Sure doesn’t feel like the first part of May with snow on the ground and cold temps!  Snow on May 1st sticking around until Monday May 2nd. Enough for a little glide and May skiing!! The frost is out of the ground and the warm sun and temps will melt off the snow today and hopefully the woods can resume the transition to more green. The ice went off the lake last week and the loons and other waterfowl have been busy on the lake. Water table are at a all time record high and many low areas under water and sloughs and ponds that have been sometimes dry are to maximum capacity. We do have the mountain bike trails open but still have trees to clear and signs to put out . It is interesting moving through the woods with motorized equipment so taking a bit longer to clear the trees. If you do ride, please exercise caution. The new Twin Lakes singletrack is open and can be accessed via the Twin Lakes ski trail off the Maplelag driveway. We had a couple riders out on Monday and reported a nice ride. The trails are closed to horses and motorized equipment.

http://picasaweb.google.com/6birdman6/May2ndTrailReportPhotos

The big weather news this week was the ice going off Little Sugarbush, the lake Maplelag is next to, on early Thursday morning.  The loons were waiting eagerly before the ice was off and no enjoy the open water of the lake. Having the ice off the lake definitely makes it feel more like Spring even though the weather hasn’t been very spring like. The lake was 75% covered Wednesday morning but big wind from the north pushed it off by the late evening. Thursday turning out to be one of the nicest days this spring with temps near 60, light winds and sunshine but rain returning on Saturday with a chance of snow on May day?!?!

Warmer weather the past week has dried up the trails (other than the low spots that are holding water) and brought to life more plants and flowers on the forest floor. The singletrack and mountain bike course has dried out enough for riding but wet again from rain on Saturday. We still have signs and a few trees to clear but  the trails are open for anyone that wishes to ride but be aware there are unmarked obstacles including fallen trees and not all the signs are out yet. The trails are closed to horses and motorized equipment (atvs etc.)

http://picasaweb.google.com/6birdman6/April28thTrailReportPhotos