The Rideau Winter Trail sign, comprised of old skis and crafted by board member Stuart Inglis, can be found along the cross-country ski trail. Photo Supplied
Martha Jeacle
With the winter season comes the re-opening of the Rideau Winter Trail (RWT), a free urban trail groomed for cross country skiing (both skate and classic), walking, snowshoeing and fat biking. Located in the heart of Ottawa and easily accessible to residents of Old Ottawa East, the RWT currently extends from Donald Street (by the Rideau Sports Centre) to Bank Street in Old Ottawa South – but keep an eye out this winter for news of a pilot or two of extended grooming to Vincent Massey Park (should circumstances and finances allow). This is the fourth season of this popular winter trail, and while it is definitely becoming a fixture across Ottawa communities, there may be a few things about the RWT that people aren’t aware of.
It Takes Time
Grooming the trail from Donald Street to Bank Street can take six hours or more, and there are usually at least two volunteers out preparing the trail. If you are wondering when the trail is groomed, well, there is actually some science involved in this. RWT groomers look at various elements including accumulation of snow, temperature and wind, and pick the best time to hit the trail to ensure great conditions. Often, the best time to groom is very late at night or very early in the morning, so the tracks have time to set before being heavily used. While many of us are sound asleep, the RWT team is outdoors making the magic happen.
Lots of happy trail uses out on the Rideau Winter Trail on a sunny winter day. Photo Supplied
Off Season Activity
When the snow melts in the spring, the equipment gets put away, but that doesn’t mean that the work stops until the snow arrives again in the winter. There is lots to be done (although RWT organizers do take a break in the summer to recharge batteries and enjoy the warm weather). Fundraising and grant writing takes place year round – as the organization is always looking at ways to get funding for new equipment and to maintain current equipment, and there are also a number of ongoing expenses such as gas to power the machines, insurance, storage containers and more.
In the fall, there are various days of trail preparation, where volunteers get together to spread wood chips (a smoother trail requires less snow), trim brush, update trail layouts and mark grooming hazards that are hard to see in deep snow. It takes lots of work to have everything nicely in place so that when the snow does fall, the trail is in the best possible shape to be groomed.
Old Ottawa East resident and RWT volunteer Stuart Inglis out keeping the trail in great shape for users. Photo Supplied
Run by Volunteers
Were you aware that the Rideau Winter Trail is run entirely by local volunteers? There are no paid staff, and organizers rely on the generous donation of time to bring the trail to life each season. The City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission allow the RWT to use their land, and are very supportive of the initiative, but it is volunteers who plan the trail, groom it, raise the funds to make it happen, market and promote it. RWT volunteers are always looking for people to join in the fun. The RWT volunteers look forward to seeing Ottawans and tourists enjoying the trail this season – it is a great way to enjoy winter!
Wondering what you might be able to do to help? There are lots of options, including shovelling snow, equipment maintenance, grooming the trail, updating the website, fundraising and sponsorship, marketing, community relations and governance (the RWT is an incorporated not for profit). If you’d like to get involved or need more information, email the RWT at rideauwintertrail@gmail.com. To support the trail financially, contributions to the RWT’s GoFundMe aregratefully received.
