 The Lapham Peak Friends, in cooperation with the WI DNR & community businesses, have embarked on an ambitious $750,000 project to enhance and expand winter recreational activities at Lapham Peak. When completed, the application of man-made snow will extend the ski season and improve the quality of the snow base for trail users.
A special fund has been established for the snowmaking project within the Lapham Peak Friends organization. A donation of any amount is appreciated; moreover, special recognition will be given to donors of $100 & up. Fundraising begain in October 2005. Four months later, through the supreme efforts of a dedicted park manager, Ed Muzik, the Friends of Lapham Peak Snowmaking Committee, and key donations, the first man-made snow hit the trail at the Peak. Using equipment borrowed from the DNR, high pressure pumps pushed water through firehoses to the snowguns . A pump house erected by an area high school class added a base of operations and major electrical hookups for the portable snowguns helped make snow piles for the Snow Cat to move around. Over $60,000 in Phase 1 donations enabled our dream to become a reality. Phase 2 of the 4-phase project included digging a pond for a cold water source. We now have the pond and are working on putting pipes around the first part of the system. A $3000 donation will buy a section of underground piping.
Phase 2 includes construction of a .83 acre 10 foot deep pond for a cold water source, adding more snow guns, and electrical supply plug-ins, burying pipes and extending the snow-covered trail. Phase 1 & 2 goal reflected below
Phase 3: 2 Kilometers of lighted trail with man made snow
Phase 4: 4 Kilometers of lighted trail with man-made snow
Lapham Peak Friends is a 501©3 non-profit organization, founded in 1988. The Friends have successfully completed a lighted ski trail, handicapped accessible trail, and many matching fund projects. Lapham Peak with its location in the state’s major population center, its lighted ski trails, its proximity to I-94 and its regional reputation for skiing make it a good candidate for snowmaking.
The successful completion of this project will help to secure Lapham Peak’s place as the premier cross country skiing destination in SE Wisconsin.
For more information contact Sandy Sugden, chairperson Snowmaking committee rsugden@wi.rr.com or Ed Muzik, Jr, Lapham Peak Property Manager at Edward.MuzikJr@Wisconsin.gov. For our current fundraiser, go to http://www.active.com More information on Lapham Peak and major fundraising projects is available at: www.laphampeakfriends.org. and http://thesimplesecrets.com/Lapham/
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