All posts by Jay Richards

News

January 8th Post Fire Update

Sunday our staff met up for a afternoon of fellowship. It was the first time we were all together since the fire on October 10th. It was good to see everyone. We also distributed the funds from the GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Maplelag guests. Thanks to everyone who contributed.

Jim talking to staff. Thanks Ice Cracking Lodge for your excellent service.
Lodge site, January 7th, 2023.

We’ve been blessed with some incredible weather the past few weeks which has been great for clearing the site. A couple more weeks of favorable weather and everything should be cleared.

Thanks to all the local contractors who have helped out with the removal.
Brainstorming ideas for potential rebuilding. Thanks Jason for all you are doing!

We continue to brainstorm ideas and add to the “spaghettini bowl of thoughts” we we seek clarity and focus for moving forward. Thanks again for all the love and support and continued letters and monetary donations. We are beyond grateful.

Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Trails are open and groomed. The entire FatLagChilada system is open except for one short segment on Bullhead Bootleg but an entire loop is available to ride. The trail has set up nicely with colder temps this week and riding is very good to excellent. 

The FatLagChilada loop consists of Skaters Waltz starting to the right, the main singletrack loops Bullhead Bootleg, Twin Lakes and Sukkerwest. We also have groomed select segments in between to make the “FatLagChilada” loop. The above loops can be ridden separately. To access the inner loops, go to the start of Skaters Waltz and veer right. There are signs from that point and at key intersections where to turn to make the full loop. Please only ride on the designated areas for fat biking.

Bullhead lake is frozen for access across the lake. There is around 10-14″ of ice and folks have been riding across the lake. 

The Maplelag driveway is a good feeder to access Sukkerwest, Bjorps across from Sukkerwest which leads into North Star and crosses the road again to Twin Lakes.

With the hardpack conditions on the ski trails, the skate loops Skaters Waltz, the extension loops and North Loup are open for riding making for around 30km of groomed riding options.

Excellent conditions on the fat bike trail, January 7th, 2023.
Lakeside Bootleg singletrack, January 7th, 2023.
Bullhead lake connector, January 7th, 2023. Also track set for skiers!
Grooming on Bullhead Bootleg loop, January 6th, 2023.
Firm deck and fun riding! January 6th, 2023.
Preparing the track across Bullhead lake to access the Bootleg loop, January 4th, 2023.
New Years riders! January 2nd, 2023. (SW photo)
Frosty Twin Lakes, January 2nd, 2023. (CG photo)
Skaters ski trail, January 1st, 2023. Fat biking allowed on the skate trails when deck is firm. 
Twin Lakes Singletrack, December 31st, 2022.
Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails open. Great weekend of skiing in place. Another spectacular day on Sunday. Trails are in excellent skiing condition. Roy’s Run is now tracked and a loop on Bullhead lake is tracked highlighting the daily grooming this week. Groomer’s choice is JibFly and Roy’s Run.

Trails groomed for classic and open include Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Loon Return, Sukkerbusk, Mother North Star, Rootin Tootin, North Loup, Roy’s Run, Island Lake, Wavy Gravy and Twin Lakes. For skating Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, Single Green, Kristin’s Cutoff and North Loup.

Lucky’s Loype and Bullhead trail are snow covered, no grooming and open for bushwhacking. We have packed a loop on Bullhead lake and set a track on the perimeter for classic. 

Has been a nice start to the ski season with excellent conditions. Great seeing so many people out this year, thanks for purchase of day and season passes. 

Total snowfall this season at 38″. Compacted base on trail 5-10″. 

Trails will be open every day there is skiable snow including all Holidays and weekends. There is no ski rental at Maplelag. MN Tru North in Perham MN is offering ski rental 218-346-5253

(Trail maps posted here)  

There are now services available Parking in the far lot with portable bathrooms. No lodging or meal service. The Brant cabin available as a warming area with restrooms and sitting area and tables, parking available across from Brant cabin as well. There are no ski rentals available.

Ski trail season passes can be purchased on our website. (scroll down to bottom of page) Purchasing season pass helps with operating and maintenance costs to prepare the trails, equipment repairs to the grooming equipment and property taxes. Thank you. 

Fat bike trails are groomed and open, click here for latest report

Twin Lakes ski trail, January 8th, 2023.
North Loup ski trail, January 8th, 2023. Both skate and classic conditions are excellent.
Track on perimeter on Bullhead lake skiing very nice, January 8th, 2023.
Double track set up firm and skiing silky fast with frost now on top, January 8th, 2023.
Setting new double track on Sukkerbusk, January 6th, 2023.
Grooming and setting a track on Bullhead lake, January 6th, 2023. A track has been set on the perimeter and across the middle. 
Frosty segment on Roy’s Run, January 5th, 2023.
Roy’s Run, January 5th, 2023.
Erasing and renovating the singletrack on JibFly, January 5th, 2023.
JibFly now set with double track, January 5th, 2023.
Setting double track on JibFly, January 5th, 2023.
Rootin Tootin trail, January 5th, 2023.
Full moon rising over Rootin Tootin slough, January 5th, 2023.
Moonlight ski, January 5th, 2023.
Incredible light from the full moon. January 5th, 2023.
A quick moment of afterglow hitting the frosty tree tops, January 4th, 2023.
Setting track on Roy’s Run, January 4th, 2023.
Roy’s Run, January 4th, 2023.
Combing patch on Bullhead lake, January 4th, 2022. We are grooming a path across to access the fat bike trails but made a loop on the north end (not tracked) for a option to ski on the lake after the big hill.