The Nordic News

Winter - It’s Finally Here?

The weeks since the start of 2026 have been huge for us at CB Nordic. Coming off the holidays doesn’t mean that we’ve slowed down, and Mother Nature’s dose of snow is a welcome addition to our trails. We’ve opened new terrain, had many folks travel to CB to nordic ski because we have snow, and we’ve been hard at work planning this winter’s events.

This snowfall has us confident that we are on for the 40th Anniversary Alley Loop on January 31. While we’ll make some slight modifications for our lower snowpack, it’s pretty much the course you know and love. Stay tuned for course maps and parking reminders in the coming weeks. And if you don’t want to race, please sign up to volunteer.

We also have some trail maintenance volunteer opportunities coming up on Saturday, a Pinnacle Orthopedics Community Race at The Gronk (also Saturday), and some insider info for Yurt Dinners and the Grand Traverse. Keep on reading for more.

New Trails

Grooming All We Can

Since our last update, we’ve received over a foot of snow, and thankfully none of it was rain…

This new coverage has allowed us to open up terrain on both the East and West sides, including:

• Rudy’s Rollers

• Riverbend Trail and the Skyland PO Connector

• Red Lady Loops

• All of Magic Meadows

• Paradise Park

We’re in a stretch of high pressure with limited snowfall in the forecast. To preserve what we have, we will be cutting back on grooming, especially to ensure things stay fresh leading into the Alley Loop. Kevin updates the grooming report daily, so you can get his recommendations at the start of your day.

TRAIL CONDITIONS AND GROOMING REPORT

Alley Loop 2026

We’re looking for volunteers!

The 40th Annual Alley Loop will be held on Saturday, January 31. We’re only about two weeks away, so start prepping that costume. Bring the crew and sign up for races ranging from a 1.5km alley tour to the 42km course through town and out onto the CB Nordic trail system. Registration prices increase tomorrow!

As always, this race takes a lot of commitment. If you’re not racing, we’d love your help as a volunteer. We have a particular need for Course Marshals and Start Line Setup help. Sign up to volunteer with the link below.

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE

Yurt Dinner Opening

Saturday, January 17

We have 8 openings for the Yurt Dinner on Saturday, January 17. This is a rare opportunity to grab a spot at one of Crested Butte’s most unique dining experiences on a holiday weekend. Grab a friend or 3, or take your significant other out for a surprise hot date.

REGISTER FOR THE JANUARY 17 YURT DINNER

GT Ski Spots Available

Put Your CBMR Uphill Laps to Work

If you missed the December 1 registration rush for the 2026 evil eye Grand Traverse Ski, you’re in luck. We still have a limited number of spaces available for teams that would like to race this year. We know a record number of uphill laps are being set at ski areas across Colorado right now. You might as well take that, and all the skating you’ve done on our trail system, and turn it into an epic backcountry adventure, right?

REGISTER FOR THE 2026 GRAND TRAVERSE SKI

Pinnacle Orthopedics Race

This Saturday at The Gronk

Our 3rd race of the Pinnacle Orthopedics Community Race Series is this Saturday, January 17, on the West Side trails. The Frodo Baggins skate race will feature 15 km, 5 km, and 2.5 km distances for a variety of ages. All races will start from The Gronk trailhead, with the 15 km launching first at 10 a.m.

You can register online here, or day of at the start. Please carpool to the start if possible to help with parking.

REGISTRATION AND COURSE MAPS

Trail Work Saturday: 1:30p.m.

Volunteer to Make the Trails Tip-Top

Join CB Nordic staff on Saturday, January 17 (yes, there’s a lot going on that day) to help turn Red Lady Loops into its best form. We will be meeting at Woods Walk parking on Kebler Pass Rd., skiing or snowshoeing in, and taking care of some of the sapling and grading problems in anticipation of the Alley Loop. Meet at 1:30 p.m.

Please bring:

• Skis or snowshoes (skimo skis or snowshoes are good, but no walking)

• Trail Pass

• Snow shovel

• Saw and/or loppers

• Gloves

• Water and Snack

• Sled if you have one

Get Outside. Stay Informed

Subscribe to The Outsider

Jason Blevins is a Colorado journalist and co-founder of The Colorado Sun who has been writing about mountain towns -- and skiing -- for nearly 30 years. Every week Jason’s Outsider newsletter from The Colorado Sun delivers news and insights into the changing American West, with articles covering the businesses, industries, policies, and characters that shape communities and cultures on the evolving Western Slope of Colorado. Some of The Colorado Sun's outstanding reporting touches us here in Crested Butte, and at CB Nordic, like this fantastic article from the Alley Loop a few years back, or this one about snow science, climate, and our partners at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab. Jason lives here in Crested Butte with his wife and a dog named Gravy. Click over to https://coloradosun.com/outsider/ to learn more.

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.