A NEW DIRECTION The Panorama Nordic Centre has a new map available indicating its new location and the distance of all trails in the network. Image submitted
By Nicole Trigg
Pioneer Staff
Panoramas cross country ski trails are open for business starting today (Friday, December 20th) and skiers can expect a few new tweaks to the old system.
Due to the construction of a new clubhouse for the Greywolf Golf Course, the Nordic Centre has been moved to whats known during the summer months as the Adventure Centre, located in the Lower Village. A 2.5-kilometre Valley Trail connects the centre to the trail network, which features brand new signage.
We remade the signs, so there are all new signs for the Nordic system, said Panorama Risk Manager Ryan Stimming, who oversees outdoor operations for the resorts Nordic cross-country skiing area.
Because of a significant washout along the Toby trail (formerly known as Toby Barbour) that happened in June, a section of new trail was constructed to circumvent the trouble spot.
Basically we repaired that washout two summers ago; then last summer the big June rain event that flooded Calgary washed that section out again, said Mr. Stimming. Whats the point of battling Mother Nature? You almost never win, so we decided to just re-route the road further inland away from the river so we dont have to worry about this washout for another 500 years.
To accomplish this, the Toby was redirected onto a section of the Hopeful trail, near its trademark steep pitch which has been graded to a five percent incline and now arcs around the hill.
That steep hill is actually not usable anymore, said Mr. Stimming. (And) we actually lose a section of trail, roughly 200 metres the road leading up to the washout and the road past the washout are also unusable.
A brand new map of the network that shows all the trails and their distances in kilometres is now available. Snowshoe trails are no longer part of the trail network and snowshoers will be encouraged to stay off the groomed cross-country trails and adventure elsewhere.
Well rent snowshoes out of the new Nordic Centre location and weve got two trails well send them to, but they are not on thenNordic trails, he said.
The Panorama Nordic Centre offers more than 20 kilometres of groomed trails for classic and skate skiing and the Hale Hut warming cabin.
