It must have been a hoedown! A huge party! Everyone was doing their snow dances at once and look what we got…. Just remind us to forget to invite the wind next time!
Talk about havoc! Wind, snow and cold beyond belief started toward the end of last week and never gave us a break until Tuesday. A slide at Berthoud Pass buried 10 cars and then, every time CDOT cleared a slide, another one came down. I don’t remember ever seeing the Pass closed for that long. In my 40 years in the Fraser Valley, we’ve seen much colder spells but not combined with that much wind and snow. The poor plow guy – give him another coffee!
We even had to cancel the first day of the Free Friday Kids program at Snow Mtn Ranch. The wind would have blown over any kid who wasn’t holding onto the Bell Tower at the Nordic Center! The next day, the wind was blowing the snow sideways with temps just above zero when the Race Committee and Snow Mountain staff reluctantly decided to cancel the Annual 15k/7.5k/3k Classic Race scheduled for later that morning. We had to consider the safety of participants and volunteers alike both getting to the race and staying outside in that weather. Tough call but safety comes first.
But the new snow that now seems to keep coming has made for great conditions at the Devils Thumb Stagecoach Classic 30K race/15k race and tour/3k free kids ski this Saturday January 20. Elizabeth Brumm, Devils Thumb Marketing, says, “Hit your glide during this classic-only ski race and tour on some of the nation’s top Nordic trails this Saturday, January 20th! Hit your PR in the 30k or 15k race or enjoy the scenery on the 15k tour. The 3k kids’ fun race makes it a can’t-miss event for the whole family! All races will start and finish at Devil’s Thumb Ranch. Stick around after you’ve crossed the finish line for the post-race party in the scenic Broad Axe Barn, complete with awards, hearty soups, and a crisp beer.”
But you’d better hurry as on-line registration closes at noon on Friday Jan 19th. Pick up your packet at the Winter Park/Fraser Chamber of Commerce from noon to 5pm or later at Zachs Mercantile at Devils Thumb Ranch from 530p-8p. On race day, packets will be available in the Broad Axe Barn at Devils Thumb from 7am.
For race day, please park in the designated lots to the north and west of the main lodge, avoiding the day-use parking area. Overflow parking is available at the High Lonesome Lodge.
The 30K Classic mass start is at 9am Saturday with the kids race starting at 915am. The 15k Classic race starts at 10am with the 15k Classic tour starting immediately following the 15k mass start. The after-party with food and beer starts at 11am until 3pm at the Broad Axe Barn with the awards ceremony scheduled for 12noon. Come on down and join the party, presented in partnership with the Winter Park & Fraser Chamber of Commerce. For more race information go to www.devilsthumbranch.com/event/stagecoach-classic-2024/ or call the activities desk at 970-726-8231.
And the action doesn’t stop there. The following weekend the fourth race in the series – the Grand Nordic 30k/15k/3k Skate Race at Snow Mountain Ranch – is scheduled for Saturday Jan 27. And HOLD THE PRESS, the Snow Mountain Annual Classic 15k/7.5k/3k Race HAS JUST BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY Jan 28! What a weekend that will be… make your lodging reservations now if you’re coming from out of town in case that wind picks up again. Get your couch ready for those racing friends to come visit. For more details on the race series and the individual races, Call Grand Nordic at 970-887-0547, go to Nordic Race Series page , or sign up as a much-needed volunteer to join the action!
