Last week we were able to make snow for several days in the cold weather and were able to build up snow in the Brunello loop. Unfortunately, there were some mechanical challenges with the machinery as both our sidekicks had to shut down. Parts were replaced, adjustment made and the team were able to get the machines back up and running on Tuesday when the temperature dropped. While the rain Monday cleared away snow from lawns and paths in HRM, we still have a base where we had made snow at Brunello. We continued to blow snow during cold weather this week and will see what the Friday rain does to the snow in the bowl. Photos below from yesterday are promising as we see snow has remained in the bowl while snow elsewhere has been wiped out. We will continue to update on snow making as we work to bring our Halifax Nordic members consistent snow and skiing at Brunello.

The Canada Ski Marathon is North America’s longest and oldest Nordic ski tour. The CSM is a two-day, 160-kilometer ski event that is divided into 5 sections each day. On a trail that is only groomed once per year through the Laurentian region of Quebec, thousands of skiers from across Canada and many other countries traverse farmer’s fields, stop in tiny villages for rest and refreshment and overnight in or around Chateau Montebello. Skiers of all ages and abilities are welcome – you choose how many sections you do each day. The ultimate challenge is the Coureur des Bois Gold – ski the full 160km carrying a backpack containing all you need to camp overnight in the famous Claude Belanger Gold Camp.

A few Nova Scotians do the CSM each year. In 1974 a young Nova Scotian athlete, Bryan Scallion won the marathon in 11 hours and six minutes – even after breaking the tip of his skis both days! Bryan skied his first CSM in 1972 at the age of 19, coming second to a veteran 45-year-old skier. Here is Bryan with the Governor-General’s trophy for the fastest single tourer.   

Photo courtesy of Kate Scallion, daughter of the late Bryan, and Halifax Nordic coach and Canada Games Team wax technician. Bryan’s ski coach, Carl Purcell, now in his 80s, continues to ski the Marathon each year. The Bryan Scallion Memorial Fund supports Nova Scotian endurance athletes competing nationally.

Another Nova Scotian family is part of the CSM legacy. You may have seen Cathy and Michael Tutton out training for this year’s CSM – which goes this weekend! Cathy is one of the renowned group who has a permanent bib, earned by completing Coureur de Bois Gold five times – and you can only do the Gold after progressing through Bronze and Silver levels. Cathy grew up in the Laurentians and was inspired to do her first CSM in the early 1970s by Jackrabbit Johannsen.  

Cathy completed the Bronze when she switched from wooden skis with 3-pin bindings, leather boots and bamboo poles to the skis she's wearing in this picture. Cathy’s daughter Rosy Tutton wore these same skis 40 years later when she did her Bronze in 2016. Rosy is trying for her Gold this year. They now laugh at her huge backpack, knickers and fanny pack – note the sewn-on patches - you get one each year you ski the CSM.

 Here are Michael, Cathy and Rosy at the 50th anniversary of the CSM in 2017, when two other Nova Scotians, John Cameron & Susan McClure met Rosy at the high-school that transforms into dozens of dorm rooms for the CSM.  

Yes, these are your overnight choices for the Marathon – sleeping outdoors at the Gold Camp, on the floor with 10-20 others in a schoolroom, a local pension, or in the 5-star Chateau Montebello!  

The McClure/Cameron family have done the Marathon several times and love the thrill of skiing with so many others village-to-village through beautiful farm-land and forest. Susan is the “poster-child” for this year’s marathon.

Are you inspired to become part of the tradition and do next year’s 54th annual Canada Ski Marathon?  It is a challenge to prepare for the long-distance classic ski here in Nova Scotia, but as Cathy Tutton says, “We keep going back because it is such a great adventure.”

Looking for skiable snow outside HRM? A reminder that the Facebook Page NS XC skiers searching for skiable snow carries ski reports from skiers across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This site is a great way to follow ski conditions outside of HRM. Join their Facebook Group to follow skiers from around the province. Skiers were reporting good conditions in Victoria Park in Truro, North Highlands Nordic as well as other areas.

The Nova Scotia Provincial team competed at Easterns at Highlands Nordic near Collingwood, Ontario last weekend and had a great weekend of racing. Temperatures started very cold, below -20 when the team arrived, and it warmed up over the weekend to 6 on Sunday. We had many Nova Scotian skiers in the top 20 which was very impressive.

Melanie MacDermid put together a video to capture the NS Provincial team both on and off the course.

Watch Cross Country Nova Scotia's video recorded last weekend during the lessons at Brunello. The video features one of our young skiers in lessons, Amelia, and three generations enjoying skiing at Halifax Nordic.

Hard to believe what a difference a week makes. Last weekend we had a thin covering of snow and three trails open, Graves Oakley, Brunello and Dollar Lake. We had many members out on the trails and we received lots of photos of the trails that updated members on the conditions- thank you to all who posted updates to Facebook. These updates are very helpful as they let others know what to expect. Our fluctuating temperatures mean trail conditions change throughout the day, let alone day-to-day.

Brunello lessons were held on the driving range as groups spread out across the thin layer of snow. There was grass poking through in many spots, but we only need a thin covering to have enough snow to ski on the range. Some groups were off on the cart paths although the very thin layer of snow made for hard falls and several spots where skiers had to hop off the trail to stay on snow.

A reminder to skiers that the cart paths at Brunello can be very fast and if the snow layers is very thin with bare spots, it may not be safe to ski. Use your discretion on the trails and please follow directional signage.

Dollar Lake was groomed Sunday and the trail was fast. Those that made it out spent a beautiful sunny Sunday along the trails. A few skiers discovered the frozen lake had a perfect snow covering that made for ideal skate skiing conditions on the frozen the lake.

Many beginners were out on the flat surface of Graves Oakley field. The lower area was a little more protected from the wind and the surface had a slightly more snow that made it better for working on techniques learnt the day before during lessons. The upper area was more hard set and certainly windy - it provided good resistance skiing against the wind and a chance to test the new Halifax Nordic buffs!