While Colorado downhill ski resorts continue to grapple with abnormally low snowfall and limited terrain offerings, the state’s cross country ski operations are struggling as well.
Many are dealing with a fraction of their trails in operation because of thin snow cover. The Nordic center at Eldora Mountain Resort, located near Nederland, has yet to open for the season.
“We don’t have enough snow,” Eldora spokesman Sam Bass reported via email on Wednesday. “This last storm got us closer, but we need another 1-2 storms to get us to the point where we could open.”
Devil’s Thumb Ranch, which has been named the nation’s top cross country resort in USA Today’s Readers Choice awards in seven of the past eight seasons, has about 25 kilometers of its 120K open for skiing. Devil’s Thumb is located six miles north of Winter Park Resort in Grand County.
Devil’s Thumb was forced to postpone Saturday’s Stagecoach Classic, an event with 15K and 30K classical technique races, until Feb. 8 due to thin snow cover. The Governor’s Cup 30K and 15K races on Sunday remain as scheduled.
“We have had a slow start to the season,” marketing director Elizabeth Brumm said via email. “We tried to balance passholders’ and guests’ desire to ski with very limited terrain vs. quality of conditions to the highest degree possible.”
Six miles west of Devil’s Thumb, Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA of the Rockies has about 40 of its 80 kilometers available for kicking and gliding. Along with low snowfall, warm temperatures and winds have exacerbated the problem there.
“If we had cold nights with the amount of snow we’ve had so far this season, we’d be doing OK,” said Nordic director Jeff Paulson. “The wind has really scoured a lot of the snow. There’s still dirt in front of the Nordic center, so we’re having people walk a short distance from the Nordic center to get on good snow. In the trees, itap pretty good. Anywhere in the open, itap low to no snow.”
Paulson said his team is trying to make the best of the situation.
“The holidays, we were really concerned, but a lot of people showed up from Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma, California even,” Paulson said. “We sent them out and they came back with smiles. Thatap all we can ask for at this point.”
The Breckenridge Nordic Center — located adjacent to Breckenridge Resort but independently owned — has about 12.5 of its 30 kilometers open.
“This has been the toughest winter in 45 years,” said Nordic director Josh Dayton, “but we have had the most amazing push to stay open from countless volunteer hours, immense efforts of staff and our community and snowmaking crew. We have remained open through it all and have been able to far exceed expectations of our guests who came thinking they just wouldn’t find much.”
Crested Butte Nordic has 42 of 55 kilometers open for skiing, according to executive director Hedda Peterson.
“Most Nordic centers are skilled at making hay while the sun shines — we have to take advantage of favorable conditions while they last,” Peterson said. “We can’t delay and must act while we have the chance, because circumstances can change quickly. For us, that means being prepared to compact (groom) any amount of new snow when it arrives. That has been our approach this season, which has landed us in a strong position.”
The Tennessee Pass Nordic Center near Leadville, adjacent the Ski Cooper downhill area, is doing well due to its location and elevation of 10,400 feet.
“Luckily for us, so much of our terrain is wooded, so the snow we have gotten for the most part is sticking around, albeit itap thin,” said general manager Erica Curry. “Driving down to Summit or Eagle (counties), we are feeling pretty grateful for our coverage. Itap been warm up here, for sure, but with our high altitude, itap not warm enough to completely sun-bake the slope.”
