Friends group raises $29,200 to make snow at Lapham Peak

The latest fund drive by the Friends of Lapham Peak generated $29,280 for improvements to the snow-making operation at the recreation area off Highway C, in the Town of Delafield.

The generosity of local skiers proved to be more of a sure thing than the forecast for snow this past week.

When the Friends group launched the Blizzard Challenge in June, their goal was to match the $10,500 put up by the Blizzard donors. Donations in September and October pumped the total well past the initial goal.

The money will be used to bury water pipe and electrical lines, cover the cost of making snow in the 2011-2012 ski season and start upgrading the pumping system and snow guns.

To date, the Friends group has raised nearly $270,000 and built a system that covers a 1.5-kilometer ski loop with snow.

The reliable snow-cover has been a key factor in the growth of the Peak Nordic Ski Club, the Peak Nordic masters and the number of recreational skiers turning out at Lapham.

Peak Nordic Masters provide free adult ski lessons to about 100 eager participants each Tuesday evening. The Lapham Ladies group and many southeastern Wisconsin skiers use the Wednesday Night Ski League races and the hilly terrain at Lapham Peak as training for the American Birkebeiner marathon ski race.

After the New Year's Eve melt down last season, Lapham's snowmaking provided the only skiing in southeast Wisconsin for nearly two weeks, and skiers in the area had more than 100 days on snow during the winter of 2010-2011.

Donations to the snowmaking effort can be made to the Friends of Lapham Peak, W329 N846 Hwy C, Delafield, Wis. 53018, or online at www.active.com/donate/laphampeaksnowmaking