The past week has been significant as we were able to open the trails on November 18th after a week of daily snowfall that resulted in nearly a foot of snow. Subsequent grooming and probably the most track set we’ve had going into Thanksgiving made for one of the best early seasons ever. It’s been great seeing everyone out on the trails and appreciate all the season passes that have been purchased. This past week we also started going through the remains of the fire that destroyed the main lodge on October 10th, 2022.
Brant cabin at dusk, November 22nd, 2022.
Starting this weekend, November 26th, we will have the Brant cabin for a warming area for day us. There are bathrooms, a living area with table to have snacks and the bedroom on the main level can be used for changing in addition to the bathrooms. Limited parking across from the Brant is available with immediate trail access. There is also parking in the first parking lot with porta potties.
Grooming at dusk renovating the deck on Skaters Waltz, November 25th, 2022.
Despite consecutive days of above freezing temps, the trails have remained open. Best skiing conditions found on Sukkerbusk for classic skiing and Skaters Waltz for skate skiing. Full and daily trail reports on the trail report page.
Sorting through the debris, salvaging lumber that was harvested on the Maplelag property. November 23rd, 2022.
This past week we started cleaning up the lodge site after the fire on October 10th, 2022. One of the builders of the lodge along with his crew, is sorting through the rubble, pulling out any lumber and timbers that did not burn that we had in inventory and also discovering a few signs that are salvageable.
Sign pulled out from the debris. We’ve pulled out handful of signs so far.Timbers and planks pulled from the debris to be used for future projects.
We hope to clear all the debris before the New Year. Once we clear the site, we anticipate better vision for the future.
Trails remain open. Nice to see folks out today enjoying the lovely day. Bit warm for holding on to snow but the base is holding out well, especially on the early season trails. This evening we renovated Skaters Waltz and the “big hill” for skating and also reset one track on JibFly and both tracks on Sukkerbusk. No other grooming on other trails as the base is thin and not enough snow to work with. Deck and tracks might be fast to start the day on Saturday before forecasted warmer temps soften things up.
Best skiing is on Sukkerbusk for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. Much of JibFly is in good condition, bit rough on the far side which can be bypassed using the hill bypass. We are keeping the other trails open but extreme caution must be used as there are thin and bare spots.
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.
Renovating Skaters Waltz at dusk, November 25th, 2022.Setting new track at dusk on Sukkerbusk, 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.Nice conditions for skating on Skaters Waltz Thanksgiving morning, November 24th, 2022.Tracks looking good on most of Sukkerbusk, November 24th, 2022. Along with JibFly, best trails to ski for groomed classic skiing.North Loup, November 24th, 2022. Bit more rough and bumpy,some thin areas but very skiable with caution.Thin section on Twin Lakes, November 23rd, 2022.Dotz enjoying the early season conditions, November 23rd, 2022.
Wednesday we 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 in the mornings while still frozen. We will groom additional trail after more snow. This loop is not marked but easy to follow by following the grooming. Best way to pick up the 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.
Morning riding on the groomed singletrack, November 25th, 2022.Better segment of the groomed singletrack on “Hudson’s Hula”, November 24th, 2022.
Happy Thanksgiving! Trails open today. Froze down hard last night and the base is looking great today. Warm weather on Wednesday deteriorated the base a little but still very skiable conditions exist and there is some good skiing to be had with caution, especially on select inner trails. Watch for a few glazed areas on the south facing slopes before it warms up and softens again.
Poki Loki, Sap Run, Sukkerbusk and JibFly are best trails for classic and Skaters Waltz for skating. We are confident we can have good early season skiing for the Thanksgiving weekend on these trails. We plan to groom the above trails on Friday at some point, depending on temps etc. If skiing on other trails outside the recommended ones, use extra caution as more thin areas exist.
Tuesday we reset at new track on Sukkerbusk, JibFly, and set track for the first time on Mother North Star, Rootin Tootin and Twin Lakes. Sap Run was tracked Sunday evening. Wednesday we packed out Wavy Gravy and Island Lake trails.
We also recently groomed the skate trails and have Skaters Waltz, the two extension loops off Skaters, North Loop, Kristin’s Cutoff, Single Green and the big hill groomed and open for skating. Skaters Waltz remains best trail for skating, extension loops are good, North Loop has some rough spots but very skiable. Skating only on these trails please.
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.
Nice conditions for skating on Skaters Waltz Thanksgiving morning, November 24th, 2022. Tracks looking good on most of Sukkerbusk, November 24th, 2022. Along with JibFly, best trails to ski for groomed classic skiing. North Loup, November 24th, 2022. Bit more rough and bumpy,some thin areas but very skiable with caution. Sunset ski on Sukkerbusk, November 23rd, 2022. Skill nice early season skiing on Sukkerbusk.Island Lake trail at dusk, November 23rd, 2022. Island Lake and Wavy Gravy packed today, ready for the next snowfall to be tracked. Skiable with no track set, watch for rough spots and thin areas. Area of thin cover on Twin Lakes, November 23rd, 2022. Entire loop is skiable, stepping out of tracks where thin but best to avoid.Setting new track on Sukkerbusk, November 22nd, 2022.Setting new track on JibFly, second track has light dusting of new snow on top. November 22nd, 2022.All smiles from Dots enjoying the beautiful day on the trails, November 22nd, 2022.Cutting new track on Mother North Star, November 22nd, 2022. Sap Run to left with dusting of new snow on top of track setting from Sunday evening. Grooming Single Green for skating, November 22nd, 2022.SSap Run, November 22nd, 2022.
Thanksgiving is always a special time to us as it was the only holiday we took off to spend with family and friends at Maplelag in the lodge. This year will be the first time since the new lodge was built we will not all be together due to the fire on October 10th, 2022.
With that said we want to say again we are beyond grateful for all the love, support, donations, gifts and acts of kindness after the fire on October 10th, 2022. We are really at a loss of words. Thank you to all our family, friends and guests that are Maplelag family to us for all the memories made that we will cherish forever. Thanksgiving blessings to you all!
A Family Owned and Operated Destination Cross-Country Ski Center
