WINTER SPORTS — The  Methow Valley Sport Trails Association is opening portions of its 120-mile groomed nordic trail system to bicycles this year.

 Skiers headed out on a few of the nationally celebrated nordic trails that had enough snow for grooming this week.

When more snow falls, several trails will be opened to “fat bike” enthusiasts who rely on mountain bikes with oversized low-pressure tires to keep from sinking into the snow and offer more traction.

See a promotional video for snow biking.

 “We are piloting fat biking with our eyes and ears wide open,” said James DeSalvo, MVSTA executive director. 

“We believe we can manage fat biking use so that it has no greater impact to our trail platform than that of our traditional skiing public,” he said, adding that feedback would guide the future of the program.

Also new this year on MVSTA trails:

• Youths 17 and younger ski free.
• A $5 daily pass is required for skiing with dogs on trails that are open for skijoring.

Fat bikes are available for rent at Methow Cycle and Sport in Winthrop.  Rack adaptors are available for customers so they can transport rental fat bikes to the riding area.

Fat bike demo days are scheduled in the Methow Valley Dec. 16 and Jan. 13.

Click here for info on these and other Methow Valley events.

Click here for the MVSTA grooming report.

Read on for the guidelines MVSTA has established for snow biking on the trail system:

Put away that garden seed catalog. Cross-country ski areas are enjoying the season’s best snow conditions.

Mount Spokane: New snow has accumulated every day this week with temperatures largely in the teens and 20s. XCers in most of the world would die for these conditions.

Tauber Angus Ranch: “We had 14 inches of new snow earlier this week and I’m wondering how to get word out to people that the skiing is fantastic,” said Cassie Tauber, operations manager of the working cattle ranch. Family members who love to ski groom miles of trails about 12 miles north of Sandpoint.

“Our trails are more gentle than a lot of areas, great for families, and we have a yurt,” she said.

Info: (208) 263-6400.

4th of July Pass: Enough snow has accumulated for gates to be closed, barring vehicles, and for groomers to pack miles of trails.

“I welcome a good late winter and early spring ski season, if only to make up for the deficit we suffered in December and most of January,” said Geoff Harvey, Panhandle Nordic Club.

Methow Valley: “So much snow, so much fun,” says the email from the Methow Valley Sports Trail Association. The area near Winthrop is bustling this weekend with a winter triathlon hot-air balloon festival.

NORDIC SKIING — If you have plans to visit the 120 miles of Methow Valley ski trails this season, check out this great Groupon deal:   Pay $25 for a three-day trails pass that normally costs $51.

TRAILS — For the first time in its 33 year history, the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association is hiring a new executive director to lead a group that's developed one of the nation's top cross-country and cycling trail systems and associated events and programs. 

The job is being vacated by Jay Lucas, who's ruddered the organization for three decades.

Based in Winthrop, the northcentral Washington group is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and promoting environmentally sound recreation on or near the trails in the Methow Valley. The MVSTA trail system includes more than 120 miles of cross country ski trails in the winter months, and is recognized as one of the finest trail systems in North America for nordic skiing, mountain biking, trail running and hiking. 

 Compensation: $45,000 to $60,000 with benefits.  Application deadline: July 15.

Read on for details.