| How much snow is enough?
Earlier today, I got the opportunity to hit up the Divide Road Nordic Ski Trails with the Uncompahgre Nordic Association. Not bad for a day in the "office."
I've never cross-country skied before, so naturally I thought it was important to try it out and see what the trails look like before writing a guide to trying the sport in our area— more on that in next week's outdoors sections.
From the Grand Mesa to Ironton and beyond, there's plenty of nordic skiing to be done on the Western Slope. But, the closest trails are right here in Montrose County, about 45 minutes up Divide Road.
Montrose Surf and Cycle hooked me and the board members up with some demo skis, which they also rent for around $20 a package (not a bad deal for a day of skiing).
We headed up the road, but before hitting the trail I was warned: "It's a little bit icy."
Reader, to my New Englander sensitivities, it was not icy. I did not see one single speck of ice. A little slick maybe, and I have nothing to compare it to, but icy is not what I would have thought.
I can assure you, if this is bad, then New Hampshire has never seen a powder day in the 25 years I've been alive. The norm is a mountain that's half grass and half ice, and I mean, sheer ice, like the trail is just one sheet of overskied ice.
I was told I have to come back when the snow is good— making me wonder what the heck is this, then? What magical winter wonderland awaits when the snow is "good," either on the nordic trails or the mountain slopes. I'm trying snowboarding for the first time at Powderhorn next week (more on that in tomorrow's Outdoors section) so I guess we will see.
— Kylea, from the Newsroom
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