All posts by Jay Richards

Bike Trail Report

Bike trails open this week. We have groomed around 8km of trail which consists of Loon Return to the bridge loop and continuing on the Twin Lakes “race loop” Best to ride in the mornings this week with the best riding to be Thursday and Friday mornings. Expect a few soft spots but otherwise very nice end of season conditions. 

Groomed fat bike trail late afternoon, March 27th, 2024.
Groomed fat bike trail late afternoon, March 27th, 2024.
Checking out the groomed fat bike trail, March 25th, 2024.
Monday grooming, March 25th, 2024.

Ski Trail Report

Beautiful morning with clear skies and sunshine! Morning low checking in at 3 degrees but will warm up fast. A great morning of skiing and fat biking on tap! 8km of ski trail open and groomed. 3.5km of trail tracked for classic (Sukkerbusk) 8km of fat bike trail open and groomed.  (Latest update on the Bike Trail Report.) Great seeing riders and skiers out yesterday! Best to classic ski before noon before the sun eats out the track. Skiing in general better earlier before warm and sun does it thing on the fresh snow.

We have been grooming daily on the same loop we groomed the end of season in February/March. Segments of Skaters Waltz and Sukkerbusk using the North Loup and Sap Run connectors to make a loop. Basically follow the grooming, ski either direction. We groomed again this morning and evening on the 5km loop and also set track all the way through Sukkerbusk. We are optimistic we will have the 5km open for freestyle skiing at least until Saturday morning. We will groom again this early evening patching up any thin areas and hope for dusting of snow as forecasted Friday.

Although this year was one of the lowest snow years to date on record, it was an opportunity to learn more about grooming, preparing the trails for winter and being prepared for future low snow years. For as long as we have been grooming, every year is different and what makes it interesting and enjoyable! 

Thank you to everyone that has visited us this past year from the overnight guests to the day users. We appreciate it very much! 

We will continue to update daily as we enjoy sharing what is happening on the trails, weather and nature. 

On a side note, the end of February and early March with low snow and frozen ground it has been favorable for cutting deadfall and windblown trees from storms and wind. Most of the woods we use for the wood fire stoves and campfires at Maplelag but bigger logs that have are not rotten we use for shelving, tables and other projects!

Enjoying a rare late March classic ski on fresh dry cold snow, March 27th, 2024.
Enjoying a rare late March classic ski on fresh dry cold snow, March 27th, 2024.
Early evening groom, March 27th, 2024.
Early evening sunset groom, March 27th, 2024.
Combing out skate lane on Sukkerbusk segment that is also part of the 5km loop we have been grooming, March 27th, 2024.
Combing out skate lane on Sukkerbusk segment that is also part of the 5km loop we have been grooming, March 27th, 2024.
Rollpacking dusting of snow overnight first in the morning before using the Ginzu groomer, March 27th, 2024.
One of the many thousand of planted pines at Maplelag after last nights dusting. March 27th, 2024.
Late afternoon tracks! March 26th, 2024.
Grooming new snow on top of existing base mid day, Tuesday March 26th, 2024.
Grooming March 26th, 2024.
Heading out for a afternoon groom with the Ginzu groomer, March 25th, 2024.
Combing with Ginzu groomer on Skaters Waltz, March 25th, 2024.
Rollpacking on Sukkerbusk, March 25th, 2024.
Magical moonlight ski, March 25th, 2024.
Enjoying the fresh snow and last nights grooming, March 25th, 2024.
Rollpacking new snow through the Switchyard, March 24th, 2024.
Roll packing on Sukkerbusk, March 24th, 2024.

Bike Trail Report

Bike trails open this week. We have groomed around 8km of trail which consists of Loon Return to the bridge loop and continuing on the Twin Lakes “race loop” Best to ride in the mornings this week with the best riding to be Thursday and Friday mornings. Expect a few soft spots but otherwise very nice end of season conditions.

Groomed fat bike trail late afternoon, March 27th, 2024.
Groomed fat bike trail late afternoon, March 27th, 2024.
Checking out the groomed fat bike trail, March 25th, 2024.
Monday grooming, March 25th, 2024.

Ski Trail Report


8km of ski trail open and groomed. 3.5km of trail tracked for classic (Sukkerbusk) 8km of fat bike trail open and groomed.  (Latest update on the Bike Trail Report.) Great seeing riders and skiers out today! Temperature in the mid 20’s today but the sun is very strong this time of year and will soften the snow quick!

We have been grooming daily on the same loop we groomed the end of season in February/March. Segments of Skaters Waltz and Sukkerbusk using the North Loup and Sap Run connectors to make a loop. Basically follow the grooming, ski either direction. We groomed again this morning and evening on the 5km loop and also set track all the way through Sukkerbusk. With warmer weather tomorrow and sun, get out this afternoon or earlier tomorrow to classic ski. Track will not likely last much past noon tomorrow with areas of thin cover and a few dark spots which are easy to avoid. We are optimistic we will have the 5km open for freestyle skiing at least until Saturday morning.

Although this year was one of the lowest snow years to date on record, it was an opportunity to learn more about grooming, preparing the trails for winter and being prepared for future low snow years. For as long as we have been grooming, every year is different and what makes it interesting and enjoyable! 

Thank you to everyone that has visited us this past year from the overnight guests to the day users. We appreciate it very much! 

We will continue to update daily as we enjoy sharing what is happening on the trails, weather and nature. 

On a side note, the end of February and early March with low snow and frozen ground it has been favorable for cutting deadfall and windblown trees from storms and wind. Most of the woods we use for the wood fire stoves and campfires at Maplelag but bigger logs that have are not rotten we use for shelving, tables and other projects!

Enjoying a rare late March classic ski on fresh dry cold snow, March 27th, 2024.
Enjoying a rare late March classic ski on fresh dry cold snow, March 27th, 2024.
Early evening groom, March 27th, 2024.
Early evening sunset groom, March 27th, 2024.
Combing out skate lane on Sukkerbusk segment that is also part of the 5km loop we have been grooming, March 27th, 2024.
Combing out skate lane on Sukkerbusk segment that is also part of the 5km loop we have been grooming, March 27th, 2024.
Rollpacking dusting of snow overnight first in the morning before using the Ginzu groomer, March 27th, 2024.
One of the many thousand of planted pines at Maplelag after last nights dusting. March 27th, 2024.
Late afternoon tracks! March 26th, 2024.
Grooming new snow on top of existing base mid day, Tuesday March 26th, 2024.
Grooming March 26th, 2024.
Heading out for a afternoon groom with the Ginzu groomer, March 25th, 2024.
Combing with Ginzu groomer on Skaters Waltz, March 25th, 2024.
Rollpacking on Sukkerbusk, March 25th, 2024.
Magical moonlight ski, March 25th, 2024.
Enjoying the fresh snow and last nights grooming, March 25th, 2024.
Rollpacking new snow through the Switchyard, March 24th, 2024.
Roll packing on Sukkerbusk, March 24th, 2024.