Girdwood celebrates Solstice on the ski trails
Participants approach the main kiosk area from the trailhead parking lot. (Photo by Chase Berenson)
By Chase Berenson
TNews Staffwriter
Despite temperatures below 0oF, the 2025 Solstice Ski organized by the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club brought a large crowd of Girdwood residents out to the trail kiosk on the 5K trail loop. This annual celebration of the winter and of the return to the sun brings Girdwood residents out into the night to celebrate together.
To help battle the darkness of winter’s longest night, the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club installed over 2,500 lights along the 2K trail and the trail kiosk, which is the home of the party for the evening. At the epicenter of the Solstice gathering at the kiosk, participants found the bonfire plus hot chocolate and soup donated by The Bake Shop to keep everyone warm inside and out. This was also where the music was playing, and most participants were gathered to talk and spend time together commemorating the 5K trail network and celebrating the return of the sunlight that comes after Winter Solstice.
It wouldn’t be a Nordic Ski Club event without Nordic skiing, and most participants took some time to ski at least one lap of the lit trails. Prior to the event, twenty GSNC volunteers spent approximately a week getting the lights ready and positioned on the course. The hard work paid off, as the colorful and flashing lights augmented the experience. Some of the lights moved constantly around the top of the trees, illuminating the foliage and creating tricks of the eye with the stars of the clear night. Meanwhile other lights danced across the trail’s surface itself. Girdwood resident and event participant Amanda Tuttle described the last segment of trail as like, “skiing on Rainbow Road from Mario Kart” while passing through the multicolor, flashing lights.
The kiosk lit up in the holiday spirit. (Photo by Chase Berenson)
Deb Essex, the President of the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club, said that the Solstice Ski, “is definitely our biggest event” and is something they always look forward to. The event is free for participants, but even without a financial draw Essex says, “it is a benefit to the Club by celebrating where we live andcelebrating the only uplands winter trail loop in Glacier Valley.”
The trail was created due to low-snow years like this, and this year’s event reverberated with echoes of the trail’s first opening on December 21st, 2012. On opening day 13 years ago, the temperature was -10oF! That makes this year’s -3oF almost look warm in comparison. Due to the firmness of the trail surface this year’s event was opened to walkers and bikers, but please remember that all other days of the winter the 5K trails are limited to ski users only.
The exit trail form the kiosk back to the trailhead parking lot. (Photo by Chase Berenson)
Essex gives a huge thank you to the GNSC volunteers who put on the event as well as Brian and Isha Karl for The Bake Shop’s support. This annual event will continue to grow and shine, and next year’s participants can expect even more lights. She says,“We enjoy celebrating with Girdwood Nordic Ski Club members and the entire community.” Based on all the smiles seen at the event, it looks like the community enjoys celebrating with GNSC as well.
The illuminated 2K trail departing from the main kiosk. (Photo by Chase Berenson)