Strap on your skis, Humboldt, and head on out to Dixon on February 9.
The Carlton Trail Ski Club is hosting their annual Valentine's Loppet that Saturday.
What is a loppet? It's like a fun run on cross-country skis, explained Brad Lefebvre, a member of the club.
The event will begin at the trailhead and clubhouse 12 kilometres northwest of Humboldt, in the area commonly known as Dixon. The trail runs through rolling wooded terrain, over land owned by the ski club.
The loppet is open to all skiers in good physical condition, as entrants are expected to complete each section they begin, which is at least two kilometres in length.
Distances are combinations of two, four, seven, nine and 13 kilometre classic trails with excellent grooming, Lefebvre explained.
There is also a 3.5 kilometre skate ski trail that is new this year. It should be available for the loppet, depending on conditions.
Anyone is encouraged to choose an event, start training, and plan to join other skiers on the trails that day.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., with a start time of 10 a.m. The trails will close at 2:30 p.m.
There will be a final check of the trails, Lefebvre noted, and radio communications are provided.
There will also be checkpoints with drinks at regular intervals along the trails.
First Aid personnel and supplies will be on site, as well, and a hot home-cooked meal is included in the registration fee for all skiers.
"It's a great family experience," said Lefebvre.
The CTSC has grown by leaps and bounds this year, up about 50 per cent from last year with 90 members. The growth is something club member Brian Grest attributes to the club's increased visibility in the community.
"We've worked to get the word out, and it's finally starting to pay off," he said.
More people in the community seem to be looking for opportunities to maintain a healthier lifestyle, as well.
"People are looking for fitness-type opportunities, and this is a pretty easy one," he said.
Also, the creation of a youth club for young, proficient skiers - separate from the learn-to-ski Jackrabbit program - has helped them keep their teen numbers up, he noted.
Though loppets are very weather dependent, Grest expects that if the weather is good, the attendance at this year's event could be huge.
Loppets attract people from out of town, as well as locals, he explained. There are people who actually do a circuit of loppets in the province.
They usually get between 10 and 15 skiers from out of town at the CTSC loppet, and they have worked to try and increase that number this year.
Between the out-of-towners and the local club members, organizers are hoping there will be at least 50 skiers out on the trails on February 9.
"A hundred would be tickling us pink," Grest smiled.
The registration deadline for the loppet is February 7. Registration information can be emailed to [email protected].
For maps of the trails, check out the CTSC website by Googling ctschumboldt.
