THUNDER BAY -- Most cross-country ski trails in the Thunder Bay area are temporarily shut down because of the combination of recent mild weather and the rain that fell on Monday.
The exception is the Lappe Nordic area, where conditions were still being described on Tuesday morning as "pretty good," with a 4-to-6 inch base. No grooming is being done there for now, however, in order to keep water from being squeezed to the surface.
But Peter Crooks, manager of Thunder Bay Nordic trails, says the weather "has knocked things down quite a bit" at Kamview, Kakabeka Falls and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, so the trails in those areas are all closed pending a return to more seasonal weather later in the week.
"My guess is we could have some trails open by Thursday, and Friday, for sure, at the latest," Crooks said.
The annual Sleeping Giant Loppet is scheduled for March 4. Crooks said despite the current conditions on the Sibley Peninsula, "we've got this week and next week to work on that. We have very minimal base, but barring any more rainstorms and plus 10 (temperatures) we'll be fine" for the loppet.
