Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club awarded grant for brushcutters

HANCOCK -- A grant from the Keweenaw Community Foundation's Cross Country Skiing Endowment has made it possible for the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) to purchase new equipment for maintenance of the Maasto Hiihto Trails. The $500 grant, awarded last December, provides partial funding of power trimmers/brushcutters and safety accessories.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club (KNSC) Board members display the Club's new trimmers/ brushcutters after their February 2008 meeting in the Maasto Hiihto Chalet in Hancock. Pictured are, from left, Jay Green, John Diebel, Ruth Archer, Wayne Stordahl and Arlyn Aronson. The purchase of the new trail maintenance equipment is thanks to a grant from the Keweenaw Community Foundation. The KNSC will hold its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Apr. 16, in the Chalet. (Photo © 2008 Gustavo Bourdieu)

The KNSC purchased two Honda trimmers/brushcutters from Superior Rent-All at an end-of-season price plus an added discount provided by Superior Rental-All and Honda. The club also purchased helmets with hearing and eye/face protection.

Wayne Stordahl, head of trail maintenance for KNSC, said the trimmers/brushcutters will be a big help in brushing the trails in the fall because they are heavy-duty and will cut down small saplings. Up to now, most of the volunteers have used grass trimmers. While useful in some grassy areas, grass trimmers are not adequate for a majority of the fall clearing work. Now more volunteers can be accommodated, and the job can be done much more quickly.

KNSC operates the Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids cross country ski trails -- a system of 25 kilometers of striding-only ski trails passing through the beautiful Swedetown Creek gorge and the surrounding uplands in and adjacent to the City of Hancock. Snowshoers are welcome to use the trails also during the ski season. Mountain bikers, hikers, walkers and trail runners use the trails in the warmer months, thus benefiting from the maintenance of the ski trails.

The KNSC board of directors wants to thank the Keweenaw Community Foundation and Superior Rent-All for their generous support and encourages the general public to support the Foundation by dropping by 326 Shelden Ave, Houghton, calling 482-9673, or by visiting the Keweenaw Community Foundation Web site.

Volunteers are always welcome for trail maintenance and other club activities. Contact Board President Ruth Archer at 906-482-4957 or Board Member Arlyn Aronson at 487-2992.

The annual meeting of the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 16. Elections will be held. The meeting will be in the chalet at the Houghton County Fairgrounds in Hancock.

Everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, call 482-4957.