With winter approaching, seasonal work is winding down on the stage-by-stage development of Ranney Hill Trail, a former prospecting passage just outside of Yellowknife thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been reimagined as a multi-use area for gold diggers, dog walkers and educators alike.

The trail, once a hotspot for 1930s and 40s-era gold-seekers, including its namesake Winslow Ranney, has been reworked over the last three years to accommodate recreational users SA国际影视传媒� from tourists to bird watchers SA国际影视传媒� along with prospectors and students.

The ongoing project is made possible by the concerted efforts of about a dozen community organizations, led by the Mining Training Society and TerraX Minerals SA国际影视传媒� some of the groups that form a working committee heading the trailSA国际影视传媒檚 development.

With the help of volunteers, the committee SA国际影视传媒� funded by businesses and the North Slave branch of the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) department SA国际影视传媒� has added several features to the trail over the last few years, with an overall aim to make the area more user-friendly for all those passing through.

For David Connelly, a local mining consultant, the project is an example of outside-the-box thinking from community groups and volunteers.

SA国际影视传媒淓veryone has come together,SA国际影视传媒� said Connelly on the development of the trail, which remains an active prospecting site for TerraX.

This season, benches SA国际影视传媒� built by St. Patrick High School students at the
Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre SA国际影视传媒� and a boardwalk were installed along Ranney Hill Trail.

Acasta HeliFlight Inc. played a large role in shipping the materials to the site.

The work was done by volunteers from local groups SA国际影视传媒� from Yellowknife Scouts to the citySA国际影视传媒檚 ski club SA国际影视传媒� who received donations from the committee in exchange for each hour worked along the trail.

This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 progress follows the implementation of a parking area, signs and gravel added last year, part of a bid to bolster the trailSA国际影视传媒檚 interpretive features.

Use of the trail continues to grow year by year, said Connelly.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 frequented by tourists, lovers of the outdoors and students.

An Aurora College prospecting course routinely brings post-secondary students to the trail, and the area has seen influx of visits from elementary students as part of their science and geology curriculum each year, Connelly told Yellowknifer.

The mixed usage of the trail is exactly what Connelly and the committee had hoped for.
SA国际影视传媒淭he aim is to demonstrate that trails donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to be single-use,SA国际影视传媒� said Connelly.
Connelly said Ranney HillSA国际影视传媒檚 popularity as a site for recreation, tourism, prospecting and education has proven trails donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to be limited to one specific use.

Connelly expects this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 round of additions to the trail to wind down at the end of the month.

After that, work will continue next year.

The committee plans to add a trailhead sign at the Ranney Hill Trail in 2020.

That addition will coincide with the planned launch of an interpretative app to guide trail users, said Connelly.