March 14th, 2022, Today was our last day of grooming for Spring 2022. Thanks to all of our groomers for the many hours (Over 600 hours) of grooming, sometimes in nasty conditions. Thanks too to all of you who supported Vallecito Nordic and made it another great year of skiing!
March 5, 2022, Three and a half hours of grooming today to making good skating, blend “snowdobe” from reddish orange to yellow, and shovel in the gaps. To understand the “snowdobe” in our last storm Dust On (in?) Snow event- see the satellite image at the Colorado Dust On Snow program http://www.codos.org/codosupdates/feb242022 . Hope for more snow tonight, and think grateful thoughts for our super dedicated all volunteer groomer crew!
March 3, 2022, Several spots on our trails have melted almost down to gravel, so grooming is on hold until we see what this next storm brings this weekend. Snow it goes, and snow goes the snow…Check back for updates this weekend!
March 2, 2022, “Snowdobe” is our new word of the day as the Dust On Snow event from the last storm causes our snow to melt faster. Seven hours of total time grooming brought the FS road, East Creek, and the beaches back to skating heath in morning. Best skiing is reported to be between 9:30 and 11 AM. Snow is in the forecast, but our base is dwindling :( Next grooming scheduled for this Friday , March 4th.
Feb 27&28, 2022, New snow followed by high temps- the seasons are turning. Skate lanes groomed on all trails 2/27, and again on 2/28. On the 28th it was 19 degrees at 8:30 and slushy by 2pm and temps in the mid 50s. Not the best prognosis for much more skiing.. Our next grooming is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb 2nd.
Feb 26, 2022, Another 4 hours in the saddle donated by one groomer this morning. Multiples passes on the beach, FS Road, East Creek Rd, and Campgrounds resulted in good skating conditions.
Feb 25th, 2022, All trails groomed again (a few lumps here and there) for skating after 3.5 hours each for two groomers. A third groomer tried to jump in, but alas the third snow machine was in a foul belching mood and was left to contemplate its poor behavior. Your donations that you all make during the year will help it mend! The word is that snow softens up mid to late morning for good skating. More grooming planned each morning Saturday through Monday.
Feb 24, 2022, Two groomers spent a total of 9.5 hours today- they were out early and groomed all trails for skating and after some counseling, set new classic tracks. By noon it had warmed up to 28-30 degrees and some of the classic tracks on the FS road melted down to gravel (sadness). This storm cycle over the last 2 days included 1 or 2 “Dust On (or in) Snow events. So if the snow looks reddish tan, thank the wind for sampling NE Arizona. The snow was also very wet today, so anticipate icy conditions before our groomers get to it in the morning. Mid-day and afternoon anticipate soft conditions and the need for warm wax. Go get it while it lasts!
Feb 23, 2022, Five hours each for two groomers “grooming in a snow globe” today. It was 27 degrees at 7:30 when there was an additional 4” of snow on top of yesterdays grooming. It snowed for the next 5 hours while all trails, including the campground got two passes by the grooming team. Resetting the classic tracks will be a project for after the snow stops falling. Its not clear yet if we have volunteers to groom tomorrow (2/24), but we definitely have grooming scheduled for Friday 2/25.
Tuesday 2/ 22, 2022, By the numbers: 6-8” of new snow in morning, 10 hours total were devoted to compacting the snow with our “rollers” from the same 2 groomers as 2/21, on all 15 km of trails. It all adds up…. to a good base with the majority of snow predicted for 2/23/22!! Note that the access road was not plowed when our team started grooming in the morning.
Feb 21, 2022, In the windy and cloudy morning before the storm, two of our great groomers “farmed” the snow for 3 hours each bringing the Beaches, Forest Service Road, and East Creek Road back to good skiing. And now at 8pm the snow is falling sideways…with predicted storm totals at Vallecito predicted to be….24-32”!!! This will take many long hours to compact and groom! Stay tuned for updates- and wax your classic skis!
Feb 20, 2022, Waiting wait waiting for more snow! Sunday a dynamic duo of groomers again turned an icy glaze to great skating on the beaches, Forest Service Road and East Creek Rd. with 4 hours each in the saddle. Some ice is reported near the base of East Creek. Until the snow falls, the connections between the FS Road/Burnt meadow and the beaches are are not passible on skis (or our grooming equipment). So enjoy the beautiful out-and-back trails and do your snow dances.
Feb 19, 2022, East Creek Rd, FS Road, and Beaches groomed for skating today after 3.5 groomer hours AND All tidds working again after another 7 hours of work!
Feb 18, 2022, Three groomers out for 4.5 hours each making 3-4 passes crunchng icy snow to blissful skating on the beach, East Creek Rd, and FS Road AND resetting the classic tracks. Heroic efforts! Alas…two of our three grooming tidds are awaiting repairs so lets hope our smaller #3 tidd is up for our coming grooming tasks!
Feb 17th, 2022, Next grooming scheduled for Friday morning (2/18) - some snow fell at Vallecito yesterday and last night. We are waiting for reports on how much.
Feb 16, 2022, The skating lanes wee brought back to life (from ice) after 3 passes with the grooming tidds by two groomers who donated 4.5 hours each. The skiing is “pretty darn good” on the beach, Forest Service Road, and East Creek road. We need more snow.
Feb 13 and 14, 2022, Skate lanes groomed were groomed both days. Sundays soft warm snow was “not for the weak”. On Valentines Day it was a chilly 12 degrees at 8am and icy trails where farmed to good skating -with a few “mashed potatoes” by mid-afternoon.
Feb 12, 2022, It was a chilly 16 degrees this morning at 8 AM this morning when our groomer started to soften the icy top of the snow on the trails. By 10:30 the grooming and sun had worked together to provide great skiing on the beach, the Forest Service Road, and the East Creek Road. The campground trails are thin and icy and not recommended. Also the decent into Pine Point Campground from Burnt Meadow is closed until we get more snow (due to ice). For classic skiers who know the ways of klister, the tracks are ready at dawn, others will want to wait for the sun to soften the luge-like tracks. At 12:30PM our groomer cleaned the snowmobile and grooming tidd and called it a day.
Feb 11, 2022, The icy track trails of the morning ere coaxed into “pretty good!” skating on almost all trails after 3 hours of grooming each from two groomers. One of the groomers cleaned dog poop off the ski trails all the way to Burnt Meadow to reduce the “brown klister.” So our dog- owning skiers… take it upon yourselves to clean up after your dog, and maybe a few others. :)
Feb 8&9, 2022, All skate lanes groomed on all trails both days and classic tracks reset Wednesday the 9th. It is time to ski it while it lasts!
Feb 7, 2022, Another combined 8 hours in the saddle from our groomers who went out farming the snow in to perfect corduroy for skating on all trails. It was nine degrees at 8:30 AM and an estimated 30 degrees at 2:30 PM.
Feb 6, 2002, With four hours each from two groomers, all skates were groomed Sunday- and still a wee tad soft from the new snow earlier in the week. The classic tracks are firming up from that snow as well, although they are as Mick Jagger said “a little bleary from the wear and tear” but still good skiing!
Feb 5, 2022 - All skate lanes were groomed this morning. The skate skiing was reportedly very good. The classic tracks are firming up most places, but a bit washed at the start of trail. Overall, very good classic skiing. About 30 people participated in the skate clinic today. A big thank you to Tad Elliot, Tom Norton and Shere Kuss Byrd for teaching. An absolutely beautiful day at Vallecito!Feb.4, 2022- New snow! -3 this morning when our two intrepid groomer got started! Be prepared for cold/cool temperatures (23° at 1:30 PM Thursday) and cold soft snow. All skate lanes were groomed. Classic tracks looked fine so were left alone. With more grooming it should return to excellent skiing again in a day or two.
Feb.2, 2022- Snow! Four to five inches of light cold powder fell overnight, and another four-ish inches of snow fell while two groomers did laps grooming the skate lanes on all trails. In the 7 hours they both put in they also reset the classic tracks. It was still snowing when they left at 3pm.
January 30 and 31, 2022, Skate lanes were groomed both days and the classic tracks were getting icy Feb 1st. And now on the evening of Feb 1st snow is falling….lets hope for a lot!
January 29th, 2022, Seven more hours of grooming icy skate lanes into delightful skating.
Note: Unfortunately,we continue to have reports of uncontrolled and/or aggressive dogs injuring skiers and people in the parking area. PLEASE LEAVE AGRESSIVE DOGS AT HOME and be in control of your dog at all times
January 28, 2022, All skate lanes groomed today after almost 4 hours of grooming. It was 12 degrees at 9:45 and 36 by 1:30. It was a beautiful day to be out skiing!
January 27, 2022, Another new 1/2” of new snow awaited our two groomers this morning 9AM, as did a temperature of 4 degrees. The skate lanes on all trails were groomed over the course of the next 3 hours. The good classic tracks set on the 26th are holding up well. Icy spots are showing up in a few places in the campgrounds but overall the skiing is great!
January 26, 2022, New snow! OK 1.5 inches but we’ll take it! Another 13 hours combined from two groomers out “snow farming” got all of the skate lanes skiing well. New classic tracks were also set which are good, but thin where hard icy snow persisted. There are a couple of bare spots under trees on the classic only trail between Brad’s Cabin and Madden’s Corner.
January 24th, 2022, Ninety-five percent of the skate lanes received more groomer love today for 3.5 hours from two of our groomers. They tested their product and proclaimed it excellent skate skiing! Classic tracks are still looking good. With warmer temps coming we urge you to enjoy the skiing-now!
January 23, 2022, Five and a half hours in the saddle wrestled ice to skating delight -with expected mashed potatoes in some locations by mid-afternoon. The classic tracks are great and listed to be “ as sharp as a Marine recruit’s fatigues at … inspection”.
January, 22nd, 2022,…”Unbridled Fun!” was the exclamation of one of the many delighted skiers this morning! All skate lanes on all trails were once again groomed with multiple passes to get you a ski dream experience. The classic tracks are fun and fast. The ICEMAN cometh on some spots in the tracks, and yes by mid afternoon East Creek gets soft and cottony. Go ski while the snow is here!
January 21st, 2022, All skate lanes were groomed this morning and the classic tracks are holding up well, and skiing very well! A combined 7 hours from our groomers in temperatures ranging from 14-32 degrees (F). Do you snow dances to pull this storm a tad farther south than predicted!!
January 19th, 2022, Imagine if you can two friends meeting in the biting 16 degree cold, well before the sun finds our trails, to groom and farm, groom and farm, and on the third pass farm and groom, the snow into perfection for skate skiing and for classic skiing (with newly set tracks). After six and a half hours each, they test the snow with their skis - and grin, the skiing is superb.January 17th, 2022, The skate lanes on most trails were farmed (groomed)today with multiple passes by two groomers giving you 5 hours each -and great skiing.
January 16th, 2022, “The skiing was awesome” - After 4 hours of work each from 2 volunteer groomers (the only, and wonderful kind we have! ).Skate lanes on all trails groomed.
January 15th, 2022, Skate lanes on the beach, East Creek, and the main FS road where groomed for skating today and the classic tracks are holding up well.
With large temperature swings (15-35degrees) the skiing in the morning before our groomers do their magic is icy and fast,, and after they groom it is positively “dreamy”. By mid afternoon some areas get “cottony” and slow. Grooming is scheduled for tomorrow morning (Sunday, 1/16).
January 14th, 2022, Skate lanes on all trails were groomed this morning, and a wider area was groomed on the beach for learning to skate. Classic tracks are holding up reasonably well given the warm temps. Today temps ranged from 18- mid 30s while 2 groomers gave you 3.5 hours each. Grooming is scheduled again tomorrow (Saturday) morning.
January 12th, 2022-” Snow farming” is the term our groomers use when they comb the snow into perfection (or near as possible) between storms- which 2 of them did today for 5 hours each. The skate lanes on all trails were groomed and the classic tracks are still looking good. Skiers report it is fun and fast. With the high afternoon temperatures we suggest you come ski it early, and do your snow (and cold) dances!
Please be careful on the icy road where we all park.
January 10th, 2022- All skate lanes groomed and classic tracks reset on all trails today after three volunteer groomers put in 4 hours each today. Temperatures continue to swing between single digits and up to 40 in the afternoon. No grooming is scheduled for Tuesday the 11th, but we’ll be back at it Wednesday, the 12th.
Jan 9th?
January 8th, 2022- A spectacular skiing day at Vallecito with 1-2 “ of new snow. Six and a half hours of volunteer grooming refreshed skate lanes on all trails. The classic track are holding up well as is the snowshoe/walking trail.
January 7th, 2022- All skate lanes groomed on all trails by two volunteer groomers who gave you 3 hours each – plus their commute. Temps ranged from 21 to 37 – so the snow is very soft in the afternoon. The classic tracks were not reset but remained icy/glazed until midday.
January 6th, 2022-no grooming
January 5th, 2022- “Hero snow- flat, fast, and trackable” or “Skiing in the days of heaven” are the descriptions rolling in from skiers! All trails were groomed for skating this morning ( 8 degrees at start at 7:30 AM) and the classic tracks are still superb. Four hours from each of two of the VNC Volunteer Groomer monks who left you their skiing Mandala- and a bit of nirvana on skis!
January 4th, 2022- After 10 hours of effort, all VNC trails were groomed again today for skating and the classic tracks were reset on the beaches from Madden Corner all the way to Pine Point Campground. Whoohoo!! come and enjoy it!
January 3rd, 2022-The word is that the skiing is excellent, and the base has firmed up with the warm/cold mix of temps – and daily grooming! Today the skate lanes were groomed again (8 hrs. of love) and the classic tracks looked good except some drifting on the beach sections. Adirondack chairs adorn the separate walking and snowshoeing trail - check it out!
January 2nd- 2022- All skate lanes on all trails groomed after 6-9 hours of grooming w a chilly 1 degree at the start. A classic only section was groomed from Madden’s Corners through the woods past the cabin.
January 1st, 2022! Happy New Year! All trails groomed for skating and new classic tracks -thanks to 3 VNC volunteer groomers who all put in 6 hrs. each! The skiing should be fantastic!
December 31st, 2021- 7” More snow for starters this New Year’s Eve morning and another 3” fell during the day. Two of our groomers put in a heroic 8 hours each for your New Year’s gift! Trails where first rolled/compacted and then groomed for skating – no new classic tracks today as more snow is falling… Happy New Year’s almost!
December 29th, 2021- Another 3-5” of new snow today! Skating lanes were groomed and new classic tracks set….Come and enjoy it!
December 28th, 2021- Four inches of new snow! All trails groomed for skating! Two groomers volunteered 9.5 hours total today!
December 27th, 2021- A dusting (~1/2”) of new snow fell overnight. Grooming included Main Road, East Creek, North and South Beaches. Thanks to 2 of our volunteer groomers who gave you 8 hours. Thank you!
December 26th, 2021- It was windy all day with 3-4” of beautiful new snow. Our intrepid volunteer groomer started at 10 am (23 degres) and finished as the sun set. During these long hours he made multiple passes on the beach, Pine Point Campground, Burnt Meadow, East Creek, and the main road. New classic tracks where set on the main road and East Creek.
December 25th, 2021- Christmas brought another 3-4” of snow and colder temperatures. Grooming today included skate lanes and new classic tracks on Main Road, Burnt Meadow and East Creek. Skate lanes on the beach are skiable !!!! -but thin. The campground trails remain too thin to ski. Keep you snow dances going!
December 24th, 2021- Grooming today included skate lanes on Main Road, Burnt Meadow and East Creek in very wet conditions with 6-8” new snow. The goal was primarily to compact the new snow. The beaches were also compacted as were the campground trails, but these trails are not yet ready to ski. Our volunteer groomers put in 15 hours- thank you! Note that as of this afternoon the dam to the trailhead was not plowed.
December 22, 2021-Grooming today included 3 passes with the snowmobiles and tidds on the skates lanes on the Main Road, East Creek Road, and Burnt Meadow -all of which are fun and fast! The beaches and campgrounds are still not recommended for skiing. Let the snow begin!!!
December 19th, 2021 - The skate lanes were groomed and new classic tracks set on the Main Road, Burnt Meadow and East Creek, and Pine Creek CG. Slowly the pine needle crop from the windy end of our last storm is being combed out by our grooming sleds.
Please be sure to remove all dog doo from the trails. The plastic bags clog our grooming equipment and must be removed, with their contents by hand by our volunteer groomers :). PRID has provided a poop disposal receptacle by their sign near the trailhead for your enjoyment.
December 18th, 2021- Main road, East Creek and Burnt Meadow groomed.
December 16th, 2021 - No grooming today, good skating and classic skiing on the Main Road, Burnt Meadow, and East Creek Road. December 15th 2021 -About 2” new snow and lots of wind blown pine needles and tree branches.
Early season conditions with thin spots persist - be alert for thin spots and a few rogue rocks! …and the skiing is great!
Today skate lanes where groomed on main road, East Creek, Pine Point CG, N Canyon Campground, Princess, and Graham Creek Road, boat ramp trails. Skiing recommended on Main Road, East Creek, and Burnt Meadow.
Classic tracks set were set on both sides of Main Road, East Creek, and Burnt Meadow.
December 14
No grooming
December 13
Groomed skate lanes only: Main road, Burnt Meadow, Pine Point CG, East Creek
December 12, 2021
Great skiing and lots of skiers today - it is getting very warm so be on the look out for emerging bare spots.
No grooming today but the trails are becoming more compacted. We anticipate grooming the skating surface on the main road and East Creek tomorrow. The classic tracks are holding up well except for a few melted spots near the bottom of East Creek.
December 11, 2021
Soft and thin early season conditions remain, but the magic of being out nordic skiing is here! Bright blue skies, sunshine, and chilly temperatures (1 degree when the groomers started today) greeted skiers today.
The main road, East Creek, Burnt Meadow, and Pine Point CG were groomed this morning for skate skiing.
Classic tracks were set along the main road and East Creek. There is minor grassy stubble in some of the tracks, but no rocks exposed in the tracks at 1pm today. Anticipate a soft pole track.
We do not recommend skiing on the beach trails yet. Volunteer Groomers rolled them today to compact the snow but numerous rocks and plant stubble remain. Hopefully next Tuesday’s forecasted storm will do the trick here.
Do you snow dances, come ski, and become a member! (or renew...)
Friday Afternoon December 10th, 2021
Snow at last!!!!
Last night we got 10-12 “ of wet snow and this morning our volunteer groomers were out compacting and then grooming the road and East Creek for skate skiing - classic tracks will be coming soon. They report that coverage is actually good but be prepared for early season conditions w small rocks…. On that note ..until we get more snow in might be best to leave the pooches at home. Tomorrow we will work on compacting and hopefully grooming the beaches.
Do you snow dances, come ski, and become a member! (or renew...)