The Osguthorpe family is opening the farm on Old Ranch Road to cross-country skiers this Saturday. KPCW’s Emily Means reports.
Cross-country skiers have the chance to ski the Osguthorpe Farm from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 12. Summit Land Conservancy Executive Director Cheryl Fox asks that participants park at Willow Creek, and the organization will shuttle people to the farm. Fox says this parcel of land lends itself well to cross-country skiing.
“I’m a downhill skier, I’ve been a downhill skier most of my life—I do not know how to stop those cross-country skis when I’m coming down hill and round valley. It’s always a little bit harrowing, and the dog gets in the way," Fox said. "On the land we’re going to have open this Saturday, it’s flat, and it’s a great opportunity for people to come out and see what might be possible out there.”
The Summit Land Conservancy has about $1.6 million to raise to preserve the Osguthorpe Farm. With the federal government shutdown, Fox says the March deadline outlined in the cooperative agreement might be in flux, though the conservancy is still pushing to finish the transaction by that time.
“We’re still working through with our partners at the federal government. They just are kind of understaffed in the first place, so it’s just hard for them to always meet the deadlines that are required by their own cooperative agreement," Fox said. "So, we’re moving forward in anticipation of that.”
The Mountain Trails Foundation has groomed the property for Saturday’s event, which is free and open to the public.