La Ronge ski trails back in business after devastating summer fires
More than 90 per cent of trails damaged, burned last summer
It's taken months of work to rid the trails of burned trees, but some of the ski trails damaged in the northern Saskatchewan forest fires near Lac La Ronge are now open for business.
The forest fires this past summer damaged 90 per cent of the Don Allen and Saskaloppet trails, according to Natasha Merriman, park supervisor at Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.
Merriman said that while the track itself was largely undamaged, the major issue was the "severe safety hazard" caused by burned trees located near the trails.
"This type of project was much greater because there is a higher risk with these burned trees falling and falling on the trails," she said.
Cleanup a community effort
The cleanup was a result of efforts from park staff, volunteers and members of the La Ronge Ski Club. This year, anyone involved needed special chain-saw training, due to the unique challenges of dealing with a high quantity of burned wood.
Merriman said it wouldn't be possible without everyone's dedication. "We wouldn't have half of the trails that are open right now for skiing open, if it wasn't for the volunteers and community coming together on this."
Many people are still working on a daily basis to clear trees within 25-metres of the trail. Still, Merriman said it will take quite some time before the vegetation on the trails returns to its former state.