All posts by Jay Richards

Trail Report

Quite a change in weather the past 24 hours with almost a 40 degree temp swing!! Light snow early this morning resulting in less than an inch. We did get warm temps Saturday and Sunday that softened the snow but the coverage is holding on with a firm base, despite being thin. Very skiable with caution! Looks like chances of snow this week and just 2″ would really improve the conditions with the solid base that exists. We need around 3-4″ before we can set tracks.

Good to see folks on the trails this weekend taking advantadge of the early season conditions.  An incredible Saturday morning before getting warmer but still folks skiing in the afternoon and on Sunday.

Grooming last week on Rootin Tootin, North Loup, Mother North Star,Sap Run, Skaters Waltz, JibFly, Sukkerbusk, Suicide Hill and Twin Lakes trails. We have the trails open for early season “rock” skiing. No tracks set. Thin 1-2″ base with areas of thin cover and rough spots. Use caution on the hills and advised to use “rock” skis or older skis. Best trail to ski would be Skaters Waltz and Suicide Hill. Other trails bit more rough.

There is no fee to use the trails at this time. No lodging available and limited services in the main lodge. The trails will remain open for skiing Thanksgiving week and in to the weekend. We will not have lodging available but feel free to park, click in and just ski!

Cold temps allowing Little Sugubush (lake Maplelag is next to) to freeze over entirely last Friday morning. This follows the other small area lakes that froze over earlier this week. Always exciting when the lake freezes over as a sign winter is approaching or in this weeks case, is here!

We have also been taking advantage of the cold temps and working on the ice skating rink which is ready and saw first skaters on the weekend!

Overall, the trails are in great shape after an amazing fall for clearing, brushing and preparing for snow.

Think Snow!!

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6085381618636302609

 

Weekend wedding guests heading out on the trail for a morning ski. November 22nd, 2014.
Weekend wedding guests heading out on the trail for a morning ski. November 22nd, 2014.
Ready to hit the trails! November 22nd, 2014.
Ready to hit the trails! November 22nd, 2014.

 

Early morning ski. Top of Suicide Hill. Hard to top the conditions for November 22nd!!
Early morning ski. Top of Suicide Hill. Hard to top the conditions for November 22nd!!

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6084284438140825505

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6083925050528351249

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6083560056649920689

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6083501919728512417

Transition

Slough near JibFly ski trail showing signs of winter and the fading fall. November 21st, 2014.
Slough near JibFly ski trail showing signs of winter and the fading fall. November 21st, 2014.

Winter has come early this year with a nice coating of white in the woods and very few signs of fall. We have select trails open for skiing with the new snow and from daily grooming. Latest trail report on the trail report page.

Check availability online for openings for this upcoming winter season and contact us to make a reservation! Deposits can be made online.

Trail Report

Morning temp checking in at 15 degrees, 22 degrees warmer than coldest temp last night which was -7. Another gorgeous winter day on tap. Packing this morning on Rootin Tootin, North Loup and Mother North Star. Yesterday Sap Run, Skaters Waltz, Sukkerbusk, Suicide Hill and Twin Lakes trails combed with Ginzu groomer. JibFly was rollpacked. We have the trails open for early season “rock” skiing. No tracks set. Thin 1-2″ base with areas of thin cover and rough spots. Use caution on the hills and advised to use “rock” skis or older skis. Best trail to ski would be Skaters Waltz and Suicide Hill.  Other trails bit more rough. A check of the trails skiing late afternoon on Thursday found fair to good rock skiing conditions. A great start to the season!

Off and on prairie effect snow this week resulting in 3-4″ of snow. Heavy snow showers on Wednesday afternoon resulting in another inch or so. Snow depth in the woods around 4-6″.  Later afternoon we were out skiing, checking the trails and enjoyed some fun powder conditions!  This new snow will help out nicely and are now able to open at least one trail, Skaters Waltz.

There is no fee to use the trails at this time. No lodging available and limited services in the main lodge. This coming weekend the lodge is reserved for a private wedding but feel free to park, click in and just ski!

We have been packing select trails (early season trails) to flatten the snow/grass and prepare for the next snowfalls since last week. Grooming helps freeze the ground down and drive frost farther down providing a better refrigeration effect when it warms up. Interesting enough, soil temps 5-6 feet below the surface are still in the 50-60 degree range. Noticed on the trail this week was a group of turkeys on Sukkerbusk and later discovered them up high in a tree! The covered quite a bit of area during the day, being sighted along the trails that were groomed.

Cold temps allowing Little Sugubush (lake Maplelag is next to) to freeze over entirely early Friday morning. This follows the other small area lakes that froze over earlier this week. Always exciting when the lake freezes over as a sign winter is approaching or in this weeks case, is here!

We have also been taking advantage of the cold temps and working on the ice skating rink. Should be ready within a week or so!

Overall, the trails are in great shape after an amazing fall for clearing, brushing and preparing for snow.

Think Snow!!

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6083925050528351249

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6083560056649920689

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6083501919728512417

 https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6083115475485663377

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6082727996642259505

 

Skating on Skaters Waltz, November 16th, 2014.
Skating on Skaters Waltz, November 16th, 2014.

 

Skiing up Suicide Hill, November 16th, 2014.
Skiing up Suicide Hill, November 16th, 2014.
Panoramic view of Little Sugarbush lake as seen from the tower of the lodge. Frozen over completely early morning November 14th, 2014.
Panoramic view of Little Sugarbush lake as seen from the tower of the lodge. Frozen over completely early morning November 14th, 2014.

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6081658729759367841

Checking out suicide hill. November 13th, 2014.
Checking out suicide hill. As usual, the best early season skiing but need more snow to open the trails officially. November 13th, 2014.
nov13-04
Super super thin base on Sukkerbusk but compacted and ready for the next snowfall. Need 3-5″ more snow before trails can officially be open. November 13th, 2014.

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6081246244924420849