Cairngorm Biathlon & Nordic Ski Club on track to deliver top winter trails
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It's all downhill now for first class winter trails around Glenmore.
For two years the local cross country ski club, based out of Glenmore Lodge has been fundraising to prepare the trails around Glenmore when the snow arrives.
"Last year was a bumper season," says spokesman Al Dargie, "with 90 days of skiable snow around Glenmore and quiet tracks due to lockdown.
"When prepared the tracks will last longer and provide a safer level and compact surface for skiers, walkers, sled dogs or fat tread bikers."
Last year the club raised over £9k and imported a tow along track cutter from the USA that sadly due to Covid supply chain and freight issues arrived at the end of the season, the club is now on track to provide a specialist vehicle to tow it ready for this winter.
The club recently received a grant of £4k from Witherby Publishing Group Charitable Trust, which has guaranteed that the club will be able to purchase a vehicle to deliver prepared tracks.
In a time where many funding streams have dried up due to Covid, the grant came at a crucial time in the project, said Al.
"It was fantastic to receive the support from the trust for a project which is not targeted at the bigger winter sport disciplines."
To date the club has also been able to raise a further 9.5k towards the vehicle in donations and the Virtual Kiltwalk earlier in the year, where club members cycled and roller skied hundreds of kilometres over a weekend.
They are now on a final push for funds before purchasing a vehicle at the end of October.
The best opportunity for members of the public to donate is this weekend when Team Dargie, led by Oaklyn aged three, will take on the Glasgow Wee Wander Kiltwalk with thousands of other participants.
Donations will be open till the end September and will be topped up by an incredible 50 per cent extra from The Hunter Foundation.
You can donate here
The tracks will be available for everyone to use free of charge, although donations will be encouraged towards the running costs of the machine.
