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Expanded role for Crowsnest Nordic Club

Cross country skiing. Submitted photo.

Nicholas L. M. Allen

Jan 29, 2025

New agreement improves access and sustainability for local trails

The Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club is ushering in a new era for outdoor recreation in the Crowsnest Pass, following an agreement with Alberta’s Ministry of Forestry and Parks that designates the club as the trail manager for the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone near the Chinook Provincial Recreation Area. The agreement enables the club to maintain and enhance trails for cross-country skiing and other recreational activities, marking an important step forward for both sustainability and community access.

Jeremy Giesinger, president of the Nordic Ski Club, explained the significance of the new agreement. 

“It’s neat because it takes out a lot of back and forth between the government and the club. It allows us to take more initiative with maintenance and new projects, like adding trails or optimizing existing ones,” he said. 

The club is also committed to inclusivity and sustainability, ensuring that trails remain open to various activities and accessible to all community members.

The club’s designated area includes the popular Chinook Lake region, where cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and other winter activities are available. Giesinger emphasized the importance of the new trail master plan, which outlines short-, medium-, and long-term goals. 

“We’ve always maintained the trails, but this agreement gives us more flexibility to make improvements, like widening or tweaking trails for easier maintenance,” he said.

The club has invested in equipment and volunteer efforts to meet the growing demand for trail maintenance. Giesinger noted that while the club is well-equipped for its current operations, future growth in trail use and membership will require additional resources. 

“We’re just getting started as trail managers, but as things grow, we’ll need to expand our capacity,” he added.

The Nordic Ski Club is also encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy the current conditions, which Giesinger described as “perfect.” 

“The early snowfall this season allowed us to pack in the snow, and the Chinook area tends to have great weather for skiing and other activities,” he said. 

Families and individuals can enjoy designated trails for skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, fat biking, and even dog-friendly routes.

The club is encouraging trail users to purchase memberships or donate to support maintenance efforts. 

“The main thing we’re trying to push is for people to get out and enjoy the trails,” Giesinger said.

The Alberta government echoed this sentiment in a recent statement, highlighting the partnership with the Crowsnest Nordic Ski Club as part of its commitment to improving access to high-quality trails across the province. The agreement underscores the importance of sustainable trail management and fostering outdoor recreation opportunities for all Albertans.

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