Ski Trail

Trail Report

Trails are open for skiing.  Solid hard base with good coverage throughout. Surface is hardpack with a few icylike sections.   Trees etc. coated thick with frost making for winter wonderland scene.  We have been working on the trails this week harvesting snow, mostly on Skaters Waltz. Conditions have improved and skiing has been good on Skaters. We will be working Twin Lakes, JibFly and Sukkerbusk the next two days doing our best to improve the classic conditions on these trails, mainly covering up the thin spots so the base will be consistent before next snowfall.

A handful of the southern exposed areas have opened up with sun and the warmth from last weekend and some thin areas exposed. With that said, we are recommending to classic ski on Sukkebusk and JibFly and skate ski on Skaters Waltz.   Other trails are open but there are some thin areas with exposed ground in spots.  Scattered leaves and other organic forest matter here and there on the trails. There is also a 4km loop on the lake that has been groomed for skating and also a track on the side. On the west side of the loop, there is a double track on one side for instruction purposes.

A great weekend for the first HS Ski camp.Nice job to all the skiers that logged some big time kilometers, including a handful that skied 100km on Saturday!  ( Results and photos from the Natural Snow Opener race.)

50km of trail groomed. 35km groomed classic only, 15km groomed skate only. 4km lake loop groomed (skate/no track) for total of 54km groomed. Early season conditions, use caution on the downhills as a few thin/rough/unmarked obstacles exist, especially on the outer trails after Saturday’s warm up.

Double track set on Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Poki Loki, JibFly, and Twin Lakes.  Rootin Tootin, Mother North Star, Wavy Gravy and Island Lake trail single tracked. No grooming between the marsh area. Best to take skis off and walk through but people have been bushwhacking through as well.  Total km tracked around 35km. Skate lanes recently groomed on Skaters Waltz, North Loup and Skaters Extension as well as Suicide Hill for nearly 15km of groomed skate trail.

 Ski rentals available for overnight guests.

Total snowfall since November 1st around 11″ Total snowfall since October 1st around 19″. October snow melted off but currently the base from November snowfall is 1-4″. The trails at Maplelag are maintained as such that we can have good skiing on less snow and we take pride in managing less snow.

Please no walking or hiking on ski or bike trails.

 The Twin Lakes singletrack will be open for winter riding/fat biking once again this season. Most recent grooming November 30th. Click here for latest report and information.

Champlain Park Nordic Ski team female skiers working on skills on Skaters Waltz, December 21st, 2018.
Champlain Park Nordic Ski Team boys at the top of Suicide Hill, December 21st, 2018.
Drietz family having fun on Sap Run! December 21st, 2018.
Frosty conditions all day, dusk at Twin Lakes crossing. December 20th, 2018.
Checking out the track on JibFly, December 20th, 2018. For the snow what we have and the recent weather, classic skiing not too bad.

Ice rink ready!  December 20th, 2018.

Frosty scene along JibFly, December 20th, 20-18.

Setting new track on JibFly. We were able to set a new track on about 50% of the trail. Along with Sukkebusk, classic trail recommended to ski right now.

Setting new track on Twin Lakes. We set a new track on 25% of the trail as we walked along shoveling on the thin areas. December 20th, 2018.

Frosty scene at Eagle Nest view. Twin Lakes trail. December 20th, 2018.

End of Island Lake trail where it merges with Twin Lakes trail. Track in fine shape 70% of Island Lake trail. Scattered forest matter on top. December 20th, 2018.

Gone for the winter!

 

Frosty edge on South Twin Lake.

Patching up the base on south facing downhill on Twin Lakes trail. December 20th, 2018.

Another beautiful December sunset. December 19th, 2018.
The clipping machine! Thanks Denny for all your help this fall/early winter. December 19th, 2018.
Fun skate ski conditions on Skaters Waltz. December 19th, 2018.
Spreading snow on Skaters Waltz, December 18th, 2018.
Dr. Bob heading out for a skate ski. No complaints from Bob! Said the east side was best skiing. December 18th, 2018.
Building up base on Kamikaze hill on Skaters Waltz. Two pick up loads thicker! December 18th, 2018.
Harvesting snow from the basketball court, December 18th, 2018.
Skaters Waltz with good coverage throughout. December 17th, 2018.
Skaters Waltz with good coverage throughout. December 17th, 2018. Hardpack with some icy segments.
Skaters Waltz extension, December 17th, 2018. Bit tougher conditions on the north side. Will be groomed before the weekend to soften up the deck.
Building up base in open area at start of JibFly trail, December 17th, 2018.
Great way to clear leaves off! Select segments cleared today. December 17th, 2018.
St Paul Highland Park skiers getting in some last kilometers on Sukkerbusk, December 16th, 2018.
Skaters Waltz, December 16th, 2018. Groomed yesterday evening during the transition time from warm to cold pulverizing the surface and setting as much new structure as possible.  Most of Skaters Waltz in good shape. The thin/icy areas we will build up this week.
Open area on Sukkerbusk facing the sun. December 16th, 2018. No tracks but on this short segment but came through just fine yesterday after mid 40 temps. Building up snow here during the week paid off!
Ski Camp! Ready for a full day of skiing! December 15th, 2018.
Start of Ski Camp ski race, December 15th, 2018.
Climbing up Kamikaze Hill, December 15th, 2018.

Ben and Peder striding on Twin Lakes Friday morning, December 14th, 2018. Fantastic classic skiing this morning! Tracks set up hard overnight and held out great all day. Just a few direct south facing areas a little melting.
Setting new track on Loon Return, December 13th, 2018.
Cutting new track on Sukkerbusk. Both tracks reset today. December 13th, 2018.
Setting second track on access to Twin Lakes. December 13th, 2018.
Island Lake trail with dusting of new snow on top. December 13th, 2018. Island, Wavy Gravy and Roy’s Run all with good track for most of trail and should be nice skiing with new snow on top.

 

 

New track cutting on Loon Return. December 13th, 2018. Temp was around 34 today but snow held out great. Freezing down good tonight and should set up nicely for Friday.

 

Cutting new track on Sap Run, December 13th, 2018.
Grooming skate lane on Skaters Waltz extension, December 13th, 2018.
Grooming skate lane on Skaters Waltz extension, December 13th, 2018.
Grooming skate lane on Skaters Waltz, December 13th, 2018.
Ron and Sandy heading out for a snowshoe hike. December 13th, 2018.
Denny heading out for another day of clipping brush. Thanks for all the help again this week Denny! December 13th, 2018.