Newbie, soon to be in Ogden

[Candace66]

Hello all! First, thanks to mojave geek for telling me about this site.

In January, I'll be transferring to Ogden, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the great outdoors in Utah! :cool2: My primary interests are road cycling, hiking/peak-bagging, snowshoeing, and four-wheeling.

Right now I'm living overseas, but when I lived in California, I loved visiting the Sierras and the Mojave desert and the Death Valley area in particular.
My Utah experience includes short visits to Canyonlands, Arches, and Zion NP's. I'll have a good vehicle (4WD Nissan Xterra Offroad with upgrades) so I plan to visit 4WD destinations such as the Maze and Needles districts.

As for cycling, I'm a masochist who likes mountain climbs (though I'm quite slow getting up them). I'll be looking for nice climbs/descents come next cycling season!

I look forward to checking out all the forums and sharing experiences and beta with all of you. :cheers:

[accadacca]

Welcome. You found the right place to get in on the outdoor scene. :2thumbs:

[blueeyes]

You will love it up there! I just moved from Ogden to St. George a about 18 months ago. Good snowshoeing up by Snowbasin. Good climb on your road bike up and over Trappers Loop same road that goes up to Snowbasin, a really nice ride is to leave your car on the side of the road next to Pineview Dam ride around the dam and then up Trappers. If you are a true masochist continue on up to Snowbasin or go on over Trappers to Morgan and turn around and head back.

Chere'

[Sombeech]

Welcome to O-Town! :afro:

[Candace66]

You will love it up there! I just moved from Ogden to St. George a about 18 months ago. Good snowshoeing up by Snowbasin. Good climb on your road bike up and over Trappers Loop same road that goes up to Snowbasin, a really nice ride is to leave your car on the side of the road next to Pineview Dam ride around the dam and then up Trappers. If you are a true masochist continue on up to Snowbasin or go on over Trappers to Morgan and turn around and head back.

Chere'

Thanks for the tip! I see a couple of guidebooks listed on Amazon that I might check out: "Road Biking Utah" and "Bicycling America's Nat'l Parks: Utah and Colorado". I've cycled up in the Rockies before and visited some of the high passes. But I didn't have my bike with me when I travelled through Utah, so cycling out there was added to my to-do list.

[ELEANOR THOMPSON]

Hi Candace.........

I do not know which company you are transferring to. I have only lived here since 12.2004. Moved from SW CT. Yes a big change.

Ogden = O-TOWN, has been being marketed as an outdoor sports MECCA since Snowbasin Ski Resort was used as a 2002 Olympic Venue. There is so much happening here in greater Ogden / Ogden Valley in all aspects of outdoor sports, you will fit right in.

Since it took me a while to find all the outdoor sports venues and groups, I had dedicated my off time doing online marketing to let NEWCOMERS find the web sites that explain OGDEN OUTDOORS.......sooner /faster. Since Ogden is home to companies like AmerSports Winter & Outdoors.........This company's Global HQ are based in Helsinki. Its North American Sales and Marketing are located here in Ogden, in a wonderful retrofitted brick industrial building that was built around 1900 for American Can Company. In another part of the same industrial complex, there is an awesome Climbing gym with about 10,000 sq ft and ceiling height of 20 ft in some areas.

ET

[DRobb]

Welcome! Ogden is amazing. I moved here for school and never left. If you really want to punish yourself on your bike, you have to add North Ogden Divide Road (I think it's really called North Ogden Canyon Road, but I've never heard anyone actually call it that) on you list of hills. It's brutal. Also, Monte Cisto and Sardine Canyon (to Logan) are worth mentioning. There's great four-wheeling in the mountains east of Logan. For hiking and peak bagging check out this site: http://www.weberpathways.org/ I recommend the Skyline Trail from North Ogden Divide in particular. The trails here are excellent and very accessible.

[Candace66]

ET...Good to hear about all the outdoor opportunities around there!

DRobb...thanks for the beta. I absolutely can't wait until next cycling season!

[Candace66]

Update: I'm in Utah now, looking for a place to live. Trying to decide if I should stick close to Hill (where I'll be working) or live up in Ogden. :hmm2:

[Sombeech]

The Clearfield, Clinton, and Roy areas are nice places to live, close enough to bigger cities like Layton, Riverdale and Ogden, but not busy nor full of traffic. They are close to the freeway too.

Feel free to private message me concerning your budget, no I'm not a realtor. Lol. But I could point you to some areas with a fitting budget.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

[KapitanSparrow]

What's ADR6300?

[blueeyes]

What's ADR6300?

That would be his Incredible Android. :haha:

[Sombeech]

What's ADR6300?

oops I need to edit my signature on that one :mrgreen:

[Sombeech]

There, how's this? Lol

Posted via Tapatapatapatalk

[Candace66]

The Clearfield, Clinton, and Roy areas are nice places to live, close enough to bigger cities like Layton, Riverdale and Ogden, but not busy nor full of traffic. They are close to the freeway too.

Feel free to private message me concerning your budget, no I'm not a realtor. Lol. But I could point you to some areas with a fitting budget.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the offer. I already settled on a apt. in Layton. Selling points were the quiet location in general; many places to eat nearby, when I'm too lazy to cook, hehe; near but not too near I-15; no pet rent; and they provide a full size washer/dryer in the unit (seems to be rare around here). So my house-hunting is ahead of schedule and under budget! :haha:

[ELEANOR THOMPSON]

Find a place to live in Roy, Riverdale or S Ogden, if you do not want to live in Ogden. When the North Gate into Hill gets completed, you will be able to get to work very fast, and still live closer to all that is going on in O-TOWN.

As many on here know, O-TOWN / SNOWBASIN..........just finished a week of:

WINTER DEW TOUR 2012 SNOWBASIN / MAC MILLER CONCERT

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ix=hea&ie=UTF-8&ion=1#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&biw=1482&bih=846&site=webhp&source=hp&q=WINTER%20DEW%20TOUR%202012%20SNOWBASIN%20MAC%20M ILLER%20CONCERT%20%20&pbx=1&oq=&aq=&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&fp=a1f7df59a5e58952&ix=hea&ion=1&ix=hea&ion=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=a1f7df59a5e58952&ix=hea&ion=1

As per before, I did a lot of online SMM, for both the DEW TOUR and the MAC MILLER CONCERT. 2 O-TOWN based, aggregate digital platforms that will give you lots of links to and insight into O-TOWN are:

OGDEN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE.com
http://ogdenoutdooradventure.com/2012/02/12/dew-cup-winners-results-louie-vito-kevin-rolland-kelly-clark-devin-logan/

&

INDIE OGDEN UTAH.com
http://indieogdenutah.com/

Both .coms and their additional digital platforms (FB, Flickr, etc.) will give you an overall of how much fun it is to live in O-TOWN. Lots going on here. If you find a place to live that is half way between HILL and downtown O-TOWN, you will find it easy to get into O-TOWN after work. ALSO........RENT first. Then buy.

PS.......if you live north of RT 84, as it comes down from Weber Canyon, the air quality is much better. SLC has horrendous air pollution. The WIND sweeping down RT 84 as it cuts through Weber Canyon clears out the polluted air that is S of RT 84 and Weber Canyon. S Ogden has some areas that are next to the Adams Parkway Toll road, which gets you onto RT 15 and N Gate of Hill. Check it out.

Good luck and keep posting on this link, if you need more

[ELEANOR THOMPSON]

Hahaha. Read you comment above AFTER I posted above.

Here is one more site that is fun to use to find people to HIKE with and other outdoors activities:
WEBER COUNTY OUTDOORS MEETUP
http://www.meetup.com/webercountyoutdoors/

Look on MEETUP and you will find 2-3 other groups that host hikes, snowshoe outings, etc: DAVIS COUNTY Hiking and Outdoors Group (most outings in Davis our Weber Counties); Wasatch Hiking and Outdoors Group on MEETUP.......along the Wasatch, from SLC to Weber County.

[Candace66]

Hahaha. Read you comment above AFTER I posted above.

Here is one more site that is fun to use to find people to HIKE with and other outdoors activities:
WEBER COUNTY OUTDOORS MEETUP
http://www.meetup.com/webercountyoutdoors/

Look on MEETUP and you will find 2-3 other groups that host hikes, snowshoe outings, etc: DAVIS COUNTY Hiking and Outdoors Group (most outings in Davis our Weber Counties); Wasatch Hiking and Outdoors Group on MEETUP.......along the Wasatch, from SLC to Weber County.

I forgot about Meetup, thx for reminding me. Sorry you were a little late with the location advice. But if I decide I don't like the area I'm in, the info may come in handy after my lease expires. :)

[jamesdak]

Well, I work on base also but live up in the Ogden Valley. Being up here puts me right in the middle of prime "play" area. I mainly road bike due to knees trashed from too many running miles and 20+ years in the Army doing stupid things like jumping out of perfectly good airplanes. Lots of great riding roads up here with limited traffic and several decent climbs. Oh, and I suck at getting up the hills fast also. Still according to the weather/road conditions there are four road descents available and a lot more if you mountain bike. You can get lots of miles in without ever leaving the valley. So much better than dealing with all the traffic over where you are currently at...

I moved back to the area in 2005 with the only goal being living up here in the valley to enjoy all the great outdoor experiences available. Rent/purchases are more expensive up here and there are limited businesses but if outdoor recreation is prime to you the area can't be beat. Just think of the area as part of a healthy lifestyle as the only fast food type place available is a Subway...:haha:

[ELEANOR THOMPSON]

JAMES DAK..........Loved reading your comment. OV is my fav place to recreate, even through I do not live there. I expect that once Candance gets to know OV, she will love it too, in all 4 seasons!!

[jamesdak]

Yep, love it up here. Here's a little photo tour:

Balloon Fest (on again for this year!)

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Huntsville:

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Nordic Valley (Wolf Mt)

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Fall:

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Middle Fork area:

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Trappers Loop:

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Eden:

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...And to think I get to see most of this everyday on my cycling rides!:cool2::cool2:

[jman]

Those are pretty cool photos James

[blueeyes]

All this talk and photo's of Ogden are making me HOMESICK!!!! Good thing I am coming up this week. Too bad I don't have time to enjoy EV.

[Candace66]

Nice pics! Sad to say, due to little things (getting moved in, my new job, studying for my promotion tests) I haven't been up to the OV yet. But I'll have more time after March 14. :nod:

[jamesdak]

Good luck on the promotion!

Some of the local Ogden Valley wildlife:

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[Sombeech]

Excellent representation of Ogden Valley :cool2:

[blueeyes]

Beautiful!

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[accadacca]

jamesdak post those pics up and more in the Dark Room. You've got some real talent! :2thumbs:

[blueeyes]

jamesdak post those pics up and more in the Dark Room. You've got some real talent! :2thumbs:

Agreed!

[jamesdak]

Done! Started a couple of threads embedded different pictures I have hosted at my pbase account. Hope y'all like 'em.

[Candace66]

I agree with the others, those were some beautiful critter pics! Can't wait to come up and visit. :cool2:

[ELEANOR THOMPSON]

Thanks for wonderful pics of OV. I will keep them handy when I cannot get up to OV often enough.

Here are my hubby's pics of Utah on flickr. Another great platform to post on, since it has been around a long time and it's global:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordesign/

[Sombeech]

Thanks for wonderful pics of OV. I will keep them handy when I cannot get up to OV often enough.

Here are my hubby's pics of Utah on flickr. Another great platform to post on, since it has been around a long time and it's global:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fordesign/

Great photos there too :cool2: Here's the Ogden set:

For help on embedding flickr slideshows: http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?39408-Embed-a-Flickr-Slideshow&prefixid=How_To

72157607555660908

[Candace66]

Since Sunday's weather wasn't conducive to doing much else, I took a nice long drive today up to North Divide and down into the OV. So I got to see some of the cycling routes and other things that were recommended earlier!

I checked out the TH's up on the divide, and found Ogden Nordic Center (next season!) I also looked at TH's and boat launch sites at the reservoir, and drove up the Old Snowbasin road to the closure. After that, I made it up to Snowbasin itself. Finally headed down Trappers Loop to Mountain Green and back home via I-84, etc.

I previously visited up there one evening and that time I checked out Wolf Mt., Wolf Creek, and Powder Mt. before nightfall. I used the road up Ogden Canyon that time. I guess that's not a very good road for cycling, which is too bad because the route itself is great.

[ELEANOR THOMPSON]

You may be able to ride OGDEN CANYON ROAD during the OGDEN MARATHON, which is in mid-May. That is when the Ogden Canyon road is closed for the Marathon. Check with the GOAL FOUNDATION. They run the OGDEN MARATHON. The road out to Causey (RT 39) is wonderful too. And now all the ice is melted on both Pineview and Causey.

[jamesdak]

Awesome Candace, sounds like you got a nice tour of the valley. Old snowbasin road is one of my favorite areas to ride and photography. Several peaceful miles, lots of wildlife, the flowing creeks, etc. I love riding up it for a relaxing climb and then bombing back down Trappers Loop for a nice high speed descent!

A ride a lot up to Causey also and it's pretty cool. You just need to watch out for the weekend haulers. Lot's of idiots that don't really have a right to be pulling a trailer and such. Most of the close calls I have riding are with folks pulling trailers on that ride. It's a shame because it is such a nice road to ride with great scenery.

[Candace66]

So how am I doing so far? Here are a few things I've managed to do in my three months here:

Drove the entire White Rim Road at Canyonlands

Drove the Hurrah Pass/Chicken Corners and Lockhart Basin Roads

A little easy mountain biking on the Shoreline Trail and Antelope Island

Hiked in the Canyonlands Needles District

Cycled from Moab up to Canyonlands NP with some bonus cycling inside the Park

Some sightseeing in SLC, inc. Temple Square and This is the Place Park

Visited/hiked in/wheeled in Arches NP

Visited Hovenweep and Natural Bridges NM

Spent a bunch of money in REI :haha:

Though I missed the ski season, hopefully I'm not slacking too much! :lol8:

[jamesdak]

You have too much free time on your hands!:haha::haha: Sounds like you are doing great! Oh and I have seen several roadies riding up Weber Canyon on I-84 lately. Lots of debris on the shoulders though.

[Candace66]

You have too much free time on your hands!:haha::haha: Sounds like you are doing great! Oh and I have seen several roadies riding up Weber Canyon on I-84 lately. Lots of debris on the shoulders though.

Actually, between work and my extracirricular activities, I have almost no time left over (and the housekeeping in my apt. often shows it)! :lol8:


Riding on I-84 hasn't made my "done" list yet, and I'm not sure if it will. Sitting on the shoulder of an Interstate fixing a flat doesn't sound like fun...and having a blowout while descending sounds even worse! :eek2: