Search activities
Backcountry Nordic Skiing – State Forest State Park - American Lakes

Trip

Backcountry Nordic Skiing – State Forest State Park - American Lakes

This is optional Field Day #2 for the NoCo Group Backcountry Nordic Ski Workshop. You can register for the Workshop using the link in the below paragraph. .

Contacts

Steven Dielman
Steven Dielman
Primary Leader
  • Sat, Feb 1, 2025
  • Northern Colorado
  • Backcountry Nordic Skiing
  • Adults
  • Moderate
  • High Point Elevation: 11,000 ft

The meeting time and place will be communicated to participants a few days before the trip, but expect to meet in north Fort Collins about 7:00 am for the ~90 minute drive to the Trailhead.

*** Please only sign up for this Trip if you are registered for the NoCo Group Intro to Backcountry Skiing Workshop.  You can register for the Workshop using this link for the January 22, 2025 evening Classroom Session ***

This is the second of two optional Field Days associated with NoCo Group Intro to Backcountry Nordic Ski Workshop.  The destination is a placeholder, we will choose this or another route in the Cameron Pass area based on snow conditions and weather forecast for the day of the trip.

We will use the skills we practiced earlier in the Workshop to go on a BCN ski trip to a classic Northern Colorado winter destination.  Starting on an easy track, we will gradually enter more challenging terrain and climb into the American Lakes Basin with spectacular views of the surrounding Never Summer Mountains and Nokhu Crags.  

From this point we will have options to travel off-trail further up into the basin to ski terrain of varying difficulty, possibly breaking into groups based on experience level and interest. 

Route/Place

State Forest State Park

Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

We will be discussing BCN equipment in detail in the Jan 22, 2025 evening Classroom Session, including where to obtain reasonably-priced rental gear. 

In summary, participants need to bring:

- Wider nordic-style skis with metal edges and traction (eg 'fishscales');

- Ski bindings and boots to match, nnn-BC, 3-pin, or Xplore bindings are recommended.

- Ski poles with snow baskets

- Kicker skins (optional)

Trip Reports