We've had an extended period of very mild weather. Looking ahead in the long range forecast, it doesn't look like there is a significant snowfall headed our way, so it appears our ski season has come to an end.
It was a good year, skiing-wise. We had 77 days of skiable conditions, which is 3 more than last year. The number of people who came out to enjoy the trails was certainly much higher than a year ago.
I want to thank those of you who made donations toward the upkeep of the trails. My operating costs for the groomer were about $500 ($300 for fuel and $200 for maintenance). I am going to spend about $400 on new signage for next year. Any donation money left over after these expenses are paid will be given to the Bruce Trail Conservancy to acquire more land to expand and improve the Trail.
Plans for next season include:
- more aggressive pruning and limbing of spruce and pine trees to allow snow to penetrate through the canopy to the trail surface;
- widening of one very narrow spot in the spruce plantation on trail #23 (this has already been done);
- some levelling of trail sections where there is a cross-slope on the trail;
- improved signage to keep walkers off the ski trails.
I am also going to explore possibilities with one additional landowner to see if we might be able to have a new trail that would enable skiers to avoid one of the most difficult hills in the southern part of the trail network. This is a "long shot", but if successful, it would make the trails much more accessible to beginner level skiers.
PLEASE NOTE: ONCE THE SKI TRAILS AND SNOWSHOW TRAIL ARE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON, THEY ARE CLOSED TO ALL USERS. THESE TRAILS ARE NOT OPEN FOR WALKING IN THE SUMMER.
I will begin taking down ski trail signage, as time permits, over the next couple of weeks.
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