The 100 Mile Nordic Ski Society is now open for the 2025 ski season.
On Dec. 31, the 100 Mile Nordics announced on its Facebook that starting on that day, "the gate is unlocked, the lodge is open, the soup is on, and we are officially open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily!"
The ski club thanked snow dances, as well as tireless groomers and a touch of leftover Solstice magic that led to them taking advantage of the recent snowfall. However, they cautioned they are opening with early season conditions and minimal base, asking visitors to "please watch for rocks, especially in the sunnier locations, and give way to groomers as they prepare our trail network."
In addition, they asked visitors to take care of the trails because "we do not have sufficient base for repairs until we get another 6-10 centimetres of snow."
Currently, the 100 Mile Nordic Ski Society has several events planned for the season. This includes an event on Family Day involving free passes, as well as the Teck Northern Cup set to be hosted on Feb. 22. Chris Keam, the president of the 100 Mile Nordic Ski Society, said that these events will depend on if conditions remain favourable. In addition, there will be night skiing until 10 p.m. every day.
Already the society had hosted an event on Dec. 21 - the Winter Solstice celebration. The celebration, besides local musicians performing in the lodge as well as food being served, involved the burning of a straw goat. Around 70 people attended the event - and it raised around $1,600 for the society.
The 100 Mile Nordic Ski Society was formed in 1977 - and has had numerous milestones: in 1986 they were the second club in B.C. to install a lit trails system, and the society has had numerous trophies: in the 1980s the Nordics won six B.C. Championship Club trophies in a row, and in 1988 and 1996, the Nordics won the Junior National Championships.
In recent years Keam said the Nordics have begun facing more challenges to tunning their operations.
"The warming weather is not helpful. It hasn't been too warm for us the past few years, but it has been too dry and so, we've had cold conditions, but we haven't had the snowfall that we need," Keam explained.
However, Keam said the Nordics mitigate these challenges by working closely with the community.
"We work with the District of 100 Mile House - we work with the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), and the Recreational Sites and Trails division of the provincial government, just to ensure that the facilities there is in good condition," Keam stated. "One of the things that we are always looking for is funding, grants, that sort of thing."
Keam added that people can make a donation to the Nordic Ski Society if they want to - and can also become a member of the society as well for a price of $57.00.
"It allows you to attend the annual general meeting and help vote and do all those sorts of things, as well as contributing financially to the health of the organization," he explained.
As for future plans the 100 Mile Nordic Ski Society has, Keam noted they want to expand their currently existing school program. The Nordics currently operate a ski school for all the students currently in Grade 3, in which the students come to the Nordics ski area and have a day to try out the skis and snowshoes.
"We hope we can do classes more often, but again, it's a question of having enough volunteers to run programs like that," Keam remarked, citing there would be a lot of boot lifting as well as moving people throughout the facility.
Those wishing to become a member of the 100 Mile Nordic Ski Society can go to the website and head to the pass section. They're also invited to come try out the trails for themselves by going to the Nordic's Lodge located on Ainsworth Road.
