It’s rare that downvalley scores more snow than Aspen, so when it happens you gotta go with the snow.<\/p>\n
For me, that meant reviving a tradition of skiing at Spring Gulch on Christmas morning. The 21-kilometer Nordic trail system outside of Carbondale suffered through a tough winter in 2017-18. I only went there once or twice. I recall picking my way through the brown, knee high grass in the bottom meadow.<\/p>\n
What a difference this year. In addition to good early season snow, parts of the lower valley picked up six inches of snow or more Monday and Tuesday nights.<\/p>\n
Aspenweather.net meteorologist Cory Gates wrote online Wednesday that downvalley typically scores better than Aspen when there is a southwestern flow.<\/p>\n
That’s meant incredibly soft snow at Spring Gulch. The grooming was immaculate on Christmas. There’s a nice base and very few thin spots that I saw. The groomers have set both classic tracks and skate tracks.<\/p>\n
But the Spring Gulch experience goes way past the grooming. Whenever you’re on a trail looking toward the south, Mount Sopris as well as other high peaks towering over the Crystal River Valley loom large in the view. While you might encounter a small crowd at the parking area, you usually feel like you have the trails to yourself.<\/p>\n
The best thing is, you don’t have to be a poser. Anybody is welcome to ski Spring Gulch as they are (just leave your pooch at home). You see fast skate skiers decked out in tight-fitting clothing and dudes in blue jeans plodding along the classic tracks. You see families, small batches of friends and individuals seeking the solitude.<\/p>\n
I am way overdue for an equipment upgrade. I’ve got a pair of Fischer classic skis that I bought during a demo sale at Bristlecone Mountain Sports in the early 2000s. My boots are archaic. The Nike sweat pants that I use for cross-country skiing and skinning are torn and frayed. Nonetheless, I never feel out of place at Spring Gulch. Simply said, the place soothes my soul.<\/p>\n
Just a quick plug \u2014 the Mount Sopris Nordic Council operates Spring Gulch in partnership with private landowners. The council depends on contributions for grooming and other maintenance rather than a user fee. Keep Spring Gulch viable with a contribution.<\/p>\n