All posts by Jay Richards

Bike Trail Report

Bike trails are now closed. We had a fun run of winter fat biking conditions last week after a foot of snow that was groomed out on 9km of trail. Despite the wintry conditions, the snow was rich in moisture and will actually help the rest of the frost come out of the ground.

We are in a cycle of melt freeze which takes a little bit longer to dry out. The forecast looks favorable the next 10 days for pulling out the frost. Before the snow the trails were drying up well and hopefully in a week or two we can open for the dirt season. 

Late season winter fat biking, April 6th, 2025.
Riding on the groomed fat bike loop, April 4th, 2025. 
Fat bike trail grooming, April 2nd, 2025.
Late winter riding on groomed singletrack, April 2nd, 2025.

Trail Report

Trails are now closed. We wrapped up a great week of April skiing this past Sunday, thanks to a foot of snow last week, with a nice group of skiers. It’s always a treat to have late season snow and this latest storm was unique in that there was a very high level of moisture. It was very interesting and a great learning experience grooming wise. April skiing is very special as the sounds of spring are in full force, mainly with migrating birds and waterfowl. Not common to hear robins chirping in the morning! 

The trails will open again for mountain biking once the frost goes out and the deck dries up. A good indication is when the ice is off the small lakes, ponds an sloughs. Although there is still 8-10″ of ice on Little Sugarbush, the ice has deteriorated from the water seeping through from the recent snow. We anticipate ice off around the third week of April.

Although forest travel is limited with the thawing, we will work on the trails in the morning when frozen, mainly cutting deadfall for next winter firewood.

Thanks everyone who supports the trails at Maplelag. We appreciate you very much and can’t wait to have folks back on the trail for dirt season. 

Sunday skiing on JibFly, April 6th, 2025. 
Ready to hit the trails, April 6th, 2025.
One more ski for the season, April 6th, 2025.
Spring skiing can’t be beat! April 6th, 2025.
Striding on JibFly, April 6th, 2025.
Cranking out some more laps, April 6th, 2025.
Saturday skiers! April 5th, 2025.
Sunrise over Bullhead Lake, April 5th, 2025.
Grooming on Eira Bikwadinaa hill, April 5th, 2025.
Early morning grooming April 5th 2025.
Friday skiing! April 4th, 2025.
Late season laps! April 4th, 2025.
Morning skiing was a bit icy, better after grooming and warming temps, April 4th, 2025.
Early evening skiing, April 3rd, 2025.
Setting track through the skinny field as part of the late season loop we are grooming, April 3rd, 2025.
Out to the trails! April 3rd, 2025.
Setting track on Skaters Waltz segment as part of the early season loop, April 3rtd, 2025.
Grooming April 2nd, 2025.
April skiing! Skiers out today enjoying the fresh snow, April 2nd, 2025.
Out on the trail, April 2nd, 2025.

Bike Trail Report

Bike trails are now closed. We had a fun run of winter fat biking conditions this past week after a foot of snow last week that was groomed out on 9km of trail. Despite the wintry conditions, the snow was rich in moisture and will actually help the rest of the frost come out of the ground.

We are in a cycle of melt freeze which takes a little bit longer to dry out. The forecast looks favorable the next 10 days for pulling out the frost. Before the snow the trails were drying up well and hopefully in a week or so we can open for the dirt season.

Late season winter fat biking, April 6th, 2025.
Riding on the groomed fat bike loop, April 4th, 2025. 
Fat bike trail grooming, April 2nd, 2025.
Late winter riding on groomed singletrack, April 2nd, 2025.

Ski Trail Report

Trails are now closed. We wrapped up a great week of April skiing, thanks to a foot of snow last week, Sunday morning with a nice group of skiers. It’s always a treat to have late season snow and this latest storm was unique in that there was a very high level of moisture. It was very interesting and a great learning experience grooming. April skiing is very special as the sounds of spring are in full force, mainly with migrating birds and waterfowl. And not common to hear robins chirping in the morning!

The trails will open again for mountain biking once the frost goes out and the deck dries up. A good indication is when the ice is off the small lakes, ponds an sloughs. Although there is still 8-10″ of ice on Little Sugarbush, the ice has deteriorated from the water seeping through from the recent snow. We anticipate ice off around the third week of April.

Although forest travel is limited with the thawing, we will work on the trails in the morning when frozen, mainly cutting deadfall for next winter firewood.

Thanks everyone who supports the trails at Maplelag. We appreciate you very much and can’t wait to have folks back on the trail for dirt season.

Sunday skiing on JibFly, April 6th, 2025.
Ready to hit the trails, April 6th, 2025.
One more ski for the season, April 6th, 2025.
Spring skiing can’t be beat! April 6th, 2025.
Striding on JibFly, April 6th, 2025.
Cranking out some more laps, April 6th, 2025.
Saturday skiers! April 5th, 2025.
Sunrise over Bullhead Lake, April 5th, 2025.
Grooming on Eira Bikwadinaa hill, April 5th, 2025.
Early morning grooming April 5th 2025.
Friday skiing! April 4th, 2025.
Late season laps! April 4th, 2025.
Morning skiing was a bit icy, better after grooming and warming temps, April 4th, 2025.
Early evening skiing, April 3rd, 2025.
Setting track through the skinny field as part of the late season loop we are grooming, April 3rd, 2025.
Out to the trails! April 3rd, 2025.
Setting track on Skaters Waltz segment as part of the early season loop, April 3rtd, 2025.
Grooming April 2nd, 2025.
April skiing! Skiers out today enjoying the fresh snow, April 2nd, 2025.
Out on the trail, April 2nd, 2025.

Bike Trail Report

9km of fat bike trail open and groomed. The recently groomed loop will be open until noon today. Best riding will be sunrise until 11am. Closing after noon. A few more icy spots to be expected and thin areas but very rideable. 

Nearly a foot of snow this week. We groomed a 9km loop consisting of Twin Lakes, using Sukkerbusk on the west side to access and returning on Loon Return to make a loop. We groomed again Thursday afternoon while the snow was soft and the deck is level hard and smooth when it freezes down.  

Late season winter riding, April 5th, 2025.
Riding on the groomed fat bike loop, April 4th, 2025. 
Fat bike trail grooming, April 2nd, 2025.
Late winter riding on groomed singletrack, April 2nd, 2025.