Intent Anglers at San Cristobal Sat. Fishing Derby

On the heels of Lake City’s Ice Climb Festival earlier this month and last weekend’s spring-like BrewSki Stroll at Lake San Cristobal, winter recreation events continue this Saturday, February 15, with the annual Ice Fishing Derby benefiting Hinsdale County Search & Rescue, and next Saturday, February 22, with Darren Hardy carefully plotting out a 3.2-mile course for snowshoe racers on behalf of Lake City Area Medical Center.
Both the ice fishing derby and Cannibal Snowshoe Race will be held at Lake San Cristobal, while a third and final outdoor event, the annual Matt Milksi downhill ski race, March 1, will be held at Lake City Ski Hill.
Warmer than usual temperatures combined with scant snow conditions have proven a challenge thus far this winter for snow and ice-related events. Alpine Outfitters’ Seth and Aimee Withrow, who are again coordinating this weekend’s fishing derby at Lake San Cristobal, report favorable ice conditions at Lake San Cristobal with minimal snow and ice averaging 18 to 21” thick.
Conditions may change, however, with hoped-for snow accumulations from a storm scheduled to strike the San Juans later this week.
Charge for ice fishermen entering this year’s derby is once again $20 cash, proceeds benefiting Hinsdale S & R. Registration at the county boat dock begins 6:30 a.m. Saturday, with fishing starting 7:30 a.m. and continuing until cutoff and awards at 1 p.m.
Winter anglers hauling in the top three longest Lake Trout will choose from prizes including a fish finder, auger with drill, and a variety of fish huts.
The top prizes and a variety of other door prizes are the result of the generosity of a lengthy list of sponsors from individuals and businesses from throughout Lake City and the surrounding area.
Prizes which will be handed and tossed out to the exuberant fishermen include a vast array of fishing gear, rods, and tackle, coolers and, for the fashion conscious, hats and other warm fishing attire.
Food options at Saturday’s fish derby will include $15 for Tyler Crump’s delicious pulled pork sandwiches, complete with chips and drinks, with snowmobile delivery out onto the ice for the eager fishermen, or individually priced food items — hot burritos, and baked goods with complimentary hot cocoa and coffee, served up throughout the day as a fundraiser by members of the Lake City 4-H Troop.
Following is the list of Fish Derby sponsors as of Tuesday this week: Alpine Outfitters, Sport Fish Colorado, Wagner Family, Schultheis Excavation, Troy Golle with Alpine Lumber, San Juan Soda, Timberline, Piezans, Great Plains Land Company, Rooby Richardson, Lakeview Property Management, G&M cabins, Lake City Auto, Crystal Creek Properties: Kelsey Loftis, Sportsmans BBQ, Fullmers Ace Hardware, 38 North, Lark Fork Hunting and Fishing Club, Hall Realty, Gene Taylors, Kesler Custom Knives, Lake City Country Store, Cabin Fever Mercantile, Blue Spruce Lumber, Matterhorn Motel, Refuge Roasters Coffee, Rene’s Garage, Cowboy Steel, Packers Saloon, Deloach Vacation Homes, North Face Lodge, Sportsman’s Fly Shop, Melty’s Catering, Carson Custom Carpentry, Windy Point Trading, Jim and Joni Richeson, Tractor Supply Gunnison, Hinsdale Title Company, Rocky Top Vacation Home Rentals, Climb Elevated Eatery.

Coming up a week from Saturday, on February 22 — and again at Lake San Cristobal — is Cannibal Snowshoe Race sponsored by and in benefit of Lake City Area Medical Center.
Named in recognition of Lake City’s infamous cannibal, Al Packer, the event starts at the county boat dock and consists of two tracks for snowshoe or ski enthusiasts, one a 1K trek for families or young children and the other a 3.2-mile 5K track.
Race contestants are encouraged to dress up in favorite cannibal attire.

Kate Hopson has kindly provided a logo for this year’s Cannibal Snowshoe frolic which is emblazoned on a commemorative t-shirt. Early bird, pre-race cost for 5K snowshoers with commemorative t-shirt is $33.85 prior to February 16; $12.51 for 5K snowshoers for race only and not including t-shirt.
Registration for the 1K race route is $7.18 and does not include the t-shirt. T-shirt only, $28.52.
Sustenance at the snowshoe race is homemade chili and hot chocolate at the boat dock from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a donation booth manned by Lake City Community School students raising funds for the school’s next Washington, DC, excursion.
Both circuitous routes offer uphill challenges with the reward of outstanding views out and over the frozen lake surface. Also a challenge, according to Darren Hardy who has spent the past month preparing the race routes, is the day-to-day weather changes and melting snow.
For 1K snowshoe competitors, the route starts at the county boat dock and crosses the frozen lake surface to the east, then an uphill climb to the county road via Wupperman Campground campsites before returning back to the lake and boat dock.
More strenuous for snowshoers in the 3.2-mile, 5K snowshoe trek is a similar but longer route from the county boat dock, east and up hill through Wupperman Campground to the county road and then following the road to near the lake inlet bridge before abruptly circling back through Wupperman Campground, then back down hill and across the lake to finish line at the county boat dock.

As an example of changing weather conditions, Hardy says he has temporarily abandoned the old snowshoe race course, which departed from the county boat dock straight north through willows at the lake inlet. This old, northward course called for a streamlet crossing which — at least this winter — is now dried up and the resulting terrain impassable.
Even for the new eastward route through Wupperman Campground, snow — or lack of snow — challenges remain. Earlier this month, Hardy says he thought he had the new track finalized up and through Wupperman Campground to the county road covered by a comfortable 6”-deep layer of snow.
Finalizing the course on a Friday and returning the following day, February 2, Hardy says he was stunned to discover the layer of snow on the road completely disappeared and replaced by 50 yards of mud with patchy snow.
Despite the sudden and unusual appearance of February mud, Hardy has persevered and — depending on snow which is forecast between now and then — 5K snowshoers will continue to use a portion of the county road, perhaps dodging occasional mud bogs, on their snowshoe track.