Trail Report

(We are hoping to get the cam up and running as soon as possible. Tech difficulties!)

 

A great day of skiing on the trails Sunday. The temp didn’t rise above negative double digits but the trails saw a lot of action and over 200 people skiing the trails. Dressed properly, it is not “cold” and windchill is irrelevant in the woods.  Despite cooler temps forecasted this week, there is some great skiing to be had. We appreciate the positive attitude of our guests that our heading out and….JUST SKIING!!! Nice work! As the saying goes, there is  no such thing as cold or bad temperatures, just bad clothing! Light snow falling Monday morning. Grooming planned on select trails and grooming in afternoon after snow stops.

A great ski camp last weekend with teams from Champlain Park, St Paul Highland Park, Cooper and Bloomington logging in some serious kilometers. Handful of kids skiing 80km on Saturday and big group of kids logging over 100km over Friday, Saturday and today. Most impressed seeing all the head lamp skiers early mornings while out grooming than again at night. Nice work kids and coaches!

Great day on the trails for the DL Invitational ski meet. Temp in the lower single digits and light wind but high humidity making it feel chilly. The kids in all the races did great and always fun to see the energy and enthusiasm of all the kids. Teams from Alexandria, Brainerd, Bemidji, Deer River, Trek North, Detroit Lakes, Little Falls and Fergus Falls competing. Photos from the day on our Facebook page.

Total snowfall this season at 26″.  Compacted base on trail 4-6″ and 12-15″ snow depth in woods.  Great conditions for December. The trails are open for skiing and open for day skiing.  Around 50km of trail tracked for classic and 15km groomed skate. Conditions are  hard packed. We are grooming daily on different trails each day. Parts of Bullhead lake trail, Kristin’s Kutoff,  Single Green and a few other short segments not groomed and open for bushwhacking.

With calm conditions and temps in the single digits, the lake Maplelag is next to froze over entirely on November 11th, 2013. This is the earliest November freeze since 1993 and ranks in the top fifteen of earliest freeze overs since 1893, according to local record keeping Some great scenes on the edge of the lake the morning after freezing over. 

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5963174037668056161 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5962203011144948097 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5961569148053091057 

Matt and Jack Johnson enjoying the snow day. December 24th, 2013.
Matt and Jack Johnson enjoying the snowy day. December 24th, 2013.

 

Maplelag guests finishing up a morning ski. Air temps at -15 but bundled up and great skiing. December 24th, 2013.
Maplelag guests finishing up a morning ski. Air temps at -15 but bundled up and great skiing. December 23rd, 2013.

 

 

 

 December 20-22nd Ski Camp and Trail Photos 

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5960340580534934161

 December 20th Trail Report Photos

 https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5959571277940659457

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5958901173760912337

 

Monday morning skiers enjoying the fresh powder. December 16th, 2013.
Monday morning skiers enjoying the fresh powder. December 16th, 2013.
Pat Lemieux flying up Suicide Hill. December 16th, 2013.
Pat Lemieux flying up Suicide Hill Monday afternoon after skies clearing. December 16th, 2013.

 

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5958005969942704561 

Coaches and skiers of Minneapolis Southwest Nordic ski team at the trailhead, December 13th, 2013.
Coaches and skiers of Minneapolis Southwest Nordic ski team at the trailhead, December 13th, 2013.

 

Afternoon sun filtering through the forest, December 11th, 2013.
Afternoon sun filtering through the forest, December 11th, 2013.

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5955846441002275169

 

Detroit Lakes Nordic skiers Austin, Anthony and Zach out for a Sunday afternoon ski. December 8th, 2013.
Detroit Lakes Nordic skiers Austin, Anthony and Zach out for a Sunday afternoon ski. December 8th, 2013.

 

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5954855180152285265

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5954368678698056769

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5954120155012449601

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5953609786755564305 

Jens packing out the new snow today, last day of Thanksgiving break! December 2nd, 2013.
Jens packing out the new snow today, last day of Thanksgiving break! December 2nd, 2013.

 

Always a great scene to walk out of the house and see fresh snow! December 2nd, 2013.
Always a great scene to walk out of the house and see fresh snow! December 2nd, 2013.

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/117475008862763984699/albums/5951371073372086609