Looking for winter? Wells has you covered… in snow! Nestled in the Cariboo Mountains at an altitude of 1,200 m (3,900 ft), Wells is a perfect ski escape. Groomed by the Wells and Area Trails Society (WATS), the cross-country ski trails are accessible right from town. Park your car, leave your cell phone (as there is no service) and prepare for a quiet ski. Lose yourself to the sound of your skis gliding through the forest.
The Meadow Trails and Moose Island Loop provide an easy, flat route for beginners or for those who want a quick jaunt to see views you can’t get in the summer months – this part of the trail network is on top of a wetland. If you’re looking for something a little longer and more adventurous, hit the Coronado Road or the slightly more challenging A-Loop. There are a couple of lovely shelters providing areas to stop and take a photo or have a snack. Want more? Climb the Cornish Mountain Road. There is enough trail per capita that you can go all day without seeing another skier. This is an expanding trail network: the B and C-Loops are ready for snowshoe and nordic-touring traffic, and more trails are being scoped out this season!
If you come out to enjoy the trails, please kindly make a donation for trail maintenance at the box on the “Aluminum Bridge” (you’ll know it when you see it). For all you bike riders, stop in at the Bread Peddler on Tuesday evenings for some fresh wood-fired sourdough bread. One of the bakers is also the local bike mechanic, bike-part artist, and ski-trail groomer, so stop in and tell him how much you enjoyed the trails.
Wells may not have the most creative trail or bridge names, but it does have some of the most creative events. True to Wells’ unique character, the annual WATS fund-raiser in February is the popular and colourful Wells International Gourmet Ski. This event takes you around the cross-country trail network where volunteers offer up delectable international food treats at decorative stations. Bonus treat baskets encourage skiers to visit the farther reaches of the trail network. Prizes are given: no, not for finishing first, but for having the best costume! This is a great event and sells out every year. It is already sold out for 2017, so watch out in early 2018 for your next opportunity.
Margaret Inoue, CMBC Rep Wells