Cross Country Skiing at The Raven Golf Course in Silverthorne
Sometimes it seems like, in the winter especially, everything is SO expensive in Summit County! Well, I’m here to tell you that there are plenty of free things to do if you know where to go.
The other day I was chatting with my neighbor about how I loved to cross country ski and he asked, “Have you tried the golf course in Silverthorne yet? I heard that they were grooming it for skiing.” It happens to be right down the street from Target, and I needed to make a Target run anyway, so I decided to check it out.
I had no idea where to start so I decided to drive to the golf course and hopefully it would be obvious. At first, I didn’t see any signs. But luckily, I spotted two skiers heading back to their car and they gave me the run down. There are two different areas; the North Course and the South Course. The South Course starts across the street and is flatter whereas the North Course was hillier and a little more advanced. Since I was closer to the North Course, I decided to go for it.
You are not allowed to bring your dog which was a bummer. Also, there are no rentals there; so, you have to bring your own skis. Snow shoeing is also permitted but you are not allowed to walk (AKA no Yak Tracks or micro spikes allowed).
I have to say that the first big downhill terrified me to the point that I almost took my skis off (I am a total wimp about getting hurt). But I made it without falling. WIN! The skiers I met were right, there was a good bit of up and down but nothing that the average cross country skier can’t handle.
The signs are not great and I made a few wrong turns. But it is easy to get yourself going in the right direction as you are sandwiched between two mountain ranges.
The view was gorgeous despite a couple of areas where you can see/hear the Highway 6 traffic. All in all, it was a great time and I appreciated the golf course grooming the trail so it was easy to slide. They even had those parallel indentations that I usually only see at Nordic Centers where you have to pay a fee.
Here are my takeaways:
PROS: great views, very few people around, nicely groomed, tons of parking, easy to know where you are, close to major hotels in Silverthorne and Frisco
CONS: no dogs (sorry Roxy!), trails are not well marked, you can see highway traffic in some spots.
I would like to go again and try out the South Course but the no dog rule is a bummer as cross country skiing is a mommy/doggy thing for me. I can’t take those sad puppy dog eyes again Hopefully, they will change that rule next year!
Park in our secret parking spot.
said my husband.
It turns out tdhat our secret spot was not so secret after all. We managed to get the last empty parking space. Not surprising as 30,000 people ascend on our little town for snow sculpture weekend.
The idea of turning blocks of snow into giant art began in the 70’s when a couple of Realtors created art out of snow blocks on Main street during the Ullr Festival. In 1991, the Snow Sculpture Championships became an International Competition. People say that because of the dry cold weather here in Breckenridge, we have one of the best Snow Sculpture Competitions in the world.
It starts with our world-class snowmakers from Breckenridge Ski Resort who pump out ultra-pure snow to use for the molds. Unlike the dry snow that skiers love, the sculpting snow needs to be slightly wetter and heavier, so it stays compact. It takes 5 nights of snowmaking to create enough snow for the 12 blocks. Then the snow is loaded into dump trucks and poured into giant 12-foot-high molds. Lastly, some brave locals get on top of the giant snow squares and stomp them down until they are perfect for carving.
This year’s Competition featured 12 teams representing 8 countries. I had stopped by during the last day of the carving and was amazed at the focus and intensity that these teams from Finland to Wisconsin were putting in, despite the fridged temperatures.
Please don’t call these ice sculptures. That is an entirely different thing. Where ice sculptures are created with electric saws, these artists use only hand tools and work with incredible precision to create the most detailed and intricate works of art you have ever seen made from snow. They carefully chip away around the clock for 5 days (94 hours) to transform a parking lot into an outdoor museum.
As we made our way through town toward the snow sculptures, snow was falling lightly and the park in the middle of town was lit up like it was still Christmas. Town reminded me of a Hallmark movie (I may have indulged a little too much during Christmas!).
Rounding the corner from the Riverwalk, you can see the lights before you see the sculptures. I had a slight tinge of sadness that like the snow on the ground, these amazing works of art are just temporary and will be gone in a few days.
If you are looking to take photos, it’s best to go during the day. But at night, the town lights up the artwork in a spectacular array of colors. Don’t worry about the cold. There are plenty of restaurants open within walking distance for a coffee or libation. Try The Blue Stag or Downstairs at Eric’s for a unique Breckenridge experience.
Want to see how they are made? Watch this video from gobreck.com