The last two weeks of warm sunshine has made it official. Nordic skiing is over in the lower valleys in Grand County. If you can get to it, there is still a lot of snow in high country. Rivers are just starting to come up, that means there is still a lot of melting to do.
Time for most people to check their skis and do damage control filling in p-tex where needed, cover the bottoms with paraffin wax to protect them, check the bindings for what needs to be replaced, check ski poles for baskets that need to be replaced, and make sure your boots are dried out and usable for another season. Then find a dry place to store it all.
And if that is too much to do and you are ready to call it quits with that equipment, there is probably some kid in Grand County who could use it. Grand Nordic can get that gear out to elementary school and Middle School Nordic skiers all over this end of the county. Grand Nordic will have collection bins for donations at the Granby Library, the Church of Eternal Hills, and the Grand Park Rec Center once things open back up and business returns to a semblance of a new normal. We can even give you a tax receipt if you email me at [email protected] or call 970-887-0547.
Grand Nordic had fantastic success last year with our Annual Nordic Ski Swap and free lesson programs. We are already planning to do the same programs next season starting with the Nordic Swap the 4th Friday in October, and free lessons offered at Devils Thumb, Snow Mountain Ranch, and Grand Lake Nordic Center in December and January. Go to www.grandnordic.org to sign up for your individual or family membership for next year. Also look for more classes for kids and youth offered through the FVMRD and Granby Rec Department as well as adult skating classes by Sally Brassill through FVMRD and the ever popular Free Kids Classes at SMR offered by Grand Nordic Friday afternoons in January and February. Last year on-line signups worked well so look for that again this coming season. Go to the website www.skigrandnordic.org and click on direct links to everything Nordic in Grand County to check out what is available at all the resorts, ranches, back country and organized lesson and competition programs.
Devils Thumb plans to open for the summer season May 22 after polishing up their facilities during this COVID19 closure. The YMCA may have a few cabins available over Memorial Day weekend but the Y plans to reopen its facilities in early June. The Pole Creek golf course had fantastic crust skiing the whole month of April and now the cart paths are filled with bikers and hikers with their dogs who are waiting for the other dirt paths to open. Call to verify planned opening schedules. The Fraser to Granby Trail maintained by Headwaters Trails Alliance or the Fraser River Trail are great spots to go while waiting for the trails to dry out. The motto is “If you leave a track, please turn back!”
Enjoy your summer biking, hiking, rafting or any of the other great things to do in our fabulous Grand County!
