Category Archives: Reports

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Mountain Bike Trail Report

April 24, 2021 Jay Richards

Trails are open. Hard freeze overnight with a few flakes of snow. Best riding will be in the afternoon today after the soil can dry out again.

We continue to work on the trails, clearing and placing out signs and course marking. This week we added a couple more wooden trail features at the start of “Moorhead” singletrack and also “North Loup Gnar” singletrack.

Trail head is at flagpole near main lodge. Look for white signs that have “Beginner/Sport/Comp/Expert” or named singletrack. There are also red signs at key intersections. We have also taped off the North trail can be accessed of county road 110 just to the east of Maplelag driveway. Bootleg loop accessed from county road 26 via the gravel road 110. Please park in the first parking lot where the recycling bins are located. The main lodge is closed, no services available. Park and ride! Any questions on riding etc., contact Jay at 218-849-7669.

We have set a new course for the LagChilada mountain bike challenge, riding all the trails in one ride! Click here for more details.

We will be hosting the Laddies Loppet this Labor day weekend. More details available soon.

New season passes will be available in a few weeks. Trail fees are appreciated to help offset trail work, signage and hopefully a new map. These are major expenses and we receive no grants outside funding for the privately maintained trails at Maplelag. Click here for most recent map. (Note: There are a few reroutes on the map but everything will be tapped off. No riding allowed on AMA land and please stay on designated trails at all time. Assume all risk and take responsibility for your actions) We are working on a new trail map that will feature many new trails built last summer and fall.

Bootleg singletrack, April 22nd, 2021. We are in the process of widening the bridges.

New wooden trail feature at the start of Moorhead singletrack, April 21st, 2021.

Clearing deadfall off the singletrack, April 21st, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 6416FFFA-AB41-49CC-8AE5-883474373E70-1.jpg — Dylan Welsh riding the wooden feature on Bjorp’s singletrack, April 17th, 2021 (Dylan Welsh photo)

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is GPTempDo2wnload-22.jpg — Beautiful conditions for April 17th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is G1PTempDownload-27.jpg — Bootleg singletrack, April 17th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is GPTem1pDownload-23.jpg — Bridge crossing on Bootleg singletrack, April 17th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6107.jpg — Twin Lakes singletrack clear of snow, April 15th, 2021. Trail work earlier this spring help facilitating the melting process, evident by snow in the woods but trail free of snow. Frost is out, deck is firming up. Good early season conditions.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6101-1355x2048.jpg — Start of Twin Lakes singletrack, April 15th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6015.jpg — Snowy singletrack, April 13th, 2021. Cold temps and dry snow making riding possible.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 66716694-69BB-4BE7-8C6F-B78C5E71C18F.jpg — *Beautiful April afternoon scene on the “Bootleg” mountain bike singletrack, April 11th, 2021.*

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_5955.jpg — Berm on “Hudson’s Hula” segment, Twin Lakes singletrack, April 11th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_5944-1751x2048.jpg — Bootleg creek flowing nicely after rain earlier in the week, April 11th, 2021.

Ski Trail

Trail Report

April 23, 2021 Jay Richards

After a gorgeous Earth Day, cooler temps back in place. A typical April with up and down weather. All good. Conditions have been great for working in the woods.

Hepatica flowers exploding on the forest floor on Saturday. Many sights and sounds of birds and waterfowl in one of the most active times of year for wildlife. The mountain bike trails are open for riding. There are no services in the main lodge. Meal service and lodging closed at this time.

A snow event on April 13th resulted in 4-5″. The amount of snow combined with the cold temps was enough to sneak in a April groom! Skiing after grooming was pretty awesome! What a treat to get in another ski. Snow in April is typical and hasn’t been many Aprils it hasn’t snowed!

Ice off the area lakes April 3rd. True to form, the loons returned. The lake is busy with waterfowl enjoying the solitude before summer lake activity.

We are starting to work on the trails, clearing deadfall and opening up the mountain bike trails. Mountain bike trails now open, weather permitting. This spring we will be planting trees and clearing on the trails along with regular forest management. The Maplelag trails are closed to horse travel and motorized vehicles.

Beautiful Earth day sunset, April 22nd, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6253.jpg — Afternoon scene on the Goat Ranch Rd., gravel road that leads to Maplelag! April 20th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6268-1536x2048.jpg — First tree planting of the season, April 20th, 2021. We will be planting about a 1000 trees this spring along the ski trails. Since the first years of Maplelag, we have planted nearly a half million of trees!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6223.jpg — Scene from the south shore of south Twin Lake, April 20th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6155.jpg — Hepatica flowers exploding on the forest floor thanks to warm and brilliant April sunshine, Saturday April 17th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is I2MG_6119.jpg — Early evening slough scene, April 15th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1GPTempDownload-23.jpg — Crust cruising! Enjoying the last of the late season April snow, April 15th, 2021. Freezing temps the night before making skiing everywhere possible on the remaining coverage.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1GPTempDownload-22.jpg — Bear tracks crossing North Loup trail, April 15th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is dandb.jpg — Denny and Terry after a outing enjoying the April snow, April 14th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is apr13-001.jpg — April grooming! Roll packing and combing the snow from today, April 13th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is apr13-002.jpg — Heading out for a ski! April 13th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is apr13-003.jpg — Suicide Hill, April 13th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is apr13-004.jpeg — Pretty nice skiing for April 13th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6019.jpg — Snowy scene at Twin Lakes crossing, April 13th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6017.jpg — Kohlepp’s Slough near Mother North Star trail, April 13th 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_6006.jpg — Suicide Hill, April 13th, 2021.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG_5918-1536x2048.jpg — Moss covered Skaters Waltz ski trail, April 10th, 2021.

Ski Trail

Trail Report

April 22, 2021 Jay Richards

Happy Earth Day! A welcomed warm and sunny day on tap after a up and down April temperature wise. Flakes of snow flying the past few days with just a skiff of accumulation.

Ice off the area lakes April 3rd. True to form, the loons returned. The lake is busy with waterfowl enjoying the solitude before summer lake activity.

Afternoon scene on the Goat Ranch Rd., gravel road that leads to Maplelag! April 20th, 2021.

First tree planting of the season, April 20th, 2021. We will be planting about a 1000 trees this spring along the ski trails. Since the first years of Maplelag, we have planted nearly a half million of trees!

Scene from the south shore of south Twin Lake, April 20th, 2021.

Hepatica flowers exploding on the forest floor thanks to warm and brilliant April sunshine, Saturday April 17th, 2021.

Early evening slough scene, April 15th, 2021.

Mountain bike singletrack, April 15th, 2021.

Crust cruising! Enjoying the last of the late season April snow, April 15th, 2021. Freezing temps the night before making skiing everywhere possible on the remaining coverage.

Bear tracks crossing North Loup trail, April 15th, 2021.

Denny and Terry after a outing enjoying the April snow, April 14th, 2021.

April grooming! Roll packing and combing the snow from today, April 13th, 2021.

Heading out for a ski! April 13th, 2021.

Pretty nice skiing for April 13th, 2021.

Snowy scene at Twin Lakes crossing, April 13th, 2021.

Kohlepp’s Slough near Mother North Star trail, April 13th 2021.

Moss covered Skaters Waltz ski trail, April 10th, 2021.

Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

April 20, 2021 Jay Richards

Trails are open. Great weekend of riding, good seeing everyone out including some new faces! Saturday about as good as it gets for April. Nice temps, good surface and no bugs! Sunday morning was good before rain/snow moved through in the afternoon. Precipitation amounts were light and trails have dried and open again. With cooler weather in place and possible freezing nights, best riding will be in the afternoons.

We continue to work on the trails, clearing and placing out signs and course marking. Trail head is at flagpole near main lodge. North trail can be accessed of county road 110 just to the east of Maplelag driveway. Bootleg loop accessed from county road 26 via the gravel road 110. Please park in the first parking lot where the recycling bins are located. The main lodge is closed, no services available. Park and ride! Any questions on riding etc., contact Jay at 218-849-7669.

We have set a new course for the LagChilada mountain bike challenge, riding all the trails in one ride! Click here for more details.

We will be hosting the Laddies Loppet this Labor day weekend. More details available soon.

Wooden feature on Bjorp’s singletrack, April 17th, 2021 (Dylan Welsh photo)

Beautiful conditions for April 17th, 2021.

Bridge crossing on Bootleg singletrack, April 17th, 2021.

Twin Lakes singletrack clear of snow, April 15th, 2021. Trail work earlier this spring help facilitating the melting process, evident by snow in the woods but trail free of snow. Frost is out, deck is firming up. Good early season conditions.

Start of Twin Lakes singletrack, April 15th, 2021.

Snowy singletrack, April 13th, 2021. Cold temps and dry snow making riding possible.

*Beautiful April afternoon scene on the “Bootleg” mountain bike singletrack, April 11th, 2021.*

Berm on “Hudson’s Hula” segment, Twin Lakes singletrack, April 11th, 2021.

Bootleg creek flowing nicely after rain earlier in the week, April 11th, 2021.

Bike Trail

Mountain Bike Trail Report

April 18, 2021 Jay Richards

Trails are open. Great weekend of riding on tap. Saturday about as good as it gets for April. Nice temps, good surface and no bugs! Good seeing all the riders out to enjoy!

After a taste of winter this week, the snow has evaporated/melted off and the trails are drying up nicely. The early season clearing helped with the drying process and the snow actually compacted the deck. A few soft spots here and there but should be a nice weekend of riding. With possible freezing nights, best riding will be in the afternoons.

We have set a new course for the LagChilada mountain bike challenge, riding all the trails in one ride! Click here for more details.