It looks like the Nordic ski season on the Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone, Montana is finally coming to an end. Groomer Doug Edgerton of Yellowstone Track Systems declared an end to the long grooming season that started on November 5, 2005 saying “I think 180 days of groomed skiing is enough!â€
West Yellowstone is known for its early season snow and is often one of the first Nordic ski area in North America to start grooming its trails. During the winter of 2005-2006, West Yellowstone received new snow almost daily and cold temperatures through the early weeks of spring have kept the snow from melting away. “I guess all good things must endâ€, said Jamie Greene, Program Director for the local Ski Education Foundation, “but that’s OK. If all goes well, we’ll be grooming again in another 180 days.â€
Even so, its hard to quit. After announcing the final grooming of the year on May 2, Doug announced on May 3 that he would groom one more time for the coming weekend.
West Yellowstone’s annual Yellowstone Ski Festival — the unofficial start of the Nordic ski season in the lower 48 states — is scheduled to take place November 21 — 25, 2006. For more information, visit www.yellowstoneskifestival.com .
