Trail Report

A blustery day on the trails as the temp was in the lower single digits with a stiff northwest wind. The return of cooler temps not stopping folks from hitting the trails enjoying the great conditions.

 

The past few weeks we have seen an unusual amount of wildlife on the trails including a amazing encounter by a beaver of Maplelag guest Ron Refsnider. Ron provides a firsthand report with some photos below:  “Photos attached from my beaver sighting on Tuesday, where Wavy Gravy and Island Lake Trails run concurrently across the marsh near the beaver lodge. Attached are several low-resolution photos of our encounter with it. This was about 1:30 pm, and the shadow and poles are both mine, so you can see how close he came to us after he dropped his branch and waddled up the trail to investigate us. Then he went back, pulled his branch up to us and started chewing it up, with the branch straddled the classic tracks. At that point we decided to move on, so we had to herd him off the trail with our skis and poles. He wasn’t too eager to leave the trail, and he hissed, ground his teeth, and smacked his tail on the snow twice; I guess the packed trail is much easier walking if you have legs that are only 6 inches long.” Thanks Ron for passing along the incredible photos.

A great day for the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships at Maplelag last Tuesday. Temps were chilly for racing with air temps right at -4 at race time. The sun making it feel a bit warmer but afternoon breezes making it feel cooler. Congratulations to all the skiers who performed on the day. We are proud of all the skiers and enjoyed hosting the event. Best of luck to all the skiers who qualified for the state meet. Photos on the event page and results and more photos to come on skinnyski.com

We have been grooming daily, sometimes both in the morning and evening, on select trails.  Surface conditions are powder/packed powder and ski conditions are excellent. All the trails are “open”. Parts of Bullhead lake trail, Kristin’s Kutoff,  Single Green and a few other short segments not groomed and open for bushwhacking.

Total snowfall this season at 50″.  Compacted base on trail 8-13″ and 22-48″ snow depth in woods. Around 55km of trail available for classic and 15km groomed skate. The trails are open for day skiing. The trail access pass is $15 for adults and $10 for children 16 and under.  Ski rental is $15 for adults and $10 for kids. Lunch is available for sale by reservation during the midweek now, weekend meal service not available. Meeting room 3 in the lower level of the lodge also available for day skiers for Apres ski!

 

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 February 17th Trail Report Photos 7

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Ken Goodridge leading fellow Winnipeg skiers after a morning ski around Twin Lakes trail. February 10th, 2014.
Ken Goodridge leading fellow Winnipeg skiers after a morning ski around Twin Lakes trail. Temp was -10 but sun out, no wind chill. February 10th, 2014.

 

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Jack, Kyle, Ellie and Joe trying skate skiing for the first time. February 2nd, 2014.
Jack, Kyle, Ellie and Joe trying skate skiing for the first time. February 2nd, 2014.

 

 February 1st Trail Report Photos 

Fresh track in between Twin Lakes on Wavy Gravy and Island Lake trails. January 30th, 2014.
Fresh track in between Twin Lakes on Wavy Gravy and Island Lake trails. January 30th, 2014.

 

Skaters waltz. January 29th, 2014.
Skaters waltz. January 29th, 2014.

 

North Loup groomed for both skate and classic Wednesday morning. January 29th, 2014.
North Loup groomed for both skate and classic Wednesday morning. January 29th, 2014.

 

Shoveling path through a drifted section on Roy's Run..
Shoveling path through a drifted section on Roy’s Run..
....than grooming through. January 28th, 2014.
….than grooming through. January 28th, 2014.

 

January 27th Trail Report PHotos7

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Afternoon grooming in the "blizzard" January 26th, 2014.
Afternoon grooming in the “blizzard” January 26th, 2014.

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Bjorn and Bruce Adelsman striding on Sukkerbusk, January 13th, 2014.
Bjorn and Bruce Adelsman striding on Sukkerbusk, January 13th, 2014.

 

Tanyss and Roy Ward heading out on Sukkerbusk, January 14th, 2014.
Tanyss and Roy Ward heading out on Sukkerbusk, January 14th, 2014.

 

Ginzu groomer covered in white after renovating snow. With a good base of snow the grooming equipment can condition the snow with any melt/freeze cycle. January 13th, 2014.
Ginzu groomer covered in white after renovating snow. With a good base of snow the grooming equipment can condition the snow with any melt/freeze cycle and make good skiing conditions. January 13th, 2014.

 

 

Sun setting over Mac's Mess, January 10th, 2014.
Sun setting over Mac’s Mess, January 10th, 2014.

 

Rochester Nordic Ski team members on Skaters Waltz, January 10th, 2014.
Rochester Nordic Ski team members on Skaters Waltz, January 10th, 2014.

 

 

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Nowachek family out on the snowshoe trail, January 5th, 2014.
Nowachek family out on the snowshoe trail, January 5th, 2014.

 

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O'Keefe kids ready to hit the trails for a New Years day afternoon ski. January 1st, 2014.
O’Keefe kids ready to hit the trails for a New Years day afternoon ski. January 1st, 2014.

 

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