Sip Nordic

[Emir Ballard]

CrestedButte Nordic is one of the premier cross-country ski destinations in the country and your nonprofit community nordic ski and snowshoe center. Located in Crested Butte, Colorado, we groom 50 km. of trails for classic skiing, skate skiing, and snowshoeing. Our spectacular trail system is accessible right from town; no driving required. We rent equipment, as well as offering ski lessons, backcountry tours, fun events, and fine dining at our trail-side yurt.

Ski and snowshoe trails are closed for the season. expert equipment fitting and nordic ski sales available by appointment through September. Book a summer appointment. Thank you for another incredible winter season!

We have everything you need for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowcat adventure rides. Our family-friendly winter activities will put a smile on your face and create a memory you are sure to cherish.

Our seasonal rental program for kids 12 and under will continue for the 2023-24 season. Rent for the entire season for just $130 and trade out equipment for your growing child anytime, free of charge.

Stunning detail and craftsmanship give our lodge a warm and inviting atmosphere filled with natural light from our massive west facing windows. Warm up between outings as you sip Hot Cocoa by our large stone fireplace or grab a signature cocktail or home-made soup from our tavern bar.

Located just 7 miles outside of Pocatello, East Mink Creek Nordic Center is a quality ski and snowshoe area. It hosts approximately 20K of groomed classic and skate trails. The nordic center is operated by the City of Pocatello through a special use permit with the United States Forest Service and through volunteer services of the Pocatello Cross-Country Ski Foundation (PXCSF).

The area is staffed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-December through mid-March. During the season trails are open 24/7. Outside of staffed times, users may pay with cash or check at the daily fee drop box located at the parking lots.

The A-frame rental center is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from mid-December through mid-March. You may rent ski and snowshoe equipment as well as purchase passes.

To use the groomed trails at the East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center, trail passes are required 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Proof of purchase must also accompany each skier (i.e., season pass, daily pass, or parking receipt). Snowshoeing does not require a trail pass as those trails are not groomed, but it does require a parking fee of $5/car.

Ski, boot, and pole rentals are available whenever the A-frame rental center is open. If you would like a quick lesson before venturing out on your own, send an email to Andrea Faust to schedule a lesson time.

The Outdoor Recreation Department helps local students get outdoors each winter. School groups from the Pocatello area can take field trips to the East Fork Mink Creek Nordic Center to enjoy a day of guided snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Enjoy warming up in the Yurt after your adventure of exploring trails. Send an email to Andrea Faust to schedule your guided trip.

Ice skating exposes you to hazards including hard impacts, cold air, and cold water. Risk assessment should be part of any outing. We carry safety equipment to make us less vulnerable if something goes wrong.

Knowing how to use your safety gear is as important as carrying it. There are many excellent online resources to review ice safety and rescue. Lifesaving.com is a good place to start. At the most basic level: exit the ice from the same direction that you went in. Use ice picks for traction, bring your legs up to the surface of the water and kick to propel yourself forward.

Ice probe pole: A few skate brands offer a special pole, like a ski pole, with a heavy tip that allows you to gauge ice thickness and strength. In my opinion, this is the only safe way to quickly and conveniently monitor ice thickness/strength on the fly. Some communities are using a rock-toss technique to gauge thickness and I strongly recommend these poles instead. Poles are discussed in more detail below.

Ice pick: Ice picks provide traction when you are climbing out of the water. There are a few commercial options (some guys just use screwdrivers, but I recommend investing in equipment designed for this application). I like the retractable points on the NRS option to prevent accidental holes in my gear, but the models that can be worn around your neck (see photo) are more accessible. Whichever you choose, make sure it is accessible.

We use cracks, bubbles, and vegetation to gauge ice thickness while skating. The ice probe pole is the best tool for on-the-fly tests of thickness and strength. An ice screw or auger can also be useful.

If you break through the ice, turn around and crawl out in the direction that you came from. Use the ice picks, stabbing back at a 45-degree angle, while you bring your legs to the surface of the water and kick gently. The ice shelf will likely break under your weight until you reach stronger ice.

Nordic skates are warmer, more comfortable, and more forgiving than hockey/figure skates. The design is simple, a steel blade under an aluminum platform. The platforms come pre-drilled with mounting holes for standard NNN, SNS, or NIS skate ski bindings. Nordic skates can be purchased at AMH (Anchorage), but the real resource is nordicskater.com. Alaska has a new skate manufacturer: Ermine skates.

Probe: The euro skate scene uses specialty poles without straps or basket. These poles are heavier, due mostly to an aggressive metal tip. The poles are VERY useful for testing ice thickness, if the pole breaks through with a hard jab, the ice is too thin. These poles are not as useful for propulsion on rough ice.

My main resources are webcams, satellite imagery, and wind gauges. Check out my trip planning course, and online resources here. FAA has a wonderful distribution of cameras in Alaska, and the AOOS Sensor Portal has all known public cams in Alaska. NASA and Sentinel offer excellent imagery, and I use Windy for weather. I use GaiaGPS for navigation with my iPhone.

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