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A Utah Snowmobiling AdventureBy Richard T. Ouimet, Trail Master Outdoors
The blue sky peeking through the clouds in the distance above the inversion over Utah Valley tempted us to higher elevations as we drove the mere 40 minutes to Daniels Summit Lodge which is just west of Strawberry Lake. As you drive up through the heavy forests on Highway 40 east of Heber City, the entire landscape changes into an alpine winter wonderland. It's amazing how a few minutes drive will positively change your attitude and put a big smile on your face. Our smiles were matched by the helpful people at Daniels Summit Lodge who took the time to give individual attention to all the customers we observed. Safety instructions, an overview of the trail map, and a personal escort out to your waiting snowmobile were all provided by the experienced snowmobile adventure staff. The only thing we had to bring was our gloves, and I am sure they would have found us some if we had forgotten them. High quality helmets our brand-new Polaris snowmobiles and instructed by knowledgeable and patient lodge employees in a mini snowmobile 101 course that took only a few minutes. Then, with one pull of the starter handle, our snowmobiles started up and we were off on our adventure. Even though some snowmobiling resorts in Utah suffer from lack of snow, Daniels Summit Lodge is definitely not on that list. Due to the altitude and northern exposure of the area, we were able to snowmobile right from the lodge nestled in a serene setting conveniently located near U.S. 40.
The views were breathtaking as we quickly ascended to the higher elevations that had several feet of new powder to play in under a crystal blue sky. I stopped a few times to snap the scenic photos you see in this article, but I cannot take all the credit since Mother Nature was doing most of the work. One of the lodge's staff told me that the Strawberry area got its name from the amazing sunsets. I definitely was not disappointed as the photos attest. A short trip up a side trail led us into a huge snow field where vast meadows stretched into the tree-lined foothills of the Strawberry Snowmobiling Complex. We could have played all day up there but the rest of the expansive trails drew us back to the main trail.
It's really about the family, and the enjoyment such an activity as snowmobiling at Daniels Summit Lodge can bring. We observed happy families and friends laughing and smiling all day long. Everyone seemed to return their childhood days of playing in the snow on these advanced snow-toy machines of the 21st century. Many families took the time to rest along the way and have an outdoor picnic. We stopped to talk to a few families as their young children tumbled through the powder snow near the summit. A young couple sped by us, with a young lady gleefully embracing her driver who was master of the double seat snowmobile. Groups of friends waved at us as we made our way on the Daniels Summit Loop. We knew that someone would always be there to help if we needed it, but we also enjoyed heading back up the trail into the solace of the forest where we enjoyed time as father and son together. You really cannot put a price on that kind of experience.
As the sun drifted closer to the western horizon, we knew that it was time to head down to the lodge. The trip off the summit down the winding trails on the eastern side was so much fun we did not want it all to end so soon. The euphoric feeling of conquering over 25 miles of wilderness in an afternoon is hard to describe. But even though the adventure was over for this day, the memories of a day with my son in the great outdoors will live on for a lifetime. Daniels Summit Lodge: CALL 1-800-519-9969 MORE PHOTOS - VIDEO SLIDESHOW - 7.2 MB - Broadband Recommended Trail Master Outdoors would like to thank Deanne Hill and the staff at Daniels Summit Lodge for their gracious hospitality that made the publication of this article possible. Your feedback is appreciated: email: rich@trailmasteroutdoors.com |
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Snowmobiling in Utah's back country is definitely an adventure that will warm the hearts of all your family on these cold winter days. My son, Brad, and I had this opportunity to experience snowmobiling at its finest as we visited Daniels Summit Lodge on a blue-bird Saturday afternoon.
Once Brad and I began to climb up the gentle trail with the aid of the powerful Polaris snow machines, we quickly left the world behind. Even though there were many customers in the lodge signing up to snowmobile, it was amazing that we saw very few people on the trails. Daniels Summit Lodge has the benefit of sitting adjacent to the huge Strawberry Snowmobiling complex and its customers have access to over 200 miles of groomed trails.
We helped a few along the way, and we appreciated the help of those that helped us pull our snowmobile out of a minor snow drift. Everyone was incredibly friendly and always waved as they went by on the trail. Families and friends shared the mountain and stayed constantly aware that trail etiquette and safety was necessary for all of us to have an enjoyable adventure.
The view from the summit of Daniels Summit was well worth the snowmobile climb up the north side of the trail complex. At the summit, we soaked in the sun and the incredible vistas of the Uinta Range to the East, Mount Timpanogas to the Southwest, and Strawberry Lake Reservoir to the North East. For those that have not had the opportunity to enjoy this view, there is no time like this winter to take your family up to see this incredible view and strengthen those bonds that are so important to you. There is something about the vastness of the outdoors that draws family members closer together. It's something you need to experience to appreciate.
