Friday's snowfall means conditions should be ideal for cross-country ski and snowshoe enthusiasts at Tabor Mountain on Sunday.
The Sons of Norway Ski Club will hold its 42nd annual Birchleg Ski Tour at the Hickory Wing parking area (old boxcar), five kilometres east of Tabor Mountain Resort on Highway 16.
Everyone is invited to join in the fun at
10 a.m. in the parking lot for a 10-kilometre loop that should take about two-and-a-half hours to complete.
The groomed trail is wide enough for people to ski two aside on classic skis.
"Conditions will be good, we've had a lot of fresh snow," said long-time Sons of Norway member Norm Clark. "We groomed the trail a couple days ago and we're going back out (today).
"Most people have come out for many years and we've always had a good turnout. We'll have a bonfire, hot dogs... it's a social event. Six-year-old kids have participated."
Last year, a record number of 106 participants hit the trail that is relatively flat with a few small hills and is suitable for most skiers.
From the trailhead, it goes eastward to the Martin Trail and then parallel to the highway and back along Highway 16. There's a 6 km cut-off for those who don't want to ski the full 10 km.
Clark said there is one section of the trail where skiers will have to take their skis off and walk for 100 metres due to a wood lot and logging road.
After completing the loop, skiers can warm up by a bonfire in the parking lot with hot chocolate and hot dogs.
After lunch, there is an option of going (on your own) west toward Tabor Mountain Resort or up the Birchleg/Sawdust Trail.
In addition to the ski tour at 10 a.m., there will be an organized snowshoe tour.
A donation box will be set up for those who want to help pay for the cost of grooming the trails.
The Sons of Norway Club, which has about 100 members, gathers for regular ski tours on Sundays and Wednesdays.
The Sons of Norway are part of the Tabor Mountain Recreation Society, which has obtained government sanctioning that reserves the society's right to use a parcel of land bordered by Willow River to the east, private land at Tabour Lake to the west, Highway 16 to the north and Willowcale Forest Service Road to the south.
The society includes in its membership the Caledonia Ramblers, Prince George ATV Club, Prince George Snowmobile Club, Prince George Horse Society, Northwest Brigade Paddling Club, Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, Prince George Naturalists Club, Prince George Cycling Club and ATV/BC.
The member clubs maintain and improve the trail system at Tabor Lake, which includes about 60 km of ski trails and hundreds of kilometres of snowmobile trails.
For more information, call Clark at 250-963-7417.
