Turn Left And Follow Road Past City Office Building To Dead End. 1st Tee Is East Of Parking Lot.

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Wednesday Morning Hikes/Snowshoe

Do you think winter is a time for hibernation? Think again! Come out snowshoeing with Weber Pathways on Wednesday mornings! If you’ve got a pair of snowshoes, great. If not, no worries. You can rent them from Weber State’s Outdoor Recreation Center (Snowshoe Package, poles included: $6 student, $9 general). Or, check out Canyon Sports in Riverdale.

These outings are free to the public and everyone is welcome to join! Bring your dogs, bring your kids. For little wee ones, a sled will be provided to pull ‘em along. Beginner? No problem. We’re all out for a good time, and you’re guaranteed to enjoy yourself.

So come on out for a good sweat and beautiful scenery. Call Tracey for more details (801) 776-1713.

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Be My Friend and Follow Me!!!

After attending the Utah Society of Fundraiser’s luncheon on Social Media Marketing, I knew Weber Pathways needed to get its butt in gear! It’s time to fully engage Pathways in the world of blogs, tweets, alerts, apps, RSS feeds….just to name a few…

As some of you may know, Weber Pathways does have a Facebook Page. So…wanna be our friend?

I post our outings and upcoming events and pictures, too. It’s also a great place to post comments to other people about trail stuff – a warm, fuzzy community of trail lovers :) So post up your trail photos and videos, experiences of our outings and events, and your own trail experiences! Let people know trail conditions – where to go, where to avoid. Love to hear from all of you!

We also have Twitter! Outings, events, interesting links, and other goodies are posted there. Follow us!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Under the Moonlight…

With shorter days come fewer chances to get outside in the sunlight. But what about moonlight? I feel like I’m living a scene out of Avatar when I hike on the snowy trails that glow from the moonlight. Especially out in Ogden Valley -- with Pineview Reservoir glowing bright under the Lunar Love. And I don’t care how cheesy it sounds – it’s straight up magical.

Try it yourself!

Weber Pathways has several Moonlight Outings left during the snow season. And all our outings are FREE to the public. We’ve got some hikes and some glides. The glides require cross-country skis or snowshoes. If you don’t have either, no worries. You can rent them from Weber State’s Outdoor Recreation Center (Snowshoe Package or Cross-Country Ski Package, poles included: $6 student, $9 general). Or, check out Canyon Sports in Riverdale.

Here are the details for the hikes and glides:

Moonlight Hikes - Enjoy beautiful moonlight hikes this Winter season! For exact times and locations, please email Dave at zcanyonhiker@gmail.com or call him at (801) 549-7451.

Thurs, Feb 25^th

Thurs, March 25th

Moonlight Glide - Weber Pathways and Ogden Nordic are hosting moonlight glides at Northgate, North Fork Park. Come and enjoy the scenic cross country trails under the light of the moon! Natural light reflecting off the snow means no lights are required. Bring your friends and Ski or Snowshoe out to a warming fire and then enjoy hot drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Cancellations possible due to weather. Check www.ogdennordic.com prior to departure. Participants leave the parking lot at 7pm. What to Bring: Snowshoes/X-Country Skis, Mixers, Hors d’oeuvres, Head lamps optional. What is Provided: Lots of Smiles and Red Noses, Fire, Hot Chocolate, Hot Cider, Coffee. For more information, please call Terry at (801)690-6400

Fri, Feb 26^th

Fri, March 26

And here are some fun links about the Magnificent Moon!

http://hubpages.com/hub/10-Interesting-Myths-and-Legends-About-The-Moon

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/top_10_cool_moon_facts.html

For more a list of all Weber Pathways’ outings, check out the Events Calendar at www.weberpathways.org