Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Hillcrest to reopen for Nordic

Joe Brewer, left, and Jay Ciotti made it out to Hillcrest Golf Club on Tuesday afternoon after it reopened for cross country skiing.

Golf season, take a seat again. Winter is back up and about.

Hillcrest Golf Club has regroomed the course for cross country skiing and reopened around noon Tuesday. About 1½ feet of new snow that fell Sunday and Monday put a nice thick layer over the fairways and greens.

Golfers played Friday and Saturday at Hillcrest, and last week, club officials were planning for a long season of golf. But with a chance of snow forecast from Thursday night through Sunday, and high temperatures of 40 and 41, golf could be a ways away.

“At least for the short term,” Hillcrest course superintendent Ken Kirby said Tuesday in a phone message. “We’ll see how long.”

Kirby said rules for Hillcrest skiers still apply: Stay on the prepared track and no dogs allowed. Both parking lots are open.

Meanwhile, the Nordic Center at Purgatory, a week after apparently closing for the season, will be back in business Wednesday. Nordic Center manager Helen Low said last week that it would take at least a foot of snow to reopen; she didn’t hold much hope that actually would happen. But, prayer answered.

“We have received a couple of feet of new snow at the Nordic Center so are delighted to be able to reopen our trails to the public,” Low said in an email Monday night.

Also, the Vallecito Nordic area has reopened after receiving about 2 feet of snow from the storm, according to its website.

“I am happy to report that we are back in business,” the Vallecito Nordic Ski Club website said Tuesday.

The U.S. Forest Service road is groomed for classic and skate skiing from the trailhead to Graham Creek, according to the website. The remainder of the road and East Creek were scheduled to be groomed Tuesday.

johnp@durangoherald.com

Feb 23, 2015
Great melt offers brief respite


Reader Comments