Several Colorado cross-country resorts launched grooming operations in the wake of recent storms and bountiful snow accumulations.
Telluride Nordic Association reported rolling and packing track at Trout Lake.
“Excellent early season conditions exist,” an email from TNA stated on Thursday. “A friendly reminder to anyone headed up to the top of Lizard Head Pass, please park diagonally to maximize space.”
Conditions can be found on Nordic Pulse and the Telluride Nordic website. The Telluride Nordic Center will open for the season on Nov. 25.
Meanwhile, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club skiers have been getting in Ks on snow on Rabbit Ears Pass.
According to Nordic Pulse, Bruce’s Trail was groomed on Friday at 10:13 a.m.
In Aspen, four inches of snow sat on the Moore ball fields on Wednesday morning.
“We rolled trails on upper and lower ball fields,” the Aspen Snowmass Nordic Trail website posted. “Early season conditions with exposed grass in spots, ski with caution and rock skis. Have fun!!”
Grand Mesa received 14 inches of snow on Wednesday.
“Our groomers are up snowmobile packing the trails,” the Grand Mesa Nordic Council posted on its Facebook page. The trails should be in excellent shape for the Nov. 15 opening day. The GMNC is hosting a kick-off party in Grand Junction this Sunday.
Over in Summit County, the Breckenridge Nordic Center is open for skiing, snowshoeing, and the annual Nordic ski swap as of Friday.
The ski swap runs from Nov. 8 through Nov. 17, with 20% of all proceeds going to the youth Nordic programs in Summit County. There’s also 20-70% off select new gear and experts are on hand for fitting. Breckenridge Nordic Center is also offering free binding installation on all new skis and 20% off waxing with purchase.
If there was an award for the best-looking early-season conditions, Crested Butte is probably the winner. Check out the conditions on Lily Lake:
“Kevin laid classic track on the meadows. The big hill is in great shape,” a post on Crested Butte Nordic’s Facebook page stated. “The driving up Kebler (Pass) is good in the morning and soupy after mid day. Remember not to park on the road and have fun!”
Meanwhile, in Leadville, the snow has been falling since the wee hours of the morning. The driveway at Seder-Skier.com headquarters was shoveled, pointlessly, at 8 a.m. The 7th Street Mining District trails have pretty good car grooming for classic skiing, double-poling, and maybe even skate skiing — if you don’t mind the sensation of crossing the wake halfway through every glide phase.
We’ll take what we can get!
Midwesterners – don’t worry, this November is supposed to be colder and snowier than normal for you, too…at least that’s what OpenSnow said.
….and for one more photo, here’s what the summit of Pikes Peak looks like at Friday at 3:56 p.m.:
Seder-Skier.com 
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