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Beyer makes most of winter grooming Ghost Town Trail

As a kid, a surge of excitement would flow through Dan Beyer’s veins whenever it snowed.

Raised in a family that cherished outdoor recreation — namely skiing — Beyer grabbed his skis and raced to the slopes at even the slightest sight of snow.

While he still gets just as excited for a winter wonderland as an adult, his task is just a bit different.

Beyer is in charge of grooming 8 miles of the Ghost Town Trail for cross country skiing any time it snows and said he is driven to create those same experiences he had as a kid for others in the community.

“When you live in our area, the choices are to either hibernate in the winter or make the most of it,” Beyer said. “There’s a large community following with skiing in Ebensburg, and I think knowing that love from the community makes this job all the more special. It’s all about the community, family and giving them something they can utilize outdoors.”

Beyer, 44, started volunteering as the trail groomer about two years ago.

According to Beyer, he was “handed the torch” by retired Magisterial District Judge Frederick Creany, who was the former longtime trail maintenance figure during the winter.

Skiing has always been a passion for Beyer, who grew up in New Germany and has lived in Ebensburg for the past nine years.

Beyer and Creany would often come across one another in passing while skiing on the trails, and once Creany retired, Beyer was chosen as the heir apparent.

“I probably used the trail more than most people to begin with, and I always ran into Judge Creany and his family all the time while I was skiing,” Beyer said. “I mentioned about possibly grooming the trails to him one time, and he came back to me the next day with a key and that he was retiring. I didn’t know what to expect at first, but I’ve been having a lot of fun doing it.”

Any time it snows, Beyer takes to the trails in order to make them suitable for cross country skiing.

Using a snowmobile with an attached trailer, Beyer drives 8 miles from Ebensburg to Nanty Glo — along with an extension of the trail in Revloc — to create grooves in the snow that make it easier for skiers to glide through.

Cliff Kitner, director of the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority, said that with limited staff, it could be difficult to find someone to put the time and effort into making the trails suitable for skiing.

But with Creany and now Beyer’s dedication, Kitner said the help of volunteers and good Samaritans have only created more opportunities for others in the community.

“It’s people like Dan that really make projects like these possible,” Kitner said. “Grooming a trail for skiing is a real commitment, and Dan has done a tremendous job of getting the trail prepared for anyone that wants to use it. He’s been a vital asset.”

Kitner described Beyer as one of the county’s “most devoted” volunteers and said the first thing Beyer does when he gets home from work is tend to the trails.

Beyer, a father of four, began downhill skiing when he was just 4 years old and has been cross country skiing since his teenage years.

He said that while grooming the trails is a time-consuming activity, the drive to provide activities for his kids and other locals always brings him back.

“Ebensburg holds its snow longer than anywhere in the area, and it’s prime for natural cross country skiing,” said Beyer. “This has been an area that has really been skiing for years — it’s not a new activity here. Ebensburg is really a hotbed for recreation, and it’s the perfect community atmosphere.”

In just his first two years of being the official trail groomer, Beyer has already become a heavily-relied upon person.

Through grant funds from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the Young People’s Community Center in Ebensburg recently purchased various skis, ski poles and boots that are available for rent.

The YPCC now offers 12 pairs of skis to accommodate ages 13 and up, 22 pairs of ski poles and 14 pairs of boots of various sizes. County officials said Beyer was one of the leading voices in getting the project underway.

“People in Cambria County love their outdoor activities, and having ski rentals available is just another option they have,” Cambria County President Commissioner Tom Chernisky said. “This was all really able to become a reality because of volunteers like Dan — good people that want to make their community a better place to live.”

In addition to grooming the trails, Beyer is active in his community and works as a mentor and coach for youth athletes.

He teaches yoga at MorGainz Fitness in Ebensburg and is also an assistant coach with the Central Cambria baseball team and formerly coached at Mount Aloysius.

Beyer also is a volunteer with the Ebensburg Youth Baseball Association and typically hosts numerous impromptu pickup games of football and basketball in his backyard.

While he has a busy schedule, he has no intention of stopping anytime soon.

“I want to make Ebensburg a great place to live,” he said. “This really is an amazing town, and it has so much to offer. I’m just doing a small part of what is a huge community effort.”

Mirror Staff Writer Calem Illig is at 814-946-7535.

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