The Nordic News

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make the Alley Loop a success! We’re already turning our gaze from the Alley Loop to the Gothic Mountain Tour, and (fingers crossed) to the Grand Traverse.

Meanwhile, we just keep doing our thing! Our Nordic community is skiing tons for the Magic Meadows Community Ks fundraiser. Masters Community “Semester 2” begins this week. The Junior Team programs continue after school. Folks are out on the trails every day, and the snow cats keep grooming the fresh snow we’re getting.

Please remember to check the Trail Report before you head out. Mike’s Mile was recently covered by an avalanche and is currently closed. The bridge on Pooch’s Paradise between Kapushion Alley and the Beaver Trail is unfortunately flooded, so that section of trail is also closed. We’ll keep you posted about when we can open things back up.

If you’re headed out backcountry nordic skiing or snowshoeing, please remember to check the CB Avalanche Center report, too. With all this new snow, they’re predicting slides in places we don’t usually see them. Heads up out there!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the 35th Annual Alley loop Nordic Marathon as a skier, volunteer, or community member! We know this event makes a big impact on town and we appreciate everyone who adapted their daily routine to make the event happen. A huge shout out to the many local businesses that donated prizes for our awards and raffle. You brightened a lot of days! While numbers were down over recent years, we still were able to get close to 600 skiers out on the snow over the course of the two days of races. From vintage ski onesies to a murder of crows, from cheerleaders to unicorns, we saw so many fun costumes and big smiles. Thanks for keeping the CB Nordic spirit alive and spreading joy out on the corduroy!

Our Masters Community is the best way to learn to ski better and have more fun out on the nordic trails. We have sessions for every level of skier, from never-ever to advanced. Check out the offerings and sign up on our website. “Semester 2″ started this week, but you can still jump in next week, or you can jump in for a free session to see if you’ll like it. Unsure what to sign up for? Email Kevin Koval, CB Nordic Ski School Director, at [email protected].

When your pooch takes a poo and you do what you’re supposed to do with the doo-doo, the bag in your hand can be a real drag, but just do like your dog, let your tail wag, put up with that bag, and take it back to the basket at the trailhead. For your own number twos we brought you a porta-loo, but that loo is for you and not your dog’s poo. The crew that empties the loos is already knee-deep in goo, let’s not turn the screw by adding plastic-wrapped dog poo, too. Ew. Please put your dog waste in the trash can.

• You can participate by skiing laps that count towards the community total. Some donors have pledged a dollar amount for the community’s kilometers, and so your skiing will help us raise money through these donors.
• You can have someone pledge you specifically.
• You can donate when you register.
• You can pledge an athlete, athletes, or the whole community’s kilometers.

We’ve received approval from Gunnison County Public Health to proceed with the Gothic Mountain Tour! We have a list of folks that pre-registered for the event. We’re offering this list the chance to register first, and then, if there’s availability, we’ll start offering registrations to folks on the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis. Join the Waiting List ASAP if you’d like to ski the GMT with us in a couple weeks! Interested in volunteering to help put on this race? Email [email protected].

Ruthie’s Run (the trail up on the Bench) is named in honor of Ruth Humphreys Brown, a native Coloradan who loved the mountains and raised a family of outdoor enthusiasts. She was a long-time resident of Aspen, and one of her daughters lives here in CB. Her family’s local connections are steadfast supporters of CB Nordic, and they contributed significantly to the homologation of Ruthie’s Run. Ruth’s amazing life includes accomplishments like helping to create the BOLD ski program for blind skiers, helping to create the first Outward Bound Program in the Country, and helping to found the first drug and alcohol treatment center in Aspen. You can read more about Ruth’s phenomenal life here. As if just being a part of the first Outward Bound Program in the country wasn’t enough, she also flew planes during World War 2 as part of the Women Airforce Service Pilots. We’re grateful for Ruth’s pioneering spirit and the generous support of her family that has helped CB Nordic become what it is today.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Crested Butte Nordic depends on your support to keep our trails world-class and our programs top-notch. Thank you for all the time, energy, and money you donate to make us a true community nordic center.