Winter sports are very popular with VC50 members including Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country/Nordic Skiing & Touring, Backcountry/AT Touring, Snowshoeing, Spiking and Fat-Tire Biking.
Members volunteer to be Day Leaders for different levels of the following events: Alpine Skiing, AT/Backcountry Nordic Ski Touring and Snowshoeing. A brief description of each sport follows.
NON-MEMBER
VC50 allows a non-member to participate in ONE "preview" day for any winter sport. After the "preview day", the non-member must join VC50 in order to continue participating.
A preview day can be requested by clicking the button to email your request -- include your name, sport you want to preview - skiing or snowshoeing or ski touring or uphill skin/spike, your ability level and date you'd like to participate. Preview Day Request
A VC50 leader will respond to your request.
Annual membership is only $100, so please consider joining by clicking on 'about us/membership' in the vertical menu at the top of the home page.
Winter Sports Director
Steve Edelstein
steven.a.edelstein@gmail.com
ALPINE SKIING
HELMET REQUIRED
Helmet is required -- no one will be allowed to ski with a VC50 group without a helmet. No advance sign-up is required. See Event Calendar for up-to-date meeting times and locations.
Beaver Creek Lead Coordinator: Michele Rae michele.rae@att.net
Ski levels are Double Black, Black, Blue/Black Anything Goes, Blue/Black Cruisers & Blue Cruisers. The number of groups depends on the number, interest, and abilities of participants.
DAYS WE SKI
Monday at Beaver Creek/Arrowhead - Meet at 9:00 am. Before January 5, meet outside the Powder 8 restaurant near the Centennial Lift. Starting January 8, meet at the Broken Arrow restaurant in Arrowhead.
Tuesday and Thursday at Vail - Meet at 9:15 am or 10:45 am (Latte group) at Look Ma Restaurant
HOW WE ORGANIZE
Mondays At Beaver Creek:
Groups ski at Beaver Creek on Mondays. The ski levels at Beaver Creek are Black/Double Black (with bumps and trees), Black/Blue Anything Goes, Black/Blue Cruisers, and Blue Cruisers. Parking is free at Arrowhead, but it fills up quickly so skiers are encouraged to arrive early.
Tuesdays/Thursdays at Vail
Members meet in the morning at Mid Vail. Members self-select into ski level: Double Black, Black, Blue/Black Anything Goes, and Blue/Black Cruisers. The volunteer leader of the respective level announces her/his plan for the day and asks for a volunteer to be the sweep. Each group then proceeds to don their gear and meets at the designated lift. See details for meeting place and start times on the Tuesday/Thursday event page for Alpine Skiing each week.
SKI TOURING
Coordinator: Nicole Noyes nnoyes01@gmail.com
SIGN-UP & DAYS WE SKI
Advanced sign-up is required for all "off-resort" events. Off-resort events will most often be scheduled on Mondays and Fridays and most all Backcountry/AT events will be scheduled as Pop-Ups and may occur any day of the week as they will be weather and avalanche-risk dependent. Each event description will include the type of gear necessary and/or is appropriate for that particular event. Members can click on the Event Calendar to sign-up.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUTINGS
If gliding through quiet forests on fresh snow or heading into the backcountry for fresh downhill turns are activities you yearn for, the club's ski touring program has opportunities to do just that. Participants can look forward to exploring nearby areas, trails and jeep roads in the beautiful mountain environment of Summit, Lake and Eagle counties. Because there are inherent weather- and avalanche-related risks associated with Backcountry/AT Touring, a vote was taken in early 2025 to make VC50 Backcountry/AT events “Pop-Ups”, meaning they will be announced relatively close (most often, several days prior) to the date they occur.
SKI TOURING EQUIPMENT
There are different types of Ski Touring events that require different types of equipment. Each event description will discuss the appropriate equipment needed for that event.
See Ski Touring Equipment Guide for more information.
CROSS-COUNTRY/NORDIC SKI EVENTS
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DROP-IN CROSS-COUNTRY/NORDIC SKIING will occur weekly on Sundays at 11:30 am at the Vail Nordic Center beginning January 11, 2026 (conditions permitting). NO SIGN UP IS REQUIRED; JUST SHOW UP. Members are allowed to use Cross-Country/Nordic Skis, Spikes, Snowshoes or a Fat-Tire Bicycle on designated, groomed terrain (with intermittent signs demarcating the trail type). VC50 members can stay for lunch after sports at the Grill on the Gore located within the Vail Nordic Center which offers a daily $17 Bottomless Soup and Chili Buffet with Cornbread from 11 AM to 3 PM. A Day or Season's Pass is required to use the groomed trails and if staying for lunch, payment for the buffet is required. The Vail Nordic Center has equipment rentals available.
Information about the Vail Nordic Center can be found on the vailnordiccenter.com website. It is Itocated on the Vail Golf Course and has extensive cross-country and snowshoe trails including 17 kilometers of ski terrain and 10 kilometers of snowshoe/spike terrain. The Vail Nordic Center is literally a one-stop shop for all of your Nordic activity needs. Rentals and lessons are available for public, private, and group purposes, as well as a retail shop for all your gear and clothing needs. Note: Dogs are allowed to run with you on the snowshoe/spike, but not on the Cross-Country/Nordic trails for an additional fee!
Day Passes for 2025-2026 currently cost $29. A Season’s Pass is $199 (and for Vail Proper residents: $145). (Special offer: With retained receipts, the cost of two day passes can be applied toward the same year’s season’s pass. There are no “Senior” discounts available.) You must have a PASS to use the trails.
As of December 16, the Vail Nordic Center trails are open and groomed. Among other scheduled clinics and lesson offerings, this season, the center is offering a new series of 90-minute Women’s-Only Clinics held on alternate Wednesdays at noon and starting on January 7. The cost for each clinic session is $109 and includes rentals (Note: a Day or Season’s Pass will be required.) Please see the vailnordiccenter.com website for more details.
www.vailnordiccenter.com
1778 Vail Valley Dr
Vail, CO 81657
(970) 476-8366
Directions to the Vail Nordic Center
The Vail Nordic Center is located at 1778 Vail Valley Drive in Vail, CO. To get there, take the main Vail exit (#176) and then head east on South Frontage Road. Go 1 mile and turn right onto Vail Valley Drive. Travel ~1/2 mile on Vail Valley Drive until reaching the parking lot for the golf course clubhouse. Parking is free for those using the trails.
Location Details: The Vail Nordic Center is on northwest corner of the Vail Golf clubhouse and changing rooms are available to gear up. There are restrooms as well. VC50 members will gather outside on the north side of the building adjacent to the large trail map sign.
Equipment Required: Cross-Country/Nordic gear (skis, poles, boots) OR Snowshoe/Yaktrax gear (waterproof boots, snowshoes/shoe traction, poles) OR Fat Tire gear (bike, mandatory helmet). Please be familiar with your equipment as all equipment is different. Don't hesitate to ask for assistance with your equipment in the retail store located at the Vail Nordic Center. They are very helpful.
Additional Equipment: It is suggested you bring 1) a backpack with room for layers being taken off once warming up, 2) hydration, 3) gloves & hat and, 4) goggles/sunglasses. Conditions can vary so dress appropriately.
Special Instructions: Parking is free. a Pass is required. Bring money or a credit card for lunch (if you are staying). Remeber: this is NOT a led event but rather a Drop-In. As spring arrives and the days get warmer, please call the Nordic Center in advance of your plan to ensure the Nordic Center is open.
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Scheduled Off-Resort Nordic events will be posted as they are scheduled. Due to the current inclement snow conditions, no off-site Nordic events will be scheduled in December.
BACKCOUNTRY/AT TOURING
Backcountry/AT Touring is a skiing & climbing activity most-often completed outside the boundaries (or times) of patrolled ski areas. It requires special ski equipment which includes climbing “skins” applied to the bottom of the skis as well as ski bindings that allow the heel to be free for uphill ascents and secured for downhill descents. Backcountry/AT skiing has inherent added risk associated with being completed off-resortand in areas where snow avalance can occur. It, thus, requires education and added precautions related to maneuvering ungroomed and/or backcountry terrain and avalanche safety. Prior to signing up for a backcountry event, it is important to become familiarized with both avalanche risk and safety, and when requested, to bring and wear avalanche safety equipment. REI has several helpful backcountry-ski-skill articles available on their website including those involving avalanche safety, among others. It is recommended that articles such as these are reviewed prior to attempting a VC50 or any other backcountry activity. Backcountry skiing is done at one’s own risk and the VC50 Liability Waiver MUST BE SIGNED AND TURNED IN prior to partaking in one of these events. The REI articles are located online at: https://www.rei.com/learn/c/backcountry-skiing/t/skills
VC50 BACKCOUNTRY and OFF-HOUR ON-PISTE EVENTS
- POP-UP BACKCOUNTRY SKIING
Unlike in years past, following a membership vote, it was decided VC50 Backcountry/AT events for the 2025-2026 season will be scheduled as “Pop-Ups”. Leaders for the Pop-Up events are needed. If anyone is interested in leading a Pop-Up event, kindly reach out to the VC50 Ski-Touring Coordinator (Nicole Noyes). Unfortunately, due to this season’s inclement snow conditions, no VC50 BackcountryAT event will be scheduled before January 2026 and all scheduling threreafter will be snow- and avalanche-risk-dependent.
2. DROP-IN UPHILL OFF-HOUR ON-PISTE AT/SKINNING AND SKIING - Wednesday Mornings
The drop-in skinning events are NOT led. No sign-up is required and all skinners/skiers can go at their own pace. No pets are allowed on-piste. Remember, it’s can be cold in the early morning so layer up. Because of the unusually low snow accumulation this early season, please check to ensure the resort terrain is open.
As of December 23, 2025, uphill access on-piste is very limited. The meeting location is dependent upon the UPHILL TRAIL HOTLINE which updates daily after 4pm. It is important that one calls the Hotline the day before (after 4 PM) when planning to attend a Skinning Drop-In event at 970-754-5907.
In addition to the already-established uphill AT touring scheduled at Arrowhead, this year, Vail Club 50 is adding drop-in skinning/snowshoeing on Vail’s Main Mountain. Unfortunately, as of December 23, Arrowhead does not have enough snow for uphill activity while Vail’s main mountain is allowing AT/snowshoe access on several trails. The main access trail is Bear Tree and some of the trails in mid-Vail are also currently available for uphill activities (e.g., Ramshorn and Swingsville). Vail Club-50’s Main Mountain Drop-In group will meet at the base of Gondi One at 7 AM and depart up the hill at 7:10 AM beginning December 31, 2025. All skinners/skiers/snowshoers can go at their own pace, being aware that they must be off the mountain terrain 15 minutes before normal lift operation (currently lifts open at 9 AM with a future lift opening moving to 8:30 AM as the season progresses).
- For Vail Main Mountain uphill AT/Snoeshoing: Bottom of Gondi One > Bear Tree > if wanting to go higher: to mid-Vail > Swingsville or Ramshorn > back down Bear Tree
- For the Arrowhead (and alternative location, Beaver Creek) uphill drop-in:
- IF ARROWHEAD IS OPEN, the meeting place is at the base of Arrow Bahn Chairlift in Arrowhead
- IF ARROWHEAD IS CLOSED, the meeting place is at the base of Centennial Chairlift at Beaver Creek
Members will head uphill promptly at 7:10 AM, so members need to show up a few minutes early to gear up.
There are Traditional Designated Routes (subject to change): Please call the Uphill Hotline as it is updated daily for designated travel routes. 970-754-5907. The Designated Routes are:
- IF ARROWHEAD IS OPEN: Bottom of Arrow Bahn Express Lift #17 > Little Brave > Top of Arrow Bahn Express Lift #17
- IF ARROWHEAD IS CLOSED: Meet at the bottom of Beaver Creek Centennial Lift > Gold Dust > Spruce Saddle
Parking Details: Arrowhead parking lot is free; however, Beaver Creek and the Vail public parking facilities charge a fee.
Special Instructions: We are unable to update the VC50 website each week the night before so it is imperative that you call the Uphill Hotline as it is updated at 4pm for the daily designated travel routes. The Uphill Hotline phone number is: 970-754-5907. Depending upon whether we are skinning at Arrowhead (parking is free) or Beaver Creek (parking has a fee), a ski pass NOT required as it before resort open hours. Note: This is NOT a led but rather a Drop-In event.
VC50 members must abide by BEAVER CREEK/ARROWHEAD Uphill regulations which are subject to change:
ALL ACCESS IS AT ONE’S OWN RISK—THERE IS NO PATROL, MAINTENANCE FOR RECREATIONAL USE, OR SERVICES. UNMARKED HAZARDS MAY BE ENCOUNTERED AT ANY TIME. FOLLOWING DESIGNATED ROUTES IS MANDATORY AND SLEDDING, BIKING AND DOGS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
UPHILL SKINning, spiking, or snowshoeing
Coordinators: Ed jkjpennella@yahoo.com and Kate klpennella@yahoo.com Pennella and Lauren Marone lauren.morone@gmail.com
DAYS WE GO
A Saturday early morning exhilarating workout! No advance sign-up required.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR OUTINGS
Go uphill on your gear of choice -- AT Skis, Snowshoes or Microspikes. We will have a designated route each Saturday morning. See events calendar for more details of meeting location and time.
SNOWSHOEING
Lead Coordinators: Jenny jmmartenson@hotmail.com and Roger rmartenson@hotmail.com Martenson
Assistant Coordinators: Barb Dobrot Bdobrot@aol.com (Green Level), Tim Walters tw10e6@gmail.com (Blue Level) and Joanna Hankins tonyandjo@comcast.net (Black Level)
DAYS WE “SHOE”
Wednesday & Saturday. Advance sign-up required for each trip. Click on the Event Calendar button to sign-up.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR OUTINGS
Get away from the crowds. Climb a steep snowy slope. Commune with nature. Admire the gorgeous views. Share the day with the VC50 snowshoers! Snowshoe events will be planned to accommodate three levels: Green, Blue and Black.