The Nordic News

Tis the Season!

A few short days after you read this we’ll officially be headed back into the light. The winter solstice and the holidays are part of the most joyous period of the winter season. The way the lights cascade down Elk Ave. and the joy in people’s hearts only add to the delight of skiing around town. While we may not have the snow we’ve been hoping for, we do have snow. And that’s something worth celebrating. We hope you get out and enjoy it!

We also have so much to look forward to with a full winter season ahead. We're looking forward to the return of the Yurt Bistro (Dec. 28) and Yurt Dinners (Dec. 21). We look forward to more friendly competition at the Pinnacle Orthopedic Community Race Series, Alley Loop, Gothic Mountain Tour, and Grand Traverse. We look forward to more Masters Community sessions in January and February. And of course, we're looking forward to all the skiing and more snow 🤞.

For those of us who live for winter, this is simply the best time of the year. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!

See you on the trails!

Nordic Center Updates

Holiday Hours, Rentals, and More

The Nordic Center, located at 620 2nd Street, is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 7 days a week. Holiday hours are:

• Christmas Eve: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Christmas Day: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• New Year’s Eve: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• New Year’s Day: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Stop by and do some last-minute holiday shopping. We have great outdoor apparel for the trail or around town, including new items from Swix, Maloja, Dynafit, and Skida.

The holidays are incredibly busy at CB Nordic. Please reserve equipment and purchase passes online to avoid long waits and to claim your gear before we run out of your size. 

We also recommend that you pick up your season pass before Friday, December 19, to avoid the holiday traffic.

The Giving Season

Building on CO Gives Day Generosity

We want to thank the Crested Butte Nordic community for a successful Colorado Gives Day. You all came through in a big way this year, and you raised over $6,300, which gets a boost from the Incentive Fund of CO Gives Day. This Colorado Gives Day push is just one part of our Annual Fund Drive.

Our Annual Fund Drive continues through January 9, with an overall goal of $35,000. Your donation keeps costs low for our junior programs, provides free lessons and community programs like Learn to Skate and Immigrantes Unidos, and grooms and maintains our trail network.

Masters Community

Sign up for January Sessions

This week marks the end of the December Masters session. Our second session of Masters programming starts after the New Year, on January 7. You can read more about our offerings in the Masters Program Guide. The deadline to register for January sessions is Friday, January 2, at 5 p.m.

Masters classes aren’t just for top-tier athletes. Anyone looking to improve their technique or learn a new skill is welcome to join, and there are programs for every level of skier.

If you're returning for a second Masters session this season, look for an email next week with a 10% off code. Email Joellen at programs@cbnordic.org with questions.

Alley Loop Registration

Prices Increase January 1st.

Does your race pack look like this? Do you want it to? The Alley Loop is back for it’s 40th year on January 31, 2026, and registration prices increase January 1.

Sign up for a 1km lap around town, or go big and do the whole 42km—preferably in shiny spandex with a bright pink wig or a very large, outlandish, homemade, cardboard potato costume. Help us celebrate the Alley Loop’s 40th birthday in style!

Prices increase on January 1, so sign up today!

Trail Etiquette Reminders

We know you know, but…

The holidays are coming up fast, the trails will be busy, patience may run thin (it happens to everyone, and not just towards your in-laws), and there isn’t as much snow around as in past years. You can help us help everyone have a fantastic experience with the following etiquette tips and reminders:

• PICK UP POOP! Mountain Tails and other pet stores now carry attachments so you can easily pack out your dog poop bags on the outside of your fanny pack or backpack. Look for something like this. Do the community a favor and pick up someone else’s dog poop while you’re out too. It’s guaranteed good karma.

• Ski from town if you’re able. The Peanut Lake Rd. trailheads will be very busy, and the road is muddy. Nobody likes mud on their skis and boots. An easy remedy is to ski The Bench or Town Ranch.

• New this season, the Training Area at CB Nordic is off-limits to dogs. This new request is an attempt to keep the area in tip-top shape for programs. We love our furry friends, but the reality is, they do leave a mark, and it's especially impactful when we're not getting consistent snow. You can still walk Ditch Trail and other popular spots around the zone; we simply ask that you use the alley or other entrance spots to get there.

Thank you for being a trail hero this holiday season, and don’t forget to slow down, say hi, and enjoy the holiday spirit.

Yurt Season is Here!

Bistro, Dinners, and Trivia

We’ve got great news! The Magic Meadows Yurt season kicks off with our first dinner today! Sorry, this one’s private, but if you’re jealous, we still have openings for yurt dinners throughout the season, including one this weekend for the solstice on December 21. You can check out the full schedule of availability here.

For a more casual trip to the yurt, the Yurt Bistro returns on Sunday, December 28, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ski out, grab a coffee, pastry, soup, or mimosa, and enjoy the Westside trails. We’ll host Yurt Bistros every Sunday from December 28 to March 22, with the exception of February 15 (Gothic Mountain Tour).

And finally, and possibly most fun: Yurt Trivia returns one Wednesday a month to combine your most arcane knowledge with skiing. Your entry gets you Mikey’s pizza, veggies, 1 free non-alcoholic beverage, and one giveaway ticket. Beer, wine, and other adult beverages are available for purchase at the yurt all night long.

Pioneer Guest Cabins

Sponsor of the Month!

Looking for a cozy place to stay while visiting Crested Butte? Need a place while training for the Alley Loop or Grand Traverse? Whatever your lodging needs, be sure to check out the Pioneer Guest Cabins located up Cement Creek. Pioneer is close enough to town to enjoy all the delights Crested Butte has to offer but removed enough to enjoy the peace of winter in the mountains. For more information or to book a stay, explore the Pioneer Guest Cabins online.

You Make All the Difference

Be Part of Our Community

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Crested Butte Nordic depends on your support to keep our trails world-class and our programs top-notch. Please consider making a gift to help us get more people outside, having life-changing experiences in the outdoors, all year long.

Interested in making a legacy gift to CB Nordic? Contact Executive Director Hedda Peterson, hedda@cbnordic.org, to learn more about how to make a gift that sustains CB Nordic so that future generations can experience the beauty and wonder of winter.