MBNA is a non-profit organization supported by its members, other community contributors, and grants. We operate under a Challenge Cost Share Agreement with the U.S. Forest and are responsible for the grooming of the Nordic ski trails at the Happy Jack area. Tax deductible memberships and donations are vital for covering administrative costs such as insurance, mailings, and the website where we post information about trail conditions and events. They also help pay for grooming of the ski trails, which is done entirely by MBNA.
Why Donate to MBNA?
This short video from Our Wyoming offers a glimpse into what it takes to make that perfect corduroy.
This short video from Our Wyoming offers a glimpse into what it takes to make that perfect corduroy.
Skier Survey
Our "virtual" suggestion box is active! It is located in the warming hut. The QR code will take you to a Google form where you can leave thoughts, suggestions, or shoutouts for MBNA. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the trails!
Appreciation for our Members
A deep and humble thanks to all of you--our members and donors--for supporting MBNA. You play a huge role in our ability to groom and maintain the trails. Thank you!
...if you never managed to click that "Join or Donate" button, it's not too late to do so, it's right near the top of this page.
Our "virtual" suggestion box is active! It is located in the warming hut. The QR code will take you to a Google form where you can leave thoughts, suggestions, or shoutouts for MBNA. We look forward to seeing everyone out on the trails!
Appreciation for our Members
A deep and humble thanks to all of you--our members and donors--for supporting MBNA. You play a huge role in our ability to groom and maintain the trails. Thank you!
...if you never managed to click that "Join or Donate" button, it's not too late to do so, it's right near the top of this page.
LOOKOUT - COMING UP!
Happy 2025!!! ...That means Kids Ski School is less than 1 month away!
Please register and/or volunteer. Just like snow, the more, the merrier!
Please register and/or volunteer. Just like snow, the more, the merrier!
Hats for Sale at Laramie's Basecamp
Check out our new hats! You may have seen some Ski School volunteers or new Lifetime Members already wearing them out on the trails. Pick one up from Laramie's Basecamp for $40. All proceeds support trail grooming efforts.
Check out our new hats! You may have seen some Ski School volunteers or new Lifetime Members already wearing them out on the trails. Pick one up from Laramie's Basecamp for $40. All proceeds support trail grooming efforts.
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... IN RECENT NEWS
Teach for MBNA!
We have created an application process for those interested in teaching for MBNA. Please go to the "Teach for MBNA" page found under the "More" heading to learn more.
We have created an application process for those interested in teaching for MBNA. Please go to the "Teach for MBNA" page found under the "More" heading to learn more.
2024 Member Meeting and Potluck at the Historic Laramie Railroad Depot
We had a great time getting together this year! It was so lovely to see all of the familiar faces and celebrate skiing for how cool it really is. Thanks to all who attended and joined in the excitement for the start of 2024-2025 season. An election was held for four board seats, and the results are in! Thanks to everyone who voted in the board election. We truly value input from our members. It was a close race, and the following individual will continue to serve on the board:
Kristen Pritchett
Dan Brain
Trent McDonald
Bern Hinkley
Congratulations!
We sincerely thank our board members for their dedication to making the HJ Nordic dream happen.
Remember to do that snow dance!
2024 Annual Trail Day was a hit!
Thanks to all the volunteers who joined us for trail day on October 5th this year! We got a lot of ground in shape for an epic winter. You know what this means don’t you? Time to bust out those snow dancing skills!
Thanks to all the volunteers who joined us for trail day on October 5th this year! We got a lot of ground in shape for an epic winter. You know what this means don’t you? Time to bust out those snow dancing skills!
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2024 Fall Happy Hour was a great success!
Thanks to all who joined us for this fun event! It was great to see friends off the trails. We want to do a season kick-off in the fall and are currently thinking of fun places to host. Reach out with suggestions on how to make this a great event.
Thanks to all who joined us for this fun event! It was great to see friends off the trails. We want to do a season kick-off in the fall and are currently thinking of fun places to host. Reach out with suggestions on how to make this a great event.
Laramie Nordic Trails featured in Outside Magazine
Graham Averill's controversial article "The Most Affordable Mountain Town In the West" shouts out MBNA for making Nordic skiing accessible to the community. We want to thank our long time donors, members, partner organizations, and volunteer board that make these "free" trails possible. Additional thanks to our groomers for their hard work to keep the trails looking fresh all season.
Older News
Here is a graph of our final skier numbers for the season. Thanks to Bern Hinckley for providing the information!
2023 Member Meeting and Potluck
Wednesday, November 15th at 6:00pm | Lincoln Community Center, 365 West Grand Ave, Laramie, WY
We had a great time kicking off the new season! The turnout was almost as good as all the food. Thanks to all who attended and joined in the excitement for the start of 2023-2024 season.
Wednesday, November 15th at 6:00pm | Lincoln Community Center, 365 West Grand Ave, Laramie, WY
We had a great time kicking off the new season! The turnout was almost as good as all the food. Thanks to all who attended and joined in the excitement for the start of 2023-2024 season.
Annual Trail Day | Saturday, October 7th, 2023
Thanks to all the volunteers who joined us for trail day! Now it's time to start that snow dance...
Thanks to all the volunteers who joined us for trail day! Now it's time to start that snow dance...
2022-23: Thanks for another great season!
Thanks to mother nature and members like you we had a great ski season! We groomed 142 days, driving 4,128 miles and averaging 29 miles a day. The grooming season was 150 days long, from November 29 through April 28. During that period there were only 8 days without grooming and that was due to a lack of snow or closed roads. According to the trail counters, there were nearly 27,000 skier visits!
Below are a few additional numbers that help sum up our season:
The board would like to thank everyone who joined, donated, or volunteered! Additional thanks to our groomers, Randy and Dan, and to our coordinator and ski school director, Harper.
Lastly, a sincere thank you to our volunteer MBNA board members:
Kelly Steiner, President
Ken Cramer, Vice President
Van Jacobson, Treasurer
Danno Brain, Secretary
Larry Foianini
Bern Hinckley
Trent McDonald
Kristen Pritchett
Thanks to mother nature and members like you we had a great ski season! We groomed 142 days, driving 4,128 miles and averaging 29 miles a day. The grooming season was 150 days long, from November 29 through April 28. During that period there were only 8 days without grooming and that was due to a lack of snow or closed roads. According to the trail counters, there were nearly 27,000 skier visits!
Below are a few additional numbers that help sum up our season:
- 506 people joined as MBNA members
- 156 of which are Lifetime Members
- $12,000+ raised in donations and member dues
- 60 people volunteered at trail work day
- 50 people attended the annual meeting
- 27,000 skiers enjoyed the trails
- 7 races were held this season
- 65 children enrolled in Ski School
- 25 volunteers made Ski School possible
- 25-30 busloads of 5th graders got to ski, many skiing for their first time
- 50 people attended ski lessons or tours hosted by Ken, Carol, and Judi
The board would like to thank everyone who joined, donated, or volunteered! Additional thanks to our groomers, Randy and Dan, and to our coordinator and ski school director, Harper.
Lastly, a sincere thank you to our volunteer MBNA board members:
Kelly Steiner, President
Ken Cramer, Vice President
Van Jacobson, Treasurer
Danno Brain, Secretary
Larry Foianini
Bern Hinckley
Trent McDonald
Kristen Pritchett
