Trails are open. Excellent conditions. Silky soft conditions today with the high humidity and temperature around freezing. Snow is holding out great. We get people asking if the snow will melt or be icy this weekend. Earlier this week we were -20 which froze the base down hard and deep in the base the snow temperature is much much cooler than the air temp. It takes longer for the snow to respond to melt, especially today when the air temperature is above 32 for only a few hours and wind is pretty much non existent. Our apps on the phone might say 33-35 in Callaway but in the woods the trees are holding cold and the deep base acts as a refrigerant so the snow at the surface will be much colder and freezes over quickly at sunset.
We are always looking and thinking ahead as we work on the trails daily to always have the best conditions possible the next day and beyond. We have a deep base of snow and the recent new snow and timely grooming should ensure great skiing through the weekend to pull up the dry powdery snow. Early Friday we look to cool back down and will plan regroom the majority of the trail system on Friday morning unless the snow doesn’t transform and we feel it is not necessary. Just Ski.
A full day of grooming Wednesday, cleaning up the start and transition areas from Tuesday’s section race and setting new track and working in the 4″ of snow from Sunday. Trails tracked were Rootin Tootin, Bullhead Bootleg, Roy’s Run, Mother North Star and Wavy Gravy and a portion of Island Lake to the west. All the skate trails groomed this morning as well and a new track was set on North Loup. All other trails recently groomed.
Awesome day hosting the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships yesterday. Nice job to all the skiers and congrats to the state qualifiers. Thanks everyone that helped make it a great day! Photos and results on Skinnyski.com Photos from Heidi Nelson
Skating on Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, North Loup, Single Green, Kristin’s Kutoff and Eira Bikwadinaa Hill. All other trails are tracked for classic skiing. (Please no skating on classic trails) Sukkerbusk is a great starter trail for classic which feeds the outer trails and crosses most of the inner trails providing a good “lay of the land”.
We have also have a loop on Little Sugarbush Lake “Lumi’s Loop” with a skate lane and track on each side. This is a fun 1.2km loop that makes for a fun ski at sunrise and sunset and under the full moon! Groomed 1/29.
43″ of snow so far this season. We have been grooming daily on the entire trail system since mid November, only missing a few days.
Thank you to everyone that comes to ski and supports the trails with season pass purchases. Day passes can be purchased here. A MN State trail pass is NOT required to ski at Maplelag. The Maplelag trails are self funded by operations with no grants or state funding. 18 and under day pass is $15, use the summer trail pass option.
Ski rentals are available at a rate of $25 for adults and $15 for 18 and under. Snowshoe rental is $10 a person.
Snowfall YTD at 43″ Compacted base on trail 5-8″. Total snowfall in February 3″. January at 15″. December: 17″. Snowfall in November: 7″. October precipitation (rain) at 2.7″ and around 1″ in September. Total precipitation ytd (rain) at Maplelag is at 25.12″.
