Cold snap means Winnipeg's river skating trail will open after all

The frigid weather in Winnipeg has saved the Forks river trail.

Just one week ago,there was concern the trail wouldn't openthis winter at alldue to mild temperatures and open sections of water.

• Winnipeg's river trail in jeopardy of not opening this winter
• The Forks river trails, skating rink nowhere near ready thanks to mild weather

The recent stretch of glacialweather, however,is just what river trail organizers needed.

Crews are out flooding areas around the harbour and getting a start onmaking a trailsouth along the Red River to theNorwoodBridge,saidKristinPauls, a spokesperson withThe Forks North Portage Partnership, which owns and managesThe Forks.

"Thanks to this gloriously cold weather that we have been having they're really excited about it. They're starting to lay a really good foundation in terms of flooding and making the ice grow a little bit," she said.

"We've got to get it pretty thick so that the guys can get more equipment onto the ice."

Once the trail is complete to the bridge, crews will evaluate how thick the ice is in other parts and decide if the trail can be extended elsewhere.

Pauls hopes to know within a week when people can get out and start skating.