LAC LA BICHE - A winter that has brought an abundance of snow to the Lac La Biche region is being welcomed by members of a local skiing group, whose season last year was impacted by a lack of snow.
Kim Winger, president of the Lac La Biche Nordic Ski Club, says the organization is very happy to see snow this year. Trails have been worked on and activities for the season are now starting up.
“Alberta Parks staff have been out and groomed the trails at Sir Winston Churchill Park, and Beaver Lake Provincial Park, and our local volunteer groomers have groomed Shaw Lake,” Winger tells Lakeland This Week. “A number of skiers have been out on the trails over the holidays.”
While there was a great deal of enthusiasm by members of the Nordic ski club going into last season, this was met with disappointment due to a lack of snow.
From December to February, there was no snow to set a base for groomed trails, and not enough of a cover on the ground to even support breaking trail on skis without damaging them on ruts and forest debris.
“Only the lakes were ski-able,” she recalls. “These, however, were typically quite icy.”
The shortfall of snow meant the club was forced to cancel most of its programs, except for a cookie hunt held at Shaw Lake on dry land, and a moonlight ski on the lake last February. The Lac La Biche Nordic Ski Club’s Jackrabbit program, which teaches kids the basics of the sport, was also held last winter, with practices taking place on the frozen surfaces of Beaver Lake and Shaw Lake.
Despite the lack of snow, the Jackrabbit coaches and youth continued to improve their skills and stay active, with some of them heading to the Alberta Winter Games.
Although last winter was largely a snow-less affair, when March arrived it finally brought some snow to local trails and the club’s groomers managed to set tracks at Shaw Lake for the first time during the season.
“There was a short window of opportunity for some spring skiing in tracks,” she says.
With more snow on the ground, this season has been going quite well. The Jackrabbits program officially got underway on Jan. 5, and children who are interested can still register with the club.
“Skis are available for youth participants,” says Winger.
Over the next couple of months, the Lac La Biche Nordic Ski Club plans to host several events, including coffee time skis at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park on Mondays at 2 p.m., as well as community skis at Shaw Lake.
The activities are designed to help introduce and support anyone who is interesting in cross-country skiing and learning about the local ski trails.
Several members of the Lac La Biche Nordic Ski Club have taken advantage of the club’s ski equipment loan program. As Winger explains, this program is facilitated through the Alberta Sport Participation and Support grant.
“It is designed to engage participation in the cross-country skiing by making equipment available for use.”
