Winters are longer and colder in Montana than in most of the lower forty-eight, so making the most of the brisk air is less of an option and more of a necessity. Thankfully, there are many options to recreate outdoors during the chilliest time of the year. Alpine skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling, and skijoring -- being pulled on skis by a horse or canine -- are just a few of the outdoor activities families participate in to enjoy the longer colder months of December, January and February. However, Nordic skiing -- or cross country, as many call it -- has maintained its popularity over the years, as athletes and casual adventurers pursue the groomed trails and untracked roads of this beautiful state.
What makes Nordic skiing so attractive is its ease on the body -- it is also an amazing physical activity -- and the pocket book, with forest roads, snowy glades and adorable hidden cabin destinations as some of its venues. Whether one skis classic or skate, trail systems across the state provide opportunities for casual and competitive skiing to keep the winters active and enchanting. Frost-covered trees and snow globe horizons make the sport one of the most beautiful and serene for winter days.
The wide variety of Nordic trail systems in Montana provide an opportunity for outdoor adventure for any athletic ability. For the occasional cross-country skier, there are groomed classic trails with warming huts and hot cocoa at the end of the journey. For the more advanced skier, there are coveted skate tracks and races in which to participate. Many trail systems, such as those at Seeley Lake in the Seeley Swan Range provide races for those enthusiasts training for events or who are simply curious about the sport of Nordic skiing. Such events draw community members together in a fun and active environment to enjoy the splendor of snow, something locals look forward to all year round.
Nordic skiers from around the world come to West Yellowstone, MT, every year to get first tracks on the Rendezvous Ski Trails and to participate in fall training camps in order to prepare for a full season of classic and skate ski racing. A skier can take unwaxed skis into Freeheel and Wheel for an expert wax or learn how to do it hands-on by one of the friendly coaches during the Yellowstone Ski Festival, taking place annually during Thanksgiving week.
Winter in West Yellowstone, MT, comes early. For example, one can expect a full blanket of snow around Halloween. The joke is that there are two seasons in West Yellowstone: winter and July. With nearly six months of snow per annum, the joke seems to be true. Fortunately for the cross-country skier, there are fifty kilometers of expertly-groomed Nordic trails moments away from the town’s center at The Rendezvous Ski Trails. Skiers come to what are heralded as some of the country’s best trails for the “first tracks” one can ski in preparation for winter races as a competitive skier. Annual races for youth ski teams, adults, adaptive athletes and children provide opportunity for the testing of one’s athletic performance, as the trails are not only challenging, but they are also at an altitude of 6,800 feet.
Beyond racing and performing, the Rendezvous Ski Trails also offer community events to draw awareness to the sport of Nordic skiing, something of which more trail systems are participating in to attract new enthusiasts to the sport. Events such as the Taste of the Trails, which offers five kilometers of skiing fun for families and friends, feeds participants along the way for a small fee. The sun shines upon the trails enhancing the sparkle of late winter snow, and smiling faces of children and older skiers alike makes the day both memorable and enjoyable.
Although trail systems offer pleasant adventures and challenging conditions, Nordic skiers don’t need to stick to the trails to enjoy skiing in Montana. If deep, untracked powder brings a person joy, one can travel into the wilderness at Bighorn or Fawn Pass inside Yellowstone National Park. Seasoned skiers set tracks for others to follow, and one can find herself in a veritable paradise with nothing but the sound of her breath and the swish of her skis to keep her company. The cold air on one’s cheeks makes a person feel absolutely alive, and the stunning mountains of the Gallatin Range captivate the eye.
If a trip into Yellowstone National Park seems out of reach, there is also Glacier National Park to the north, where Izaak Walton Inn rents cabins leading to thirty kilometers of Nordic skiing fun. However, national parks are not the only destination for the curious cross-country skier. Some towns have trails just out the door, which suits the college student on foot. In fact, there are fourteen destinations nestled around the state in towns such as Big Sky, Bozeman, Anaconda, Helena and Red Lodge. The college town of Missoula is surrounded by Nordic trails such as in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area, Pattee Canyon, the Lubrecht Experimental Forest, and the not-so-distant venues of Seeley Lake and Lolo Pass, at the Idaho-Montana state border. Even the University of Montana Golf Course is groomed for skate and classic skiing when there is enough snow. Local clubs such as the Missoula Nordic Ski Club use member fees to keep trails in the best shape for families and individuals who want to explore on a chilly day.
One of the most charming aspects of cross- country skiing in Montana is the small and cozy welcome cabin or warming hut awaiting a skier at the end or beginning of a journey. One pleasant spot is centered at the Chief Joseph Trail System, which sits at the western Montana border forty miles south of Hamilton. Skiers can sign up to be stewards of the cabin and ensure the duties of stoking the fire and keeping hot cocoa ready are taken care of for the frosty noses of skiers. In some parts of the state, skiers can rent forest service cabins for the night and ski into them with their kids and supplies in tow. Regardless of one’s ability level, cross-country skiing provides a sense of community and outdoor adventure that makes one truly appreciate the wilderness of the state of Montana and the efforts individuals and groups go to in order to maintain these beautiful spaces.
About the author:
Jen Olson grew up in Missoula, MT, and did not stray very far from her roots. Her family raised her camping, fishing, and cross-country skiing, thus the outdoors is truly her home. Jen didn’t really find her true passion for cross-country skiing until she moved to West Yellowstone for several years. The long winters taught her to embrace the cold and the adventure of skiing the Rendezvous Ski Trails nearly every afternoon after teaching. She now teaches art in Missoula and looks forward to every inch of snow Mother Nature sends her way.