Dear Editor
On Saturday, November 18, 2017, 22 volunteers responded to my call for help from as far as Quyon, Otter Lake, Sand Bay and Shawville in order to prepare the trails for the coming season. Most of them arrived at 10:00 under a cloudy sky and chilling winds but with great enthusiasm.

They broke up into groups with their tools, a tractor, chainsaws, wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes and clippers to clear/clean/cut felled trees across approximately 15 km of ski/snowshoe trails.
The job was enormous. Some chose to fill their wheelbarrows with wood chips and fill the dips, the hollows and the depressions in the trails. Others were involved in repositioning two platforms that shifted as a result of spring runoff and heavy rains this past summer. A brutal and tough job especially in the cold and freezing rain but they got the job done with great success. Refreshments were served afterwards in appreciation for their hard work.
A sincere thank you goes out to all of these very special people who came to 31 Pine Lodge Road with a very positive response and ready to work. A special thanks goes out to the Kelly Bros., David and Dan, who delivered two loads of wood chips so that we could get the job done.
You have made a difference in the Pontiac so that we can all enjoy another beautiful winter. Thank you.
On behalf of Ski Pontiac organization, I wish to express a thank you to all volunteers who have participated in the past and continue to participate to make this magical cross-country skiing and snowshoeing gem an exciting experience in the beautiful Pontiac County not only for the residents of the Pontiac but for tourists who come to visit the Pontiac. Your contribution is making a difference.

Connie Renaud, Co-ordinator,
Ski Pontiac, Bristol, Que.