Happy New Year

OK,all you new years day skiers I was up today (Wednesday) to ready the trails for you on Thursday.  Mostly, everything is in good shape except for a few small ridges I did not have time to buff out.  Classic is set everywhere except the South Beach.  That is because there is a classic only track through the trees for your personal skiing pleasure.   Of course, as I was leaving a couple of snow machines came along on the main road and buggered it up a bit, but you will hardly notice.    There are still a few more trails that are not open since the last storm.  Maybe by next week we will have time to pack them out.

Warning! Please don’t park in front of the residential road that enters the parking area near the outhouse.  If you do, you are; 1) risking a collision with a vehicle coming down the hill; 2) blocking prime space that most drivers use to turn around and head back up the road. 

Have a great ski day………..Nick

GREAT skiing this a.m.early!  The trails and especially the road are well packed with classic track as well.  Our groomers are really doing a fantastic job in spite of mechanical problems, which just amazes m!!.  But don’t let that stop you skiing as the mechanic is on his way!  Folks are doing a great job “pitching” their dogs droppings off the trail!  THANKS!

If you are interested in car pooling to Vallecito Nordic Area from Durango, or any place, please email Carrie at ecallen@gobrainstorm.net

Don’t forget the following dates!  Tuesday morning 10-12 a.m. group ski with others of you abilities starting January 6th.  Also January 18th 9-3 Demo days and Festival.  Watch for posters about town.   Diane

Road is plowed

The good news is the road is plowed. The bad news is the control arm on one of our snowmobiles is broken so we’re back to one snowmobile which is the new FS machine. The good news is we now have a mechanic who can service the machines in place, so we hope to have both machines running soon.–Rob

Wow lots of snow!!

Thanks to Ron Klatt and Caroline for grooming for 7 hrs today. They had to ride the new snowmobile across the dam just to get in to groom. What dedication! They snowmobile packed the FS Road and East Creek. High winds and drifts are causing us to avoid packing the beach trails at this time. Right now skiers can’t even get to the trailhead because the road from the dam to the trailhead was unplowed as of 1:30 Friday. Some cars have ventured across the dam but this is causing a bottleneck of cars at the East end of the dam. Also high winds on the dam are causing drifts– so use caution. By tomorrow we expect/hope the road will be plowed. It will take us several days to get the trails groomed back to good condition, so please bear with us during these conditions. –Rob

Christmas Ski

We buffed out the course to prefection on Wednesday afternoon just in time for tonight’s storm.  Most areas are set with classic tracks. If it does not snow much tonight the skiing will be good for your perfect Christmas outing.  We are not planning to groom on Christmas day unless some snow angle gets out there to pack in. 

On Friday we will be doing the inaugural run of our brand new Skandic expedition snow machine purchased in conjunction with Vallecito Nordic and the Forest Service.  Thank Ron Klatt for his hard work making that a reality when you see him.  We now have two great machines perfect for towing grooming equipment and we also have a new 8 foot wide Tidd Tec groomer on order.  It is scheduled for delivery after the 1st of January.  Life as a groomer is suddenly improved.

Merry Christmas!

Nick

Just got back from a ski and it is BEAUTIFUL!  Two groomers out there today packing all this new snow down to a good base.  With the addition of more grooming tomorrow it will be fantastic!  Come ski! 

Diane

Friday Grooming

Main road, East Creek and South Beach are freshly groomed with classic tracks set. Great ski conditions for your weekend pleasure.  Thank EB for his efforts when you see him.  And, the new entry sign is up, looking good with a bright red donation box ready for your contributions.

Nick

Merry Christmas

Yippy! the snow gods are coming through.

It has been snowing all week which means plenty of work if you are packing trails.   Rob, Brad, Sarah, Eb and an unknown ghost groomer(humm, wonder who that is?) have been out all week packing down the POW POW.   EB is there today groming and hopefully setting classic on the 5″ from last night. It should be in great shape for tomorrow.  Check in later for the final report.

Hey….have you always wanted to be a volunteer groomer?  Now is your chance.  We need your help. A clinic and sign up is scheduled for this Sunday at 8am at the trail head.  Instructors will be on hand to show you how.  Just show up ready work. For more information please contact Rob at 884-2930.

Thanks Rick for all of your hard work.  Vallecito Nordic would never have been anything without your years of dedication and help. Because of you thousands of skiers and dogs are in better shape. 

Common out and ski.

Nick

Snow!

Too much snow, sure wish we had a snowcat! How much are you willing to pay for snowcat skiing?

I was going to groom today, but the thought of 12 hours of riding and getting stuck and digging myself out – no, won’t do it this year. Snowcat or bust! Maybe the board of the new Vallecito Nordic will get out and groom. Me? I’m going back to Pine Valley Nordic – I liked that name and I liked that those who did ALL of the work made the decisions. A board telling me what to do? I don’t think so, I say not only no, but hell no! Those that know me well know that I just can’t work with politics and being told what to do.

So, Vallecito Nordic, you are on your own – you wanted control and you got it. You don’t want a snowcat, you groom it then. Good Luck!

Me, I’m going running…

Rick

Newsflash! Snowcat skiing?

A.P. just called from Breckenridge where he is buying a full on snowcat specifically to groom Vallecito! Details to come…
Rick