About as nice as it can get for a early May day. Light winds, mix of sun and clouds and pleasant temps. We had over a half inch of rain yesterday afternoon which really perked up the grass and underbrush. Many buds popping out on the treess and lots of forest plants starting to emerge. The shot of rain was timely as we finished planting the trees moments before the rain. The warmer temps this week should really get things moving in the woods. The forest is bursting with activity of nature…a great time of the year to be in the woods etc. The mountain bike course is open and in very good condition. Some of the best riding of the year with good sight lines, nice temps and no bugs!! We will sign the course the next week. A few low spots soft and holding water here and there but all in all good conditions and some great riding.
This Spring, just over 2500 coniferous trees were planted at Maplelag. The trees were planted near and along the ski trails and also in the remaining open areas in the skinny field. The trees planted include Norway pine, spruce and fir balsam. Over the years, close to 100,000 trees have been planted!! It is rewarding to see trees planted as seedlings 25 years ago now tower 20-30f feet high. Around 90% of the 650 acres at Maplelag has been enrolled in the MN Sustainable Forestry Initiative Act (SFIA Program) as of 2005. Photos below of this Spring.
A nice weekend in the woods. A few more signs of Spring as recent rains and warm temps slowly bringing the forest to life. We finished blowing out the singletrack for the mountain bike course and have mowed/cleared the ski trail sections where it is not to wet. Still a few low areas wet from high water tables but all in all for May 2nd the course is in great shape. Riding over the weekend was very nice and a handful of folks hitting the trail. We will sign the course this week and the trail is open for riding. The cormorants and pelicans that stopped by last week (photos below) on Little Sugarbush have moved on with only a few cormorants still around.
Photo taken May 2nd of Jake blowing out one of the last singletrack sections on the bike course.
Hard frost last night leaving the grounds and roofs solid white. Up and down Spring weather continues with a dusting of snow yesterday morning. Beautiful conditions this morning which should lead in to warmer temps today before we cool down again with chances of precipitation. Has been slow to green in the woods but slowly the trees are budding and other forest flora trying to emerge from the forest floor. With ice off of Little Sugarbush, the waters are alive with many types of waterfowl, including ducks, geese, trumpeter swans and a group of cormorants and pelicans dropping in last night. We have been working on the mountain bike singletrack and hope to have the entire course cleared this week. We have been riding on the course and riding has been good. We will sign the trail aftter we blow out the course and have the trail officially open.
Pelicans cruising the calm waters of Little Sugarbush Tuesday morning.Loon moving across to check out the pelicans.Pair of merganzers on the lake Tuesday morning.
A Family Owned and Operated Destination Cross-Country Ski Center
