Ski trail lit in memory of Larry Sinclair

 In Sports

A portion of the trails at Highlands Nordic are now lit three evenings a week – the result of a campaign to extend trail time for anyone who wants to ski.

A fundraising effort to light a trail at the Duntroon cross county ski facility began years ago but when proprietor Larry Sinclair died in 2015, club member Richard Lemoine stepped up the campaign. An online crowd-funding page raised almost $30,000, plus significant funds donated through in memoriams.

Larry’s daughter Kelly, who runs Highlands Nordic with her husband Chanse, said the goal is to extend training time for athletes and increase access for the general public.

The installation of the lights was delayed by the process of getting a permit through the Niagara Escarpment Commission, which was further delayed by an appeal filed by a neighbour.

With all permits now in place, 45 solar powered LED lights have been installed along the 1.2 km green trail, with plans to extend the lighting for a total of 120 lights on eight kilometres of trails.

The soft light makes for an entirely different skiing experience.

“It is a very cool ambiance,” said Kelly. “Going through the woods at night, it can seem very romantic.”

Night skiing is open from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays until March 17. A night trail pass costs $14 and equipment is available to rent.

Recent Posts

Leave a Comment

0