Volunteers sought for cross-country ski trail maintenance

By Nancy Vogt

September 17, 2020 at 12:00 AM

The cross-country ski season is fast approaching so now is the time to start getting trails ready for snow. The Lake Country Nordic Ski Club is asking people to join club members for some fun, exercise and fresh air at any of the locations and dates listed below.

This is an opportunity to donate time to the club that doesn’t require a big commitment or advanced skill sets. Volunteers are asked to plan a four-hour window or more if they can. The more participants , the faster the project will be finished. Some work may be in close proximity to others, so the club will encourage masking as well as social distancing when possible.

What to bring

The club asks participants to bring any of the following equipment and supplies: personal drinking water, chain saws, folding saws, bow saws, brush trimmers, loppers, gloves, insect repellent, ATVs, pickups, trailers and any other tools that may aid in the trail cleanup.

For questions, reach out to any of the trail cleanup contacts listed below.

Cut Lake Trail

The club has set aside two dates as there is a 5K section that has been inaccessible to grooming that they would like to open to skiing.

Saturdays, Sept. 19 and Oct. 3, starting at 9 a.m. Contact Rick Dubay ( midlantec@aol.com , 612-308-4944).

Washburn Trail

Saturday, Sept. 26, starting at 9 a.m. Contact Gary Anderson ( treefarm40@gmail.com , 218-838-2175).

Goose Lake Trail

Saturday, Oct. 10, starting at 9 a.m. Contact Don Hoppe ( hoppe4085@gmail.com , 218-839-4341).

Hiram Trail

Saturday, Oct. 31, starting at 9 a.m. Contact Paul Klinger ( europa@arvig.net , 218-547-1967).

The club recommends that volunteers wear high visibility apparel since it is grouse and archery deer hunting season.

By Nancy Vogt

Nancy Vogt is editor of the Pineandlakes Echo Journal, a weekly newspaper that covers eight communities in the Pequot Lakes-Pine River areas - from Nisswa to Hackensack and Pequot Lakes to Crosslake.

She started as editor of the Lake Country Echo in July 2006, and continued in that role when the Lake Country Echo and the Pine River Journal combined in September 2013 to become the Pineandlakes Echo Journal. She worked for the Brainerd Dispatch from 1992-2006 in various roles.

She covers Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Lake Shore and Crosslake city councils, as well as writes feature stories, news stories and personal columns (Vogt's Notes). She also takes photos at community events.

Contact her at nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com or 218-855-5877 with story ideas or questions. Be sure to leave a voicemail message!