With winter weather on the horizon, volunteers have banded together to ensure Good Spirit Provincial Park is ready for winter sport enthusiasts.
Twelve members of the Good Spirit Cross-Country Ski Club (GSCCSC) organized a work bee on November 5 at the shelter on the Trans Canada Trail in Good Spirit Provincial Park, said Rob Wilson of Saltcoats, a spokesperson for GSCCSC.
Along with Brian Dudar, the park superintendent, the volunteers prepared the trails, shelter and washroom for the upcoming winter. Volunteers included Wilson, Darryl and Vicki Stevenson of Burgis Beach, Barry Rudy of Good Spirit Lake, Dan Kirkham of Good Spirit Lake, Lana and Derek Sebastian of Yorkton, Loreli and Dana Antonovich of Canora and Trent and Jane Erhardy of Balgonie.
Deadfall was cleared from approximately 10 kilometres of ski trail, which was also mowed. The cleared deadfall was then cut, split and stacked at the shelter to season through the upcoming winter. The skiers of 2017 will use that wood for burning. The wood shelter itself was filled with last year’s wood so skiers for the current season can warm up.
The shelter and washroom were cleaned, and the bird feeder was repaired. A kindling box was filled with elk fat so that skiers can feed the local birds.
“Many of the skiers have been ‘trained’ to load the feeders when visiting the shelter,” said Wilson in a statement from GSCCSC.
In the weeks following the work bee, the ski club volunteers cut seasonal growth along the wet spots along the trails. Wilson said volunteers will also remove cattails from trail spots once the ice is thick enough.
“Once sufficient snow arrives the volunteer groomers and track setters will put the trails into fine order.”
The Good Spirit Cross-Country Ski Club shelters visitors at Good Spirit Provincial Park in a “welcoming, helpful and friendly manner,” Wilson said, adding that the club members enjoy welcoming old friends and newcomers alike. Memberships for the club can be found on www.zone4.ca or paper forms can be found at the shelter. Those who are looking for more information on the club are encouraged to contact Darryl Stevenson, the club president.
