Please remember: Back country skiing can be dangerous. Skiers are responsible for choosing routes within their skiing ability and fitness level. Basic emergency gear should be carried including water, extra food, warm clothing, flashlight, compass, topographical map, etc. Wider platform skis and skins are recommended for the more advanced trails. Some routes may require avalanche equipment (Transceiver/Shovel/Probes) to ski safely as avalanche dangers do exist in some areas.
Those interested in signing up for Nordic trips may do so beginning October 22nd at the Cheyenne Ski Club's Chili Supper, or by contacting the respective trip captains. Planning meetings for XC trips are held during the club meeting prior to the trip. This allows everyone to get directions, arrange food purchases, carpooling and other details.
December 17, 2011 (snow permitting) - Happy Jack Ski Area
This trip is the nordic ski season warm-up at the Happy Jack Ski Area. We will meet and start skiing at 10 AM from the Tie City Parking Lot (Level of Difficulty:Moderate). Lunch will be at the Tie City Warming Hut at approximately 1 PM. Chili may be on the menu if there is chili left over from the chili feed. There is no charge for skiing, but there is a parking fee of $5.00 per vehicle. Ski rentals are available at Rock on Wheels, 900 E Lincolnway in Cheyenne or in Laramie. Trip captain is Art Anderson 638-1286.
December 30, 2011 - January 2, 2012 - Snow Mountain Ranch near Fraser, Colorado
Spend New Years with club members at Snow Mountain Ranch. Cost for the regular trip is $125 per person (estimate) if 25 or more go. Located 6 miles south of Granby, CO and is near Winter Park for those who prefer alpine skiing. Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center provides some of the best and easiest groomed Nordic ski trails in the Rockies making it a great place to learn. Lessons and ski rentals on site. There is no Nordic trail fee if you stay at the cabin. We will be staying in the reunion cabin, which hold up to 25 people. A lasagna dinner will be provided on Saturday evening. Bedding and kitchen provided. Some members expressed an interest in being adventurous and trying a back country trek in Rocky Mountain National Park or the scenic groomed trails at Devil's Thumb Nordic Center.
Call Art Anderson right away if you intend to go: 638-1286. Planning meeting December 15.
January 17 - 21, 2012 (Tuesday to Saturday) Yellowstone National Park
This is a club sponsored trip that will follow the traditional Jackson trip over the Martin Luther King weekend. If you have never been to Yellowstone in the winter, this is an opportunity to try the ultimate Nordic Ski Trip offered by the club. Experience historic scenery, ski on fabulous ski trails. a chance to see bison and elk as well as the world famous Old Faithful Geyser and other unique geothermal features.
Trip Cost for the coach transportation and four nights lodging range from $500 pp double occupancy; $365 pp quad occupancy in the Snow Lodge. In the Western Cabins, the rate is $440 pp double occupancy and $290 pp quad.
Interested skiers should contact Art Anderson (638-1286) for trip details and information on making reservations. Rooms tend to get booked far in advance, so it is recommended that reservations be made ASAP.
February 16 - 20, 2012 - Michigan Lakes at Cameron Pass, Colorado
The annual Nordic trip to Michigan Lakes is scheduled for Thursday February 16 through Monday February 20, 2012. Sign-up deadline is February 2.
Level of difficulty: easy to expert
Cost: $40 for the entire trip including dinner meals on Saturday and Sunday night. $5 per night use fee paid to Forest Service.
Accommodations are in Forest Service Cabins; dogs are allowed in cabin no. 2. Cabins have solar lights; no electricity or water; skiers need to bring water, food, sleeping bags; bathrooms are separate from cabins.
Directions:
West- From Walden, take CO Hwy 14 east 19.1 miles to Colorado State Forest entrance on the left. KOA entrance at the same turn in. Proceed to the self pay gate ($6.00/day use fee) and stay on the road to the dam and along the west side of the lake ~ 5 miles to cabins heading north.
East- Hwy 287 to Ted’s Place (junction of Hwy 287 and Hwy 14). Proceed west over Cameron Pass to the KOA on the right, just beyond Gould, CO. Same instructions from there.
March 8 - 11, 2012 - Columbine Cabins
The Columbine area offers a broad variety of trails that guarantee fun for all. From numerous un-groomed trails of
varying lengths surrounding the cabins to groomed and relatively flat trails at Steamboat Lake State just 4 miles down the road, there is terrain that will please beginner, intermediate and advanced Nordic skiers. Hahn’s Peak, just across the road, beckons telemark skiers and others in search of fresh powder and longer runs.
Sign-up deadline is February 2nd
| | Where: | 30 miles north of Steamboat Springs, CO |
| | When: | Thursday, March 8 through Sunday, March 11, 2012 |
| | Sign Up: | November 3rd meeting through February 2nd |
| | Cost: | $80 for a two night stay (Friday and Saturday)
$45 for an extra night (Thursday)
$15 per dog for the weekend |
| | Lodging: | Shared cabins of various sizes and with
varying amenities. All have hot and cold water but some have no bathroom. A spacious, centrally located bathhouse with showers is open 24
hours a day. A wood-burning sauna is also available to enjoy. Cabin assignments will be determined by the trip captains after all reservations are made. |
| | Meals: | Friday and Saturday night dinner and drinks (beer, wine and soft drinks) are included. Individuals will be responsible for other meals and drinks. |
If using email, please put “Columbine Ski Trip” in the subject line.
End of March or first of April 2012 - Buford Foundation Cabins near Centennial
Trip Captain: Art Anderson 307-638-1286
Level of difficulty: moderate to difficult
Let Art know if your are interested in this trip. If enough people sign up, he will get special permission to use the cabin for the group. We will stay at the Buford Cabin located 20 miles west of Laramie on Hwy 130. We will be back country skiing in the Snowy Range West of Centennial and skiing the Little Laramie River Trails. You will need to bring a warm sleeping bag. Kitchen is available. Ski rentals available in Cheyenne and Laramie. Dogs are allowed.
End of April Not Yet Scheduled
By popular acclaim we are setting up another back country ski trip to Francie’s Cabin in Colorado.Sometime in April or May could be the date for his challenging and thrilling trip. Skiers will need to be able to pack their gear either on your back or pulling a sled. This is a ski-in/skiout adventure at one of the locations in the 10th Mountain Hut system.
Francie’s Cabin is located about four miles south of Breckenridge. If you’ve never tried hut skiing, here’s your
chance! Todd Thibodeau is the trip captain for Francie’s Cabin. Contact him if you’re interested in going. Cost will be about $75 per person for the trip.
Click here for our Alpine trip schedule. 
