Aspen Cross Country Center celebrates early opening
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The Aspen Cross Country Center — the area’s only full-service Nordic ski and snowshoe hub — opened for the season on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.
Located at the Aspen Golf Course, the center is the epicenter of the Aspen/Snowmass Nordic Trail System, which offers over 90 kilometers of free, groomed trails.
Operated for 38 years by the Ute Mountaineer, the center provides a wide range of services, including rentals, lessons, guided tours, and expert ski tuning. Visitors can relax in the cozy lounge with hot drinks and snacks after exploring the trails.
Ute Mountaineering Sales Associate Beau Toepfer explained the effort behind the opening, noting that employees had been setting up throughout the previous week in preparation.
“Things are opening up. In fact, we opened yesterday,” he said Friday. “Everyone has been working hard and setting up for the past week.”
Toepfer also emphasized the Ute Mountaineer’s role in supporting the center.
“We provide a lot of the skis that are at the Cross Country Center,” he said. “We order a lot of the rental skis and outfit them at the Ute Mountaineer. We will sell a lot of the demo equipment later, along with snowshoes, either at the end of the season or once they are ready to be retired.”
Most of the Nordic ski equipment offered by the Ute Mountaineer is housed at the center during the season.
Cross County Center Manager Scott Nelson highlighted the early snowfall this year, which has provided an exceptional start to the season.
“Everyone is excited simply because we are skiing early,” he said. “We have about two feet of snow here, and this is the earliest we have been open to ski in a long time.”
The center currently has a large portion of its trails open and groomed, including the Aspen Golf Course Trail, Moore Trail, Aspen High School Trail, and Marolt Open Space Trail. Each trail accommodates both classic and skate skiing, and the most recent grooming report was released on Nov. 27.
Nelson added that many people have already been out enjoying the trails.
Looking ahead, the Aspen Cross Country Center is preparing to host the Nordic Bonfire, an annual event benefiting the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club (AVSC).
Slated for 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, the event invites participants to ski, snowshoe, or walk along a lit course before enjoying dinner provided by Honey Butter.
“The Bonfire is fun and something I highly recommend,” said Toepfer. “It’s really cheap, really good food, and you get to ski around with a bunch of people. It’s really fun.”
For those over 21, the event will also offer libations, with a valid ID required. Equipment rentals will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 2:30 p.m. on the day of the event, with rates set at $15 for adults and $5 for children.
Proceeds from the rentals and the event will support AVSC programs for young athletes in the Roaring Fork Valley.
For more information about the Aspen Cross Country Center and the latest grooming updates, visit aspennordic.com. Details about the Nordic Bonfire are available at teamavsc.org/nordic-bonfire.
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