Slightly cooler temps to start out Friday with low checking in at 15 degrees+.  Light winds and sun/cloud mix. We will be combing/packing select trails this morning. No new tracks to be set as not quite enough new snow to do so. Still some nice skiing to be had with tracks on Sukkerbusk and Twin Lakes, a skied in track on the outer trails and packed/combed on inner for no track classic. Skaters Waltz in good to very good condition for skating and Skaters Extension and North Loup fair to good for skating. Few rough spots on North Loup to look out for. North Loup open for no track classic skiing as well.

A great day for the DL Invite. Temps in the mid 20’s and light wind. Great job to all the skiers today. (Photos from today) The trail held up great with over 200 skiers from 7 different schools. The trails used were skaters waltz and the end of Sap Run.

The trails are open for skiing. We set track last Friday on most of Sukkerbusk and Twin Lakes. Sukkerbusk is in the best condition with nice tracks on the east side. Just a few short sections we did not set track  on the west side as the base is thinner. Twin Lakes has a few more longer spots of no track. The trails were well used last weekend and a few thin areas have appeared but this dusting of new snow will improve the tracks set.   There is some adventurous skiing to be had with caution on trails like Roy’s Run, Island Lake, Wavy Gravy and Bullhead.

The base is thin with areas of thin cover, rough spots and unmarked obstacles. With that said, people are getting out and having a great time in the woods. Just Ski!!

Trail passes are $15. Ski rental available at $15 a package. During mid week, lunch and trail pass package available. Call 218-375-4466 or email at [email protected] for more information.

 

 

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1-3″ compacted base, early season conditions. 1.5″ new snow past 24hr. 80km of grooming on 35km of trail past 24 hours. 9km trackset, 12km combed for skate. Remaining trail either roll packed or fresh powder/no packing or grooming, open for no track classic skiing. 3.8km lake loop groomed for skating.

The snow farming this past week and precision grooming through yesterday’s blizzard, paid off today. Skaters waltz is now in 98% good ski skate ski condition. We were also able to set track on Sukkerbusk and Twin lakes on 90% of the trail for a total of 9km track set. A few spots rough and shallow, best to use rocks skis, but all things considered, we will take it!  Other trails are skiable for no track classic but use caution/heads up for rough and thin spots. Overall, considering we have only had 6-7″ of dry fluffy snow since the melt off, conditions are quite alright.

 

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Around 1.5″ of snow Thursday. Blizzard like conditions in the afternoon. Yikes!  We packed on 30km of trail for 50km total, multiple passes on some trails including 6 passes on skaters waltz. The new snow helped out, wind did not in the open areas.  We also packed on the lake but hard to tell with the wind. The wind has settled down and we are cleaning select trails this morning. Sun is out, great day in the woods on tap.

Despite the cold weather this week, folks have been in the woods and on the trails. Dressed proper and enjoying protection from the wind in the woods. We have been farming snow to Skaters Waltz this week and will continue right up to the weekend. There is around 3-4″ of snow on the woods and a firm compacted base of 1-2″. Rock skiing conditions.

New Years day morning we received 3-4″ of dry fluffy snow. We packed around 45km of trail. We also groomed the 3.8km lake loop with a track set on the side. Saturday morning we received around 1″ of dry fluffy snow which was skier packed over the weekend. The trails are skiable and folks are getting out despite a very thin base. There are areas of thin cover, rough spots and unmarked obstacles. There are no tracks set on the trails until we receive 3-4″ of good density snow.  With that said, there is some fun skiing to be had with caution. Best trails are skaters waltz for skating, jibfly, twin lakes and sukkerbusk for no track classic skiing. North Loup is skiable seeing skate and classic skiers but a few more rough spots on a 500 meter section. Ski gentle and Enjoy!

This past weekend we had teams from Minnetonka, Minneapolis South and Visitation for a ski camp and the skiers had a nice weekend skiing on the lake, trails and also did other training activities. Click here for photos from the camp on our Facebook page.

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January 3rd Ski Camp/Trail Photos

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Happy New Year!! 3-4″ of fresh snow overnight. The snow was light and fluffy but what a great start to 2015!! We have been packing all day, covering about 42km. After the initial packing, we will focus on about 25km of trail for this upcoming weekend. With no base before the snow, the skiing is “hard” underneath but no complaints from the skiers out on trail today. There isn’t enough new snow to set track but we did pack the lake loop and hope to set a track possibly tomorrow if conditions warrant. The packing should set up overnight and be a bit more firm tomorrow. The trails are skiable but caution must be used on hills and be aware of thin and rough spots.

 

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A chilly start with the wind scooting strongly from the west. Air temps warmer but the wind not making it feel that way. Thankfully we are surrounded by trees and a nice day in the woods is on tap. The trails have been busy with hikers and the one unique thing about this year is many people are walking on trails they would not feel comfortable otherwise skiing!

Sunday we combed a 2 mile loop on the lake mainly to preserve the snow. We also went on the trail, combing out a 2.5km loop mainly to check conditions. The lake has just enough snow to be skiable. The trails are rough and thin but just 2-3″ away from having very skiable conditions.

Despite the lack of snow on the trails to groom and ski, folks have been keeping active at Maplelag this winter with hiking, running, mountain and fat biking, skating on the lake and ice rink, kick sledding and ending the day with the plunge!

We are waiting for more snow to have skiing and grooming on the trails. The trails are mostly a ribbon of white throughout the woods with a frozen down base, evidence of early grooming and fall trail prep for low snow. It will only take a few inches to have “early season” conditions. Forecast looking better on the weekend for snow chances.

The St Paul Highland Park and Cooper ski teams were at Maplelag last weekend for a training camp. Despite not enough snow to ski on the trails, the kids kept active with cross training activities and double pole skiing on the lake. Click here for photoset from St Paul Highland Park training camp weekend. 

Think Snow!

Fat Bike trail report

 

 

 

 

 

 

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December 26th Winter Photos

 

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