Facility upgrade to make for better racing venue at local mountain
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Don Murphy Construction, TA Down Construction, Tony Lawrence, Mark Hannah, and Jim Holt, construction on the foundation and the platform for the new yurt at McCauley Mountain is well underway.
Dave Schneeburger, left, and Don Murphy prepare the foundation for McCauley's new yurt. Photo by Dana Armington
The yurt will arrive sometime between November 21 and December 1, said Will Hollister, Polar Bear Ski Club representative and coordinator of the project.
Once the yurt arrives, Hollister invites volunteers to participate in a work weekend to help with its installation, and build and arrange the interior lockers.
The addition of a yurt to McCauley Mountain came from a need to house the countless racers who come to compete at McCauley, the home mountain for the Polar Bear and Mohawk Valley Ski Clubs.
And the yurt will be arriving just in time.
This year, McCauley Mountain will play host to the famed Kandahar Festival Ski Race. The three-day race is scheduled to take place between February 24 and 26, 2012 and is expected to bring hundreds of racers, their families, coaches and friends to the area.
“The race will have a huge impact on us as a ski destination,” said McCauley Mountain Manager, Steve Uzdavinis. Hollister also believes that the completion of the yurt will be a great asset to the McCauley Mountain community.
“The whole intent of the Ski Club and the yurt is to get kids involved in skiing. It’s a sport for life, and through that you can’t help but develop long-term friendships and learn responsibility while you are out there having fun,” he said.
The Polar Bear Ski Club is currently conducting fundraisers to support the purchase of the yurt.
A spaghetti dinner was held on November 10, and on Saturday, November 26, during the Adirondack Christmas on Main Street event, Ozzie’s in Old Forge will conduct a fundraising BBQ.
Tickets for a raffle for a week’s stay in Lake Placid are $10 each and available for purchase at Holly Woodworking and Ozzie’s. The drawing will be held on Sunday, November 27.
A raffle for an original painting of McCauley Mountain by local artist Mike Farmer will be on-going through the end of the ski season.
The painting is currently on display at Ozzie’s. Tickets are also $10 and can be purchased at either Ozzie’s or Holly Woodworking.
Anyone who would like to make a donation to help the Polar Bears can send it to: Friends of the Polar Bears, P.O. Box 544, Old Forge, NY 13420.
The club is also seeking volunteers and sponsors for the Kandahar Festival.
Those who are interested in volunteering their time are asked to contact Hollister at (315) 369-5505.
Sponsorship application forms for the season will also be made available on the Polar Bear Ski Club website: polarbearskiclub.org.
