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Dakota Ridge: a winter wonderland

Editor: Wow - we have had more snow for this time of year than I can remember. Dakota Ridge has become less a local secret and more of a destination.

Editor:

Wow - we have had more snow for this time of year than I can remember.

Dakota Ridge has become less a local secret and more of a destination. People are now coming to the Coast for a weekend where they can ski or snowshoe up at Dakota, then go mountain biking on the lower elevation trails. The new groomed sliding zone is always busy on weekends. Our local restaurants and accommodations are starting to see the impact.

The volunteer groomers and hosts work long, hard hours from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on to make this a reality. The road crew have been putting in some overtime as well and have had to deal with vandals breaking into their vehicles and mechanical issues.

We can all help alleviate the congestion issues by putting chains on as soon as you see snow and not when you're in the ditch or blocking the road sideways.

If you don't have chains, please just park at the top of Field Road and stick your thumb out. You will not be waiting long, I promise.

If you're flexible time-wise, go up before 10 a.m. and come down before 3 p.m. Those are the busiest times on the road.

To those of you with large 4x4 trucks who think chains are unnecessary, please be aware you can slide sideways too, and you're much more difficult to get out of the two-metre ditch.

Remember the golden rule to give way to traffic coming down; there are lots of pullouts for you.

See you on the Ridge!

Sue Duxbury, Gibsons