Hiawatha Highlands is taking its first strides out of the starting gate.
Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Club was granted a five-year licence of occupation by city council 11 weeks ago to operate the popular 32-kilometre cross-country ski trail system in the rural, rugged northeast portion of Sault Ste. Marie.
Sault Trails and Recreation (STAR), including Soo Finnish, the Sault Ste. Marie Conservation Authority, the Kinsmen Club and at one time the City of Sault Ste. Marie, had maintained the system for 18 years but dissolved last spring and the search began for a new operator.
"All agreements have been finalized with our partners - the Conservation Authority, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Kinsmen and private landowners - and we have been preparing the trails for the past three weekends," said Kevin Hogan, president of Soo Finnish.
The 50-year-old not-for-profit organization is also in the process of acquiring a new $189,000 trail groomer.
It will be funded by $48,000 from two older groomer trade-ins, a portion of the $20,000 remaining from the dissolution of STAR, a $5,000 Local Initiative Fund grant and private financing.
"Our opening (date) will be determined by Mother Nature and the arrival of the groomer," said Hogan, whose Nordic club has about 400 members.
Hiawatha Highlands begins lodge operations Dec. 1.
Another week remains in the campaign to sell discounted season passes to Hiawatha Highlands.
Season passes, up until Nov. 13, are $300 for families, $110 for adults, $100 for seniors and $70 for students.
One-day trail fees will be $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students.
After Nov. 13 prices will increase by $70 for families, $40 for seniors, $30 for adults and $10 for students.
Seniors are defined as 65 and over, adults as 19 to 64 and students as 13 to 18.
Passes are available at the Duke of Windsor, Source for Sports and the Rhodes Centre Pool.
"Passes will be what covers the bulk of our operational budget," said Hogan.
STAR sold 1,200 season passes a year ago and Hiawatha Highlands is budgeting $145,000 to get through this season.
"Not that long ago, cross-country skiing was one of the prime outdoor winter activities in the area," said the Nordic club president.
"Participation started dropping off when the area economy took a hit . . . Now that the economy has bounced back we're hoping it will be the same with cross-country skiing."
The flagship event of the season is expected to be combination Hiawatha Invitational and Michigan Cup on Feb. 17-18, expected to draw between 100 and 200 competitors.
The system, which includes two kilometres of lighted trail, was the training site for the national cross-country ski team in the 1990s.
It was also home to two-time Olympian Wayne Dustin and national-calibre skiers such as Melissa Hayman, Brady Dunn, Adam Kates and Chad Yurich.
"The future looks promising," said Hogan, whose club has more than 30 youth on two competitive 19-and-under race teams.
"Our jackrabbit program (a developmental program for six-and-over children) had over 100 participants last year: it was one of the largest developmental programs in Ontario."
And what does the Soo Finnish president think of the recreational asset they've signed on to maintain?
"It's an incredible layout," he said. "Where else can you get such a trail system within 10 to 15 minutes (by automobile) of your back door?"
Hiawatha Highlands also offers snowshoeing, at $80 for the season, as well as snowshoe rental.
