The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Bridges of the Butte, Nordic style
The Nordic trails around Crested Butte are in prime condition and the ones around the Magic Meadows yurt are second to none, so why not ski them for 12 hours straight and raise money for the Crested Butte Nordic Team.
Or, just ski them for six hours, stop and have a few beers and ski some more. Or, ski a couple of laps, hang out at the yurt and eat, ski a few more laps, kick back by the bonfire and finish the day off with a couple more laps.
All of that and more is possible at the inaugural Magic Meadows Dozen on Saturday, March 16. Classical or skate, or both, it’s all good.
The event is open to all levels of Nordic skiers and can be done solo, as a team of two or even a team of four skiers.
Registration for the event is $25, or free if you come in with at least $75 in pledges. Participants have until midnight on Friday, March 15. People can pledge by the lap or the kilometer. For more information and/or to register check out cbnordic.org and look under the events tab.
Event organizers will have a five-kilometer loop around the Magic Meadows yurt set for participants to ski on for 12 hours straight starting at 7 a.m. and finishing at 7 p.m.
“We want it to be friendly to everyone,” says event co-organizer Drew Holbrook, “something the whole community could participate in. The yurt is such an awesome spot.”
Holbrook emphasizes that participation is open to interpretation. If someone wants to go hard for 12 hours straight and see how many kilometers they can tick off, great.
“Around 30 or so laps, about 150 kilometers, would be impressive,” says Holbrook.
Or, if someone wants to show up at 11 a.m. after a backcountry tour, ski some laps, drink a few beverages and hang out, that works too.
“I’d love it to be a ton of people, a big party, with some people going for it,” says Holbrook. “What we’re really trying to do is establish an event that will grow every year.”
Food and beverages of all kinds will be out there and event organizers hope to get a bonfire going for the final hour as the sun sets behind the peaks.
All proceeds to benefit the Crested Butte Nordic Team, which has three skiers headed to Junior Nationals this year. The Nordic team is hoping to implement some new programs as well as establish a scholarship source for athletes in need.
“We’re trying to start up an equipment leasing program so we can buy gear and lease it to kids who don’t have any as well as get a summer training program going,” says Holbrook. “We definitely want kids to have the opportunity to train in the summer.”
