All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. Very picturesque morning with frost and snow covered trees. Welcomed cooler temps today helping tighten up the snow and deck. We have been grooming daily on some portion of the trail system. Great conditions with lots of snow. Snow skiing silky smooth albeit a bit soft. A few more sticks than usual after last weeks storm and wind events but nothing to prevent great skiing. We are constantly clearing and cleaning to have the best conditions possible. 

Classic only trails recently groomed include Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Loon Return, Sukkerbusk, Mother North Star, Rootin Tootin, North Loup, Island Lake, Wavy Gravy and Twin Lakes. We have set only one track, setting best line to avoid over hanging branches etc. For skating we have Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, Single Green, Kristin’s Cutoff and North Loup. Expect soft conditions skating, best trail to skate is Skaters Waltz.

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

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

Winter operating plans include to operate for day skiing on the the ski, snowshoe and fat bike trails. 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)  

Similar to the COVID season, there will be no 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. 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 will be groomed again this year, click here for latest report

Frosty skiers greeting skiers today, December 30th, 2022.
Combing out the skate lane on North Loup, December 30th, 2022. North Loup keeps getting better after more grooming.
Combing out the skate lane on Skaters Waltz, December 30th, 2022.
Front end renovator on the Pisten Bully mixing all the recent snow types to provide some fun skiing tracks, December 30th, 2022. Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Poki Loki, Mother Hen have been Pisten Bully groomed. Next week we plan to PB groom JibFly and Mother North Star as well.
Frosty tunnel on Sap Run, December 30th, 2022.
Striding through Mac’s Mess on Island Lake trail, December 30th, 2022. Island Lake trail is groomer’s choice! One of the best skiing classic trails right now.
Finishing up a run on North Loup, December 30th, 2022. Track on North Loup skiing well and reports from skaters skating have been good as well.
Tracking Island Lake trail the first time this year, December 29th, 2022.
“Mac’s Mess”. Both Island and Wavy Gravy trails pass through here. Top water has frozen down and skiable all way through! December 28th, 2022.
North Loup groomed with both track and skate deck, December 28th, 2022.
Keith coming in from a fat bike groom.
Pisten Bully in action setting double track on Sap Run and Mother Hen today, December 28th, 2022.
Setting track on Wavy Gravy, December 28th, 2022. We were able to get through “Macs Mess” in good shape. A little top water should freeze down tonight.
Skate grooming on Single green trail, December 28th, 2022.
Setting fresh track on Twin Lakes, December 27th, 2022.
Twin Lakes, December 27th, 2022.
Loon Return tracking, December 27th, 2022.
The big hill to Bullhead, December 27th, 2022. New name being announced soon! 
Setting fresh track on Sap Run, December 26th, 2022.
Setting fresh track on Mother North Star, December 26th, 2022.
Breaking trail through Double Green trail, December 24th, 2022.
Skinny field on Sukkerbusk, December 24th, 2022.
Winter scene through the square filed, December 24th, 2022.
News

December 29th Post Fire Update

This week we started clearing debris from the fire on October 10th that destroyed the main lodge at Maplelag.

Even with the colder temps last week, crews were still sorting preparing for removal. Thanks to the dedication of the heavy equipment operators working in sub zero temperatures. We are hopeful the main surface debris will be removed by the end of January before we continue final clean up and dirt work in the spring and early summer.

Jason A. working in sub zero weather last week. Thank you Jason for your dedication!

Actual rebuilding and the timing depends on a number of things from cost of fire services, debris removal (both of these items are running higher than expected) insurance, new business model operating plan, staffing and our recovery from restrictions placed on our business operations during the Covid years.

Christmas Eve skiing 2022.

If you are coming to day ski during the week, please be mindful of the trucks coming in and out. The drivers are aware of skiers and are using extra caution on the road. Also, please stay clear of the site for everyone safety. To view the site area, please observe from the ski trail at the main trail head.

We’ve been grooming hard on the trails this week and should have great skiing for the New Years weekend.

Over Christmas we enjoyed a few short but treasured days of family time. It was great having everyone home. Thanks everyone who sent us special Christmas cards and gifts. We deeply appreciate it and are very grateful.

One of the activities we are still enjoying is the wood fired sauna and cutting a hole in the ice to take the plunge. No matter the time of year, we always take a dip into Little Sugarbush at least once a week….a great way to end the day!

We will have the sauna going on the weekends and season pass holders are welcome to use the sauna. We will do our best to keep the sauna stoked but if you plan to use, best to stoke the fire a few times.

On the weekends we will have the sauna started in the morning and available for use for season pass holders. Self stoking. Assume all risk and responsibility. Do not use if otherwise. Thank you.

We hope everyone is having a Happy Holiday season!

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails are open. Cooler temps today and should continue to drop a few degrees during the day which will help tighten up the snow and deck. We have been grooming daily on some portion of the trail system. Great conditions with lots of snow. Higher humidity and mild temps has the snow skiing silky smooth albeit a bit soft. A few more sticks than usual after last weeks storm and wind events but nothing to prevent great skiing. We are constantly clearing and cleaning to have the best conditions possible. Today we set a track on Island Lake and North Loup and also groomed a skate lane on North Loup.

Classic only trails recently groomed include Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Loon Return, Sukkerbusk, Mother North Star, Rootin Tootin, North Loup,Island Lake, Wavy Gravy and Twin Lakes. We have set only one track, setting best line to avoid over hanging branches etc. For skating we have Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, Single Green, Kristin’s Cutoff and North Loup. Expect soft conditions skating, best trail to skate is Skaters Waltz.

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

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

Winter operating plans include to operate for day skiing on the the ski, snowshoe and fat bike trails. 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)  

Similar to the COVID season, there will be no 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. 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 will be groomed again this year, click here for latest report

Pisten Bully in action setting double track on Sap Run and Mother Hen today, December 28th, 2022.
Setting track on Wavy Gravy, December 28th, 2022. We were able to get through “Macs Mess” in good shape. A little top water should freeze down tonight.
Skate grooming on Single green trail, December 28th, 2022.
Setting fresh track on Twin Lakes, December 27th, 2022.
Twin Lakes, December 27th, 2022.
Loon Return tracking, December 27th, 2022.
The big hill to Bullhead, December 27th, 2022. New name being announced soon! 
Setting fresh track on Sap Run, December 26th, 2022.
Setting fresh track on Mother North Star, December 26th, 2022.
Breaking trail through Double Green trail, December 24th, 2022.
Skinny field on Sukkerbusk, December 24th, 2022.
Winter scene through the square filed, December 24th, 2022.
Skiing on JibFly, December 22nd, 2022.
Nice to see the sun today! December 22nd, 2022.
Repair work on the snowmobiles, December 22nd, 2022.
Heading for a snowy ski! December 21st, 2022.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Today we started grooming on the Fat Bike trails grooming in the 2 feet of snow the past two weeks. We are focusing on the Twin Lakes loop to have rideable conditions by the weekend as well as the SukkerWest loop.

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 5-6″ of ice and folks have been riding across the lake. If not comfortable crossing the lake, use the normal access by taking Goat Ranch road to county 34 than access from highway. Otherwise use Skaters Waltz to access Bullhead lake following the signs. Assume all risk.

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.

Fresh fat bike grooming, December 28th, 2022. Will need a few more passes and rider traffic to set up and have rideable conditions.