With yearly membership fees that can amount to less than a one-day lift ticket at a downhill ski destination, it's no wonder the Castlegar Nordic Ski Club is going strong.
According to spokesperson/registrar Greg Richards, the club which had been holding steady in recent years at about 500 members, has jumped in the last couple of years to the 700 mark, about half from Castlegar.
A Saturday event at the Castlegar Community Complex was set up for welcoming new and old members, and providing an opportunity for an equipment exchange.
With approximately 45 km of packed and tracked ski trails ranging from beginner to advanced levels, the Castlegar Ski Club hosts approximately 15,000 to 20,000 visitors every season to these trails. There are trails for everyone including an additional 8.5 kms of untracked trails for the super advanced skier, and an 8 km circular route from Mud Lake to the Ben Shaw cabin that is ideal for young families and for the beginners.