Heavy snowfall enhancing, driving interest in C.B. rec trails
SYDNEY — In her business’s third winter traversing the trails of Cape Breton, it’s easily the largest amount of snow Cathy Tower has had to work with.
Snowmobiles from TNT Outdoor Adventures have many more feet of snow to conquer after a massive snowstorm struck Cape Breton earlier this month. It’s a big change from other recent winters when snow was harder to come by this time of year.
That’s slated to change, said TNT owner Tower, as the storm has seemingly primed a long season for Ski-doos.
“Having the snow is very good. That’s what we need for our snowmobiles,” she said, adding it’s an opportunity to have people using the Hunters Mountain-based business’s rental snowmobiles, helmets, jackets and more that otherwise sit unused.
Members of local snowmobile clubs have also been busy clearing trails for TNT.
“We’ve put quite a bit of an investment into it so it’s nice to know we have the ability to use it all.”
Snowfall amounts north of 100 centimetres were reported across the island following the snow. While many parts of the highlands didn’t get amounts like the
Sydney area, they got more than enough.
On recreation trails, path groomers have reported difficulty preparing the way through the sheer amount of snow that fell.
However, that amount has driven many avid snowmobilers, skiers and snowshoers to trip into the Cape Breton wilderness.
“Today, we’ve had 108 people so far,” Katie Fougère, manager of the North Highlands Nordic ski and snowshoe centre in Cape North, told the Cape Breton Post Saturday afternoon. It’s a trend she said began before the storm but is optimistic will continue with the snow’s extra reinforcement.
“An average day for us is 30 or 40 people. So 108 for us is a big day.”
‘HOPING WE CAN SKI UNTIL EASTER’
Fougère said North Highlands Nordic has been benefitting from an anticipated boom in traffic this winter, between campaigns to attract people to the region and an overall desire to try new activities. The heavy snow and attention from it were a bonus.
“People are finally coming back into being more social. I think (the COVID-19 pandemic) affected the mentality of a lot of people more deeply than anyone realized,” she said.
Across most of North Highlands Nordic’s 15-kilometre system, the trail is between 50-60 centimetres of packed snow.
“It means everything to us,” she said. “The more of a packed snow base we have, the longer our trail beds can hold up to warmer weather and mild temperatures.
“If it stays like this, I’m hoping we can ski until Easter.”
Closer to the Sydney area, the Cape Breton Nordic snowshoe and cross-country ski group maintains a network of trails. While the snow is expected to extend their season as well, trail grooming has again proved a challenge.
To help counter it, club president John Hudec said it had a free snowshoe rental day last weekend to help trample the snow down more.
While the club is hoping to have the fresh trails ready for the coming weekend, this week’s snowfall may shift those plans. For skis, the group’s trails are usually open on weekends and Wednesday afternoons.
“It looks like we’re good for February and into March for skiing and snowshoeing.
You can head up there and snowshoe any time; it doesn’t require as much grooming. But the skiing requires a bit of work to get it ready,” Hudec said.
“We should be able to lay down a beautiful trail once we get up and can get around with the snowmobiles.”
WINTER TOURISM BUMP
Since the storm, TNT has received a bump in calls from people wanting to snowmobile in the region, getting calls as far away as Ontario. Tower said other parts of the region and country don’t have as much snow this winter, which could be sparking interest.
With guided trail tours, TNT offers an edge in attracting snowmobilers unfamiliar with navigating the highlands. As well, Tower said it’s benefiting more locals than just her own operation.
“It benefits all the snowmobilers and businesses around,” she said. “The more people that are coming, the better it is for hotels, restaurants and those (selling) gas.”
No matter where people come from — it was the “Margaree Invasion” at North Highlands Nordic last weekend, with several from the area strapping on the skis — travellers are taking advantage of several amenities.
“Everybody wants to be outside in their own way,” Fougère said. “Winter tourism is very much alive.”