University, city, school board to partner once again to offer groomed trail

Algoma University, in partnership with the City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District School Board, will be opening their cross country ski trail again this winter.

This is the third year that the trail will be open.

“We’re a little behind from where we were last year,” said Mark Kontulainen, athletics and recreation coordinator at Algoma University. “We have to pack it down with some snowshoeing first. So the plan is to start that this week, and then we should have it ready for skiing in two weeks.”

The trail is free for public use, but skiers must bring their own equipment. Pedestrians and dog-walkers are asked to stay off the trail to prevent breaking up the groomed track.

Including all three loops, the trail - which is suitable for beginning to advanced skiers- is 2.4 kilometres long, but Kontulainen says that it will be longer this year with a northern addition.

“It’s going to be extending more north, we just have to determine where exactly that’s going to be. But we got permission to go towards Wellington St.,” he said.

Kontulainen was impressed with last year’s turnout. “We had a number of people using the trails which was really great to see,” he said. “It’s also a really fantastic thing for students on campus.”

“We encourage the public to use the trails. It’s a nice resource to have and it’s within the city which is nice,” he added.

The official start of the trail is at the George Leach Centre, with access near the tennis courts.

Skiers can also park at Anna McCrea Public School or Snowden Park and access the trail from there, then continue to follow the signage along the way.