Bruce groomed with the Bearcat this morning. The skating surface took quite a beating with all the skiers out yesterday. The temperatures are going to warm quickly today so ski early if you can. 

We hope the temperatures will have dropped enough overnight for Terry to groom with the Piston Bully tomorrowmorning.

Because of the snow softening as it warms, the lights will be off tonight and the hut will close at 5 pm.

 LIGHTS OFF TONIGHT. THE HUT WILL CLOSE AT 5 PM

Grooming, Emergencies, Trail Etiquette

9:45 PM Saturday

Terry has begun grooming with the Piston Bully. There has been a lot of drifting so he’ll go over everything tonight without setting a track and then Denny is heading out early morning with the PB to redo the trails and set a diagonal track.  The parking lot will be plowed again for Sunday morning. Everything should be a go for Junior program Sunday afternoon.

Be prepared for emergencies

• Carry a fully charged cell phone at all times when skiing. You may need it in case of an emergency, or you may come upon someone in distress who needs      help.
• Add 256-1111, the fire department number, to your cell phonecontacts . 256-1111 is the number for emergencies on the trails. If you can’t remember that number, dial 911
• Know where you are on the trails. Look for the distance signs which are at .5 km intervals on each trail. If you come upon an emergency, you must be able to let the emergency responders  know where you are.

Trail Etiquette. No walking on groomed ski trails

When walking to the hut, stay to the right side of the trail and follow the same track when returning from the hut to the parking lot. Walkers use the same lane as snowshoers. See the attached image of our Trail Etiquette sign which you will see on the way to the hut.

Please no walking on the groomed ski trails. Walkers create holes on the trails. With melting snow these holes get bigger. Our groomers put a lot of time and effort into creating good surfaces for skiing. Members pay for the groomed  trails and trail grooming is a significant expenditure for the club.
If you are not able to ski down and up hills, then stay off the trails with hills. Walking down or up hills should only be in case of emergencies and then walkers should stay off the groomed surface.

Snowshoers stay to sides of the trails

A lot of snowshoers have been out and almost all of them have followed the etiquette of staying to the sides. Snowshoes can create deep boot prints and can cause the same damage as walkers to the groomed skating surface or diagonal track.

As well snowshoers may be moving much more slowly than skaters. By staying to the sides snowshoers allow for the full use of the ski trails.

Due to mild temperatures, trails are closed today. The hut will be closed and lights off tonight.

Joe is on the Bearcat now touching up the skating surfaces. Most of the diagonal track is still good. There is lots of very good classic and skate skiing despite the dirty spots that get thinner with each grooming.

Ski today for tomorrow. With the temperature rising overnight we won’t be opening tomorrow. Once the temperature drops we’ll see if grooming is possible.

Lost

Gold double engagement/wedding ring somewhere on the ski trails yesterday. If found call 256-4233.