Despite these current spring temperatures, more snow will be hitting us sooner than later.  All Nordic areas will be operating a bit differently in response to both State and County levels of Covid19.  Since our Annual Nordic Ski Swap was cancelled, please check out our partners for used gear and great prices on new gear as well.  People are going to Grand Nordic Facebook page, click on Visit group and go to the Grand Nordic Community Bulletin Board.  Request to become a member if you are not already – you can find equipment posts there or sell your own gear.

Snow Mountain Ranch will open about Thanksgiving Day depending on the snow gods.  Gear that was not sold in end-of-year sales last year will be available so watch for announcements.  New Nordic director Ben Koenig is well known in the Valley as both a Nordic ski racer, a coach, and a trail builder.  Currently there are plans for the Snow Mountain Classic Race on January 9 and the Snow Mountain Stampede March 13 and 14, 2021.  Adult Day pass rates are 25.00 and are included when staying at the Ranch.   Five time punch cards are also available for $110.00.  Nordic skiing and snowshoe trails as well as use of ice rink, tubing hill, swimming pool and Kiva Rec Center are included for members.  Family memberships are $250.00 for one year and $600.00 for three years, the best bargain to use it all.

For more details, see https://donate.ymcarockies.org/membership-application/.  Also, Grand Nordic members receive 10pct off regularly priced merchandise. Kudos to the YMCA for housing and feeding Firemen and acting as a base of operations during our Grand County fires.  They are much appreciated.

Winter Park Trading Company offers consignment sporting goods for all seasons.  This means that they accept your gear for sale and charge you a portion of the sale price for the service of selling your merchandise.  They offer both used equipment offered on consignment sales and new discounted Demo gear, Nordic ski gear, snowshoes, alpine ski gear, Nordic and Alpine ski boots and poles, snowboards, parkas, outdoor boots, anything that is winter and outdoor activity related. If you are interested in selling gear, please call 970-363-7056 for more information on how to sell.  If you are in the market for winter gear at discounted prices, stop by and look at their huge inventory.  Remember – reduce, recycle, reuse.  Additionally, all Grand Nordic members receive 20pct off any purchase.

Granby Ranch will be grooming Nordic trails after the Alpine area opens Dec 11.  Many things have needed to be sorted out with the new owners, equipment, and staff.  Mountain operations is working toward Nordic skiing being a paid activity but many details need to be set up.

Grand Lake Golf Course Center did survive the East Troublesome fire.  Only the cart shed was lost, says Don Campbell, director.  The Golf Course fire from several years ago created a very effective fire block. The front open areas all around the dog trails suffered from the winds blowing even big trees around but those trails will be open for Nordic skiing this winter.  The fire burned so many trees at their base that it is hard to know how strong they are now or when they will fall.  Nordic trails and golf holes in the woods therefore are considered unstable and management asks for patience while logging and testing shows what areas are safe.  Permission to use areas and trails that did not belong to the Gold Course must be renegotiated as well – lots of work to be accomplished!

Join Grand Nordic and get blasts of new Nordic information as it become available as well as discounts at local Nordic areas, resorts, and shops.  www.grandnordic.org and click on membership – 30.00 for individuals, 50.00 for your entire family, and reductions for youth and seniors. Free lessons this year will be offered to Grand Nordic members only.  To see places to Nordic ski in Grand County, visit www.skigrandddnordic.org and be sent direct to specific websites.