Friends of Lapham Peak call for an early season, snow-making blizzard

The Friends of Lapham Peak are counting on an early financial blizzard to help build out the snow-making operation that helps draw cross-country skiers to the recreation area in the Town of Delafield.

The Blizzard Challenge started in August and runs through October.

During that time, donations to the snow-making fund will be matched dollar for dollar via a contribution of $10,500 from the dozens of donors already in the Blizzard club. Those skiing enthusiasts have reached that level by contributing $1,000 or more to the fund started in 2005.

To date, the Friends group has raised roughly $240,000 to build a snow-making system that covered a 1.5-kilometer loop in the 2010-'11 ski season. After the New Year's Eve meltdown, skiers turned that loop into something of a roller rink, getting in their workouts on the only snow in the area.

In the next phase, the Friends group plans to extend the pipeline and electricity, add two snow guns and replace the aging snowcat used to spread the snow over the trail. Depending on the snowcat price, the amount needed for those improvements ranges from $130,000 to $247,000.

The long-range plan - snow-making to cover a full five-kilometer loop - would cost a total of $855,000.

Write that check, or smaller ones to Friends of Lapham Peak Blizzard Challenge Match, W329-N846 Highway C, Delafield, WI, 53018.