Where the rubber meets the snow
Who was the first person to look at an inner tube from an old tire and say, “You know, I wonder what it would be like to inflate this thing and ride it down a snow covered hill?”
Who was the first person to look at an inner tube from an old tire and say, "You know, I wonder what it would be like to inflate this thing and ride it down a snow covered hill?"
Five miles north of campus is a great snow tubing hill with a beautiful view of Mount Timpanogos. The hill is wide enough that dozens of people can tube at the same time.
To get to this hill, take State Street in Orem to 2000 North. Turn right at the traffic light and continue east toward the mountains. The hill is on the left-hand side of the road. Park near the large white flag poles where there is an opening in the fence to access the hill.
Rock Canyon Park, six miles east of campus is home to another great tubing hill. The hill is more like a bowl. The sides of the bowl are pretty steep, so if you like speed, this is the place for you. Rock Canyon Park is just northeast of the Provo Temple and BYU on Iroquois drive. Watch out for zooming Zoobies, especially on Monday night.
If you are willing to pay for your tubing experience, the granddaddy of all tubing hills is located 30 miles from campus at the Soldier Hollow cross-country ski resort in Midway.
According to the Web site, the tubing lanes are the longest in the state of Utah. At a length of 1,200 feet, they are as long as four football fields placed end to end. The hill also features a towing service, sound system and flood lights for night tubing.
Additional information about the tubing hill including rates, hours of operation, and directions to the resort is located at www.soldierhollow.com
Snow tubes can be purchased at most tire dealers in the local area. You will pay anywhere between $10 and $15 for a good size tube. The tubes are usually inflated and ready to go, so you can easily pick up a couple of tubes on the way to the hill.
Generations of snow tubers owe their snowy smiles and numb noses to that individual who dared to dream of inner tubes and snow covered hills. The identity of the individual may be lost to time, but the dream continues on the tubing hills of Utah. Live the dream. Go snow tubing.
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Caption: "Hey, Beautiful. Wanna go snow tubing?"
Photo Credit: Ray Cheatham
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Caption: Brian Beckstead and Katie Neilson tubing on campus.
Photo Credit: Ray Cheatham
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Caption: Katie Neilson and Shane Heaps tubing on campus.
Photo Credit: Ray Cheatham