THUNDER BAY — The committee overseeing the Sleeping Giant Loppet is to meet on Sunday to "discuss options" as the prospect of a second consecutive winter with little snow on the ground looms.
The popular cross-country skiing event that normally occurs a few weeks before spring is held at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park just east of Thunder Bay.
Currently, there "are low snow conditions at (the park)," loppet event spokesman Peter Gallagher said on Thursday.
This year's loppet is set for March 1. The event, which has been held since 1978, typically attracts about 900 skiers in various categories.
The 2024 loppet was cancelled due to a lack of snow during one of the mildest Northwestern Ontario winters in memory.
The decision to halt the 2024 event was made at the beginning of February.
Gallagher said at the time the decision had to be final because preparations can't be carried out at the last minute, even if sufficient snow does arrive, say, a week or two before the planned event date.
Gallagher said he expects to unveil a plan regarding the current loppet on Monday.
According to Environment Canada, snow was in the forecast for Thursday night and Sunday in the Thunder Bay area, but significant amounts were not being predicted.
The city received 33.5 millimetres of rain and snow combined in December, about four millimetres below normal for that month, according to Environment Canada data.
Up to 20 centimetres of snow is being forecasted this weekend by Environment Canada.
The Chronicle-Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
