Snow

 We are receiving our first measurable snowfall of the season this morning. We have 2 to 3 cm at the moment. It's not enough to ski on, so please don't come to ski. But we're definitely heading in the right direction.

Trail #5 at noon today

Getting closer to winter

 The ski season is getting closer! We've had a few light snow flurries, with a small accumulation on the ground, although it has melted later in the day.

About 95% of the signage is now up on the trails. Some of the signs have to wait until December 1, when we officially close a portion of the Bruce Trail and open the winter alternate route and snowshoe trail.

We now have our revised map for the coming season; laminated versions will be going up soon at 12 "You are here" locations throughout the network.

Winter approaching

It's been a while since I posted anything, so here's a brief update.The temperature is falling to around 0 every night now, and we've had a few snow flurries, but no accumulation of snow. Our preparations for the upcoming ski season are progressing well. About 60% of our signage is now installed. I've obtained some new signs, in an attempt to keep walkers off our ski trails. These signs are bigger and more direct than the old ones, so hopefully walkers will get the message that we don't like footprints on our groomed ski trails. Today, I installed a small bridge over an intermittent stream that crosses trail #3 Hockleycrest. This little watercourse normally dries up in winter, but because of the amount of rain we've had this fall, it's currently running, so it's best to get our ski trail up, out of the water.

New sign advising walkers to stay off the ski trail

Small plywood bridge on Trail #3

More trees

 On the Pasture trail #9, a dead ash tree fell over a year ago, but got hung up in a big maple and did not fall all the way to the ground. I've been watching it, waiting for it to fall all the way to the ground.  It was suspended, directly over the trail, at the gateway that leads from the pasture into the forest. Finally, in the past few days, it came the rest of the way down.

On a beautiful autumn afternoon with a temperature near 20, I went out and cleared the debris.

After the clean-up

before the clean-up

Whacking Weeds

 One of the things we do in the fall to get ready for skiing is to whack the weeds on trails that have not been maintained over the summer. This afternoon, I cleared the Plateau Extension and part of North Plateau.

Plateau Extension near its junction with Mainline

Near the middle  of Plateau Extension, after whacking the weeds

Another day, another tree to clear

Our work continues as we prepare for the upcoming ski season. This fallen pine tree was cleared from trail #12, near its north junction with the Mainline trail.

Before

After

 

Earth moving

 Work continues as we prepare for the upcoming ski season. Every year, in the off-season, I try to make a few improvements to the trails, which will make for safer and more pleasant skiing. Yesterday, I tackled a small area near the north end of the network, where there were a couple of deep depressions in the trail surface, separated by a tree stump and associated roots. This area generally fills in with drifted snow as the season progresses, but in the early part of the season, it can be a bit tricky. I moved earth from the side of the trail to fill in the low spots.

The photo doesn't show the result very well, because of deep shade and bright patches of sunshine.