If thereSA国际影视传媒檚 one image that captures the road ahead for Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 Ski Club, itSA国际影视传媒檚 Chuck Lirette standing next to a giant ice block.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 6 feet tall so itSA国际影视传媒檚 close to that in height and very heavy. About ten by ten feet in diametre,SA国际影视传媒� said Lirette, Trail Supervisor at the Hay River the Ski Club. SA国际影视传媒淚t actually took out the sign for the Brendan Green trail,SA国际影视传媒�

The giant snow rock is representative of the devastation the recent floods had on the Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 ski trials and the clean up ahead.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now itSA国际影视传媒檚 too wet and too muddy to survey the damage. It will take a while to get through the snarls of trees, until we get in there and see the true extent, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 not much we can do until things can dry.SA国际影视传媒�

The Ski Club has around 160 members and also hosts day-pass groups and tourists.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur trails have sustained some significant damage. They sit 50 feet off the river and int between is brush. All the ice and water pushed the brush onto the trails. In some places the brush now sits up to 14 feet height,SA国际影视传媒� said Lirette.

Lirette said Club applied to the GNWT for funding to assist with the clean and have been denied.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 no assistance available to us for now as recreational trials donSA国际影视传媒檛 qualifySA国际影视传媒� we are hoping to organise work parties with our membership, a few guys with chainsaws to get in there. We will slowly work.SA国际影视传媒�

The clean up is estimated to start mid-summer when the trail dries out SA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒渋t will be be volunteer commitment,SA国际影视传媒� said Lirette.

For now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not safe to walk around the area. SA国际影视传媒淲ith the standing water itSA国际影视传媒檚 slippery and muddy. They are not passable the way they are. Even the golf course has not opened with all the water.SA国际影视传媒�

Located 12 kilometres south of Hay River, the ski trail extend 15 kilometres SA国际影视传媒� five kilometres of which are illuminated.

The Brendan Green and Solitude Trails cross over the river and the Ricardo Pool Trial are most effected.

SA国际影视传媒淭he last 600 or 700 metres of the Ricardo loop is parallel to the river and itSA国际影视传媒檚 really bad there. You couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 even walk through it,SA国际影视传媒� said Lirette. SA国际影视传媒淭he best way to describe it is a SA国际影视传媒榮narlSA国际影视传媒� - dirftwood, trees, willows, ice, and mud.SA国际影视传媒�

Ashley Coombs, the clubSA国际影视传媒檚 youth co-ordinator visited the Ricordo Pool Trail recently and said it is broken in several places.

SA国际影视传媒淭he trees have been pushed in by the river. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 definitely sections of it you canSA国际影视传媒檛 get through at all. I wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 recommend walking through right now.SA国际影视传媒�

Lirette agrees: SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 trying to find the words: it donSA国际影视传媒檛 look so good,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e basically on our own to reclaim our trails.SA国际影视传媒�