Tom Osland fills dirt around a new light pole while working with Bill Holt and Dan Skipwith on the Tsalteshi Trails network behind Skyview High School earlier this week. The Tsalteshi Trails Association is using money from grants to improve the trails, which are popular with skiers in the winter and hikers and mountain bikers in the summer.
Skipwith, Osland and Holt fill dirt around one of the poles, which will hold lights to illuminate more of the trails.
Story last updated at 10/16/2009 - 1:39 pm
Grant funds used for trail improvements, lighting
Recreationists at the Tsalteshi Trails system may have noticed some construction upgrades being made, and more are still to come.
"We're excited about them, but some of the changes may not be apparent until the snow falls and the grooming begins," said Tsalteshi Trails Association board member Sara Hepner.
The Tsalteshi Trails Association has been grubbing trees and widening trails after receiving funds from two Department of Natural Resources Alaska Trails Initiative grants, and a Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation Recreational Trails Grant Program.
"The Alaska Trails Initiative money is also being used for trail improvements and putting in poles for lighting," Hepner said. "It will be a complete lighting project."
The Moose and Wolverine Trails were already lit up, and through this grant the Blue Bayou, Beaver and Raven Trails will also get illumination, possibly this winter, bring the number of lit trails to five.
"The poles are already in and the light and wiring are ordered and due in this week so that hopefully everything can get buried before freeze up," Hepner said.
There is no plan to light all trails though, she added.
"Six are unlit and that's important as well because some people enjoy skiing by moonlight," she said.
The improvement work will be done and paid for in two phases, with phase one of the project costing $146,647, of which the Alaska Trails Initiative money will cover $100,000 with the rest being made up in matching funds and/or labor by the Tsalteshi Trails Association.
The second phase of the project will cost $101,000. The Alaska Trails Initiative money will cover $74,000 with the rest again being made up in matching funds and/or labor by the Tsalteshi Trails Association.
Funds from the Alaska Trails Initiative grant were also used to develop a youth skiing program, according to Hepner.
"It was eight weeks long for children 6 to 12 years old, and we'll be doing it again this year," she said.
The Recreational Trails Grant Program money will be used to maintain the new and existing trails, according to Hepner. It will cover the cost of a power mower that can be pulled behind a four-wheeler for summer grass cutting, and a snowmachine to aid winter trail grooming. Utilities, fuel, signage, race banners and barricades have also been included.
The total project cost is $54,000 with the grant covering $39,800 and Tsalteshi Trails Association matching the remaining $14,800.
"The city of Soldotna has also committed $10,000 to be used this winter, but we haven't yet decided how that money will be spent," Hepner said, but added utilizing the money to further develop the youth ski program was one possibility.
For more information about the Tsalteshi Trails system, visit their Web site at www.tsalteshi.org.
Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.
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