Cross Country Ski Trails Brought Back To Life In Wakamow

By Robert Thomas

It has been decades since volunteers did the hard manual labour but because of it and local volunteers today Moose Jaw once again has groomed and dedicated cross country ski trails.

Located in the Wakamow Valley the hard work, dedication and effort put in back in the late 1970s by the likes of Walt Yakiwchuk, Cliff Bennett amongst others the trails which were relatively abandoned for cross country skiing are once again up, groomed and operational thanks to the newly formed Moose Jaw XC Ski Club Inc.

“I don’t know of anyone willing today to clear the land,” Kyle Lichtenwald communications director with Moose Jaw Ski Club Inc said in an interview with MJ Independent about what their research is showing was a multi-year effort involving community members and the now defunct Saskatchewan Technical Institute (STI) to make the trails used today a reality.

“STI provided the heavy machinery for them…but it was a lot of hard manual labour by volunteers,” he said.

The efforts though paid off as many of the original trails cut for cross country skiing were actually multi-functional and have since their infancy been used by not only cross country skiers but walkers and hikers as well as because they are also a major part of the numerous trails in the Wakamow Valley.

Lichtenwald said back in November about a dozen people met to discuss the possibility of Moose Jaw having its own cross country ski club and at that meeting the Moose Jaw XC Ski Club was formed.

The next step was not only registering the club but also at the same time setting up affiliations with Cross Country Sask and Nordic Canada.

Once that was done the club then officially approached the Wakamow Valley Authority as well as the City of Moose Jaw to officially set up the trails in the Wakamow Valley.

Litchtenwald said once the Club was legally established reaching an agreement with the City and Wakamow was relatively easy.

“Everything seemed to go pretty smoothly once we were set up,” he said.

There was an added benefit for having an agreement with the City because they had a grooming machine which the Club could use to maintain the trails. The City provided some initial training on how to use the equipment with the Club responsible for the safe use of the groomer as well as paying for the fuel to operate it.

“Ski trail grooming hasn’t happened in some time but the City has the equipment.”

Grooming Equipment - photo by Jonathan Benson

The City has also posted a map of the cross country ski trail on the City web-site.

Although the group is still doing research on the cross country ski trail system in the city he said from their initial research the trails were used competitively for the 1978 and 2010 Saskatchewan Winter Games.

The Club is not using all of the cross country ski trails cut by volunteers from yesteryear but only a portion.

“From looking at the history we can appreciate what we have now.”

Asked if there was a lot of work to clear the underbrush that may have grown up over the years Lichtenwald said the original cross country trails

Groomed Trails An Improvement - Chance To See The Valley

Lichtenwald said the arrival of the cut and dedicated cross country ski trails is a great boon not only for himself but other people who cross country ski or are interested in taking up the sport/recreational activity.

“So long as I have been skiing I have been cutting my own track,” he said, adding “this is so much better.”

He also said in the past people who wanted to cross country ski on groomed trails had to travel to other communities such as Regina.

Following The Groomer - photo by Lisa Benson

“Now people do not have to travel to Regina or elsewhere (for groomed trails)…this is good for Moose Jaw and it gets people outside in the Valley.”

Additionally people from Regina and other communities will likely travel to Moose Jaw to ski on the newly re-opened trails.

There are great things about having ski trails in the Wakamow Valley.

“We have this awesome valley to provide protection its not out in the wide open,” Lichtenwald said.

He went on to state how it was a great opportunity to get outside, get some fresh air, take in the beauty of the Wakamow Valley and see nature.

While skiing the trails there is the opportunity to see such animals as birds, deer and rabbits as you ski down the trails.

Lichtenwald complimented the people who designed and cut the first cross country ski trails for making the trails not only scenic but at the same time safe.

One of the key attributes for the groomed trails as it adds yet another activity in the Wakamow Valley for two months. He went on to describe the Valley - Moose Jaw’s urban park - as one of the best things in the City and this was another opportunity for people to utilize the park.

“This is a good opportunity to go for a ski and then being out on the land here.”

Who Is It For???

Lichtenwald said cross country skiing was for everyone.

“I think they would be for a skier just getting into it they are not super advanced or long.”

The Moose Jaw trails were suitable for beginners right up to expert skiers.

“It’s pretty low impact. I have two knee reconstructions and no problems,” he said, adding “you can go as hard as you want to go. It is an individual recreational sport it is up the skier themselves.”

“It is great recreation for people who want to go enjoy the (Wakamow) Valley.”

Asked about the health benefits he said cross country skiing provides a great workout.

“It’s another way to stay active and it is outside in the fresh air.”

According to the Ontario Parks web-site cross country skiing provides both physical and psychological boosts for participants.

The web-site states “Cross-country skiing will give you the much-needed cardio exercise we miss out on in the winter. A brisk ski will get your blood pumping and increase your heart health and endurance.”

Other benefits listed are cross country skiing engages all the muscles of the body, helps a person soak up Vitamin D in the long Winter plus it also helps relieve stress according to the web-site.

Lichtenwald said although the trails have just recently opened there is already starting to seeing a culture developing around cross country skiing.

“There is some community developing around the trails…if people want they can stop to talk on the trails.”

Although he has not met any yet Lichtenwald said the trails and cross-country skiing are an excellent outdoor family activity.

Where Are The Trails?

Access to the trails is located by parking at two locations - by the campground by parking at the Pavilion and Wellesley Park’s parking area.

“Wellesley Park is kind of a gem of the trails it is where most people prefer to ski.”

Another feature of the trails is their layout. The original designers back in the 1970’s planned in safety and none of the trails cross a road or a railway line.

Map showing the two trails - courtesy City of Moose Jaw

Share The Trails

Lichtenwald would like to stress and ask everyone to obey the signage posted on the trails as people walking on the groomed trails would destroy them.

Trail signage - photo by Jonathan Benson

He said the Club would like to see co-existence between everyone out enjoying the Valley whether they be out skiing or just out hiking or walking.

He also pointed out one area on a portion of the Trans-Canada trail the Club opened to hikers because of their grooming that would not be open as a positive impact of re-opening the cross country ski trails - where both skier and hiker alike can share and benefit.

He also asked anyone out on the trails to be aware of the groomer.

Cost Of Cross Country Skiing

Lichtenwald said the cost of cross country skiing was relatively in-expensive. With new gear - which will last for many years - costing about $500.

“It’s one of the cheapest things you can do.”

About children’s skis and boots he said many of them are on-line and available for purchase at cheaper prices “because kids grow out of them.”

On top of the ski boots, poles and skis he also recommends anyone going out skiing wear appropriate clothing for the weather.

He does not recommend wearing jeans to go out cross country skiing because denim freezes.

Lichtenwald said that it is better for people to not ski alone incase they require assistance and people should also bring along their cellphone just incase they need to call for help. He said as far as he was aware that all areas of the trails had cellphone reception.

A main sticking point in the City is that there is no place to rent cross country gear at the present time.

Asked if the Club was looking at getting some gear to loan out Lichtenwald mused perhaps a sporting goods store like Boh’s might get into the rental business if there was a demand for it or perhaps the Wakamow Valley Authority might some day lend out equipment because at the present time they do lend out snowshoes.

For anyone paying the Club’s $25 annual membership Boh’s Cycle and Sport does offer a 10 (ten) percent discount on cross country gear.

Reception To Club

Lichtenwald said the response from the community has been outstanding so far with the Club so far relying upon their Facebook Page, the Wakamow Valley Authority, Boh’s, word of mouth and The City posting the map of the trails on their web-site.

“We have had dozens of compliments with people sharing on-line that we have the trails back.”

From the original 12 people attending the organizational meeting there is now a six (6) person executive and although not up to date there are so far 32 registrations.

The Club charges $25 which pays for insurance, maintenance and fuel for the groomer and memberships in Cross Country Sask and Nordic Canada.

“We want to grow the club,” he said.

Use of the trails is free but without the paid memberships there “would be no money to fuel and maintain the groomer so there would be no groomed trails.”

Asked if the group planned to have Mayor Clive Tolley out to do some skiing to publicize the club and the trails Lichtenwald said that would be a “great idea” and that so far Councillor Crystal Froese was the only local well known person who had gone skiing on the trails.

For more information about or to contact the Moose Jaw XC Club check out their Facebook Page.

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