The first big snowfall of the season on November 12 left the trails of the Enchanted Forest Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Area a healthy blanket of snowcover which allowed the popular nordic ski area on BobCat Pass to open early. It's the 9th time in 12 years that EF has been open before Thanksgiving.
"It's great when we can open early," says John Miller, owner of the Enchanted Forest, "It gets people excited about skiing and really gets the season off to a great start!"
The Enchanted Forest is a full-service nordic ski area located 3.5 miles east of Red River, just below the summit of Bobcat Pass on Highway 38. There's a warming hut, a snack bar, outhouse facilities; lessons for beginners, intermediates, and skaters; touring, racing, skating ski rentals, child tow-sled rentals, snowshoe rentals; and signed, mapped, groomed, patrolled trails.
Enchanted Forest has over 30 kilometers of trails winding through 600 acres of forest from 9600 feet to 10,040 feet in elevation, which accounts for the excellent snow coverage all winter. With an average of 240 inches of snow a year, the EF conditions remain fairly constant due to the fact that the trees keep blowing snow to a minimum. Picnic tables are placed out on the trails and there are two shelters on the trails with benches
Grooming is performed daily and involves packing all trails to a 12 to 14 foot width, fluffing up the snow, laying a perfect set of parallel tracks on one side, and leaving the other side flat for the skating technique.
Over 5 kilometers of new trails have been opened this year, specifically for folks who enjoy the companionship of canines. Special Events
The EF has been the site of several NCAA regional and national cross country events, as well as the host for the Special Olympic Winter Games.
Monthly headlamp snowshoe tours are scheduled for Saturdays near the new moon. Skiers are taken on a short tour by headlamp when the snow sparkles like silver and the light is bright, but shadowy and full of magic. After the tour they are treated to homemade cookies and bread, hot drinks and lore in the warming hut.
Ladies' Snowshoe Thursdays were a huge hit last year and will continue in 2003-2004, so call for details.
It's aptly named "Just Desserts" (February 28, 2004) and is the Enchanted Forest's most popular event. "It's not a race, just a gorge fest" is how the event is billed, and what a way to go! Red River restaurants serve up their finest homemade desserts, which are presented out on the trail system. Skiers can ski to every site, or just park and feed at one. Stuff yourself on yummy stuff, then ski away the calories. What a deal!
Enchanted Forest is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through early April. For information on lessons and trail pass prices, call 1-800-966-9381 or go to Millers Crossing located on West Main Street in the Alpine Lodge complex.