Call it foreshadowing.
One of the projects the Misty Ridge Society, a not-for-profit organization that operates the ski hill in the County of Barrhead, is working on is the installation of lights for night skiing.
While the majority of the work will be completed this summer, on Feb. 23, skiers and snowboarders will get a chance to experience night skiing at the hill a year in advance during the hill’s first ever night skiing fundraiser.
For the price of a regular lift ticket, skiers and snowboarders will be able to have exclusive use of the hill from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. while at the same time raising funds that will go to the continuing operation of the ski hill.
Lift passes are $25 for adults, $20 for youth and five and under are free.
Because this is a fundraiser over and above Misty Ridge’s normal operations ski passes will not be accepted.
Society president Matt Swan said because they have only done preliminary work on the installation of lights they will bring in light towers that illuminate the majority of the runs.
“It will be a great evening for the whole family and not too many of our regulars have had a chance to go night skiing so this will be a real treat,” said Swan.
In addition, the society is planning a silent auction, a raffle as well as a fireworks show, scheduled to start at about 9 p.m.
All proceeds will go towards the hills day-to-day operation.
Swan added the fundraiser will be one the highlights of what has been a good season at the ski hill.
After three years of poor weather, which was a major factor in the society deciding to cancel the season, Mother Nature has finally co-operated.
“We opened on Dec. 29 and the weather has been just about perfect,” he said, noting the hill has received a lot of fresh snow and the number of days of below -20 degree weather has been limited. “As a result, we have had pretty good attendance. Most days we average between 60 and 70 visitors.”
Unfortunately in early February an extreme cold snap forced the society to close the hill for a number of days.
The society hopes to capitalize on the momentum of a strong season to help complete a number of improvements.
In the next month the society will add a new quad on tracks unit, which will help them groom runs and make snow by being able to place their snow guns where they like them.
The majority of funding is coming from a Community Facility Enhancement Program grant (CFEP) grant — a matching provincial grant that provides financial assistance to acquire, build, purchase, repair, renovate, upgrade or expand sports, recreational, cultural or other related public-use community facilities.
“We were able to use part of the Elks donation along with our own fundraising and volunteer hours,” Swan said.
In the fall of 2017 the Barrhead Elks donated $79,000 — $25,000 was slated to replace the bunnyhill’s aging towrope.
Originally the society had hoped to have the system installed by the start of this season, but it unfortunately, hit a snag.
“We are having some problems with the manufacturer getting everything we need so that we can get the permits to do the installation. If we can get that we will be in good shape and should be in place for the start of next season,” he said. “If not, we may have to go in a different direction, but the problem with that is that all the alternatives are more costly.”
