A repeat of yesterday, a cold day with temp having a hard time getting above -20 but folks out skiing all day. Taking short loops and outings. Sunshine, no wind in the woods and low dew point helping take off the edge and making for another great day on the trails. We will be open through the cold weather and people will be out skiing. The wind is generally a non factor at Maplelag and don’t pay attention to windchill when winds are light and factors such as the dew point make more of a difference in how it “feels”. Dress proper, take shorter runs and no reason not to ski and enjoy great conditions! Wind forecasted to be light which helps big time and we are protected in the forest as well.
Ski conditions rated very good to excellent for early season. Around 11″ of new snow the past 8 days.
Fat Bike trail on Twin Lakes Singletrack open and groomed multiple times already. Latest grooming December 28th. Latest report: Fat Bike Report
11″ of new snow past 8 days. Total snowfall this season at 21″ Snow depth in the woods 6-12″, compacted base where groomed 3-6″.
Day skiing is allowed by purchasing a trail pass. Pass can be purchased online. Ski rental available at $15 per day. Snowshoes and fat bikes also available for rent. If not staying at the resort, it is best to contact us during busy times (Dec.26-Jan10 and weekends) for availability.
Even though our snow totals might be lower, we can provide good skiing on less snow. We spend every day possible in the spring, summer and fall clearing key trails to be able to open on low snow. We groom the first snowfalls even if not skiable after, to prepare the base for future snowfalls and earlier skiing on less snow. We take pride and use decades of experience when grooming and preparing the trails for skiing to have them in the best condition possible “whatever the weather”.
The Twin Lakes singletrack open for fat biking again this year and has been groomed multiple times. Please no fat biking or walking on the ski trails or fat bike trails. There is also snowshoeing available, on trails and anywhere not on the ski trails.
Full day of fun whatever the weather! December 31st, 2017.Heading out for one more ski….”The skiing is beautiful” December 31st, 2017.Frosty day on the trails! December 31st, 2017.Getting first tracks on Sap Run! December 30th, 2017.Eden Prairie Nordic ski team set for the afternoon ski. 20-30 minute outings. Warmed up, back out for another run x 3. December 30th, 2017.Skiers on Sukkerbusk, December 30th, 2017. Busy afternoon on Sukkerbusk. Tracks in great shape and just right length to get a nice ski in colder weather. Great job everyone that got out!Striding on North Loup. December 30th, 2017.Minnetonka Nordic Ski team set for afternoon of skiing. December 29th, 2017.Dusk on North Loup ski trail. Both track and skate deck in great shape. December 29th, 2017.Pre breakfast ski complete! December 28th, 2017.New track set on Sukkerbusk early morning. Track reset again at dusk. December 28th, 2017.Ski drills in the soccer field, December 28th, 2017.Minneapolis Southwest Skiers enjoying fresh tracks on Wavy Gravy, December 28th, 2017.Setting track on Roy’s Run. Other than the north end segment that is about 50 meters and a little rough, rest of trail in great shape. December 28th, 2017.Maplelag team members Ben and Denny on Skaters Waltz. Good to see these guys enjoying the trails after all their help with the trails. Ben groomed the fat bike trail this evening. December 28th, 2017.Night skiing! December 28th, 2017.Another spectacular morning of winter scene. December 26th, 2017.Heading out to the trails! Trails busy today despite sub double digit temps. No wind and sunshine helps big time! December 26th, 2017.Minneapolis Southwest Nordic ski team at the trail head. December 26th, 2017.Sun dog scene, December 25th, 2017.Christmas skate, December 25th, 2017. 50% of the ice in good shape. Cold weather this week will be good for expanding.Setting track at dusk, December 25th, 2017.Sunset stride. Decmeber 25th, 2017.Grooming skate lane on Skaters Waltz, December 24th, 2017.Grooming skate lane on North Loup, December 24th. Track set last night, dusting of new snow on top.Skaters Waltz extension fresh groomed December 24th, 2017. Be sure to ski both loops on the extension!Snow clinging to everything, December 24th, 2017.
Skaters Waltz, December 24th, 2017.Setting track on Roy’s Run, December 23rd, 2017.Setting track on North Loup at Poplar Pass. December 23rd, 2017. Skate lane will be groomed Sunday morning, tomorrow. Please respect/be mindful of the classic track if skating on North Loup. Thanks!
Striding on Rootin Tootin, December 23rd, 2017.Twin Lakes, December 23rd, 2017.Sap Run, December 23rd, 2017.
It’s a bit rough on the north end of Roy’s Run but take skis off and walk through. Is it worth it for skiing the rest of the 10km loop when starting at Maplelag and return? Yes. Dusting of snow after grooming helping out with coverage, just and inch or two will greatly improve in this area.
Peder and Denny heading out for a fresh snow ski. Around 2″ of new snow today, December 22nd, 2017. Thanks Denny for helping clear brush on the outer trails!Final group shot of Breck Nordic ski team after morning time trial. Thanks for your visit! December 22nd, 2017.Cutting double track on Sap Run, December 21st, 2017.Cutting double track on JibFly, December 21st, 2017.Fresh double track on Rootin Tootin, December 21st, 2017.Skate deck combing on North Loup, December 21st, 2017.Setting singletrack on Wavy Gravy. December 21st, 2017. Few thin areas to watch out for, easily skied around.Fresh track on Island Lake trail, December 21st, 2017. Few thin areas to watch out for, easily skied around.Breck Nordic ski team members enjoying the fresh snowfall. December 20th, 2017.Grooming in fresh snow at dusk at the start area. December 20th, 2017.Big snowflakes this afternoon. December 20th, 2017.St Paul Academy Nordic Ski team read to hit the trails for the afternoon, December 19th, 2017.Track on JibFly, December 19th, 2017.Testing the fresh track on Sap Run, December 19th, 2017.Roll combing on Skaters Waltz extension, December 19th, 2017.SPA parents enjoying fresh grooming, December 19th, 2017.Grooming on Poplar Pass on North Loup, December 19th, 2017.Rutherford Slough near North Loup ski trail. Great Horned owl sighted today. December 19th, 2017. Tons of tracks of all different types of animals along North Loup. Keep eyes out!Roll combing on North Loup, December 19th, 2017.
Denny Barry heading out to the trails to clip face slappers. Thanks Denny for your help! December 19th, 2017.SPA skiers heading out on Twin Lakes and new track, December 18th, 2017.Setting new track on Twin lakes. Track set all the way through. Caution on some thin areas otherwise nice early season skiing. December 18th, 2017.Combing in fresh snow on Suicide Hill, December 18th, 2017.Skier made track on top of packed base, Island Lake trail. December 18th, 2017.Setting new track on JibFly. Snow after grooming covering thin areas. December 18th, 2017.Skate trail grooming. December 18th, 2017.St Paul Academy skiers on Skaters Waltz. December 18th, 2017.SPA skiers on Sukkerbusk, December 18th, 2017.Beautiful frosty day as skiers enjoy the excellent conditions on Little Sugarbush Lake. December 17th, 2017.Moorhead Nordic ski team classic skiing on Sukkerbusk, December 16th, 2017.Heading out to the trails, Highland Park time trial. December 16th, 2o17.
Having fun on the skate train on Skaters Waltz, December 16th, 2017.St Paul Highland Park ski team ready to hit the trails. December 15th, 2017.
Classic skiing on Sukkerbusk. December 15th, 2017.
Lined up for ski games! December 15th, 2017.Spectacular sunrise over Sap Run as seen from the webcam, December 15th, 2017.Roll combing the dusting of new snow from last night on Skaters Waltz, December 15th, 2017.Packing on Island Lake trail. Crusty base. Use caution skiing on Wavy Gravy or Island Lake trail. Tracks will be set after 2-3″ of snow. December 14th, 2017.Late afternoon skiers! December 14th, 2017.Maplelag team member Denny Barry out for a early season ski today. December 13th, 2017.Great skiing on the lake! Fast and fun! December 13th, 2017.Southern faced segment with good coverage on Skaters Waltz, December 13th, 2017.Skaters Waltz with good coverage throughout. Firm base with added moisture this week. December 13th, 2017.Night ride on fresh grooming. December 13th, 2017. Latest Fat Bike grooming trail report.Building up the base on a downhill on Skaters Waltz, December 12th, 2017.Lakeside Twin Lakes singletrack after fresh grooming for fat biking. Thanks Ben Olson! December 12th, 2017.Checking out Sap Run trail at dusk, December 11th, 2017.Grooming on Twin Lakes trail, top of Eagles View. December 11th, 2017.Grooming through the Skinny field, pressing new snow from last night. December 11th, 2017.
A check of the trails this morning on Skaters Waltz found fast conditions, very close to “good” or “b” ski conditions. Just a couple areas to pay attention to. We have transported snow to the thin areas and with the precip early this morning and snow falling this afternoon, skiing was good. We also skied on the lake and found fast and fun conditions. Good coverage on the edges.
10km of groomed trail now open for skiing. Skaters Waltz open for skating and Sukkerbusk, Sap Run trails open for no track classic skiing. Be advised there are areas of thin cover in the start area and open but in the woods skiing is to good to fair for early season, “Rock ski” conditions. No tracks set but we will set tracks on Sukkerbusk, JibFly and Twin Lakes after next snowfall. Other trails are skiable but caution must be used if venturing out on other trails.
Just under two inches of wet snow early Monday morning that was groomed on 30km of the trail system. Temp fell during the day which allowed the base to harden up nicely. Grooming Tuesday the 12th, smoothing out the trails groomed yesterday with the “Ginzu” groomer. Wednesday we will be moving snow to the thin areas.
In total we have packed on 45 of 65km of trail. Snow depth in the woods 2-4″, compacted base where groomed 1-3″. Trails not groomed (Roys’ Run, Island Lake, Wavy Gravy/Bullhead) providing a bushwhacking type experience. Use extra caution if skiing these trails until groomed.
The Twin Lakes singletrack will be open for fat biking again this year. Groomed on Tuesday, December 12th
Denny Barry out for a early season ski today. December 13th, 2017.Skaters Waltz with good coverage throughout. Firm base with added moisture this week. December 13th, 2017.Southern faced segment with good coverage on Skaters Waltz, December 13th, 2017.Great skiing on the lake! Fast and fun! December 13th, 2017.
Grooming through the Skinny field, pressing new snow from last night. December 11th, 2017.Grooming on Twin Lakes trail, top of Eagles View. December 11th, 2017.Checking out Sap Run trail at dusk, December 11th, 2017 . Webcam screen shot!
Lakeside Twin Lakes singletrack after fresh grooming by Ben Olson, December 12th, 2017.
Building up the base on a downhill on Skaters Waltz, December 12th, 2017.Roll packing on Sap Run, December 9th, 2017.Roll packing on Skaters Waltz, December 9th, 2017.Sections of Skaters Waltz very skiable, need a few more inches before entire loop can be open. December 9th, 2017.
We have been grooming on select trails this week after Sunday night storm. We will be packing select trails Saturday morning after the dusting of snow Friday night. Friday we packed out Rootin Tootin’ Mother North Star JinFly. Thursday we packed on North Loup and Skaters Waltz extension and made another pass on Skaters Waltz, Suicide Hill and Sukkerbusk. We packed Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, JibFly, Skaters Waltz and Suicide Hill ski trails Tuesday. Wednesday we packed out Twin lakes and made additional passes on Sap Run, Sukkerbusk and Skaters Waltz. Still need 2-5″ of additional snow to open the trails but a good start. Thin cover in open areas. We will continue working on the trails daily, adding snow to thin areas and clearing deadfall from the recent wind on outer trails.
Twin Lakes Singletrack open for fat biking. Latest report
Packing on Rootin Tootin, December 8th, 2017
Packing on North Loup ski trail, December 7th, 2017.Making another pass on Suicide Hill, December 7th, 2017.Scraping snow off the basketball court and transporting to thin spots in start area. December 7th, 2017.Packing on Twin Lakes, December 6th, 2017.Another pass on Skaters Waltz, December 6th, 2017. Firming up!Testing the skiing on Skaters Waltz, throwing off sticks. Few more inches and trails will be officially open. December 5th, 2017.Rollpacking on Sukkerbusk, December 5th, 2017.Sukkerbusk ski trail, December 05th, 2017.Rollpacking on Skaters Waltz, December 5th, 2017.Suicide Hill, December 17th, 2017.
A mixed bag of weather today as .25″ of rain fell this morning than dry until light snow started falling around dusk along with falling temps. Total accumulation expected around 2-3″. We will pack any snow that accumulates over 2″. Windy conditions accompanying the snow. Check out the cams for snowfall.
Mild weather last week but we still froze at nights, keeping the frost we have in the ground and the ice on the lakes, ponds and sloughs. Ideal conditions this past week for last minute trail tuning as we prepare for the return of winter and snow!
Fun Thanksgiving weekend in the woods hiking, skating on the lake and fat biking on the Twin Lakes singletrack. Despite the mild weather, there is almost 8″ of ice on the lake. The trails are in great shape and ready for snow! Thanks to the Moorhead Nordic Ski team for coming out to help clear on the trails last Saturday.
We had just enough snow for the first grooming of the year on the early season loop the beginning of November. We had a few people out skiing but need 3-4″ of new snow before we can officially open the trails for skiing. We will be working on the trails as we can clearing small branches and any deadfall after recent winds. Think Snow!!
Dusting of snow at dusk on Skaters Waltz, December 4th, 2017.Fine tuning on Sukkerbusk, November 30th, 2017.Sap Run, November 30th, 2017.Clearing on JibFly, November 30th, 2017.Sunrise over Sap Run ski trail. November 25th, 2017.Sunrise over Little Sugarbush, November 25th, 2017.Skating fun on the lake. November 24th, 2017.End of Sukkerbusk ski trail, November 22nd, 2017.Riding on Twin Lakes singletrack, November 22nd, 2017. Twin Lakes open for early winter riding when frozen.Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team after a morning of clearing on the trails. Thanks Moorhead Nordic! November 18th, 2017.Sap Run ski trail frosty and frozen. Ready for snow! November 16th, 2017.Intersection of Sukkerbusk and Mother North Star Ski trails, November 14th, 2017.Back bowl mid day, November 13th, 2017.Sneaking in one more early season ski, Sukkerbusk November 13th, 2017.Bullhead lake. Solid 4-5″ of ice. November 13th, 2017.Bottom of Suicide Hill, mid day November 13th, 2017.Sukkerbusk, November 13th, 2017.
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