Gallery: When the trail goes cold A day on the ice with the Nestaweya River Trail's maintenance crew By: Photography by Mike Deal / Free Press Posted:

Free Press photographer Mike Deal joined the Nestaweya River Trail maintenance crew this week to see how they keep things running as smooth as ice. The trail, about 6 km in length, has been a Winnipeg winter destination since 1990.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/02/2025 (580 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Free Press photographer Mike Deal joined the Nestaweya River Trail maintenance crew this week to see how they keep things running as smooth as ice. The trail, about 6 km in length, has been a Winnipeg winter destination since 1990.

Agos Celestino shovels out a warming hut.
Agos Celestino shovels out a warming hut.

Kelsey Heide drives one of the bobcats with a rotating brush attached along the skating part of the trail.
Kelsey Heide drives one of the bobcats with a rotating brush attached along the skating part of the trail.

Michael Jordan drills a hole into the ice so he can pump water into the tank that he uses to flood the skating trail.
Michael Jordan drills a hole into the ice so he can pump water into the tank that he uses to flood the skating trail.

Michael Jordan slings the hose he was using to fill the water tank in his flooding truck from a hole he drilled into the ice.
Michael Jordan slings the hose he was using to fill the water tank in his flooding truck from a hole he drilled into the ice.

Michael Jordan drives his flooding truck along the skating trail.
Michael Jordan drives his flooding truck along the skating trail.

Joel Kosa drives the scraper “Zamboni” along the skating part of the trail.
Joel Kosa drives the scraper “Zamboni” along the skating part of the trail.

Joel Kosa dumps accumulated ice that was scraped up by the “Zamboni”.
Joel Kosa dumps accumulated ice that was scraped up by the “Zamboni”.

Jordan Janisse shovels out one of the warming huts.
Jordan Janisse shovels out one of the warming huts.

 

Mike Deal

Mike Deal
Photojournalist

Mike Deal started freelancing for the Winnipeg Free Press in 1997. Three years later, he landed a part-time job as a night photo desk editor.

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