Are you doing your snow dances? I’m dancing like crazy but so far the snowstorms have amounted to only an inch or two… What a crazy year! Eighty-nine skiers braved cold and windy conditions on poor snow January 25 to finish either the long 30k or short 15k race at the Devils Thumb Governors Cup Skate race. About 90 skiers and instructors braved morning cold and wind the same morning at the Grand Nordic Free lessons at Snow Mountain Ranch with another 90 enduring the elements for free lessons in the afternoon! At least the snow conditions were a little better and we had some tracks at Snow Mtn but it was just as cold and windy. Last weekend all Grand County could do was recover while people braved the snow conditions for the Alley Loop in Crested Butte and the East Coast got totally blasted with cold and snow!
The Grand Nordic Ranch2Ranch Trek on February 7 is an annual fundraiser for youth programs and scholarships and is generally just a fun Trek – a leisurely fun ski. The low-snow conditions have abbreviated the Trek to be totally within Snow Mtn Ranch and will be a 6k loop course starting from the Nordic Center, up to Columbine Point via Milligan, around the reservoir and Biathlon Range and back to the Nordic Center. Meet the kids who receive the scholarships who are manning the two aid stations and collecting bibs when you finish! Feel safe with lots of Bryan Mtn Patrollers, our local nationally recognized Nordic patrol! Win door prizes from Fischer and Swix! Ski as many loops as you want and stop as much as you want at the aid stations! Register to ski or volunteer online or show up at the Nordic Center for the start waves at 9am, 930am, and 10am. Course is appropriate for Skate or Classic; snowshoers will use snowshoe trails, dogs allowed on dog-friendly trails only please.
The Frisco Gold Rush is not as lucky to be able to operate and has been postponed until March 14 hoping for better snow conditions. Good luck…
The Devils Thumb Stagecoach 30k/15k Classic and 15k untimed ski tour is still set to go for Sunday, February 8 with the 30k mass start at 10am. Register at www.skigrandnordic.org. Check in with the Devils Thumb Activities desk for updated snow conditions at 970.726.8231. Event prizes start at $1500 cash for the overall winner for the 30k and $1000 for the 15k, for both men’s and women’s classes down through 2nd overall and 3rd overall. That’s a great racing incentive! Or be close to the action – volunteers are always needed.
