December 3, 3008 (Crested Butte, Colorado) – With 13 inches of new snow this past weekend, winter sports have ramped up in the Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley. The Gunnison-Crested Butte Valley, located in southwest Colorado, is emerging as a Nordic skiing and snowshoeing hotspot. Groomed Nordic trails now number more than 95K, backcountry routes are plentiful, and a full calendar of events, tours and races offer opportunities to have fun and stay in shape.

Calendar of Events
– Dec. 4 – Learn to Skate Ski for Free! Clinic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Dec. 6 – Citizens’ Race – 10 km Classic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Dec. 12 – Moonlight Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
– Dec. 12 – Full Moon “Dessert at the Yurt” Ski & Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Dec. 13 – Citizens’ Race – 10 km Skate, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Dec. 20 – Citizens’ Race – 15 km Skiathlon, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Jan. 1 – Learn to Skate Ski for Free! Clinic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Jan. 10 – Citizens’ Race – 20 km Classic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Jan. 10 – Full Moon “Dessert at the Yurt” Ski & Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Jan. 10 – Moonlight Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
– Jan. 17 – Citizens’ Race – 20 km Skate, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Jan. 24 – Kenny Mac Ski Fest, Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area, Gunnison
– Jan 31 – 23rd Annual Alley Loop (1.5, 3, 5, 10, 21, 42 km), Starts on Elk Avenue
– Feb. 5 – Learn to Skate Ski for Free! Clinic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Feb. 9 – Moonlight Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Mountain Resort
– Feb. 9 – Full Moon “Dessert at the Yurt” Ski & Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– Feb. 14 – The 50 km Classic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– March 5 – Learn to Skate Ski for Free! Clinic, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– March 7 – Super Tour (22.5 km backcountry ski event), Crested Butte
– March 10 – Full Moon “Dessert at the Yurt” Ski & Snowshoe Tour, Crested Butte Nordic Center
– March 21 – Progressive Bonfire Dinner on skis or snowshoes, Crested Butte Town Ranch

The Crested Butte Nordic Center is a full-service cross-country ski center providing lessons and complete rental packages for skate and classical skiing, as well as ice skating, snowshoeing and sledding. The Nordic Center maintains more than 50 kilometers of groomed trails that meander around the outskirts Crested Butte and offers tours, races, events and ski programs (e.g., Master Skiers, Gray Hares and Junior Nordic Team).

Located in the heart of town at Second Street and Whiterock, the Nordic Center will open for the season from Nov. 22, 2008 – April 5, 2009, and is connected to Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area and various stops in Crested Butte by a free shuttle bus. For more information, call (970) 349-1707 or visit here.