PHOTOS: UK Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team travels to Grand County

During the week of March 17, members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team glided over the trails of Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA and swooped down hills at Winter Park Resort. During the program, adaptive athletes participated in the following disciplines: snowboarding, Nordic skiing and Alpine skiing.

The team supports veterans and active service members in the U.K. The team partnered with the Invictus Foundation to bring an additional 14 international veterans to Grand County. Through this partnership, 96 adaptive athletes could experience the freedom of para snow sports in the Rocky Mountains.

Elizabeth Winfield, Chief Operations Officer for the Para-Snowsport Team, said that the athletes enjoy training in Grand County, because it’s in a great location for both Nordic and Alpine skiing and snowboarding.

“Oftentimes you don’t have great Nordic and great snowboarding in the same place,” Winfield said. “The YMCA has been great with accommodations. Everyone here is so friendly and accommodating.”

Members of the nonprofit U.K. Armed Forces Para-Snowsports Team find healing and freedom when they are on the snow. The nonprofit supports sick and injured military personnel and veterans.
Elizabeth Winfield/Courtesy Photo

Grand Nordic Corner: What a great season thanks to volunteers and community

The warming sun is starting to cut our Nordic season short. If we get a good cold night into the teens, we have wonderful conditions for crust skiing which is a treasure for Nordic skiers forced to follow the tracks all season.  Suddenly they are free to go anywhere. That fresh snow could melt then refreeze in a layer thick enough to support your weight for crust skiing to happen again.

While we are holding our breath, let’s look back at this crazy season. We set up Nordic schedules and programs in August and almost every winter weekend was full of events. Then snow was late, the weather hit us with an attitude (a 30-40 mph attitude!) and we had to rearrange everything.  It’s hard enough to make it work the first time, let alone to keep redoing everything.

The Grand County Nordic Race Committee headed by Greg Finnoff met the challenge, sometimes reluctantly, but the series turned in seven races and each went off without a hitch with the weather only sometimes cooperating. Finnoff and his team of timers known as Into Finn Air, despite the tough work turned in a nearly impeccable performance. Greg and Colleen Finnoff, Odd Bersvendson, Cheryl Allen, and Shawn Otterson worked out courses at Snow Mountain Ranch and Granby Ranch that flowed with ample signage, and were always received well by the racers.  

Then we were lucky enough to use the new Campers Hub building at Snow Mountain Ranch and we took advantage of great grooming and state-of-the-art facilities, and really put on a show for each race held there. Devil’s Thumb continues its own race program, again with many helpers, and Granby Ranch is just getting started in the Nordic world.  

Whether it is Grand Nordic, Colorado Nordic Masters, the Winter Park Competition Center, Colorado Biathlon or the individual Nordic centers, we try to provide the leadership but we need community helpers. Most important – all these people are volunteers.

We all get good feelings when we can make the things we love to do work, sometimes more than others. Grand County runs on volunteers, good volunteers, in so many organizations and nonprofits. Grand Nordic is no exception. Our entire board is volunteer. Many of us have been on the board since 1993 when Grand Nordic united the many Nordic organizations in the county for more impact for the sport.  

Our love of this healthy lifetime sport has touched so many lives in the last 30 years, but only with the help of hundreds of volunteers. Some people help at events, some help teach at free lessons and some help by writing grants to support the organization. Others donate used equipment to others who can’t afford equipment or by donating gift certificates or prizes to provide incentives to those learning or racing. And the list goes on.  

We need every person who hands out cookies or oranges at an aid station, who responds when we say we desperately need course marshals, or who cleans out their garage and takes their unwanted equipment to our donation boxes at the libraries or Grand Park Recreation Center instead of throwing it away. Use and reuse. Share your knowledge. Promote, be promoted, do a good job and have pride in what you do, appreciate and be appreciated. Grand County is so lucky to have both knowledgeable leadership in so many areas and a wealth of fantastic volunteers. 

Thank you one and all!  It’s been a great season that will end all too soon.

Diana Lynn Rau

Target range in the Clear Creek Ranger District opening late summer, dispersed shooting closures to take place in Grand County

Recreational sport shooting is a longtime activity in U.S. Forests, however the 1997 Forest Plan did not include any direction for managing these activities. The growing interest of recreational sport shooting on National Forest lands near residences and other high-use public areas has caused safety concerns.

The Forest Service has partnered with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Clear Creek County, Gilpin County and other counties to develop a safe, responsible and accessible recreational sport shooting while also addressing conflicts near residential areas. The 2019 Recreational Sport Shooting Management Decision and Forest Plan Amendment identified unsuitable areas for shooting on National Forest System lands. More details regarding the project are available on the U.S. Forest Service website.

The completed construction of ranges will then trigger closures in Grand County, northern Larimer County and other areas where dispersed shooting opportunities still exist.

The Devil’s Nose Target Range on the Clear Creek Ranger District has an expected opening date of summer 2024. The Clear Creek Shooting Sports Park is under development with an expected opening in 2025. The closures are contingent on target ranges being constructed to provide for safe shooting opportunities and are intended to improve public safety by improving the management of recreational shooting.

A total of 226,113 acres that were identified as unsuitable for recreational shooting will be closed, according to the press release from the U.S. Forest Service. When Devil’s Nose opens 94,900 acres will be closed in southern Clear Creek, Larimer and Grand counties. 

When the Clear Creek Shooting Sports Park opens in 2025, an additional 46,195 acres in northern Clear Creek and Gilpin counties will close. High-quality maps of the closures are available on the U.S. Forest Service’s website.

Detailed information on these closures will be made available as the ranges open.

Paid parking at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area to start during weekends, holidays of 2024-25 season

Soon after announcing that season passes are on sale, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area unveiled on Thursday, March 21, that it will begin charging for parking on certain days during the 2024-25 winter season.

The system will be effective from mid-December 2024 through early May 2025 with paid parking and reservations only required for weekends, holidays and other peak days. 

A general parking reservation will cost $20 per car in all four of A-Basin’s lots, including Early Riser, High Noon, Last Chance and Upper Last Chance. Parking will not require a reservation after 1 p.m. on weekends or holidays and will remain free during weekdays. For those wanting to pay a one-time fee, A-Basin will offer a limited number of $150 parking passes that will cover all general parking costs all season.

A-Basin will continue its carpooling program, but it will bump its required number of passengers from three to four people. Carpoolers will be able to park for free, but will still have to reserve parking ahead of time. 

“We are incredibly appreciative of the people who have carpooled here over the last few years, but we did bump the change up to four in an effort for carpooling to be more meaningful and impactful for people,” chief operating officer Al Henceroth said. “We are really trying to reduce the number of vehicles that come to A-Basin.”

In a blog post about the season pass announcement and the upcoming changes to parking, Henceroth stated that parking has always been a challenge for A-Basin to control on busy days and that the decision was made independently from Alterra Mountain Company, which is slated to buy the ski area ahead of next winter.

“The sale to Alterra is not complete yet, and we are not working with Alterra yet,” Henceroth said. “We made this decision on our own in an effort to maintain the quality of the ski experience at Arapahoe Basin.”

Henceroth elaborated in an interview with the Summit Daily News on Thursday afternoon that visits to the ski area have been on a steady uptick this season and that parking lots have reached capacity on busy days, as early as 10 a.m.

“We are talking about doing this on weekends and holidays and maybe a few other peak days, from mid-December to early May,” Henceroth said. “Maybe 50 days, we haven’t exactly fine tuned the numbers. We have seen a lot of variability over the seasons when people arrive and have had seven to eight days when we have had some real parking challenges.”

After limiting season pass, ticket sales and Ikon Pass access, Henceroth truly feels like a reservation parking system is the next logical step in preserving the guest experience at A-Basin.

“The number of cars here are starting to creep up again,” Henceroth wrote in his blog post. “We really think that implementing a parking reservation system is the next logical step to keep the ski experience really high.”

Henceroth has discussed the parking reservation concept with A-Basin guests and has received reactions that range from understandable skepticism to embracement. One of the biggest criticisms of the new parking reservation system is how it could affect the spontaneity of skiing when guests now have to reserve a parking spot on potential last-minute powder days.

“People want a really high-quality experience,” Henceroth said. “That means that they don’t want things to be crowded. They want to be able to move through The Basin. They want to have fun. They want to be able to arrive in a nice, easy and simple way. We think on those challenged days the arrival experience isn’t what we want it to be. People can make a reservation, know they are going to get a spot when they get here, arrive and have a great day of skiing and riding.”

Over the next few months, A-Basin plans to move further along with the reservation plan and complete details about the online parking reservation system, including information on how to make a reservation, how many reservations a person can have at once and the impacts to uphill access. More information is set to be released this fall.

In regards to the 2024-25 season and Ikon Passes, nothing has been decided yet since the sale of A-Basin from Dream Unlimited to Alterra Mountain Company hasn’t officially gone through, but as of now, there are still five days on the Ikon Base Pass and seven on the full Ikon Pass. A-Basin stays committed to letting guests know when the deal with Alterra closes and the ski area has more information. 

This story is from Summit Daily.

Grand County fishing report: Trout action is picking up

Grand Lake

Water is moving through Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain. Use caution when traveling the areas in front of tunnel on the east side, in front of the canal connecting to Shadow Mountain and in the areas between islands and pump canal on Shadow Mountain. Travel on the lake has been tough lately with quite a bit of slush with all the new snow.

Fishing has been slow to fair but seems to be picking up by the day as more pumping occurs. Rainbow trout and brown trout action is best very early and again right at sunset. Small 1/32-ounce white or black bucktail jigs worked gently in 4-12 feet of water has been enticing bites.

Lake trout action has been slow but picking up, the name of the game right now is finesse and fresh bait, Mysis imitations such has white bucktail jigs, Clam Silkie on a tungsten or SI flies have been go to baits, tipped with a small piece of fresh sucker belly and your favorite scent to keep them interested. Look for fish in 35-75 feet of water.

Williams Fork Reservoir

Water Level is at 82% of full capacity. Travel on the lake has been good, did not get much snow with the last storm. Rainbow trout and brown trout action is slow. Lake trout action has been fair and picking up by the day as we get more snowmelt coming into the lake. Look for lake trout in 50-70 feet of water, small crayfish imitations such as 2-inch tubes and larger profile grubs like P&D lure minnow body twist tail grub. Clam Leech flutter spoons in wonder bread color have also been working very well tipped with sucker.

Keep a larger bait tied on and accessible, as the larger lake trout are being found in the same areas as smaller fish, when the smaller fish go away drop down that large bait. Pike action has been slow, but expect them to start moving up to shallow spawning locations as we get closer to ice off.

Lake Granby

Water level is at 89% of full capacity or about 8 feet low. Ice conditions have been crusty snow in the mornings to deep slush pockets in the afternoons once the top layer gets soft. Total ice thickness is holding up at around 16-18 inches but is beginning to get softer by the day.

Rainbow trout and brown trout action has been fair, 6-12 feet off the rip rap dam faces have been great areas to catch them cruising through. A small spoon or micro tube has been producing well tipped with Gulp maggot or wax worm.

Lake trout action has been fair to good for fish under 20 inches and slow for the larger fish. We are finding best action in 50-70 feet of water with 3-inch chartreuse and white tubes or more finesse presentations such as SI Flies with small piece of sucker. Stay mobile, might take a couple spots to find fish that are willing to bite and not just look.

The Fishing with Bernie team has been guiding in Grand County for over 25 years. For more info please check out FishingWithBernie.com, Facebook.com/FishingWithBernie or our Instagram pages @Fishing_With_Bernie and @FishingWithAltitude.

Summit County skier who died after hitting a tree at Keystone Resort identified

The Summit County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of a 58-year-old Summit County resident who died at Keystone Resort Thursday morning, March 14, after hitting a tree.

Oleksandr Piguliak, of Silverthorne, was pronounced dead following the accident, according to information provided by Summit County Coroner Amber Flenniken.

The man was reportedly skiing on Flying Dutchman, a blue trail on Dercum Mountain, when he hit a tree and subsequently died at the scene, according to a statement from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies say Piguliak was wearing a helmet, and no one else was involved in the incident.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends affected by the tragic loss of life at Keystone Ski Resort,” Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said in a statement on Friday.

On Tuesday, March 19, FitzSimons said a routine investigation conducted following the fatal incident is now complete, and nothing suspicious was found.

This story is from Summit Daily.

Grand County Nordic skiers take strong finishes in Junior Nationals at Lake Placid

Three Nordic skiers from Grand County put in strong finishes in New York at the Junior National competition in Lake Placid’s Mt. Van Hoevenberg that took place March 11-16. The event features skiers in the 14 to 19-year-old age groups.

Luca Archie and Maia and Sophia McGinnis-Smith made the journey to the event, which features the top junior Nordic skiers in the nationals. They skied in warm conditions in slush, ice and rain.

They skied for the Rocky Mountain Division.

Maia Smith took 12th place March 15 in the 5K classic mass start event. Sophie, her sister, came in 20th. Luca Archie came in 32nd.

In the classic sprint event Sophie came in 15th and Sophie was 18th. Luca had a penalty in the event and forfeited her time.

Overall, Maya and Sophia Smith ended up in the top 20 for the overall standings. Archie was not far behind.

The three girls trained at Snow Mountain Ranch and Devil’s Thumb in preparation for the junior national event.

Ski the most vertical feet in a day and raise funds for a cause

Ready to try to ski or ride the most vertical feet in one day at Winter Park Resort? For the RethinkAbility Vertical Feet Ski Challenge, participants shred the slopes to accumulate the most vertical feet in one day, all while supporting the National Sports Center for the Disabled.

Pick a day – April 12 or 13 – and compete with others who have also signed up. Those who raise the most funds or ski the most feet can also receive great prizes. Participants can win an IKON Pass, custom Meier Skis, Winter Park Resort lift passes, ski gear and more.

The National Sports Center for the Disabled ensures the outdoors is accessible for children and adults living with disabilities. The nonprofit organization offers life-changing experiences and programs for participants, from its home base in Winter Park Resort, to river rafting excursions. 

“By rethinking ability, we instill a spark of ‘what if’ in people who haven’t realized what they’re capable of,” the Center stated. “Helping them discover their abilities helps them redefine how they approach life.” 

Registration for the challenge is $75, with a fundraising goal of $150. You can either pay upfront or rally your friends and family to contribute through the RethinkAbility Ski Challenge fundraising platform. Even if you don’t ski or snowboard, you can still donate to RethinkAbility by visiting NSCD.org and clicking on the events tab.

Participants can enjoy the following perks, plus the satisfaction of supporting adaptive sports and changing lives.

  • Participant bib for priority lift access
  • A free ski lesson with a National Sports Center for the Disabled instructor
  • A ski pass for the day (if needed)
  • Food and drink
  • Swag bag

For more about the RethinkAbility Challenge or the Center’s programs, go to NSCD.org.

Granby Recreation Department’s springtime offerings

The Granby Recreation Departments has lots of activities lined up to stay active on these slushy spring days, for both children and adults.

Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt 

Teens, grab your flashlight and head up to Granby’s Soccer Dome on Thursday, March 21 for a great Easter egg hunt. The event is sponsored by the Granby Recreation Department, Fraser Valley Metro Recreation District, Grand County Juvenile Services and Young Life. This free event will be held from 7:30-9 p.m. The egg hunt starts promptly at 8 p.m. All youth in sixth grade and up are invited. No pre-registration is required, just show up to have fun. 

High Altitude Volleyball Challenge

Are you tired of sitting around with nothing to do? Then join the adult co-ed volleyball tournament at the Granby Soccer Dome. The tournament format will be pool play into a multi-level tournament. Each team is guaranteed five matches. It will be held on Tuesdays, April 9 and 16, from 7-10 p.m. The cost is $150 per team. There will also be an open gym for all teams on Tuesday, April 2, 7-9 p.m. at the dome. Team registration deadline is April 2. 

Full Moon Ski/Snowshoe with Granby Recreation and Two Pines Supply

Join Granby and Two Pines Supply for fun full moon guided trips. All trips will meet at Two Pines Supply in Granby and the cost is just $10. Leave the planning and route finding to the organizers. Bring your snowshoes or skis and enjoy the mountains in a whole new light. The next trip is scheduled for March 24 from 7-9:30 p.m. Two Pines Supply can provide gear, if needed, for an added fee. Pre-registration is required by March 21, and a minimum of five participants is needed.

For more information, class details or to register for an activity, go to GranbyRec.ActivityReg.com or call the Granby Rec Department at 970-887-3961.

Reader Photos: Snow Mountain Ranch Stampede

Nearly 400 racers participated in the Stampede on both Saturday and Sunday. For a full list of results of the Snow Mountain Ranch Stampede races, please visit SkiGrandNordic.org.
Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA/Courtesy Photo
The Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center and Grand Nordic Ski Club collaborated to make the races possible. Sit skiers also competed in the races.
Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA/Courtesy Photo
Participants of all ages enjoyed bluebird skies on both days of the Stampede. The first Stampede was held during the 1983-84 ski season, when the Nordic Center first began.
Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA/Courtesy Photo