Traverse North Fork Park all day for $3 donation

LIBERTY -- Rising lift ticket prices got you down? Feel trapped in the house like a hibernating animal in winter? Always wanted to ski, but thought it was too difficult? Ever tried cross-country skiing at North Fork Park? Tucked into the corner of Ogden Valley is a secret place that is being quickly discovered with every inch of snow that falls and every kilometer of trail that is added. Weber County's North Fork Park is the product of efforts by about 24 volunteers to make a great place to ski. "All the volunteers that have come together to groom this park for all the citizens of Weber County are dedicated to creating great skiing," Terry Davis, president of Ogden Nordic, said. This year the park has added 5 kilometers of trails, making a total of 20 groomed kilometers for skiers to explore. It's possible because of new grooming equipment paid for by corporate and private sponsors, RAMP taxes and donors from those who sue the trails..

Skiers are encouraged to donate $3 each time they ski to support the costs associated with maintaining the trail-grooming equipment. Skiers are also encouraged to make a $50 donation for a season pass.

The volunteer ski enthusiasts groom the park about five times a week. Volunteers take their turn about twice a month for the three hours it takes to groom the trail system. To get the job done it takes two Skandic work sled snowmobiles with YTS Ginzu groomers trailing behind and a PB-275 snowcat groomer.

Chief of Grooming Dave Jenkins hopes that when skiers arrive at the park they find perfect groomed snow waiting for them. He believes North Fork has come a long way since he took over six years ago. Jenkins is a believer that people are nicer to each other after they've been skiing.

"We're going to make this a sought after Nordic Center," Jenkins said. "I'm trying to make it a positive experience for people and I think we're succeeding."

The park, located behind Ben Lomond peak at an elevation of 5,800 feet, provides views of the backside of the mountain. Jenkins believes Ben Lomond may be one of the wettest spots in Utah and holds snow from about December to April, making it perfect for skiing.

The park is also a great place for bird watching with regular sightings of chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, wild turkeys and ruffed grouse. Skiers often report seeing moose. Their tracks sometimes leave giant surprise holes in the groomed trails where they sank to their chests while crossing. Jenkins said a real thrill is to have a ruffed grouse explode from under your skis when off trail.

Members of the Ogden Nordic Junior ski team regularly use the park for training and can be seen skate skiing past at high speed. Many other recreational skiers use the classic style skis to venture out and back.

Classic skiers kick and glide using waxless skis with "scales" along the bottom. The skis curve upward in the middle when the skiers weight is transferred from one ski to the other. The "scales" contact the snow in the center of the ski and then release when unweighted and glide forward, creating movement. The whole process is simpler to do than explain.

Skate skiing is more akin to rollerblading or ice skating but with poles to help push forward. The skier shifts weight back and forth from ski edge to ski edge to move forward.

Skate skis tend to be shorter and stiffer than classic skis. This style of skiing is generally more aerobic and is used for racing but requires a groomed trail.

The new grooming equipment leaves surfaces for both styles of skiing. On the outer edge of the trail are two parallel grooves for classic skiers and the rest of the surface is groomed flat for skate skiing.

Junior Olympian Graham Stromberg, 18, of North Ogden, has been skiing he was 10 and trains regularly at North Fork Park.

"I just love getting out in the winter. Most kids sit at home and play X-Box. I get to come out and see this gorgeous gem we have up here in Ogden Valley," Stromberg said. "I don't think most people on the other side of the mountain understand what we have up here and I think it's finally being discovered for what it truly is."

Ogden resident Steve Pudlock is another regular at North Fork. He started skiing there to maintain fitness for summer cycling, but has become just as addicted his new winter sport.

"It's a good workout and you just try and do a little bit more, go a little farther, push yourself," Pudlock said.

Part of him doesn't want other people to find out about the park because he enjoys the solitude and often sees wildlife while he is skiing.

"It's kind of a little treasure up here," he said.