Heber Valley Life

Author: Leigh Wilson

  • Let’s Rally

    Let’s Rally

    You’ve seen them around town. Jeeps caked in mud or covered in a thin veneer of red dust, looking like they’re coming home from someplace fun. I always wondered how someone learns to go off-roading if they didn’t grow up with it. As it turns out, Karl Malone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Heber City hosts a Jeep Rally each summer to get new Jeep owners out on the trails and help them become familiar with four-wheeling.

    The dealership sees a lot of first-time Jeep buyers and they know it can be intimidating to take your new vehicle out on some rough roads. But that’s what Jeeps are made for! So, in 2020, they hosted the first Karl Malone Jeep Rally and it’s since become an annual tradition. Invites go out to all customers who have purchased a Jeep or had one serviced at Karl Malone. Everyone is welcome; you don’t have to be a Karl Malone customer to attend.

    In the weeks leading up to the event, the Karl Malone team scouts out trail conditions and runs the planned route in a stock Jeep, just to be sure the terrain is beginner-friendly. An experienced team of drivers, both employees and customers, are recruited as trail spotters for the big day.

    The rally begins at the dealership around 9 am, where everyone gathers, signs waivers, takes photos, and goes over the plan for the half-day event. Soon, it’s time to hit the trails. Usually, they have about 50-60 Jeeps participating. Two years ago, there were 80 participants, with some coming all the way from Idaho and Wyoming!

    The trails selected for the event are usually county roads near Heber, and the trail ride typically takes a couple of hours. They’ll assign a lead and a sweep, as well as several more experienced drivers distributed throughout the group, in case anyone needs help. If there are any tricky spots, they’ll station more experienced rock crawlers to “spot” drivers that need it.

    After the ride, everyone gathers back at the dealership for an afternoon of fun. All the cars get cleared off the lot, speakers are set up, and caterers are brought in to serve up a delicious BBQ lunch. For the last couple of years, Meg’s Timberline Cafe catered the event, so you know it was good!

    In addition to food, drinks, and music, participants might even see Mr. Malone himself, who has been known to make an appearance at these events. The dealership will be giving away up to $10,000 in cool prizes, like lift kits, new tires, or a barbecue grill. It’s a great time for everyone!

    Although this year has seen record-breaking snowpack – the show will go on! The 2023 Jeep Rally will be held July 8th with registration starting at 9:00 am and the Jeeps rolling out at 10:00 am. General Sales Manager, Bryan Reed, shared that the main concern for the Rally is taking care of the trails. Being good trail stewards means waiting for the trails to dry out before driving on them.

    While you don’t have to be a Karl Malone customer to participate, they do prefer to keep the ride exclusive to Jeeps. However, anyone can attend the party at the lot after the ride. The best way to stay informed is to follow Karl Malone Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on Facebook and Instagram. Social media followers and email subscribers are the first to be notified with any changes or updates to the Rally.

    If you’re a new Jeep owner who’s a bit timid about getting off-road, the Karl Malone Jeep Rally was made for you!

  • Snowmobile in Heber Valley

    Snowmobile in Heber Valley

    Despite growing up in the Midwest and spending many recreation days in Wisconsin and Minnesota, I had never ridden a snowmobile until I moved to Utah. The first time my family came to visit me, I took them out to Stillman Ranch in Oakley for a guided tour. I was too chicken to drive, so I rode on the sled with the guide. (This was pre-COVID and is not frequently offered as an option anymore.) Three years later, snowmobiling is one of my favorite winter activities!

    Whether you’re a seasoned snowmobiler or a first-timer, there are plenty of options for snowmobile tours and rentals in the Heber Valley. If it’s your first time out, a guided tour is a great way to get to know the machines and the safety protocols before setting out on your own. Once you’re comfortable, plenty of shops offer rentals with proximity to local trails. Most outfitters also offer gear rental so you can stay comfortable on even the coldest winter days!

    Adventourage, Daniels Summit Lodge, North Forty Escapes, Park City Peaks, Summit Meadows, Wasatch Excursions, and Weller Backcountry Adventures are some of the Wasatch Back’s go-to places for snowmobiling adventures. Each one offers unique experiences for both locals and those visiting “Utah’s Greatest Snow on Earth.”

    One of the newest adventure companies on the scene in Heber Valley is Adventourage. Based at the Homestead Resort, Adventourage crafts customized private tours in the Uinta Mountains. Private guided tours start at $499 for a half day, with additional options for full day or overnight trips that include a stay in their four-season ‘glamping’ village at Strawberry. They offer a variety of the newest snow machines in order to ensure the best experience for all abilities.

    For an immersive snowmobile experience, Daniels Summit Lodge is the premier snowmobiling destination in the Uinta National Forest. They groom more than 200 miles of trails right out the backdoor of their full-service lodge. They offer guided two-hour tours or two, four, and eight-hour rentals if you prefer to explore on your own. You don’t have to be a guest of the lodge to join a tour, but the indoor pool, hot tub, and day spa are awfully tempting after a day on the trails. They also have groomed cross-country ski trails, so it’s pretty easy to make a whole weekend of your visit.

    Set on the expansive Stillman Ranch in Oakley, North Forty Escapes offers four guided snowmobile tours every day in the winter. Tours take you up through dense aspen forests to open bowls where you can test your speed skills under the watchful eye of experienced guides. This is a great place for first-time snowmobilers and personally one of my favorite properties for outdoor adventure in the Uintas. They also have sled dogs on the property, so you can book a combo tour of snowmobiling and dog-sledding. Guided two-hour snowmobile tours start at $189.

    Fans of the Yellowstone television series just might recognize some of the scenery as they speed through Thousand Peaks Ranch. Several scenes from the popular series were filmed at the ranch located at the head of Weber Canyon in Oakley. With access to over 20,000 acres of some of the best snow in the Uintas — a snowmobile tour of Thousand Peaks Ranch with Park City Peaks is definitely worth it! Options include: two, three, and four-hour guided tours.

    Deer Valley’s snowmobile operator, Summit Meadows Adventures, offers daily tours at Garff Ranches in Brown’s Canyon. Two-hour tours start at $229 and are offered four times per day throughout the winter season. Enjoy expansive views across the Jordanelle Reservoir back towards Deer Valley and the Wasatch Mountains. With ample open terrain, this is the perfect tour for beginners who want to test out their new skills in the wide open fields.

    Operating out of the golf shop at Wasatch Mountain State Park, Wasatch Excursions offers two-hour guided tours three times each day, as well as riding clinics and unguided rentals. Tours start at $239 and are great for both beginners and experienced riders. Explore the backcountry trails of the state park, see the hidden homes of Brighton Estates that are only accessible by snowmobile, and spend time zooming across a frozen lake. On a clear day, the views of Heber Valley are outstanding.

    Most folks know Weller Recreation as a one-stop-shop for Northern Utah motorsports. But did you know that this Kamas motorsports dealer also offers snowmobile rentals and tours? With easy access to the Mirror Lake Highway their snowmobile adventures seem like a no-brainer. The scenic trail tour starts at $250 for a two-hour guided tour, while the backcountry tour gives you four hours on the sleds. When you’re ready to hit the trails on your own, they have rentals with a variety of horsepower for all riders.

    Snowmobiling in Heber Valley typically starts in mid-December and will continue through late March, weather-permitting. For the most part, your ski clothes are perfectly suitable to wear snowmobiling, although you may want an extra layer as you won’t have quite the same workout as skiing. Most outfitters rent snowmobile suits, gloves and boots if you don’t have the proper gear. Remember: the warmer you are, the more fun you will have, so don’t skimp on your layers. I know I’m not alone in my excitement to get out and explore the beauty of our mountains while snowmobiling!

    Get out this winter and explore the backcountry in safety with a professionally guided snowmobile excursion.

    Adventourage
    adventourage.com  |  435-315-2234

    Daniels Summit Lodge
    danielssummit.com  |  435-649-1341

    North Forty Escapes
    northfortyescapes.com  |  435-631-4011

    Park City Peaks
    powderutah.com  |  888-304-7669

    Summit Meadows
    deervalley.com  |  888-896-7669

    Wasatch Excursions
    wasatchexcursions.com   |  435-729-9595

    Weller Backcountry Adventures
    wellerbackcountryadventures.com  |  435-990-4095

  • Ice Castles

    Ice Castles

    In the early 2000s, Brent Christensen, a Pleasant Grove, Utah resident, was looking for fun things to do with his kids in the winter.

    He thought building Igloos would be a cool thing to do. What began as a fun backyard adventure quickly developed into the foundation for today’s Ice Castle masterpieces. As Christensen graduated from his backyard ice rink and ice forts to his current icy creations; his simple drive for exploration, innovation, and seeking joy in the cold winter months has also brought joy and wonder to others.

    Neighbors soon discovered Brent’s beautifully frozen sculptures, and word spread. It didn’t take long for neighbors and local news crews to start driving by his home. Motivated by the positive reactions, Christensen began thinking about expanding the Ice Castles and making them a public attraction. After approaching nearly every resort in the area, Midway’s Zermatt Resort was the only one to show interest. Luckily, the small-town charm of Midway turned out to be the perfect choice for the Utah Ice Castles.

    AJ2
    Ice
    Bryan

    Christensen’s hobby rapidly grew into a successful business, and after several seasons the company set its sights on expanding — but where? Midway has unique features that are key to the success of the Ice Castles. Cold weather is critical! But the castles also require easy access to a water source, drainage, parking, and proximity to a central metropolitan area. Eventually, the Ice Castles would find a home in four additional ‘perfectly unique’ locations: New Brighton, Minnesota; North Woodstock, New Hampshire; Lake George, New York; and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Brent is involved in the planning and design of each location, while a local management crew oversees the daily operations.

    Aside from thousands of guests who tour the Ice Castles each year, Christensen’s creations have also been featured in TV shows, music videos, marriage proposals, and a mass Valentine’s Day wedding in Minnesota. The Utah, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and New York locations also offer “VIP Arctic Alcoves” that are available to rent for private functions.

    As you might imagine, building an outdoor attraction made of ice can be daunting, especially in the face of climate change and warmer winter temperatures. Regardless of the forecast, the Ice Castles crew aims to be ready with design plans and water lines by the end of October, with a goal to start building by the end of November. It takes four weeks of intensive labor to sculpt the castles, towers, thrones, tunnels, and slides. The process starts with setting up water and electric lines. From there, thousands of “icicles” are created each day, then harvested and sculpted into magical ice castles.

    The Utah Ice Castles are run by a core group of five to ten people from the Heber Valley; the remainder of the workforce is supplemented by seasonal workers and those living a nomadic lifestyle. As housing in the Heber Valley becomes more difficult to secure, it’s become a vital part of the compensation package for workers. Subsidized rental housing is provided to a number of seasonal employees who come from out of state for the winter season.

    An ideal season runs from early January through March, but the dates are completely up to Mother Nature. A December snowstorm can bring warm weather and set the crew back by a couple of weeks. Last year saw one of the shortest seasons for the Ice Castles, at only three weeks long, while the prior season lasted nearly eight weeks. I asked the founder if it was disappointing to see his work melt away after just a few weeks. His response? “It’s just part of what we do.” Truth be told, that’s what makes tickets so hard to come by, and part of what makes the Utah Ice Castles so special!

    PRO TIPS:

    • Getting Tickets: Weekend and holiday tickets sell out quickly. Sign up for the mailing list and you’ll be the first to know when tickets go on sale.
    • Dress for Cold Weather.
    • Warm Boots
    • Hat
    • Mittens or Gloves
    • Hand or Foot Warmers

    Photographed by Melissa Smuzynski

     

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