Ski club still on Umoe land

March 11, 2009

When cross-country skiers went out on some of the local trails this winter they did it on borrowed land.

That's because part of the Miramichi Cross Country Ski Club's trail system winds through land now owned by Umoe Solar.

Ski club president Don Lynch said about 600 acres around the club belong to the solar panel company.

"We don't use all of that land, but a portion of our ski trails are on it."

When Umoe acquired all of UPM's assets around the Miramichi, the land the ski club uses was included in the deal.

Lynch said the club talked to UPM about what would happen when Umoe took over the land to see about transferring it to the club.

"They pretty much told us there was nothing they could do in regards to turning it over to us."

The ski club first started to use the land through a deal they had with Repap and UPM honoured the agreement when they bought the property, he said.

"There's never been any change to what we do."

When he was in Bathurst last week, Umoe spokesman Ernst Andersen said they are in discussions with other companies interested in buying the land.

"No decision has taken up today as to what will happen with that."

Any potential new owner would have to maintain the same agreement UPM had with the ski club, he said.

"It is our will that MCCSC should be able to use the land for their trail system in the years to come."

Andersen said when he was in New Brunswick he thought about using the ski trail himself.

"I didn't have time or the weather condition wasn't right."

He didn't have his skis with him, but did bring all his other equipment, although he didn't get a chance to use any of it, he said.

"But we still have winter, so I would believe I have a chance next time when I'm come to Miramichi."