The municipality is teaming up with a logging company to increase the number of runs at the Pass Powderkeg.
Local contractor, Dale Linderman will be logging terrain in and around the Blairmore ski hill this summer and he’s agreed to widen existing runs and create new runs at no cost to the municipality.
“He’s doing it as a service to the community,” said Lyle Hannan, director of Community Services. “As long as there was no cost to us and there was an opportunity to make new runs, we were interested.”
Logging would occur on both municipal and ESRD leased land. The harvested wood would be hauled off the hill and through Blairmore’s centre access. Ski hill society members and volunteers would work with Linderman to mark out areas to be cleared.

The logging and clean up would occur between September and November.
Linderman would use a portion of the harvested lumber to cover his costs but would donate the rest to the Pass Powderkeg Ski Society.
At a meeting on June 16, council approved the plan, which also calls for using the donated proceeds to help replace the lower t-bar with a magic carpet lift. The money will also be used to purchase signage and cover other costs associated with developing the new runs, which would be opened after all preparations are completed.
According to a municipal release, a magic carpet lift would improve access to the upper t-bar and the lodge area.
The plan would also minimize the impact to United Riders of Crowsnest (UROC) trails, which crisscross the mountain.