Snow falling today and as of 10:00am, close to 2″ has accumulated. Total accumulation expected in the 3-5″ range. Grooming on select classic trails today. Skate trails scheduled for grooming this afternoon and tomorrow morning and new tracks set Saturday morning for the weekend.
Wednesday report: Another dandy day during the last week of February. Wow, the month is flying by. Felt like January with single digit temps and a honest wind from the northwest but bright intense sun taking off the edge and it felt awesome out there today. A half inch dusting of big wet flake snow last night and flurries this morning before clearing off with beautiful intense sunshine. Grooming in the morning on Sap Run, Mother Hen, Loon Return, Skaters Waltz and Skaters Waltz extension. Skiing reported as fantastic today and conditions could not be much better. A good base of snow on the trails with the compacted base 5-10″ and snow depth in the woods 1-2 feet.Grooming also on the lake today packing out the snow and blading/pushing snow in the transition area from lake to trail. Lotvola Cup not until March 7th but prepping snow will season it proper for race day. Since the blade was on the Pisten Bully, a gaplike jump was built at the bottom of Mt Maplelag for the jibskaters.
A very pleasant day on the trails. Pretty much ideal for late February. Wind settled down from yesterday and sunshine out in full force in the morning before giving way to high clouds in the afternoon. Temp reaching 32 degrees but no melting on the trails. The streets might be slushy in town but the snow is dry on the trails. Southern exposed hill did soften up a bit and then froze down in the late afternoon making the tracks fast in spots but not icy, according to the groomguy. Chance of light snow tonight which would slow things down on the tracks and cooler temps the end of the week. Grooming planned on select trails in the morning that will freshen up the trails. Wind did bring down a few leaves yesterday but nothing that disrupts the skiing, really. All in all the trails are in great shape and some nice skiing. We are approaching the time of the year that the sun is quite powerful and even though the temp might be in the 20’s the snow might soften up. Waxing can be tricky but if prepared proper, some fantastic skiing. No wax skis always reliable and skating pretty much awesome with a good base of snow.
Another great weekend of skiing on the trails. Unseasonably cool weather kept the snow dry and crisp but deep blue skies and plenty of sunshine taking off the edge of any chilliness. The entire trail system except for Kristin’s Kutoff was groomed over the weekend including Roy’s Run, Loon Return and Island Lake trail on Sunday. The trails are in great shape and skiing is excellent. (If you have any trail photos from the weekend you wish to share, please pass them along to [email protected]) Touch up grooming this week as needed and any new snow this week will be groomed in. We will work on the transition zone from the lake to the trail for the Lotvola Cup which will be held Saturday March 7th. The compacted base 5-10″ and snow depth in the woods 10-24″. The deer have discovered walking on the ski trails is easier than walking on the crusty snow pack with fresh snow on tap so heads up for deer tracks on certain trails, in particular Wavy Gravy. All part of the experience of being in the woods and part of nature!!
Saturday morning sunrise looking down Mother North Star. Easy to identify basswood trees in the forest.Photo taken at Saturday morning sunrise in the skinny field and start of Bullhead lake trail
The guest photo album page is designated for images captured by the Maplelag guests. If you have a special photo or two to share, please feel free to e-mail them to [email protected] Thanks for sharing!!
Photo provided by Mia Presteng with daughters Julia and Annelise.Julia and Siri Olson skiing at Maplelag, late February 2009Picture drawn by Josh Goering who stayed with his family in the Candy Store cabin.Bryan and Angie Brunow before the start of the Lotvola Cup 2009Bryan Brunow having fun on the trail, March 7th 2009.
Photo provided by Jennifer Niemeierof Pat Palecek and Denny Rogers and 4 of their grandkids. We were up Feb 21-23. It was Joe’s Joe’s first time on skis and he really got going!!
>From Left to Right: Joe Niemeier (4), Jack Niemeier (6), Denny Rogers, Pat Palecek, Ellie Gilbert (4) and Kyle Gilbert (7)
Photo taken by Winona LaDuke of Marty, the fabulous Saginaw Chippewa sporting his makinaw during a break from the Great Lakes Indigenous Farming Retreat held at Maplelag mid February.Photo taken by Brad Olson of frosted tamarac tree in between Twin Lakes on Island Lake trail.Photo taken by Brad Olson on Island Lake trail in between the Twin Lakes.Photo taken by Brad Olson of frosted tamarac trees in between Twin Lakes on Island Lake trail over Presidents weekend.Photo taken by Nanette Moloney of the morning sun touching off the frosted trees on the edge of Little Sugarbush.Photo provided by Mary Andrews of the Andrews Family, Presidents weekend 2009.Photo taken by Nanette Moloney of frosted trees from Little Sugarbush.Photo provided by Mary Andrews of friends Sharon, Kathy and Mary on the north end of Bullhead Lake.Photo taken by Jean Kraft of sunset over Little Sugarbush and Loon Return ski trail.Photo taken by Jean Kraft of the famous Scandinavian Smorgasbord.Photo taken by Ellen Smith in the dining room of the stained glass windows lighting up nicely with the afternoon sun.Photo taken by Ellen Smith of the west end of the Candy Store cabin and Orange and Red Caboose on a bright sunny day. Photo taken by Maelene Krig of David Krig pulling the pulk.Photo taken by Maelene Krig of Alyssa having fun at the entrance of the lodge.Photo taken by Maelene Krig of Linnea and friend on the side of the trail.Self timer photo by Gordon and Janice McBean enjoying the cozy conditions in the skinny field, New Years Day 2009.Photo taken by Gordon McBean of guests relaxing in the lounge area near the famous bottomless cookie jars.Photo taken by Gordon at the top of the sledding hill.Photo taken by Steve Wenzel on the "wavy" section of Wavy Gravy.Self timer photo of the Bill, Chris and Dana Thomas family in front of the Maplelag fireplace. The Thomas family was here during one of the coldest weeks of the winter, skiing in -25 degree temps!Barb and Ryan Lutterman. Photo taken by Lee.Mary and Eddy Lawther enjoying each others company on Rootin Tootin. Photo taken by Lee Lutterman.Ryan Lutterman catching air in the back bowl/sledding hill. Photo taken by Lee.Ryan Lutterman on Sukkerbusk on a frosty MLK morning.
Minnesota Nordic ski legend Norm Oakvik striding on Twin Lakes Tuesday afternoon. Norm has a rich history of helping develop Nordic skiing in Minnesota and helped with early trail design at Maplelag.
