Cross country teams work to improve trails around Inter-Lakes

MEREDITH ― Surrounding Inter-Lakes Middle High School are a myriad of trails. Some are in current use and some are fading into obscurity. These trails can take walkers and runners through time. With little initiative, one could find forgotten vehicles and machinery of Meredith in days gone by. Without venturing too far afield, the bones of the ski jump are easily discovered. The forest is alive, active, and reclaiming what once was, except for a small, yet intrepid, group of athletes and volunteers.

Dan Harris, of RealGreen Solutions, Bill Doten, of Doten’s Landscaping, and the Inter-Lakes Athletic Booster Club, an organization dedicated to boosting school spirit and involvement, have worked with the cross-country coaches, Steve Olafsen and Tim Hayman, to upgrade and improve the trails around the middle and high school for everyone’s enjoyment. On Saturday, Sept. 13, work began to widen and harden the treadways in current use by all teams and neighboring pedestrians. The Brassard family lent their machinery and expertise to level out some notoriously tricky terrain while Andy Cartier donated his time and tractor to define the pathways that Harris and Doten cleared of roots. Meanwhile, with shovels and rakes, middle school team members and friends, cleared drainage and debris for the coming season.

For years, Varsity Cross-Country Coach Steve Olafsen single handedly sought to maintain the trails around the school by hand; an overwhelming task against the force of nature. Now, with support from volunteers and donations of material from local businesses like Ambrose Bros., the trails are taking strides toward being reflective of the Laker community. Work is continuing while material and volunteers continue to give freely of their time and efforts. 

The first cross-country races are during Homecoming week with the middle school hosting on Sept. 30, followed by the high school on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Reach out to middle school coach Tim Hayman at tim.hayman@interlakes.org to support further development of the trails around the Laker campus with time, materials or donations.