The snow is holding out great and despite the low snow conditions, skiing is about as good as it gets. A few thin areas with some icy spots etc. here and there but overall, very nice skiing and springlike conditions basically.

We have been shoveling on thin areas this week to build up base for Section race course which will be held on Tuesday February 7th. Sunday afternoon Skaters Waltz and Mother North Star will be closed to preserve the snow for Tuesdays race and these trails will also be closed on Monday for grooming and course prep.

We do not salt or sand the trails, parking lot  or driveway so it doesn’t get slushy or wet like the streets.   Ski conditions rated good to excellent (thanks for your reports, we appreciate it!). All 64km of trail open with track set on 56km of trail and 15km groomed for skating. 4km of snowshoe trail open. Ice skating rink in good condition. We will be grooming again Saturday.

Compacted base on trail 2-6″. Snow depth in the woods 6-14″. Snowfall last  week around 7″. Total snowfall this season around 18″. Although this is a low snow year, we spend every dry day outside the winter season preparing the trails to be in the best condition possible so we can have good skiing on minimal snow and the newer grooming equipment does a nice job working with the snow to make for better skiing.

Click here for NWS forecast which seems to be the most accurate as of late.

Trail report photos from February 3rd on our Facebook page.

https://picasaweb.google.com/117475008862763984699/February2ndTrailReportPhotos02

Early morning grooming with the Pisten Bully on JibFly

Leaves turned up on the hill but shoveled over, all good.

Few leaves turned up but nothing to cause issue

Grooming the start of JibFly near the dirt jump track

Mother Hen grooming up nice. No dirt or leaves pulled up

Able to drop the front end renovator and bring up dry powdery snow below and mix with top

Start of JibFly

Maplelag guests (February 2nd skiers) ready for a beautiful morning on the trails.

Fresh grooming on the trailhead

Fresh tracks on Mother Hen, Pisten Bully groomed

February 1st Trail Report Photos

Frosted trees at end of soccer field

One of the access trails

Loon Return

Coming up from Twin lakes after a ski around Wavy Gravy

Frosty morning

Bullhead bay

 

Bullhead lake trail

Bullhead lake

End of North Loup trail main loop

Roy's Run as it intersects North Loup

North Loup in very good to excellent condition Wednesday morning

Sukkerbusk as seen from the driveway, noon on Wednesday

Sunday February 26th, start time at 10:30. One distance (8 miles aprox) Classes and awards. More details and flyer to come soon. Check out the Maplelag MTB team site for course photos.

Riding towards Bullhead lake. Part of Fat Bike course.

Guests at Maplelag (call us the February 2nd skiers!) set to enjoy another beautiful winter morning at Maplelag.

Frosted tree, temps in the 20′s, calm wind doesn’t get much better. Tracks fast in spots from yesterday’s warmth than hard freeze last night but overall the skiing is good to excellent. Pisten Bully grooming for the first time this morning! Latest trail report with photos.

Start of the Lotvola Cup

Because of a scheduling conflict, we are moving the Lotvola Cup one week earlier to February 25th, 2012. The start time will be the same at 11am.  More information on the event page.

Compacted base on trail 2-6″. Snow depth in the woods 6-14″. Snowfall last t week around 7″. Total snowfall this season around 18″. Although this is a low snow year, we spend every dry day outside the winter season preparing the trails to be in the best condition possible so we can have good skiing on minimal snow.

(Not the best day to take photos with hazy conditions but many calls today asking if we still have snow. Photos taken mid afternoon)

February 1st Trail Report Photos

Frosted trees at end of soccer field

One of the access trails

Loon Return

Coming up from Twin lakes after a ski around Wavy Gravy

Frosty morning

Bullhead bay

 

Bullhead lake trail

Bullhead lake

End of North Loup trail main loop

Roy's Run as it intersects North Loup

North Loup in very good to excellent condition Wednesday morning

Sukkerbusk as seen from the driveway, noon on Wednesday

January 31st Trail Report Photos

Sap Run

 

Poki Loki

Skaters Waltz

 

January 29th Trail Report Photos

Sunrise on Lucky's Loype

Group leader Laurie Betting and friends enjoying a sunrsise ski on Sap Run

Members of the Vobrich family enjoying the ability to ski from cabin to trail

Hare couple from Winnipge celebrating a wedding anniversary today on the trails.

Sukkerbusk in great shape Sunday afternoon after high volume of skier traffic

Rest of the Vobrich family before heading down Suicide hill and Bullhead lake trail

Sarah blue showing first time family member around Bullhead lake trail

Sunny slope on Bullhead lake trail

Teresa and Kristin on Bullhead lake trail before heading down Bear pass.

Skaters waltz in excellent mid winter condition

Skier heading out to skaters extension

University of MN Morris ski club members on Sukkerbusk

 

Frosty conditions around the lodge as seen from Little Sugarbush lake, February 1st, 2012.

A beautiful frosty morning around the lodge and on the trails. Few more photos and trail report.

Start of the Lotvola Cup

More information on the Lotvola-Cup-2012-

A great weekend of skiing on the trail. With 3-4″ of new snow Friday and Saturday after fresh snow earlier in the week, conditions couldn’t be much better. Sunny on Saturday and Sunday with mid teens for temps and calm wind making for as good as it gets skiing.  The trails were skied hard which was great to see and holding out great. We have been grooming daily refreshing tracks where needed and combing the skate lanes.

Compacted base on trail 2-6″. Snow depth in the woods 6-14″. Snowfall the past week around 7″. Total snowfall this season around 18″. Although this is a low snow year, we spend every dry day outside the winter season preparing the trails to be in the best condition possible so we can have good skiing on minimal snow.

(Not the best day to take photos with hazy conditions but many calls today asking if we still have snow. Photos taken mid afternoon)

January 31st Trail Report Photos

Sap Run

 

Poki Loki

Skaters Waltz

 

January 29th Trail Report Photos

Sunrise on Lucky's Loype

Group leader Laurie Betting and friends enjoying a sunrsise ski on Sap Run

Members of the Vobrich family enjoying the ability to ski from cabin to trail

Hare couple from Winnipge celebrating a wedding anniversary today on the trails.

Sukkerbusk in great shape Sunday afternoon after high volume of skier traffic

Rest of the Vobrich family before heading down Suicide hill and Bullhead lake trail

Sarah blue showing first time family member around Bullhead lake trail

Sunny slope on Bullhead lake trail

Teresa and Kristin on Bullhead lake trail before heading down Bear pass.

Skaters waltz in excellent mid winter condition

Skier heading out to skaters extension

University of MN Morris ski club members on Sukkerbusk

 

January 28th Trail Report Photos

Afternoon skiers coming in from the trails. Busy day on the trails

Claus Pierach climbing up Kamikaze hill on Skaters Waltz "I like going up instead of down!"

Lesson time

January 27th Trail Report Photos

Freshs tracks on Wavy Gravy

 

Mac's Mess not so messy after recent snowfalls. Skiable throughout.

January 26th Trail Report Photos

Sap Run with dusting of frost on top after grooming Tuesday night

Skaters Waltz in excellent condition

Lucky's Loype fresh groomed Thursday afternoon. Start little thin but afterwards mostly good

 

Building up the base on a southern exposed hill

Excellent section of Lucky's

 

Top of Suicide hill. In excellent condition

Please contact us at maplelag@arvig.net for more information.

Yes, the retreat is on.

A batch of Deb's fresh baked bagels. Becoming a big hit for Friday's lunch!