All posts by Jay Richards

Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Snow globe conditions. Approaching 2 feet of snow this week with another dusting overnight and snow continuing all day today. We have 40km of trail groomed for the weekend. 25km classic only, 15km skate only groomed. Today we reset all the tracks on all the classic trails and combed out Skaters Waltz twice, We plan to be back out tonight clearing up the tracks on Sap Run, Sukkerbusk and Twin Lakes.

Slow going grooming this week due to the heavy snow bending over branches, breaking off limbs etc  Branches continue to fall, use little extra caution on the downhills and watch out for the “face slappers”! 

Classic only trails being groomed include Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Sukkerbusk, Mother North Star, Rootin Tootin and Twin Lakes. We are only grooming one track, setting best line to avoid over hanging branches etc. For skate, we are packing and combing out all the skate trails Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, Single Green, Kristin’s Cutoff and North Loup. Expect soft conditions skating. Wavy Gravy and Island Lake trail have been packed, lot of overhanging branches. We will track these trails early next 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 28″. Compacted base on trail 4-8″. 

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.

(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. 

Fat bike trails are open click here for latest report

Enjoying the snow globe conditions on Rootin Tootin, December 17th, 2022.
Skiers heading out for a morning skate, December 17th, 2022. You might have to lean back to avoid some branches like our new ski patrol person!
Grooming on Skaters Waltz, December 17th, 2022.
Pocket of overhanging branches on Skaters Waltz, December 17th, 2022. Use caution on the downhills!
A peek of sunshine, December 17th, 2022.
Fort made by ski teams during meet earlier this month covered nicely in snow now, December 17th, 2022. The deer have been curious!
Members of the Moorhead Nordic ski team heading out for a early morning skate ski, December 17th, 2022.

Heading out for a classic ski! Thanks for “skiing in” the new snow!
Setting track under the setting moon on Twin Lakes trail morning of December 17th, 2022.
Snow globe grooming on Mother North Star, December 16th, 2022.
Afternoon ski for Ben! December 16th, 2022.
Setting track on Rootin Tootin, December 16th, 2022.
The “Machine” Nice job to Keith this week grooming and clearing, December 16th, 2022.
Grooming on JibFly, December 15th. We did set a track. JibFly actually one of the better trails as far as a open path.
Setting track on Sap Run, December 15th, 2022.
Heading out for late afternoon ski, December 15th, 2022.
Magical ski under the solar lights, December 15th, 2022.
Taking in the beauty of the new snow on fresh set Sukkerbusk, December 14th, 2022.
Cutting new track on Sukkerbusk, December 14th, 2022.
Packing on Sukkerbusk, December 14th, 2022.
Packing on Skaters Waltz, December 14th, 2022.
Packing on Sap Run, December 14th, 2022.
Early morning packing on Twin Lakes ski trail, December 14th, 2022.
Bike Trail

Fat Bike Trail Report

Fat Bike trails are open. Soft and slow conditions with nearly 2 feet of snow this week. We have been trying to stay on top of the grooming in between ski trail grooming. Best riding this weekend, albeit a bit soft, will be Twin Lakes Singletrack 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 grooming on the singletrack, December 14th, 2022.
Grooming December 14th, 2022.
Weaving through Bootleg singletrack loop, December 12th, 2022.
Saturday riders, December 10th, 2022.
Rolling on the inner singletrack, December 10th, 2022.
Crossing creek on Bullhead Bootleg loop, December 10th, 2022.
Ski Trail

Ski Trail Report

Winter Wonderland! Approaching 2 feet of snow this week with more snow falling this evening. We have 40km of trail groomed and open for the weekend. Slow going grooming this week due to the heavy snow bending over branches, breaking off limbs etc 15km classic only, 25km skate only groomed. We will try to touch up a few trails on Saturday morning. Branches continue to fall, use little extra caution on the downhills and watch out for the “face slappers”!

Classic only trails being groomed include Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Sukkerbusk, Mother North Star, Rootin Tootin and Twin Lakes. We are only grooming one track, setting best line to avoid over hanging branches etc. For skate, we are packing and combing out all the skate trails Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, Single Green, Kristin’s Cutoff and North Loup. Expect soft conditions skating.

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 28″. Compacted base on trail 4-8″. 

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.

(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. 

Fat bike trails are open click here for latest report

Snow globe grooming on Mother North Star, December 16th, 2022.
Afternoon ski for Ben! December 16th, 2022.
Setting track on Rootin Tootin, December 16th, 2022.
The “Machine” Nice job to Keith this week grooming and clearing, December 16th, 2022.
Grooming on JibFly, December 15th. We did set a track. JibFly actually one of the better trails as far as a open path.
Setting track on Sap Run, December 15th, 2022.
Heading out for late afternoon ski, December 15th, 2022.
Magical ski under the solar lights, December 15th, 2022.
Taking in the beauty of the new snow on fresh set Sukkerbusk, December 14th, 2022.
Cutting new track on Sukkerbusk, December 14th, 2022.
Packing on Sukkerbusk, December 14th, 2022.
Packing on Skaters Waltz, December 14th, 2022.
Packing on Sap Run, December 14th, 2022.
Early morning packing on Twin Lakes ski trail, December 14th, 2022.
Blog, News

Fire Update December 15th Entry

It has been two months since a fire broke out in the main lodge at Maplelag, resulting in a complete loss of the building. It continues to be hard to believe as we adjust to the major change in our lives. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our staff and all those that grieve with us. This weekend would of been our opening weekend with our first ski camps. It is a big adjustment for our staff not to be servicing all our wonderful guests and we are keeping you in extra thought and prayer as well as our guests that are not able to come. Thank you for continued support of love, prayers, donations and contributions in so many ways. The act of giving during this Christmas time is putting us at loss of words and we are so grateful for the continued outpouring of support.

“Paris” building at the French Village.

Last week, Jay and Jonell took a trip to Bemidji, MN. to visit the Concordia Language Villages (CLV) permanent language learning sites or “villages”.

Norwegian log cabin Jay lived in the summer he was a head cook at Norwegian camp. Jonell might of visited once or twice.

CLV is recognized as one of the top language immersion programs in the country, with a mission of being “builders of globally minded communities and guides to world fluency”. We highly encourage parents of children to consider attending a summer camp. Each village gives a sense of the representing country. Maplelag has a long lasting relationship with CLV going back to the late 70’s when Jim and Mary visited with directors about building a lodge to host languages camps. These conversations would come to fruition and a big reason the first lodge, that was lost to a fire in 1999, came to be in the late 70’s.

French kitchen. Thanks Francois for the fresh bread!

Since the late 70’s, Maplelag has hosted many different “villages” including Russian, Swedish, French, Finnish, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and most recently, Chinese. The Maplelag family, have not only attended villages but Jay and Mary were head cooks at numerous sites including Swedish, Russian, Norwegian, Chinese and Japanese. With these experiences and the hundreds, if not thousands of relationships forged, you can see how the Concordia Language Villages has been a huge part of our lives and we would not be where we are today without them. Their operations are very similar to Maplelag and we’ve had many conversations with them on how to deal with critters, septic tank, food service industry etc.

Thanks Warren and Pat for sharing plans and knowledge!

The trip to Bemidji saw us visiting all the villages, focusing on the main buildings that serve as dining rooms and looking at all the kitchens including the older facilities and the most recent ones. We want to thank Warren for taking the time showing us each facility as well as Patrick sharing his information.

Finnish main lodge.

Our thought process at the moment, if we are to rebuild, would be keeping CLV in mind, just like the first lodge was built, to continue the special partnership moving forward or into the future.

Russian main lodge.

Last week we also hosted our first Nordic Ski Meet of the year and possibly the first one on natural snow in the country! It was so good to see familiar faces and have the trails buzzing with the energy of the kids. It really was a magical day with fresh snow falling in the morning leading to sunshine in the afternoon. The growth in high school Nordic skiing is very encouraging with even more teams being added including Wadena/Deer Creek. Thanks Terry for the opportunity to work with the kids. We are always willing to volunteer our time to help out any youth, as time allows. Please reach out in advance. We are looking forward to hosting our next meet on January 3rd for JV and Jr High skiers, the long running DL Invite mid January and the Sectional meets in early February.

Girls Varsity, early season ski meet December 6th, 2022.

Finally we want to give a special shoutout to Krolls Zuckerwald and John and Susan for making a special delivery of multiple cases of their pure maple syrup. Maplelag serves pure maple syrup with many entrees but among the most loved was the Norwegian Pancakes. We have a few pints for sale if anyone is not able to find this delicacy in local markets.