Sharing winter trails may get easier in the future

(File photo courtesy of Ted & Nancy Sojka)

Cross country skiing enthusiasts can take advantage of five different trails in Decorah-- Trout Run Trail , Palisades Park, Van Peenan Park and two trails at Luther College.  But many of the trails are used not only by cross country skiers, but by walkers and bike riders and other winter exercisers.  Not only that, but cross country skiing now can be done on the traditional tracked trails, but also using skis to "skate" down a trail.

Decorah Park-Rec Director Andy Rimrod says the idea is to try to have the trails be "multi-use."  That can present some challenges, however, as walkers and cross country skating skiers find it difficult to share the same trail—and horse riders present another set of problems.

Park-Rec officials have begun to discuss buying a new trail groomer that would change the way the trails are groomed and, it is hoped, would make it easier to share the trails.  The groomer would create two cross country skiing tracks next to one another.  That would allow the rest of the trails to have a center area for cross country skating and the left side of the trail for walkers and other trail users.

Any new groomer would be ready in time for next winter's activities at the earliest.  But Park-Rec officials are optimistic they can somehow find the funds to buy the new groomer.