2009-2010 Newsletter

It is now approaching the end of October.  Last year winter began on the 15th-16th of November with a horrendous heavy snow that buried the tops of trees in our trails.  It required weeks of work to clear the trails of branches and debris.  The SFFC volunteer committee is in the process of doing a final cleanup and signage before we get hit again!

 

The really great news this year is that, thanks to the prodigious effort of our treasurer Norm Vanstone, we were successful in getting an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $26,800 to buy two new Yamaha Viking Pro snowmobiles to pull our grooming equipment.  As you probably know, our Alpine II’s are showing their age and because we were unable to get replacement parts we were reduced to one machine last winter.  

 

New this year - starting November 1st, the Haliburton Highlands Water Trails will be open for winter camping. The HHWT office across Hwy 35 will also be offering snowshoe and ski rentals and hot drinks open from 10 am to 3 pm daily except closed for the period Dec. 18 to January 1. For further information checkout the Water Trails and Hiking Trails websites for updated information on which campsites/trails are open for camping, snowshoeing and skiing. www.algonquinhighlands.ca/water and www.algonquinhighlands.ca/trails

 

Chairman Wally and his volunteers have spent many hours improving the trails this summer.  In early July we had a team of about a dozen Ontario Rangers (girls 17 years old) for 4 days who wallowed in the mud and worked on draining a couple of wet areas on the Beaver and Moose trails.  Their work in the summer of 2008 made it possible for us to open the Moose Trail at the start of the season last year.  

 

Loggers have been harvesting more trees along the Bear Trail north of the Sugar Shack and have been hauling them from a staging yard at the Sugar Shack.  We are still trying to restore a couple of places on the Bear Trail  between the bottom of the Otter Slide and the start of the climb to the Bear Trail Shelter. 

 

Our annual passes are still only $50 for singles $90 for families.  We hope that you will support the local businesses that support us by advertising on our maps.

 

HELP WANTED - As mentioned last year, our small volunteer committee is ageing and we want to welcome skiers who live in the Haliburton – Minden - Huntsville area to join us.  We need to get people on board who we can train to gradually replace us.  We meet a few times throughout the year to check on finances and plan work that needs to be done.  Trail work includes removing trees and branches, clearing and installing culverts, filling in low spots, replenishing wood supplies at the warm-up shelters and installing or removing signs.  In addition there is liaison with our trail groomer, our weekend ticketing person and the Ministry of Natural Resources from which we get our Land Use Permit.  We also have social events.  Please consider joining with us.  You can contact us through our website at www.skithefrost.ca or by telephoning me directly – Ted Koehler @ 705-766-2496.

 

Please send your 2010 Membership Application form to:

SFFC c/o Margaret Brogden

1109 Canopy Lane

Haliburton, ON K01 1S0

A stamped and self-addressed envelope would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance!

 

Margaret Brogden                                Norm Vanstone                            Terry McMillan

Wally Ozog                                          Sigi von Hunnius                           Ted Koehler