Let It Snow!
The snow won’t be long now — and Dawn Mountain Nordic Centre is ready. The chalet and more than 33 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails have been a hive of activity this fall as volunteers and partners prepared the site for the season ahead.
Local Special Olympics athletes helped clear hundreds of rocks from the trails — a big help to prevent damage to mowing equipment. Volunteers used brush saws to tame encroaching growth along trail edges, and crews thinned the forests around the Chalet and Cat Shed to meet FireSmart goals. A fresh coat of paint is going up on the Chalet thanks to professional painter Mel, and Green Leaf Tree Services generously donated time and equipment to chip brush piles. Ned and the Innovation Building Group even brought a forklift crane from a nearby job site to reposition the Rec Sites and Trails BC sign to a better location.
New infrastructure this year includes a biathlon storage shed and target posts in the Stadium, and our biathlon coaches completed certification training. We’re also installing a digital weather station to improve conditions reporting for the season.
A few operational updates and opportunities:
• Instructor training & hiring: We’ll kick the season off with a CANSI Level 1 instructor certification course on Dec 5 – 7 (register by Nov. 21). The club is hiring a few part-time instructors (contractors) to teach school groups and on-demand lessons at $35/hr. Interested? Contact the club to learn more.
• Shuttle service pilot: Dawn Mountain will be on the Kicking Horse–Golden Connector shuttle route this season on an on-demand basis. Tell the driver you want to be dropped off at Dawn Mountain and request a pick-up time. This pilot could lead to a permanent stop in future seasons.
• Membership & events: We’re thrilled to already have 818 members signed up — a great start. Stop by in person at the Staying Alive avalanche awareness event on Dec. 3 (Civic Centre — doors 6 pm) to register or to ask questions.
• Programs still open: There’s room in Winter Fit (12 weeks, Thursdays) and Early Season Tune-ups (2 weeks skate / 2 weeks classic). Electronic biathlon 4-week programs run for adults and youth (fees and membership requirements apply), and our Skills Development youth programs still have openings in Bunnyrabbits, Jackrabbits, and Nordic Cruisers. Need financial help? Families can apply to KidSport BC for grants (up to $400 per child per year) at https://kidsportcanada.ca/british-columbia/.
• Dawn Mountain Dust Off: Our new season kick-off weekend (“Get Your Glide On”) is filling fast — only a few spots remain. Details and registration: https://goldennordicclub.ca/events/dawn-mountain-dust-off.
• Chalet rentals: The Chalet is available for private events — great for family gatherings or staff parties. Rates and booking info: https://goldennordicclub.ca/chalet-rental.
• Mark your calendar: The 28th Huckleberry Loppet runs Feb. 7–8 — a beloved community event drawing skiers from across BC and Alberta. Volunteer, race, or spectate!
A huge thanks to all volunteers, partner organizations, and donors who chipped in this fall — from trail brushing and rock clearing to equipment donations and heavy-lifting help. Your efforts make Dawn Mountain a safe, welcoming place to ski, learn, and connect.
We look forward to seeing you at Dawn Mountain this winter — whether you come for a casual ski with friends, a program, an event, or to rent the Chalet. See you on the tracks!
