All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails remain open. Flurries today with temps in the teens. A thin dusting of snow overnight, not enough to improve conditions. We did make four passes on Skaters Waltz yesterday, conditioning the deck and taking off the hard edge. Overall, conditions are hardpack/icy after freezing down hard after a four day period of above freezing temps. The good thing is the base is holding out well and the coverage is good. Just an inch or so of new snow and we should have good ski conditions again.

Best coverage is on Sukkerbusk for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. Even with icy conditions, we will keep these two trails open for anyone wishing to ski. No grooming planned other than on Skaters Waltz we will build up the base in a few spots this week and work on tenderizing the deck.

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 10″. 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.

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.
Sukkebusk trail, November 27th, 2022. Coverage on Sukkerbusk remains good, icy and fast conditions until more snow.
Skaters Waltz, November 27th, 2022. Last nights grooming leveled the deck but hardpack/icy fast. Good coverage throughout. Dusting of snow will greatly improve conditions. We will continue grooming Skaters this week, building up thin areas in the process.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team on trail today, November 26th, 2022.
Spring skiing in November! November 26th, 2022.
Charlie and Dylan getting in the local laps! November 26th, 2022.
Skaters Waltz extension, November 26th, 2022. Lot of tracks crossing the ski trails.
Tracks on Sukkerbusk still holding out well, early afternoon November 26th, 2022.
Renovating Skaters Waltz at dusk, November 25th, 2022.
Setting new track at dusk on Sukkerbusk, November 25th, 2022.
Afternoon skier, November 25th, 2022.
Cutting new track on JibFly late afternoon, November 25th, 2022.
Blowing leaves off Skaters Waltz, November 25th, 2022.
Shoveling exposed rock on Skaters Waltz, November 25th, 2022.
Cutting new track on JibFly, November 25th, 2022.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Select fat bike trails are open. We have groomed out a small loop consisting of SukkerWest, Winter Bjorps, North Star Extension, the first part of Twin Lakes ski trail than Hudson’s Hula loop on the Twin Lakes singletrack. This loop is open for riding when frozen. Forecast looks good this week for all day riding the whole week.

Today we are grooming the Bullhead Bootleg 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.

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 remain open. Conditions are hardpack/icy after freezing down hard after a four day period of above freezing temps. The good thing is the base is holding out well and the coverage is good. Just an inch or so of new snow and we should have good ski conditions again.

Best coverage is on Sukkerbusk for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. Even with icy conditions, we will keep these two trails open for anyone wishing to ski. No grooming planned other than on Skaters Waltz we will build up the base in a few spots this week and work on tenderizing the deck.

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 10″. 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.

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.
Sukkebusk trail, November 27th, 2022. Coverage on Sukkerbusk remains good, icy and fast conditions until more snow.
Skaters Waltz, November 27th, 2022. Last nights grooming leveled the deck but hardpack/icy fast. Good coverage throughout. Dusting of snow will greatly improve conditions. We will continue grooming Skaters this week, building up thin areas in the process.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team on trail today, November 26th, 2022.
Spring skiing in November! November 26th, 2022.
Charlie and Dylan getting in the local laps! November 26th, 2022.
Skaters Waltz extension, November 26th, 2022. Lot of tracks crossing the ski trails.
Tracks on Sukkerbusk still holding out well, early afternoon November 26th, 2022.
Renovating Skaters Waltz at dusk, November 25th, 2022.
Setting new track at dusk on Sukkerbusk, November 25th, 2022.
Afternoon skier, November 25th, 2022.
Cutting new track on JibFly late afternoon, November 25th, 2022.
Blowing leaves off Skaters Waltz, November 25th, 2022.
Shoveling exposed rock on Skaters Waltz, November 25th, 2022.
Cutting new track on JibFly, November 25th, 2022.
Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Trails remain open. Fast and icy conditions this beautiful Sunday morning after a hard freeze last night. Doesn’t look to warm up so conditions will stay hard and crunchy all day. Last night we groomed SkatersWaltz and the big hill down to Bullhead lake, leveling the deck. No other grooming.

Nice to see folks out this Thanksgiving and weekend enjoying the lovely weather. Bit warm for hanging on to snow but the base is holding out well and after last nights freeze and cooler weather ahead, just an inch or so and skiing will be good again.

Best coverage is on Sukkerbusk for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. Even with icy conditions, we will keep these two trails open for anyone wishing to ski. No grooming planned other than on Skaters Waltz we will build up the base in a few spots this week.

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 10″. 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.

Sukkebusk trail, November 27th, 2022. Coverage on Sukkerbusk remains good, icy and fast conditions until more snow.
Skaters Waltz, November 27th, 2022. Last nights grooming leveled the deck but hardpack/icy fast. Good coverage throughout. Dusting of snow will greatly improve conditions. We will continue grooming Skaters this week, building up thin areas in the process.
Late afternoon grooming on Skaters Waltz, November 26th, 2022. Kamikaze hill usually first area to melt out but hanging on with skiable coverage. We will be building up this area this week.
Afternoon ski for Paul and Judy! November 26th, 2022. Great seeing long time guests on the trail this weekend.
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team on trail today, November 26th, 2022.
Spring skiing in November! November 26th, 2022.
Charlie and Dylan getting in the local laps! November 26th, 2022.
Skaters Waltz extension, November 26th, 2022. Lot of tracks crossing the ski trails.
Tracks on Sukkerbusk still holding out well, early afternoon November 26th, 2022.
Renovating Skaters Waltz at dusk, November 25th, 2022.
Setting new track at dusk on Sukkerbusk, November 25th, 2022.
Afternoon skier, November 25th, 2022.
Cutting new track on JibFly late afternoon, November 25th, 2022.
Blowing leaves off Skaters Waltz, November 25th, 2022.
Shoveling exposed rock on Skaters Waltz, November 25th, 2022.
Cutting new track on JibFly, November 25th, 2022.