Some members of Norpine Trail Association thanking Maureen and Michael O’Phelan of Cascade Lodge for the donation of the Pisten Bully. (L-R) Maureen and Michael O’Phelan, Bob Pranis, Pete Harris, Jerry Lilja, Mark Delamater. The Pisten Bully is essential for grooming trails in very deep snow and in restoring trails that have become crusty and iced over.
Michael and Maureen O’Phelan, owners of Cascade Lodge, have donated their Pisten Bully cross country (XC) ski trail groomer to the Norpine Trail Association. The Pisten Bully is essential for grooming trails in very deep snow and in restoring trails that have become crusty and iced over.
In 2009 Norpine Trail Association was formed as a volunteer-run nonprofit organization. The Norpine Trail Association is currently responsible for grooming the entire 57 Km of XC ski trails that extend east from the Lutsen Skill Hill Road (including the Hall-Massie Loops and trails above Solbakken Resort) to the Cascade River and north on the trails above Cascade Lodge to the Deer Yard Loops.
Michael O’Phelan, an avid XC skier, hopes the gift helps to ensure that the Norpine XC Ski trails are maintained into the future regardless of the ownership of Cascade Lodge and Solbakken Resort.
This summer Norpine Trail Association will be building a storage garage for the Pisten Bully and all of its other equipment on a site at Cascade Lodge leased to it by the O’Phelans.
Norpine Trail Association has been fortunate to get grants from the DNR along with financial support from members and the business community for purchasing its other equipment.
Leave a Reply