Each year as the seasons change we look forward to the upcoming outings that we plan. With the end of fall and the approach of winter it is time once again to trade one seasons gear for the next and we begin planning our weekends well in advance. Away go the mountain bikes, climbing gear, kayaks and camping gear and out come the snowmobiles, the ski’s, sleds and inner tubes for the trips we can squeeze into the season. Some of these trips will be out exploring mountains on a snowmobile with friends, skiing around the country at various resorts to hitting the closest sledding hill with good friends and family.
There are some great times to be had and memories to be made during the snowy season and they can be had with a simple hill and a handful of friends and family. Sledding is a blast and still fun at any age and as an adult it can sure make you feel like a kid again as you fly down a hill with the spray of snow flying back up at you. So the next time you’re sitting around bored in the winter trying to find something to do with the neighbors, the kids and family remember that some snow, a cheap sled and a snow covered hill are all you need…gravity will take care of the rest!
Another favorite winter pastime is snowmobiling. Last year we featured the Big Horns Jeep Jamboree held at the Bear Lodge just outside of Dayton Wyoming. The place was so beautiful in the summer and the owners and staff members at Bear Lodge were so much fun I wanted to head back this winter to see the mountain with several feet of snow on it. The folks up there were so accommodating and offered to make sure I saw the best of the Big Horns if I came back in the winter that I just couldn’t pass on the opportunity to do so. Bear Lodge is a full season operation; in the summer they can schedule you a guided horseback ride as well as quad rentals and trails that go all over the mountain in addition to the Jeep Jamboree. In winter their whole focus is on the snow mobile crowd that comes here to get away and just play. Many people take their own machines up there and take advantage of the great lodging, restaurant and bar all under one roof, for those that don’t have their own machines there are rentals available as well as a shop to handle any repairs that may be needed.
Snowmobiles, like Jeeps are a great way to get out and see some great country and they allow you to get back to those areas that can still be called “wilderness”. The folks at Bear lodge have some great guides and one of them who knows the area better than anyone would be Bruce Burkhart. Bruce was kind enough to take time to show me what the Big Horn Mountains have to offer in the winter time for scenery and why so many people escape to these mountains to play and unwind. I would like to extend a special thanks to the folks at Bear Lodge, Arrow Head, and The Elk View for their generosity and highly recommend anyone in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Utah to consider taking a trip to the Big Horns to see what Wyoming has to offer. Check out their websites for details and feel free to call these folks and see what they can do to help you book your Wyoming winter get away at www.bearlodgeresort.com or at www.arrowheadlodge.com/ and they have recently opened yet another lodge on the mountain http://www.elkviewinn.com/.
Skiing is another great way to get out and make the best of cold, wintertime temperatures, it offers the opportunity to get out and not only have fun in the snow but it’s a great way to get exercise as well. Now there are many places around the country to ski but one place that most people would not immediately think of for their ski vacation would be South Dakota. Just outside of the famed Wild West town of Deadwood sits the ski resort Terry Peak http://terrypeak.com/ allowing visitors the chance to enjoy the day skiing or snowboarding with family and friends. The summit of Terry Peak is at 7,076 ft boasting the highest vertical drop between the Rockies and the Alps and provides some great views of the surrounding area from the lift or the top of the mountain. Terry Peak is a great place to ski with plenty of room for all levels of skiers to enjoy the day and mountain without feeling too crowded utilizing two high-speed detachable quad chairlifts, one fixed grip double, one fixed grip triple and the snow carpet offer a smooth ride up the slope keeping the wait time in the lift lines at a minimum.
If you want to stay in Deadwoods premier hot spot during your visit then The Lodge at Deadwood is the place that you’re going to want to stay, they have everything that anyone could want to have access to while staying in historic Deadwood http://www.deadwoodlodge.com/. Nestled into the base of the mountain just as you arrive into town, The Lodge at Deadwood is one of the first things you see when you arrive and quickly gives you an inspiring welcome. The staff and accommodations at The Lodge are not only second to none, the staff there will ensure that your stay will be one that you enjoy and remember for a long time to come.
When planning your trip to South Dakota make it easy on yourself and simply visit the folks at www.blackhillsvacations.com they will happily answer any questions you have in regards to planning your vacation. They have all the information and contacts and will be perfect for helping you plan your get away and you would be hard pressed to find any place that could give you more information on the area with just one phone call.
So if you want to plan either a back country snowmobile trip or a ski trip to the famed Wild West town for some gaming and small town entertainment I encourage you to look into either of these destinations. If you are looking for some great deals on ski equipment check out www.sportsoutlet.com.
For all of you Jeep enthusiasts out there; both of these places have great Jeep jamborees that are both highly entertaining, info and dates for either event can be found at www.jeepjamboreeusa.com.
