WINTER ACTIVITY ADVENTURE GROUP

CASPER, WYOMING IS HOME TO A VARIETY of winter recreation activities. Casper Mountain offers the perfect family skiing vacation with alpine skiing or downhill skiing as well as snowboarding. Nordic cross-country skiing is minutes away with 15 miles of machine groomed trails, some of which are lighted for evening skiers.

Snowmobiling and dog sledding are also available within a twenty-minute drive from downtown Casper and ice-skating and hockey are popular winter diversions. Fishing is still great even in the chill of winter. The lakes may freeze over, but the North Platte River has open spots with hungry lunker trout willing to rise to your fly.

Check Out Our Recipe For The Perfect Winter Adventure In Casper!

Day One
Winter In Casper It's up bright and early for a day of fun in the snow! There's snowgear to be found for the entire family at Backcountry Mountain Works (4120 S. Poplar St. 307-234-5330), then it's up the mountain for an all-day adventure! Send dad off to explore Casper Mountain's 40 miles of snowmobile trails, while mom and the kids decide whether skiing or snowboarding will be the highlight at Hogadon. Take a break from the chilly temp with lunch in Hogadon's restaurant and lounge. Snuggle up to a crackling fire with a burger, a steaming cup of hot choclolate and stories of everyone's morning!

Need to relax after your day of fun in the outdoors? Send the kids to the Natrona County Library while mom visits Bamboo (214 S. Wolcott, 234-9033,) downtown Casper's newest day spa. The kids will dig listening to music and curling up with a book or computer game, and mom can pamper herself with a hot stone massage and a swanky new hairdo! Dad can tour the unique shops downtown, including historic Lou Tauberts Ranch Outfitters. This must-see is several floors of all things western, from ranch-wear to jewelry to accessories.

Bring the family together for a unique dining experience at 303 one of Casper's finest choices for dinner. Start with the soup and salad, continue with a mouth-watering steak, and make sure to save room for offerings from the dessert tray! Afterwards, adventure back to Casper Mountain to visit the Casper Nordic Center for some peaceful night skiing. Take a few turns the 1.2 kilometer (.07 miles) lighted loop, available every night until roughly 9 p.m.

Day Two
Rise and shine! Enjoy a leisurely brunch downtown at The Jazz Spot where the music is pleasing and the atmosphere is casual. There are omelets and burritos for the adults, and pancakes and waffles for the kids - all for a reasonable price! Then, it's to the Eastridge Mall to walk off that brunch! From clothes to books to sporting equipment, Eastridge Mall offers a bit of what everyone will fancy! Don't forget to grab a snack in the food court to fuel up for your next adventure!

Ready for a little more activity? Head to the Casper Ice Arena for an afternoon of skating. It's an indoor adventure with an outdoor flavor! See if mom and dad can keep up with their budding Olympic champions! Once everyone has had their fill of the cold, warm up with a Mexican fiesta at Guadalajara. The kids will be happy to munch on chips and salsa, and mom and dad will be happy to spice things up with fajitas and chili!

Finish out your perfect weekend with a movie at any of the four Downtown Movie Palaces or the Eastridge Movies 4 $ Saver (307-472-7469.) Enjoy a comedy for the whole family, or send the kids off to a G-rated show and treat mom and dad to something with a little more action!

IF THE FIRST GENTLE SNOWFLAKE OF THE SEASON makes you yearn for the slopes, pack up your gear and head to Hogadon Ski Area for some winter adventure in Casper! Whether you're looking to cruise downhill on skis or catch some air with your board, Hogadon offers 600 vertical feet of terrain for riders of all levels.

Adventure Guide Ian Delap, manager at a local skateboard/snow-board retailer, has been shredding Casper Mountain since he was about 12 or 13 years old. "Basically, I got into it because I skateboarded a lot," he says. "I couldn't really skate during the winter, so I picked up a snowboard. It's just relaxing, it's fun - it takes your mind off everything."

Located just 11 miles south on Casper Mountain, Hogadon offers something for skiers and snowboarders at every level. There's even a terrain park for more adventurous riders. And, as Delap reminds us, it's an easy journey to the slope "It's only twenty minutes away from town. You can ride up there in less than a half an hour." Another great feature, he points out, is the lack of long lines that are usually seen at larger ski resorts.

The conditions at Hogadon are typically "packed powder...they keep it groomed nicely; [they] try to buff out the icy patches." He goes on to say, "Your bunny hills for the beginners are a little bit more flat. Medium level hills, they're going to be a lot steeper, [and] take a little bit more experience to go down. Work your way up to the terrain park - that's going to enable you to do tricks - bust out some aerials or hit up some rails or something more advanced. Then they've got black diamonds that are just steep all the way down - very straight and very steep."

If you're new to the sport and deciding between investing in skis or a snowboard, Delap offers a few pointers: With skis, there are poles to help keep you in the upright position! Snowboarding tends to treat your knees with a little more kindness, but can put more stress on your ankles. And while powder is great for snowboarding, skis work well on bumpy, icy terrain.

Still not sure which sport is for you? Why not try them both? Casper has many places to rent or buy equipment. Or, if you'd rather purchase everything you'll need for a great day on the mountain, Delap offers this advice: "If you're just starting out, you're going to have to get a board, boots, bindings, and definitely a full set of warm winter clothes. You're also going to want some snowpants, and a waterproof jacket-then goggles are definitely a must!"

Although it'd be awesome to step onto the snow for the first time ever and ski like Bode Miller, that's probably not going to happen! Delap reminds us that Hogadon features a fully accredited ski school, so visitors can relax and learn from the professionals. Hogadon Ski School offers group and private lessons, available by reservation. "It's great education for your dollar - it's pretty cheap, and they give quality service."

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