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Re-Loppet Photos
March 8, 2010
The City of Lakes Loppet Nordic Ski Foundation celebrated another great winter on the Wirth trails with the Re-Loppet, a fun, friendly ski from Wirth Chalet down to Uptown, finishing with pizza at Old Chicago.
Related:
Photoset from Dave Rhude:  10 photos
Mar 13-14 Midwest Junior Championships
Re-Loppet Tour and Party
March 4, 2010
The City of Lakes Loppet is hosting a tour and pizza party on Saturday afternoon, deemed the Re-Loppet. Ski the Loppet course (take some shortcuts even), finish in Uptown, pizza at Old Chicago, then shuttle bus takes you back to Wirth.
Sugarbush Trail System Needs Your Help
March 2, 2010
Sugarbush Trail Association, which maintains and grooms the Sugarbush trail system along the Northshore is seeking donations to help offset the costs.
Related:
Sugarbush Trail Association Membership Form
Wirth Olympic Center Battle Continues
February 24, 2010
The legislative battles continue over a bonding bill and the Wirth Olympic Center is under some fire. Organizers are asking skiers to make their opinions known on this project.
Minnesota Ski Pass Funding Increase Proposal
February 23, 2010
Minnesota Nordic Ski Association (MNSA) is seeking to improve funding to the grant-in-aid trails with slight increase to the Minnesota Ski Pass. They are asking for skiers to voice their support behind this legislative measure.
Related:
HF3207: Cross-country ski trail pass fees increase
Wirth Park Bonding Bill Faces Potential Veto
February 22, 2010
Early this morning the joint Minnesota Senate/House bonding conference committee agreed on language for the 2010 bonding bill. As part of that bill, the conference committee allocated funding for the Winter Training Center at Theodore Wirth Park. However, your voice is needed now to avoid a veto from Governor Pawlenty!
Sugarbush Candlelight Ski/Hike Feb 13
February 10, 2010
The Sugarbush Trail Association will be hosting a candlelight ski/hike this Saturday, February 13th. Two kilometers of trail from the Oberg Mountain Trailhead will be lit by candles.
Related:
Northern Minnesota Lodging Catering to XC
Weather Roller Coaster
February 8, 2010
Mark Lahtinen provides a brief look at the continuing roller coaster of weather we've had this season.
Snowmaking Proposals in Minnesota Legislature
January 28, 2010
Proposals in the Minnesota State Legislature to expand infrastructure and snowmaking at Battle Creek and Theodore Wirth are being voted on very soon, possibly this week or early next. Your voice is needed now.
Related:
HF 2475 Wirth Park Winter Recreation Area
HF 2490 Battle Creek Winter Recreation Area
First Annual BirkieTour Attracts Over 550 Participants
January 23, 2010
Despite a bleak weather forecast skiers of the first annual BirkieTour enjoyed a great day on the trail. The predicted ice and rain held off until the last skiers finished the event. "Over 550 skiers registered for our first BirkieTour," said Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation. "We couldn’t be more pleased with the number of participants."
Related:
Photoset from Darlene Prois: 13 photos
Photoset from Kelly Randolph: 8 photos
Photoset from Rich Hoeg: BirkieTour Headcam
Video from Scott Brown:  Birkie Tour
Sugarbush Trail Association Annual Meeting
January 21, 2010
The Sugarbush Trail Association will hold their annual meeting on Tuesday, January 26, at Lutsen Resort.
BirkieTour Trail and Facility Use this Weekend
January 18, 2010
Saturday, January 23, the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation will host the first annual BirkieTour. The Tour will be using the warming buildings at the “OO” and Hatchery Creek trailheads. The American Birkebeiner Trail and Classic Trail are open for skiing during the BirkieTour.
Three Rivers Park District High School Meet Schedule
January 18, 2010
Three Rivers Park District keeps a weekly listing of the high school meets scheduled on their trail systems.
Birkie Tour Coming up Jan 23
January 13, 2010
The first annual BirkieTour will be held on Saturday, January 23rd. Skiers age 13 and older may choose from event distances ranging from 22 to 51 kilometers.
Related:
Snowflake Nordic Ski Club a Huge Success
Cross-Country Ski Rentals
January 11, 2010
Looking for cross-country ski rentals? We've put together a collection of links, both in the Twin Cities and around the region.
Green Acres Grand Opening
January 5, 2010
Green Acres, a new 6.5K Nordic ski trail with 2.5K man-made snow loop located on the east side of the Twin Cities, is hosting a Grand Opening bash this Sunday morning, January 10th. Free skiing, free food, a short-notice race, Rossignol demos, and even a free drawing for a pair of skis!
Related:
Green Acres Trail Reports
Winter Progress Report: Bad News Good News
January 4, 2010
Mark Lahtinen checks in with an update on the winter weather and how our season compares to years past, and what we might have in store for us the rest of the season.
Winter Volksmarch: Volks Ski 400
December 31, 2009
Skiing the nation’s longest cross-country ski trail system in a single day kicks off a family-friendly celebration of winter in the Volks Ski Fest, January 23-31 on the Northshore and Gunflint in NE Minnesota.
Related:
Northern Minnesota Lodging Catering to XC
Bananad Trail Association
December 28, 2009
After twenty years of managing the Banadad Ski Trail, Boundary Country Trekking has turned over the management duties to a newly formed non-profit, the Banadad Trail Association.
Ghosts of Winters Past
December 6, 2009
Ari Ofsevit reviews and summarizes winters in the Twin Cities, pulling out some interesting observations.
Greenbush Ski Trail Lights Dedication Ceremony
December 4, 2009
Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Ski Club held a dedication ceremony for the Brown Loop Lighting System at the Greenbush cross-country ski trails on Thursday evening. Lighting on the 1.3-mile loop was privately funded (donations welcome!).
Warm November
November 17, 2009
Mark Lahtinen is back with some more weather history, this time looking at the impacts of a warm November on the following ski season.
Mt Itasca Fires Up Their Snow Guns
November 17, 2009
Mt Itasca fired up their snow guns on Monday night as the nightly temperatures have been conducive for snowmaking. Mt Itasca is hosting the World Team Biathlon Trials December and a Midwest Junior Olympic
Qualifier in January.
Annual Volks Ski Fest Celebrates Vast XC Ski Trail System
November 16, 2009
The Volks Ski Fest, January 23-31, is a week's worth of winter activities all across Cook County aimed at promoting the 400 kilometers of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails along the Gunflint Trail and North Shore.
Trails Day Coverage
October 25, 2009
Nearly 100 volunteers turned out Saturday morning for the annual Trails Day at Theodore Wirth. Loppet trails, including the new snowmaking sections, were prepped for winter. Afterwards, volunteers enjoyed pizza and refreshments.
Related:
Photoset from Rich Spielberg: 35 photos
Sugarbush Trail Update
October 22, 2009
Sugarbush trail system needs some Fall assistance helping remove windfall and prepping the trails for winter. And check out their social networking links.
October Snow
October 22, 2009
Mark Lathinen looks at October snowfalls in the Twin Cities and how they correlate to the rest of winter snow totals.
Fall Trail Events
October 20, 2009
A number of events to support your local trails...
Oct 23 Minocqua Fall Banquet - Banquet and Landowners Appreciation Night with five-course dinner menu of autumn fare in the Minocqua chalet.
Oct 24 Kick-n-Pick - Work on the Tower Ridge trails and enjoy a potluck dinner afterwards.
Oct 24 Loppet Trails Day - Meet at the Wirth chalet and help prep the new snowmaking loops.
Nov 7 Blue Hills Trail Banquet - Fundraiser raffle and dinner to help support the Blue Hills trails.
Minocqua On Track Campaign
October 6, 2009
Minocqua Winter Park has started their On Track Campaign, a capital fundraising program that will ensure continued ability to offer the best ski trail grooming possible. The goal is to raise gifts and pledges of $200,000 for the purpose of upgrading trail grooming equipment, including a new Pisten Bully 100.
Related:
Oct 23 Minocqua Fall Banquet and Landowners Appreciation Night
Winter Camping Symposium
October 1, 2009
The 11th annual Winter Camping Symposium will be held in the Twin Cities this season, October 23-25 at Baker Park. The symposium is designed for beginning winter campers to learn the basics as well as for old hands to hone their skills and share their camping wisdom.
Lake Elmo Winter Recreation Area
September 17, 2009
Tip from Tim Schilling: Washington County is moving forward with plans to develop a Winter Recreation Area in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve. The project will include facilities for evening use of the park, such as cross-country ski trail lighting, construction of roads and parking lots, and remodeling the existing barn for use as a trailhead.
Birkie Trail Projects Moving Forward
August 21, 2009
A number of Birkie trail improvement projects are underway including a remodeling of the Hwy OO warming cabin.
Related:
Sep 26th American Birkebeiner Trail Run, Relay & Trek
Lighting Greenbush
August 19, 2009
The Northern Kettle Moraine Nordic Ski Club is planning to install lights for cross country skiing at the Greenbush Trails in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. The goal is to have the lighting system installed this fall so it will be operational for the upcoming ski season. Donations are encouraged to help finish the installation and pay for operating costs.
Battle Creek Ski Trails Get Major Improvements
August 9, 2009
Battle Creek ski trails have undergone major improvements this summer including regrading to a level 14 foot width and a new start area, all developed with private funding.
Funding Cuts Threaten Mt Itasca, Area Trails
August 7, 2009
Significant funding cuts and resource changes could have a major impact on Mt Itasca and the cross-country ski trails in the Grand Rapids area. The Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club is asking for skiers to show their support.
Related:
Mt Itasca Update
TCAAP Public Hearing June 22
June 8, 2009
Congresswoman Betty McCollum will host a public hearing on June 22 to hear from constituents about the future of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) in Arden Hills. The TCAAP property has been discussed many times for possible trail development.
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