All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails open. Snow falling mid afternoon into the evening. Late afternoon we packed and combed out Skaters Waltz. Early evening we packed Sukkerbusk and set double track on Sap Run. We will wait until the wind settles down before more grooming but plan to be back out in the morning grooming all 15km of skate trail and resetting track on Sukkebusk, JibFly, and Rootin Tootin.

Handful of folks out yesterday reporting good early season conditions on the trails recommended to ski below. Track reformed on Sukkerbusk and JibFly early afternoon Thursday with the Ginzu groomer.

An inch or two of dry fluffy snow Tuesday evening. Grooming on 22km of trail Wednesday morning. We combed out the 15km of skate only trails and reset a track on Sukkebusk and JibFly. The new snow improving the conditions and making for better skiing.

Recommended trails to ski with the best coverage is on Sukkerbusk and JibFly for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. We worked on Skaters Waltz this week, tenderizing the deck and shoveling on thin areas.

After enough new snow, we will groom additional trail. Shouldn’t take much new snow to have Twin Lakes, Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star, and Sap Run in good skiing condition again.

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 the reports and purchase of season passes. 

Total snowfall this season at 12″. Compacted base on trail 1-4″.

Winter operating plans include to operate for day skiing on the the ski, snowshoe and fat bike trails. (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. Starting Thanksgiving weekend we will have 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. 

Select fat bike trails have been groomed and are now open.

Evening groom setting double track on Sap Run, December 2nd, 2022. Track will be a bit loose with the dry snow but should set up with colder temps overnight.
What we like to see! Fresh corduroy after grooming December 2nd, 2022. Covered up quickly after snow and wind!
Keith heading out for late afternoon groom, December 2nd, 2022.
Refreshing track on JibFly, December 1st, 2022.
Skiing in fresh snow on Sukkerbusk, November 30th, 2022.
Pressing new snow on one track on Sukkerbusk, November 30th, 2022. Option to ski skied in track or groomed track. Groomed track will have icier base.
Pressing new snow into preexisting track on JibFly, November 30th, 2022. Most of JibFly in fair to good early season condition.
Combing the new snow on the skate trails, November 30th, 2022.
Tenderizing the deck and patching thin spots on Skaters Waltz, November 28th, 2022.
Section of Skaters Waltz lit with solar lights, November 28th, 2022. With sunset earlier, finishing up with laps on the lit loop is a option to extend a ski outing.
Sunset ride on the frozen groomed singletrack, November 27th, 2022. Select trails are open for fat biking. Good seeing a few folks out this weekend. Latest fat bike report can be found here.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team on trail today, November 26th, 2022.
Afternoon ski for Paul and Judy! November 26th, 2022. Great seeing long time guests on the trail this weekend.
Spring skiing in November! November 26th, 2022.
Charlie and Dylan getting in the local laps! November 26th, 2022.
Afternoon skier, November 25th, 2022.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Fat Bike trails are open. 1-2″ of snow falling late Friday. Entire “FatLagChilada” course has been groomed this past week and open for riding. The loop consists of Skaters Waltz starting ot 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.

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.

Night ride on the fresh grooming on Bullhead Bootleg loop under the moonlight, November 30th, 2022. Night riding is a exhilarating experience with lighting accentuating the trail and almost easier to see definition of trail versus flat light on a cloudy day.
Great riding on the return of Twin Lakes singletrack, November 29th, 2022.
Bob out for a Sunday ride on the frozen groomed singletrack, November 27th, 2022.
Sunset at the Twin Lakes crossing, November 27th, 2022.
Morning riding on the groomed singletrack, November 25th, 2022.
Better segment of the groomed singletrack on “Hudson’s Hula”, November 24th, 2022.
Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails open. After early morning lows in the single digits, warming to the mid teens with a breeze from the southeast. Grooming today on Sukkerbusk and JibFly, cleaning up one side of the double track.

An inch or two of dry fluffy snow Tuesday evening. Grooming on 22km of trail Wednesday morning. We combed out the 15km of skate only trails and reset a track on Sukkebusk and JibFly. The new snow improving the conditions and making for better skiing.We are keeping eye on possible snow Friday and will plan to groom in the afternoon if any new snow. Skiing should be fair to good this weekend for early season conditions.

Recommended trails to ski with the best coverage is on Sukkerbusk and JibFly for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. We have been working on Skaters Waltz this week, tenderizing the deck and shoveling on thin areas.

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 the reports and purchase of season passes. 

Total snowfall this season at 12″. Compacted base on trail 1-4″.

Winter operating plans include to operate for day skiing on the the ski, snowshoe and fat bike trails. (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. Starting Thanksgiving weekend we will have 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. 

Select fat bike trails have been groomed and are now open.

Refreshing track on JibFly, December 1st, 2022.
Skiing in fresh snow on Sukkerbusk, November 30th, 2022.
Pressing new snow on one track on Sukkerbusk, November 30th, 2022. Option to ski skied in track or groomed track. Groomed track will have icier base.
Pressing new snow into preexisting track on JibFly, November 30th, 2022. Most of JibFly in fair to good early season condition.
Combing the new snow on the skate trails, November 30th, 2022.
Tenderizing the deck and patching thin spots on Skaters Waltz, November 28th, 2022.
Section of Skaters Waltz lit with solar lights, November 28th, 2022. With sunset earlier, finishing up with laps on the lit loop is a option to extend a ski outing.
Sunset ride on the frozen groomed singletrack, November 27th, 2022. Select trails are open for fat biking. Good seeing a few folks out this weekend. Latest fat bike report can be found here.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team on trail today, November 26th, 2022.
Afternoon ski for Paul and Judy! November 26th, 2022. Great seeing long time guests on the trail this weekend.
Spring skiing in November! November 26th, 2022.
Charlie and Dylan getting in the local laps! November 26th, 2022.
Afternoon skier, November 25th, 2022.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Select fat bike trails are open. A dusting of fresh snow overnight, cold temps and grooming on 25km of trail. The main loops groomed are Bullhead Bootleg, Twin Lakes singletrack loops and Sukkerwest. We also have groomed select segments in between to make a “FatLagChilada” loop.

Bullhead lake is frozen for access across the lake. There is around 5″ of ice. If not comfortable crossing the lake, use the normal access by taking Goat Ranch road to county 34 than access from highway.

Best way to pick up the current grooming is to head down the driveway and ride SukkerWest than follow the grooming back across the road to access Winter Bjorps than follow the grooming for the rest of the groomed trail. Part of the grooming follows along the ski trail.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.

Great riding on the return of Twin Lakes singletrack, November 29th, 2022.
Bob out for a Sunday ride on the frozen groomed singletrack, November 27th, 2022.
Sunset at the Twin Lakes crossing, November 27th, 2022.
Morning riding on the groomed singletrack, November 25th, 2022.
Better segment of the groomed singletrack on “Hudson’s Hula”, November 24th, 2022.
Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails open. An inch or two of dry fluffy snow the past 24 hours with temps down to the single digits. Grooming on 22km of trail this morning. We combed out the 15km of skate only trails and reset a track on Sukkebusk and JibFly. The new snow improving the conditions and making for better skiing.

Recommended trails to ski with the best coverage is on Sukkerbusk and JibFly for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. We have been working on Skaters Waltz this week, tenderizing the deck and shoveling on thin areas.

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 the reports and purchase of season passes. 

Total snowfall this season at 12″. Compacted base on trail 1-4″.

Winter operating plans include to operate for day skiing on the the ski, snowshoe and fat bike trails. (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. Starting Thanksgiving weekend we will have 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. 

Select fat bike trails have been groomed and are now open.

Skiing in fresh snow on Sukkerbusk, November 30th, 2022.
Pressing new snow on one track on Sukkerbusk, November 30th, 2022. Option to ski skied in track or groomed track. Groomed track will have icier base.
Pressing new snow into preexisting track on JibFly, November 30th, 2022. Most of JibFly in fair to good early season condition.
Combing the new snow on the skate trails, November 30th, 2022.
Tenderizing the deck and patching thin spots on Skaters Waltz, November 28th, 2022.
Section of Skaters Waltz lit with solar lights, November 28th, 2022. With sunset earlier, finishing up with laps on the lit loop is a option to extend a ski outing.
Sunset ride on the frozen groomed singletrack, November 27th, 2022. Select trails are open for fat biking. Good seeing a few folks out this weekend. Latest fat bike report can be found here.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team on trail today, November 26th, 2022.
Afternoon ski for Paul and Judy! November 26th, 2022. Great seeing long time guests on the trail this weekend.
Spring skiing in November! November 26th, 2022.
Charlie and Dylan getting in the local laps! November 26th, 2022.
Afternoon skier, November 25th, 2022.