Hello this comment is in…

Hello this comment is in regard to the proposed conservation reserve encompassing the Kolapore Uplands. During the 1990's I frequently used the wilderness trail system there for skiing. It was at the time a truly unique resource in the breadth and variety of scenery and skiable terrain. While I also skied at commercial areas with trail grooming in those years, I no longer remember the days I spent on those trails. Yet I continue to have a number of crystal clear memories about the Kolapore skiing. I would assume that these ski trails would continue to operate and not be affected by the proposed change of designation, as the activity seems to be compatible with a conservation agenda.

A interesting aspect of the Kolapore network winter usage is the skiing-only policy. The essential nature of the narrow winding trails, that were originally designed and built by skiers, means it is not possible to designate parallel skiing and snowshoeing lanes. And if there are not separate lanes, then snowshoeing is not compatible with skiing on those trails.

I have a good perspective on this, because in recent years I have become involved with the social trails in the Don Valley of Toronto. These trails were originally designed and built by a single user group (cyclists), similar to how the Kolapore trails were by skiers. However, in the summertime context these dirt trails are 100% compatible with other uses than cycling, and so they function ideally when shared between user groups. It just doesn't work that way in the winter at Kolapore however. If the property is re-designated as a conservation reserve, and it is possible to maintain winter trails as an approved use, then I recommend they continue to be designated as skiing-only.