Shawangunk Nordic Ski Association is a club that’s been promoting cross-country skiing in the Gunks area (New Paltz, Gardiner, etc). Some of the attentiveness to grooming at Minnewaska has been due in part to the support of SNSA.

Now the club has gotten grants from Fischer Sports and the Open Space Institute toward grooming the 6- mile River to Ridge trail that runs from New Paltz up to the Gunks and Mohonk trail systems (R2R Facebook site). The trail has been open just a year. For more, see the article at HudsonValley1.

Grants alone aren’t enough to support grooming, so they need additional funds. Mountain Brauhaus (the restaurant at the intersection of 299 and 44/55 at the foot of the cliffs) is offering a matching grant. For more info, see the SNSA Facebook site from Dec. 27, and donate at the SNSA website.

Some text from the post on mhvxcs:

Many of you enjoyed skiing the River to Ridge Trail a few weeks ago when OSI was able to groom the trail. This event, however, was merely a test run – the equipment is now stationed at Minnewaska State Park Preserve, where it resides each winter.

The Fischer Access & Engagement Grant is the catalyst that will allow us to offer free, groomed nordic skiing access. We hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to the cause.

Shawangunk Nordic Ski Association

Imagine taking an easy 6-mile ski from New Paltz up to the Gunks, skiing around the cliffs, having a snack, then skiing back to town for lunch or early dinner? What could be better?

Get in a last-minute donation now before 2020, and benefit all cross-country skiers in the lower Hudson valley.