Trail Report

One of the most beautiful times of the year at Maplelag! The leaves are starting to change and the woods are becoming vibrant with fall color.  We are doing some light cat work this week, making a second option for the start of Roy’s Run ski trail, cleaning out a few corners and filling in low spots.

Definitely can tell fall is here with leaves changing, falling and the forest floor showing signs as well.  First frost of the year last Wednesday.  We have been busy on the trails mowing and clearing trees from storms earlier this summer.

The mountain bike trails are open daily unless raining. Bike trail report click here.

It was a  wet July and  August that saw nearly 20″ of precipitation along with a few wind storms that brought over 150 trees down on the trails!!

We continue to work on the ski trails, clearing trees and mowing. We have been out on the mowers every day we can, preparing the trails for the coming winter! We will mow most of the trails at least once every 10 days.  We focus on 25km to have as smooth and buffed as possible going in to the winter to have skiing on minimal snow, sometimes 5″ or less.

Note: We are not mowing on the AMA trails this year. The AMA segments are closed to local motorized equipment. We have taped off the trails where closed.

Trail work on tap this fall includes, clearing deadfall off the ski trails and, of course, mowing.  We also are planning on building a new ski trail by Twin Lakes for singletrack classic skiing. This new ski trail we hope to complete by next ski season 2017-18.  We also resume new mountain bike trail building on a loop we started over by Bullhead lake last fall on the Maplelag property. Tree clearing this summer has put a hold on new trail building but we hope to resume this fall.

The mountain bike trails are open daily unless raining.  Bike trail report click here.

The trails are closed to horses and motorized traffic.

Ski season 2015/16  snow totals:  45″ November 15th-March 15th . First grooming of the season on November 20th after 2″ of snowfall. We skied daily and only missed a few days of grooming between December 15th until March 11th.

Rainbow before the rain. September 20th, 2016.
Rainbow before the rain. September 20th, 2016.

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Handful of "snow fungi" in the woods right now. September 19th, 2016.
Handful of “snow fungi” in the woods right now. September 19th, 2016.
Maple trees near the caboose with early fall color. September 16th, 2016.
Maple trees near the caboose with early fall color. September 16th, 2016. (Follow the color change on the switchyard cam! scroll to the bottom)

 

Still morning on Little Sugarbush after rain showers passing through. September 16th, 2016.
Still morning on Little Sugarbush after rain showers passing through. September 16th, 2016.
Touch of frost on the roof tops and a few of the low lying areas this morning. September 14th, 2016.
Touch of frost on the roof tops and a few of the low lying areas this morning. September 14th, 2016.
Early Fall scene at the Twin Lakes crossing. September 8th, 2016.
Early Fall scene at the Twin Lakes crossing. September 8th, 2016.

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Calm evening lakeshore at Maplelag. July 5th, 2016.
Calm evening lakeshore at Maplelag. July 5th, 2016.
New maple leaf sprouting after a freeze in May killed many leaves as seen from the wilted one next to it. June 17th, 2016.
New maple leaf sprouting after a freeze in May killed many leaves as seen from the wilted one next to it. June 17th, 2016.
"Chicken of the Woods" on a deadfall near Twin lakes ski trail. June 16th, 2016.
“Chicken of the Woods” on a deadfall near Twin lakes ski trail. June 16th, 2016.
Pulaski work on mountain bike trail berm. We will fine tune throughout the course during the summer. June 16th, 2016.
Pulaski work on mountain bike trail berm. We will fine tune throughout the course during the summer. June 16th, 2016.
View of south Twin Lakes from the mountain bike trail. June 10th, 2016.
View of south Twin Lakes from the mountain bike trail. June 10th, 2016.

 

Sukkerbusk ski trail after mowing this week. June 9th, 2016.
Sukkerbusk ski trail after mowing this week. June 9th, 2016.
Mowing/clearing on Wavy Gravy trail this week. June 9th, 2016.
Mowing/clearing on Wavy Gravy trail this week. June 9th, 2016.

 

Muskrat swimming in Sugarbush creek, May 31st, 2016.
Muskrat swimming in Sugarbush creek, May 31st, 2016.
Maple seedlings emerging from the forest floor. May 21st, 2016.
Maple seedlings emerging from the forest floor. May 21st, 2016.
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Good crop of marsh marigold flowers in area ponds and sloughs. May 12th, 2016.

 

Sunrise over Little Sugarbush lake, May 2nd, 2016.
Sunset over Little Sugarbush lake, May 2nd, 2016.
Wood duck pair making a rare appearance in the grounds for feeding. April 27th, 2016.
Wood duck pair making a rare appearance on the Maplelag grounds for feeding. April 27th, 2016.
Feeding in the front yard! April 27th, 2016.
Feeding in the front yard! April 27th, 2016.

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Scarlet elf cup emerging from the forest floor. April 11th, 2016.
Scarlet elf cup emerging from the forest floor. April 11th, 2016.

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Snow falling Thursday morning in the switchyard. April 7th, 2016.
Snow falling Thursday morning in the switchyard. April 7th, 2016.

 

Trumpeter swan in flight above Little Sugarbush as a group swims near the shoreline. April 4th, 2016.
Trumpeter swan in flight above Little Sugarbush as a group swims near the shoreline. April 4th, 2016.

 

Saturday morning view from the webcams, April 2nd, 2016.
Saturday morning view from the webcams, April 2nd, 2016.

 

View from the top of Pete's Porkie looking toward south Twin Lake, April 1st, 2016.
View from the top of Pete’s Porkie looking toward south Twin Lake, April 1st, 2016. Just one small patch of ice on the south end.
Little Sugarbush ice free, March 30th 2016.
Little Sugarbush ice free, March 30th 2016.

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North facing section of trail on Twin Lakes holding snow. March 21st, 2016
North facing section of trail on Twin Lakes holding snow. March 21st, 2016

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