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Category Archives: News
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Ski Trail Report
Trails Open Excellent snow and ski conditions! We have been grooming daily and a fantastic weekend of skiing is set! This coming weekend is our last weekend of ski and lodging operations. The trails will remain open for day skiing until a projected date of April 15th, weather and snow conditions permitting.
Grooming Report Friday we combed out the skate lanes and touched up select classic trails (North Loup, Rootin Tootin, Twin Lakes, JibFly, Sukkerbusk and Sap Run). We have been grooming on the majority of the trail system daily. At this time Bullhead and Island Lake trails will not be groomed but open for deep powder bushwhacking! We have been grooming daily since December 26th.
Nature Notes: Wildlife has been active the last few weeks. We have been seeing porcupines along the snowshoe trail and Roy’s Run. We have also seen hawks, owls near JibFly and North Star, fox, deer of course, pileated woodpeckers and tons of tracks. Eagle sighted this week near Twin Lakes return at eagle view.
Fat Bike trails open. Click here for report
Trails are open for day use. Day and season passes can be purchased here. Please note due to COVID protocols, there are no lodge services for day use for day skiers. This includes no ski rental or access to coffee bar. Parking in far lot near blue recycling bins where porta potties are located.Please respect this policy so Maplelag can operate as safe as possible and remain open. There are no dogs or pets allowed.
Groomed classic skiing on Sukkerbusk, Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly, Rootin Tootin, Twin Lakes, Mother North Star, Wavy Gravy, North Loup and Roy’s Run. Please no skating on the classic trails. Lucky’s Loype is adventure skiing (no grooming). Island Lake and Bullhead trail not groomed since most recent snow but skiable with some big drifts to navigate!
Skaters Waltz, the extension loops, Suicide Hill, Single Green and Kristin’s Kutoff designated trails groomed for skating. North Loup classic only at the time being but will be groomed for skating again for March skiing.
All trails are one way except Sukkerbusk and Skaters Waltz. Skiing correct direction, especially in early season, helps us maintain the integrity of the base. Thank you!
Trails are open for day skiing for non lodging guests. Lodge is closed to day use.
Day and season passes can be purchased here.
Snowshoe trails are open and packed.
Snowfall past 24 hours: Trace
Snowfall past 7 days: 8″ Snowfall to date: 90″
Compacted base on trail: 12-29″ Snow depth in woods: 18-49″
NO services in the lodge at this time or ski rental available for day skiing. Parking in far lot near porta bathrooms and recycling bins. Please respect this policy so Maplelag can operate as safe as possible and remain open.
Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships (February 8th and 9th) Two Day Event
2022 Section 8 Nordic Ski Meet
Lodge Use
Due to COVID protocols, the main lodge at Maplelag will have limited access. Porta Potties located outside for bathroom use. No lunch will be available for sale. Teams will be using busses at “camp”.
Schedule of events:
Day One: February 8th
Boys: Classic Interval Start 1:30pm
Girls: Classic Interval Start 2:30pm
Day Two February 9th:
Boys Sprint Relay Heat 1: 10:00am
Boys Sprint Relay Heat 2: 10:40am
Girls Sprint Relay Heat 1: 11:20am
Girls Sprint Relay Heat 2: 12:00pm
Boys: Freestyle Pursuit 12:45pm
Girls: Freestyle Pursuit 1:45pm
Boys Sprint Relay Finals 2:45pm
Girls Sprint Relay Finals 3:30pm
Awards Ceremony: Approximately 4:30
Start and Finish Controlled Access.
The Finish line area will be closed to all unnecessary traffic and especially to those other racers that are not currently on the course. The chip time equipment is sensitive and we do not need any missed or errant chips reads. The race officials will be controlling the area and not allowing spectator and unnecessary coach or athlete traffic in areas that will interfere with timing or racers.
Covid protocols at Maplelag
The comfort and safety of our staff and guests is of highest priority. A few items of note:
We will be seating people of only the same party or group together. We will space people apart as far as possible. We will use all available space and rooms to keep folks spread out. We have been accommodating larger groups in the side rooms when serving meals upon request. Please keep in mind this takes extra staff. We have difficulty finding enough staff to fill each shift and we appreciate your patience. Takeout meals will be available with advance notice.
We do not have a mask or vaccination requirement. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, please do so. Most guests are testing before coming and we appreciate those that are staying back if positive. Each weekend we have 20-30 people that are not able to come. Cancelling because of COVID is beyond our control and we are not able to refund deposits. We can transfer forward to reservations later this season.
At this time, there will be no variety show or dances planned. Select weekends we have live music on Saturday afternoons.
Checking out or making payment online is an option for those not wanting to come to the lodge. We do not have credit cards on file. Let us know ages and if ski rental if doing remote checkout. We invoice via PayPal. You do not need to be on PayPal to use this service.
Takeout meals can be delivered outside the lodge kitchen making it possible to not even come to the lodge at all for those not comfortable doing so.
Day skiing is available to guests not staying at the resort. Protocols will be similar as last year, purchase pass online and parking in the far parking lot. Porta potties in far parking lot for bathroom. NO bathroom use in lodge and there are no lodge services available for day pass users. There is no ski rental available to day skiers. Please respect this policy so Maplelag can operate safely and remain open. Ski rental for overnight guests is available and is mostly self serve. Directions in the ski rental shop.
We are continually monitoring our staff and of course, if there is any remote sign of any symptoms we are asking staff to stay home and test. We are doing everything we can to operate safely in a community environment. There is no way we can control everything and everybody and have made the decision to be open and operate knowing there is risk among ourselves, the Maplelag family and staff that are here 6am to midnight, among many guest each day. Any of our visitors must understand and assume there are risks when being out in the public. We always tell people that are not comfortable coming to Maplelag during this pandemic, it is best to stay home. COVID is nothing we can control and have made the decision not to let it control us.
This page will be updated as we move through the season. As always, please reach out with any questions. Thank you and be well.
Fat Bike Trail Report
Trails open. Very good riding conditions. 18km of trail groomed Sunday afternoon/evening after 3-4″ since last grooming. Very light dusting of snow on top on select segments, but rider packed and no reason not to ride!
Grooming update: The inner loop, SukkerWest and Twin Lakes loop groomed for around 18km of riding options. Fat Bike trails have been groomed 9-11 times this season. We hope to groom Bootleg loop soon!
Signs marking the route for the inner loops are in place and ultimately direct the course for the “FatLagChilada”. Twin lakes and SukkerWest singletrack can be accessed from the driveway. To access the start to access Bootleg, head to the start of Skaters Waltz to the right. We have groomed on the far right side of Suicide Hill for uphill travel. Access to Bootleg has been groomed on the lake. Use trails at own risk and assume all responsibility. Skaters Waltz is open for fat biking when conditions are firm. SukkerWest is recommended trail for beginner riders. Trail difficulty on outer loops is intermediate to advanced.
Trail passes help offset grooming and maintenance costs. Trails have already been groomed multiple times this year. Thank you.
