Blue Hills Trail Association Meeting
June 4 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
BIG DECISIONS AHEAD FOR BHTA!
As you well know, we have experienced generally poor skiing the past two winters (2024-5, 2023-4) with well above normal temps and below average snowfalls, untimely rains and thaws. Prior to that (2022-3) we had a year of a vicious ice storm that shut us down for more than two weeks during our peak holiday season. Global warming has certainly impacted us for the past 5 years. We can hope to revert to a “normal” winter, but we should not count on it.
Our membership has, unsurprisingly, shown a decline of about 30% from its high in 2021. (From 133 members to 87) Additionally, we have faced political challenges from Rusk County related to our use of Excelsior Road and John’s Creek road as ski trails. We will lose Excelsior Road as a ski trail this year, to truck traffic and dog hunters. These challenges have been time-consuming and discouraging.
Our leadership group is all in their 70s, and a majority of our volunteers are in the same age range. We ski slower, and can’t work as long on the trails. Tom Paulsen has resigned as secretary, and I (John Waldron) am not going to continue as an officer beyond this spring.
So the question naturally comes up as to whether we should continue as an organization, or whether there is a different and probably younger group of motivated individuals who think these nordic trails and this organization are worth their effort to organize, lead, and maintain. Or should we look to arrange a public owner/operator?
Or, given a warming climate, should we pivot away from nordic skiing, and toward other non-motorized activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, education, and other naturalist activities.
To this end, I would like to call a general membership meeting, which will also serve as our annual meeting, in order to gauge the level of interest there in moving forward. Should we keep at it? Are we better off, as individuals, spending our money where they have the option of making snow? Should we just drive further north? Should we take up another sport? Should we continue to rely on volunteers, or raise fees and hire a manager?
The BHTA would like to convene a meeting on Wednesday, June 3, at Out There ski shop in Rice Lake, to discuss these issues. Be ready to jump in with opinions and commitments.