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THE PIPPY PARK CROSS-COUNTRY SKI TRAILS
For the skiing enthusiast. Pippy Park offers a very exciting network of cross-country ski trails throughout the Three Pond Barrens. To view the trail system, click here. They start on the west side of the upper part of Nagles Hill above Exit 46 on the Trans Canada Highway (Outer Ring Road). The series of "one way" trail loops gives skiers a choice of distances they wish to ski. The longest trail is a little over 8 km. long and passes by Big Pond, Middle Pond and Left Pond. The shortest loop is about 1.5 km. A two-way extension of these trails continues west from the log shelter located at the furthest point on the loops, and continues past the former Parkers Pond Department of National Defence transmitter site towards Windsor Lake. It ends up where Thorburn Road passes close by Windsor Lake, a little before you get to the Rotary Sunshine Park. This trail will give a total round trip distance of 13 or 14 km. 
The narrow trails are not groomed or maintained; skiers use them at their own risk and they are not recommended for beginners, but they do make a wonderful afternoon adventure when snow conditions are right. When you have snow such as this winter (2001) conditions have been the best in many years for skiing in the park. There have been hundreds of skiers up there every day and all have big smiles on their faces. Everyone has a cheerful comment about the great time they are having when they greet each other.
The ski trail system was laid out and cut in close cooperation and with the assistance of the St. John's Cross Country Ski Club, 12 to 15 years ago. The extension which originally went all the way to the Rotary Sunshine Park was done in partnership with the City of St. John's Parks and Recreation Department in about 1988. The trails were not designed for competitive "skate type" skiing. They are too narrow and twisting to be groomed but they are full of surprises and excitement. They mostly go through wooded areas so that the maximum amount of snow will be retained for the longest time possible, but when you come out into the open barrens on a sunny day in the middle of winter it is a truly unforgettable experience. Rabbit, squirrel and moose tracks are commonly seen and there is a good chance of seeing a snowy owl. The trails are marked with plastic arrows, yellow for the outward bound trails and red for the return trails, but this was done some years ago so some of the markers may be missing since the trails have not been used much since the last good snowy winter! The trail to Thorburn Road has been well marked with blue arrows. Warning! If the snow is icy, the narrow twisting hills can be quite treacherous. Do not set out to ski late in the afternoon, it is easy to get lost and the trails are not safe to use after dark. Always remember with the weight of snow on the tree branches there may be fallen trees or other hidden hazards; so ski with caution and ski at your own risk. Maps of the trails are available at the Pippy Park Headquarters, at Mount Scio House. Good skiing for beginners and competitive skiers is very popular in the trailer park. There are some lights on at night but there have been electrical problems so not all the loops are well lighted. Many people ski on the Grand Concourse walkway around Long Pond. They should be extra careful to avoid the hundreds of walkers who are still walking the trails in spite of the winter snow! For more information you can visit www.wolverinecom.nf.ca
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