- Blackstrap Ski Hill
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For other uses, see Blackstrap (disambiguation).
Mount Blackstrap in 2007
Blackstrap Ski Hill, (also known as "Mount Blackstrap") is a man-made skiing and snowboarding hill located 30 minutes south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada east of Highway 11, the Louis Riel Trail. It is one of only a few man-made mountains in the world. It is a unique feature on Saskatchewan's prairie landscape.[1] It is now a feature of the Blackstrap Provincial Park along with Blackstrap Lake. It rises 45 metres above the surrounding land.[2]
Contents
History
The hill was built in 1970 by the Canadian government for the 1971 Canada Winter Games at a height of 2,045 feet above sea level.[3] The mountain is built with soil excavated from the escarpment behind the "mountain". The theme for the Saskatoon bid for the 1971 Canada Games was "Going to build a mountain" in honor of the construction of the hill.
After the Canada Winter Games, the ski hill was turned over to a private operator. However, the hill was closed permanently in 2008 due to declining ridership.[4] The ski lodge was destroyed by a suspicious fire in September 2009.[5] A month later, the provincial government announced that the remaining ski equipment at the hill would be dismantled and sold.[6]
Future plans
The Saskatchewan Government is currently considering a variety of options for re-appointing the site, including the creation of the Saskatchewan Nordic Centre. This facility would mirror the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park located in Canmore, Alberta. The site could feature trails and facilities for cross-country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing and mountain biking.
References
- ^ "Downhill Skiing". Virtual Saskatchewan. http://www.virtualsk.com/guides/winter/downhill_skiing.html. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "Blackstrap Provincial Park". Government of Saskatchewan. http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/Blackstrap. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- ^ "Mount Blackstrap settles into its new home Saskatoon Star Phoenix". The StarPhoenix. CanWest. October 20, 1970. p. 4. http://library2.usask.ca/sni/stories/beg35.html. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "No takers on Mount Blackstrap ski hill". CBC News. February 6, 2008. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2008/02/06/blackstrap-ski.html. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "RCMP investigating Saskatoon fires". CBC News. September 21, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/09/21/saskatchewan-investigation-fire.html. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "Blackstrap ski facility to be dismantled". CBC News. October 16, 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/10/16/sk-blackstrap-closure091016.html. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
External links
Coordinates: 51°46′30″N 106°26′46″W / 51.775°N 106.44611°W
Categories:- Dundurn No. 314, Saskatchewan
- Ski areas and resorts in Saskatchewan
- Saskatchewan geography stubs
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