The new Mount Riley Road sledding hill is cleared of stumps, smoothed out, and ready to go. The only thing missing is snow.
In May 2014, the Haines Borough Assembly agreed to put $8,000 toward the creation of a sledding hill running parallel to Mount Riley Road. The project also required use of a tract of borough land about 100 feet wide and 1,200 feet long.
Public facilities director Brad Ryan said local logger Scott Rossman cleared the hill in exchange for the firewood, Whiterock pulled the stumps and Turner Construction donated time and equipment to smooth out the hill, remove boulders and put up a berm so sledders don’t veer off into trees.
Delta Western also donated 200 gallons of fuel for the equipment.
Creation of the hill was prompted by development of the Turners’ residence at the top of the road. The road itself had traditionally been used for sledding and skiing because it was steep, unplowed and unsanded. Development of the residence changed the plowing and sanding situation.
“We are really excited to be seeing kids in the neighborhood,” said Stacie Turner. “With both our kids away in college, that’s something we’ve really missed.”
Initial plans for the hill called for parking areas at the top and bottom, but those spaces likely won’t be developed beyond smoothing out the spots next season, Ryan said.
“There’s a little bit of a parking area at the bottom, but it needs to firm up a bit. It was pretty mucky when they pulled the stumps,” he said.
During discussions of the sledding hill in 2014, talk of a rope tow to haul users up the hill emerged, but that’s not in the plans right now, Ryan said.
“As far as I know, it’s completely done. We might improve the parking next summer, but there is no plan for a rope tow or any other development,” he said.