Winter sports are very popular with VC50 members including Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country/Nordic Skiing & Touring, Backcountry/AT Touring, Snowshoeing, Spiking and Fat-Tire Biking.
Members volunteer to be Day Leaders for different levels of the following events: Alpine Skiing, AT/Backcountry Nordic Ski Touring and Snowshoeing. A brief description of each sport follows.
PROSPECTIVE MEMBER
VC50 allows a non-member to participate in ONE "preview" day for any winter sport. After the "preview day", the non-member must join VC50 in order to continue participating.
A preview day can be requested by clicking the button to email your request -- include your name, sport you want to preview - skiing or snowshoeing or ski touring or uphill skin/spike, your ability level and date you'd like to participate. Preview Day Request
A VC50 leader will respond to your request.
Annual membership is only $100, so please consider joining by clicking on 'about us/membership' in the vertical menu at the top of the home page.
ALPINE SKIING
HELMET REQUIRED
Helmet is required -- no one will be allowed to ski with a VC50 group without a helmet. No advance sign-up is required. See Event Calendar for up-to-date meeting times and locations.
Ski levels are Double Black, Black, Blue/Black Anything Goes, Blue/Black Cruisers & Blue Cruisers. The number of groups depends on the number, interest, and abilities of participants.
SKI TOURING
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUTINGS
If gliding through quiet forests on fresh snow or heading into the backcountry for fresh downhill turns are activities you yearn for, the club's ski touring program has opportunities to do just that. Participants can look forward to exploring nearby areas, trails and jeep roads in the beautiful mountain environment of Summit, Lake and Eagle counties. Because there are inherent weather- and avalanche-related risks associated with Backcountry/AT Touring, a vote was taken in early 2025 to make VC50 Backcountry/AT events “Pop-Ups”, meaning they will be announced relatively close (most often, several days prior) to the date they occur.
SKI TOURING EQUIPMENT
There are different types of Ski Touring events that require different types of equipment. Each event description will discuss the appropriate equipment needed for that event.
See Ski Touring Equipment Guide for more information.
CROSS-COUNTRY/NORDIC SKI EVENTSDROP-IN CROSS-COUNTRY/NORDIC SKIING NO SIGN UP IS REQUIRED; JUST SHOW UP. Members are allowed to use Cross-Country/Nordic Skis, Spikes, Snowshoes or a Fat-Tire Bicycle on designated, groomed terrain (with intermittent signs demarcating the trail type). VC50 members can stay for lunch after sports.
BACKCOUNTRY/AT TOURING
Backcountry/AT Touring is a skiing & climbing activity most-often completed outside the boundaries (or times) of patrolled ski areas. It requires special ski equipment which includes climbing “skins” applied to the bottom of the skis as well as ski bindings that allow the heel to be free for uphill ascents and secured for downhill descents.
VC50 BACKCOUNTRY and OFF-HOUR ON-PISTE EVENTS
- POP-UP BACKCOUNTRY SKIING
Unlike in years past, following a membership vote, it was decided VC50 Backcountry/AT events for the 2025-2026 season will be scheduled as “Pop-Ups”. Leaders for the Pop-Up events are needed. If anyone is interested in leading a Pop-Up event, kindly reach out to the VC50 Ski-Touring Coordinator (Nicole Noyes). Unfortunately, due to this season’s inclement snow conditions, no VC50 BackcountryAT event will be scheduled before January 2026 and all scheduling threreafter will be snow- and avalanche-risk-dependent.
2. DROP-IN UPHILL OFF-HOUR ON-PISTE AT/SKINNING AND SKIING
The drop-in skinning events are NOT led. No sign-up is required and all skinners/skiers can go at their own pace. No pets are allowed on-piste. Remember, it’s can be cold in the early morning so layer up. Because of the unusually low snow accumulation this early season, please check to ensure the resort terrain is open.
In addition to the already-established uphill AT touring scheduled at Arrowhead, this year, Vail Club 50 is adding drop-in skinning/snowshoeing on Vail’s Main Mountain.
ALL ACCESS IS AT ONE’S OWN RISK—THERE IS NO PATROL, MAINTENANCE FOR RECREATIONAL USE, OR SERVICES. UNMARKED HAZARDS MAY BE ENCOUNTERED AT ANY TIME. FOLLOWING DESIGNATED ROUTES IS MANDATORY AND SLEDDING, BIKING AND DOGS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
UPHILL SKINning, spiking, or snowshoeing
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR OUTINGS
Go uphill on your gear of choice -- AT Skis, Snowshoes or Microspikes. We will have a designated route each Saturday morning. See events calendar for more details of meeting location and time.
SNOWSHOEING
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR OUTINGS
Get away from the crowds. Climb a steep snowy slope. Commune with nature. Admire the gorgeous views. Share the day with the VC50 snowshoers! Snowshoe events will be planned to accommodate three levels: Green, Blue and Black.