Craig Daily Press

Photo by Hans Hallgren

From left to right, Michael, Lisa, Grant and Abigale Wade begin their snowshoe trek around the trail Saturday located at the Yampa River State Park.

Craig — As 11-year-old Craig resident Nik Crossman stepped onto the frozen pond Saturday, he took little time to acquaint himself with ice before setting off at full speed.

That didn’t stop his grandmother, Sue Kull, from offering up tips.

“Swing your arms,” Kull instructed her grandson, “get your momentum going.”

Still, Crossman seemed a natural on his recently purchased black ice skates, something Kull picked up for him at a thrift store.

“I wanted him to experience it,” Kull said, “because that’s how I grew up, skating on ponds”

“It’s fun,” Crossman said, “It’s bumpier, but I only fell down once.”

The pond, located about 15 miles east of Craig at the Yampa River State Park, was open to the public Saturday as part of the park’s Third Annual Moonlight Ski, Skate and Open House, which began at 1 p.m. and ended at about 9 p.m.

Park manager Ron Del­lacroce estimated about 100 people showed up to skate, snowshoe or cross-country ski around the 1.2 mile trail that was kept groomed for the event, or just enjoy the park.

And as carloads of people of all ages trickled in throughout the day, it seemed as if that was just what they did.

The staff at the park kept a fire pit to keep guests warm, and located inside the visitor’s center was hot chocolate and apple cider.

Another park employee was offering up freshly grilled hot dogs, which Crossman enjoyed as he plunked down on a makeshift bench someone had carved out of a snowdrift, taking a break after some serious ice-skating action.

As the sun began to set, another group pulled into the parking lot and began to unload equipment.

“Anything we can do to let people know they ought to get out of the house and come play,” Dellacroce said, “to shake off those winter blues.”