Another very light dusting of snow overnight with hazy conditions and temps in the lower 20’s. Very typical of our snowfalls this year. The new snow overnight not enough to groom or ski on but enough white to brighten things up a bit more. We have a very light dusting of snow on the trails. Not enough to groom or ski on but least we are moving in  the right direction! Last weekends warm weather not kind to the trails as we lost most of our snow with only scattered patches of base in the wake. Seasonal temps in place this week and keeping our eyes on a possible snow maker late in the weekend, start of next week.

The trails are open for running, hiking, walking, and the Twin Lakes single track is open for fatbikes and mountain bikes as it will all be all winter.

The lake has relatively smooth ice for skating and we have been working on the ice rink in the switchyard after the warm weather for ice skating and skating is good.

The St Paul Highland Park and Cooper ski teams are at Maplelag this weekend for a training  camp. Despite not enough snow on the trails to ski, the kids are keeping active with cross training activities and will be able to double pole ski on the lake.

Think Snow!

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Photos from Tuesday morning:

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6093524131513192801

Cooling down overnight and falling temps in to the upper teens Monday morning. The water on the lake froze over nicely and the surface is smooth. A few lingering flakes with a chance of snow in to the evening. The warm temps over the weekend not kind to the trails and we lost most of our snow, unfortunately. Everything is freezing down hard and ready for the next snowfalls! Think Snow!

(photos from Monday late morning)

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6093167061264839665

Weather not kind to the trails this weekend. Warm temps during the night above freezing and staying in the upper 30’s to lower 40’s during the day. Unfortunately we lost quite a bit of snow and base. Should freeze down late tonight into tomorrow with a chance of light snow. The trails are not skiable until we receive new snow. Photos from Sunday morning.

Think Snow!!

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6092859681456838945

The coverage on the trails holding out great today with temps holding steady around 30-32. Beautiful morning with trees flocked with frost. Ski patrol early afternoon found good coverage and very nice early season on Skaters Waltz. Hard to get off the trail!! Conditions the best they have been all year! North Loup was also skied. Found a bit more fresh frost on top of the most recent groom on North Loup but also a few more rough spots. We have been working on Skaters Waltz this week, building up the base as much as possible, focusing on the south facing hills. Skaters Waltz to be groomed early evening, pressing the fallen frost and in effort to firm up the base as much as possible.

We have been working on a 4km loop which is mostly Skaters Waltz in anticipation of the DL Invite ski meet on Tuesday and the upcoming ski camp next weekend. We will make a decision on the DL Invite on Sunday night.

Forecasted temp on Saturday and Sunday look a little cooler than originally forecasted. However, we will still have the trails closed Saturday and Sunday to preserve the base as much as possible before it cools down again and hopefully fresh snow!! We are planning on opening the trails again Monday morning. Unfortunately we had to cancel the first ski camp this weekend because of warmer temps forecasted and vulnerable base to high volume of ski traffic.

Bottom line, there is good coverage on all the trails with 2-4″ of snow depth/base. If we can get through Saturday and Sunday okay and freeze the base down again, there should be a solid base for the next snowfall. Like always, we will be updating daily. Think Snow!!

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6092086179036024737

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/6090932548800990193