Trail Reports
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Minnesota Northeast
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NewMar 23 - Snowflake Nordic Ski Center (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Timing is everything with spring skiing. I was able to break away for a morning ski today and skated two 6K laps. The first lap was on frozen ungroomed trail and thus a little dicey but manageable. The groomers hit the 6K while I was on lap one. So, lap two was great. They were out on the 8K earlier packing the trail from the fresh snow yesterday. If you can ski in the morning after grooming it is great! The classic tracks were great as I stepped in them on downhills on lap one. Thanks to the groomers for getting out and cutting up the skate deck.
Photos:
(Nic Bacigalupo) -
NewMar 23 - Mother Bear Ski Trail (Brimson):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Amazing day and fresh groomed trails to boot! Used glide wax on top of skins to avoid sticking. We did ski over the river crossing where the groomer worked hard not to fall all the way in. Rather than continue across the road or backtrack across the river we broke trail at the cutover section#11-12.
Photos:
(Karla Anderson) -
NewMar 23 - Piedmont Trail (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Trails had not been groomed since the last snowfall. Skied in tracks were soft and irregular. Tracks were obliterated at times. We did not go down any of the long hills due to the lack of a dependable track. Needs grooming. Otherwise, I would avoid this trail.
(Tim Blais) -
NewMar 23 - Biskey Ponds Ski Trails (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
Biskey was freshly groomed today! Huge thank you to the groomer who went out and did it! The tracks are great, firm. They were slowing a bit as we continued due to the sun. There are parts that are only singletrack that are typically double but we were happy just having fresh tracks. There is also a pretty good sized "berm" between the double tracks so if you are a snowplower, it is not really possible. The turn off just past Black Spruce that is typically the way to get onto the trail to Eagle Ridge, the correct way, was not groomed. Most of it is very narrow so herringboning up hills was not even possible with our short skis on two steep uphills. There was also some wolf scat, a rather large pile right in the middle of a downhill so watch out! Pole plants were varied from firm to soft, but mostly firm. I stuck my pole in and the snow depth was above mid-thigh when I measured on the sides. It was a treat! Thank you groomers!
Photos:
(Eve Graves) -
NewMar 23 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Groomed this morning. Tracks are not set on some sections, like G-H and K-A. I can't tell you about the trail to the Pavilion because we parked at the first bridge on Seven Bridges Road. The D, G, I, and J loops are tracked. Overall, conditions were terrific for classic, firm when we started, getting mushy when we finished up. The skate lane was quite soft and mushy.
(Catherine Winter) -
NewMar 23 - Mother Bear Ski Trail (Brimson):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Trail was groomed today after 3" new snow yesterday. Come on out and enjoy the beautiful weather the next few days. Looking at the forecast, it might be the last grooming of the season.
Photos:
(Al Ringer) -
NewMar 23 - University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center (Cloquet):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Grooming
Groomed and set the track on the ski trail on the west side of University Rd. Some debris present so wouldn't recommend using your best skis. However, outdoor temperatures look downright balmy - with plenty of snow cover still present.
Photos:
(Chad Korby) -
NewMar 23 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Groomers went by as I was parking. Skate deck was soft, classic tracks looked amazing. Groomers were focusing on the main 3K lighted loop, but I assume that they will groom the whole trail network after setting the lighted loop. Thank you groomers for keeping up with caring for all the trails this season!
(Aaron Miatke) -
NewMar 22 - Bagley Nature Area (Duluth):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Classic
3-4" of very heavy wet snow. Slogged through and fortunately someone had broke trail before us so it wasn't as difficult as we expected. Nice to be out in the woods after last nights storm.
Photos:
(Karla Anderson) -
Mar 21 - Magney-Snively Trail (Duluth):
Morning[ ]Firsthand: Classic
Is it mid January or almost April? Can't really tell today! I classic skied all but Ely's and Bardon's at Magney today. The tracks were 99% intact. There were leaves and some birch bark scattered in spots, which were "skin stopping" sometimes.... I just went out of the tracks for those. I'd say the tracks are 85% debris free. They are very solid and the pole plants are very firm throughout. The skate deck was well used with some deep ruts and some very firm areas with very little edge. If you are a good skier, you will absolutely love it today. If you are more timid, the skate deck could present some challenges in places.
Photos:
(Eve Graves) -
Mar 21 - Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Firsthand: Classic
By late morning, the CCC was quite glazed, and the blue kick wax I had used successfully earlier at another more recently groomed location was not gripping enough to get me up the initial gradual hill without substantial use of my poles. Level and downhill portions were mostly glazed, and there was plenty of glide. Debris was an issue, especially on the river return, and at least one person had left deep boot prints from the beginning to the intersection with the Forbay snowmobile trail.
(Joel Rosen) -
Mar 21 - Magney-Snively Trail (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Very good to excellent spring skiing conditions on the main loop, with the most wear and tear on the two-way section, especially in the vicinity of the Spirit connector junction, where there was a bit of track washout. A slight glaze in portions of the tracks, but at mid-morning with mid-20'sF, still able to manage with blue kick wax, although there was some slippage on a few of the south-facing hills. Also, herringboning was necessary for me on several of the uphill sections. Corduroy still allowing fairly good control on the more challenging downhills. Some debris in the tracks from the persistent winds off the big lake.
(Joel Rosen) -
Mar 20 - Pine Valley (Cloquet):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
I started on the White Pine Trail, which was not groomed on Monday but the classic track was skied-in well and provided mostly good skiing. Tracks are sloppy in places with some glazing but no ice. I then skied the ungroomed connector trail to the 5.5k loop that had been groomed. I skied on the outer 2k loop, skate lane was groomed on Monday and the classic tracks were still very good from Friday's grooming. Snow is showing the effects of sun scalding in the usual places, temperature was 26 degrees. I did not ski on the lighted loop section. Expect some variation in surface snow conditions but it's very good skiing overall.
Photos:
(Tom Urbanski) -
Mar 20 - Upper Spirit Mountain Trails (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
The trails were groomed today at Spirit. They were great, very deep tracks, and a firm deck throughout. The connector was not groomed today, but skied fine, Magney Loop was also groomed today, for classic and skate. Thank you groomers.
(Joe Gerard) -
Mar 20 - Magney-Snively Trail (Duluth):
Evening[ ]Firsthand: Classic
Thanks to the groomers for giving Magney a needed refresh after the weekend drifting. The tracks are mostly excellent—deep and firm. Snow conditions varied from loose and dry to icy, and skins worked great throughout. The skate deck looked soft in spots, but not overly rutted.
Photos:
(Betsy Tabor) -
Mar 20 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Evening[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Trails are fast and nicely groomed. There are a few spots with brown water flooding we were able to easily ski over. No noticeable trail debris.
Photos:
(Nick Lansing) -
Mar 20 - Boulder Lake Management Area Ski Trails (Duluth):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Both
Groomed last night and was in phenomenal shape for both skate and classic. Snow wasn't overly fast but the beautiful day and perfect grooming made up for it.
(Adam Van Straten) -
Mar 20 - Piedmont Trail (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Newly groomed. Excellent classical track and skate track where allowed.
(John Sundstrom) -
Mar 20 - Piedmont Trail (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Excellent late winter conditions for a late morning ski. Clean track with good depth and just barely transformed. Blue kick wax provided good grip, and glide was good also. A couple of spots on the initial combination skate/classic loop where the groomer went back to lay down fresh corduroy and wiped out a bit of the left side tracks, but otherwise, nearly perfect, with just a few inconsequential leaves scattered in the tracks that were easily avoided by lifting a ski. Good control available on the big downhill of the black loop on the corduroy between the sets of tracks.
(Joel Rosen) -
Mar 20 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Firm/icy conditions at Lester this morning. Should improve if the day warms up. The skate deck has iced the skate grooves in, which made it a little tricky in some parts. Minor occasional debris on trail. Classic track was in good condition and lightning fast. Overall great March skiing.
(Gabi Hester) -
Mar 19 - Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic Secondhand
With full sun and 38F degrees the trail and snow was surprisingly dry and also slow. The skate/classic loop (west side of the river) was groomed Friday for skate and classic. Once you got past all the walker damage and got out to the loop it was pristine. Only other users were critter prints as shown in the photo. We traded off skiing first in the tracks to tamp down the snow that had blown in. Much easier skiing in the tracks now. Skier reports here are so helpful because if you go through the park office phone line and press for information on park conditions it just sends you to camping information. Nothing on conditions.
Photos:
(Karla Anderson) -
Mar 19 - Upper Spirit Mountain Trails (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Skied the entire Upper system. Despite a solid base throughout, the 5K/10K and Campground loop had sections of extensive drifting - Mother Nature has undone some of the nice grooming efforts. Although we were skating we noticed that sometimes the classic tracks were even filled in. The 5K/10K was not groomed very wide, so that V2/skating without poles in the flat/downhill sections put you right over the classic tracks. The situation was exacerbated when the trail was narrowed by drifting snow. Even deep in the woods, a fresh layer of less than an inch of snow over the groomed snow was pretty slow because it was windblown and not fluffy. Not many skiers have gone over it. The last K of the 10K and the campground trail is disrupted by snow machines for a good reason - Search & Rescue training. Skiable yet, but awkward. 3K is in pretty good shape and groomed wider.
(Sara Zimmer) -
Mar 19 - Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Skiing Gooseberry depends on your priority: Optimal skiing experience? Go elsewhere. Ski in a terrific setting? Go to Gooseberry. I skied the lower classic loop below Hwy 61. The trail quality was below adequate and hadn't been groomed in a while. Snow filled tracks. Some spots with foot traffic. Other areas were glazed or drifted over. Nothing I encountered would damage skis but it wasn't a great skiing experience. I suggest asking at the office for grooming updates. But who cares about the trails when you're skiing next to Lake Superior and the river on a gorgeous March day? Get out to Gooseberry.
Photos:
(Nick Lansing) -
Mar 18 - Pine Valley (Cloquet):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
At 11am, there was wind-blown snow in open areas and about 1/2" new snow in the tracks following what appeared to be a very nice grooming job yesterday. In the wind blown areas, the classic track was completely covered, and in the rest, 1/2" of new snow made the track somewhat shallow and slow. The strong wind had deposited a substantial amount of pine needle debris, mostly in the first km. I appeared to be the first classic skier since the grooming; a few skaters had done some damage to the classic track. The cold fresh snow made negotiating the downhills somewhat easier, even Gap Hill. With green covering special green, I was able to ski the entire 5.5 k loop without herringboning any hills. Special green probably would have been faster.
(Joel Rosen) -
Mar 18 - Erkki Harju Ski Trail (Two Harbors):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Crusty snow with some blown over areas. Most of it firm with a few soft spots. Light debris on the trail. Skating would have been a bit challenging from what I saw.
(Brandon Drazich) -
Mar 18 - Biskey Ponds Ski Trails (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Beautiful mid winter conditions. Got out there before all the uphills were stamped out. Able to stride all but one uphill. Lovely! Kudos to Keith and Mike for grooming.
(Scott Thompson) -
Mar 18 - Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Classic Secondhand
We skied the campground loop at Jay Cooke today. The tracks were 99.99% debris free, somewhat shallow, and pretty firm. Pole plants were firm except in a few areas but still pretty good. The trail was groomed yesterday and had about an inch of skied in snow today. I apologize, but one of the people in our group took a fall midway down one of the longer gradual hills and took out both sets of tracks so head's up if you like to fly down them. Saw the groomer and he said they have been able to groom more frequently this year because there is less to groom. He also said they will keep grooming until it's warm. He said they only groom between 8 am and 11 am so it is weather dependent. On another note... there were "attack" chickadees in the parking lot... they kept dive bombing us and even landing on us.
Photos:
(Eve Graves) -
Mar 18 - Mother Bear Ski Trail (Brimson):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Trail was partially regroomed this morning after 4" new snow, and high winds. South loop is done, and the rest could be enjoyed as backcountry skiing.
Photos:
(Al Ringer) -
Mar 17 - Spirit Mountain Nordic Center (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Conditions that cross-country skiers dream about. Fresh snow yesterday followed by cold temps overnight then PB grooming on all trail segments today. Perfectly smooth and clean. Great texture with a firm base. Impressive snow depth. The only minor issue I could identify is that the classic track on the 10k trail has been set a little too far towards the middle of the trail, so skaters cannot avoid skiing over it while climbing hills. Overall though, just superb.
(Todd Campbell) -
Mar 17 - Magney-Snively Trail (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Fantastic conditions for skate and classic. Fresh PB grooming on the entire system today, after warm temps and a couple inches fresh snow yesterday (high temp 18F today). Smooth, clean, and only slightly soft. Considerable snow depth.
Photos:
(Todd Campbell) -
Mar 17 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Hard skating base today with some deep cut grooves but not bad. Very quick on the downhills. Chilly but fun afternoon.
(Lindsey Envall) -
Mar 17 - Bagley Nature Area (Duluth):
Night[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Trails got groomed tonight! Everything looks nice and smooth- hopefully the wind won't blow over the tracks tonight. Have fun out there!
(Benjamin Hawley) -
Mar 17 - Spirit Mountain Nordic Center (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
The trails were groomed this morning for classical. The tracks were great. The skate decks were left ungroomed, but with only 1" of new snow, it looked fine.
(Joe Gerard) -
Mar 17 - Piedmont Trail (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Mid winter conditions today at Piedmont with 16 F temp light snow and several inches of new powder. The groomer was out today making for perfect skiing conditions. Should be a great weekend of skiing.
Photos:
(Gene Karwoski) -
Mar 17 - Korkki Nordic (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Excellent conditions – a beautiful day for a ski. Tracks are well set, only a bit blown over in a few of the exposed areas of the back 10k loop. I think the "big hill" and one of the cutoffs was not groomed, but most everything else was and there were plenty of options for skiers of all levels.
(Brandon Drazich) -
Mar 17 - University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center (Cloquet):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Grooming
The orange trail is freshly groomed and tracked today. Get out while we still have a nice skiable trail. Conditions are great!
Photos:
(Mark Hagen) -
Mar 17 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Morning[ ]Firsthand: Classic
Classic skied Lester at 11 am. They had kinda groomed. I did the "easy" b to c loop. Beyond that nothing had been groomed. The grooming started out on just one side, the other side had skied in or old tracks, wasn't sure, Lester is not a place I frequent. The middle was groomed but pretty rough. Once I got to the other side, there were groomed tracks on both sides and the middle was done too. The tracks on the right were rough and bumpy, the left were good. Pole plants were soft but not the kind that go super far down. There were two ice patches: the first was solid, the second which was more in the skate lane was open water under slush.
Photos:
(Eve Graves) -
Mar 17 - Pine Valley (Cloquet):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All ]Observation
Freshly groomed over 8 inches of new snow. Nice corduroy and tracks are set. Same for the White Pine Trail.
(Tim Blais) -
Mar 17 - Erkki Harju Ski Trail (Two Harbors):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
All trails were groomed this morning. Skate lane is a bit rough in spots due to some ruts and drifting but the classic track is in great shape.
(Mark Gordon) -
Mar 16 - Korkki Nordic (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Skied the 10k loop and loved it! There was some fresh snow falling so a bit slower than otherwise, but very nice trails and a good track to follow!
(Anna DeMers) -
Mar 16 - Bagley Nature Area (Duluth):
Evening[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Lots of snow blowing around at Bagley. I could see the remnants of classic tracks but nothing was freshly groomed. A slow first lap.
(Drew Guttormson) -
Mar 16 - Erkki Harju Ski Trail (Two Harbors):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Firsthand: Classic
We skied the 3k loop that had been skied on by someone before. The other trails had snow but nothing was groomed and no one had ventured out on longer trails. Good snow coverage, a few places getting thin.
(Anna DeMers) -
Mar 15 - Snowflake Nordic Ski Center (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Firsthand: Classic
It might take a bit longer for grooming at Snowflake because the guys do numerous packing runs before setting tracks, but the result is perfection! Tracks are even, not too deep, and pole plants are solid. Thanks, groomers!
(Janet Anderson) -
Mar 15 - Magney-Snively Trail (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Very good to excellent conditions this morning on the Bardon's Peak loop. At 10am, blue kick wax was working well on the mostly untransformed snow in the tracks. Just an occasional oak leaf in the tracks (easy to lift a ski over), and just a couple of spots of boot scraping on the firm, deep, and clean tracks, with one washout in the tracks on a downhill turn.
(Joel Rosen) -
Mar 14 - Magney-Snively Trail (Duluth):
Evening[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Fantastic ski tonight! Mid-winter conditions in mid March! The track was a little glazed, but hard wax was still working. The track was a little jumbled on a couple corners and hacked up in narrow spots, but overall still good. Hopefully the groomers aren't too tired and can get out again after any new snow.
(Carol Koos) -
Mar 14 - Piedmont Trail (Duluth):
Evening[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Gorgeous evening for skiing. Soft is the word of the day. The tracks are in good shape but deeper than normal due to soft conditions. Pole plants are numerous and deep. The skate deck looked soft in many spots. But the forest and overlook were both beautiful at sunset.
Photos:
(Nick Lansing) -
Mar 14 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Classic
Our big dump of snow got groomed yesterday. It's soft. Pole plants are soft. Tracks are soft, deep, and a little uneven here and there - one track deeper than the other. The skate deck was soft and did not look fun to me, but I asked a cheerful skater about it and he said he'd seen worse. Someone rode a fat bike around a few of the sections in the center of the system, plowing a trough in the middle of the skate lane and punching deep posthole footprints walking the bike up hills.
(Catherine Winter) -
Mar 14 - Upper Spirit Mountain Trails (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Can I just write in epic and leave at that? It appears that grooming occurred late yesterday afternoon as I found nothing but perfect, set corduroy. My only improvement would be for work to not get in the way of doing another loop. Tracks were not set as of this morning, but amazing for skate especially on a bluebird day.
Photos:
(Jena Ogston) -
Mar 14 - Korkki Nordic (Duluth):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Classic
Trail groomed this morning. Great track though a bit soft. Beautiful trail. Lots of work for the groomers, thanks Mark and crew.
Photos:
(John Thomas) -
Mar 14 - Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Firsthand: Classic
Late morning/mid-day ski on the CCC/Thompson loop. Tracks were very clean and well-defined but still just a bit soft in places. Plenty of grip with special blue covering blue but surprisingly, glide was only fair, especially the first time around. As usual, the only debris was encountered on the CCC return along the river.
(Joel Rosen) -
Mar 14 - Boulder Lake Management Area Ski Trails (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
20 F, bright blue sky, perfect blue wax classic skiing at Boulder this morning. Groomed yesterday and set up nicely in the below zero temps last night.
Photos:
(Tim Holst) -
Mar 14 - Piedmont Trail (Duluth):
Morning[ ]Firsthand: Classic
We skied at midday today. The tracks are solid. The pole plants are solid today, but all those who skied when it was too soft made pretty deep holes which made it tricky to pole today throughout of it, the holes in the pictures are from poles, not shoes. Also the left ski track is a few inches deeper than the right throughout quite a bit of the system. The sections between tracks are very well used and like hard slippery concrete.
Photos:
(Eve Graves) -
Mar 14 - Bagley Nature Area (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
After the crazy snow, the walking trails and ski trails are groomed and usable again! Hopefully you guys can get out there and ski around.
(Benjamin Hawley) -
Mar 13 - University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center (Cloquet):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
Nicely groomed and tracked in the morning. Mid-afternoon skiing was a pleasure-track was clean (debris is often a problem here) and had good depth. Using blue kick wax, had excellent grip and fairly good glide on most of the yellow/orange/red trail, with some glazing on the tracks in the second open area of Otter Creek, which has a big southern exposure). Little outer loop not groomed.
(Joel Rosen) -
Mar 13 - Lester Park (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Trails have been groomed after the storm! There is a lot of powder on the trails. Classic tracks in great shape. Skate tracks were digging through some fluff.
Photos:
(Clay Kevlar) -
Mar 13 - Chester Bowl (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
All trails have been groomed with the exception of the bridge 300 meters in. Soft and slow with plenty of deep pole plants as to be expected but it looks and feels more like Jan 13, not March 13 out there. Minimal foot traffic once you get in the woods.
(Joe Rosenthal) -
Mar 13 - Mother Bear Ski Trail (Brimson):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
We received 11" new snow and have 38" on the ground. Most of the trail was tracked today; the south loops are completely done. If you're tired of shoveling snow, come out and enjoy the snow.
Photos:
(Al Ringer) -
Mar 13 - Piedmont Trail (Duluth):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Piedmont was freshly groomed and beautiful around lunchtime today! But it was also very soft. We tried to ski lightly to avoid sinking with each kick and to avoid punching too deep with poles, but the foot+ of fluffy new snow made that a challenge. The classic track around the skate loop was a bit firmer.
Photos:
(Betsy Tabor) -
Mar 13 - Hartley Park (Duluth):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
The city groomed the 16 inches of new snow at Hartley! Got out at noon, low to mid 20s F, bright 8-days-before-equinox sunshine, perfect extra-blue-wax classic skiing. Lots of soft pole plants, but what a gorgeous day in the woods. With its views of the "Bald Mountain" in the middle of the park, and of deep blue Lake Superior from one section of the outer loop, these trails are always a joy. And I have been lucky enough to have lived less than a mile away for 44 winters now.
Photos:
(Tim Holst) -
Mar 13 - Erkki Harju Ski Trail (Two Harbors):
AfternoonObservation
Ungroomed as of yet. A few had set out in the deep powder, but not much more than that. If you try, bring backcountry skis!
(Brandon Drazich) -
Mar 13 - University of Minnesota Cloquet Forestry Center (Cloquet):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Grooming
Fresh snow! Packed and tracked the orange trail. We welcome you to come ski the Forestry Center on this beautiful day!
Photos:
(Mark Hagen) -
NewMar 23 - Pincushion Mountain Trail (Grand Marais):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Exquisite skiing at Pincushion today. Groomer was out the same time as me and by the time I left had gotten corduroy on all the trails. Was softening up substantially by noon or so, but still lots of great skiing to be had. Slow with the new snow but any nights below freezing in the coming days will have fast morning skiing.
Photos:
(Mitchell Campbell) -
NewMar 23 - Sugarbush Trail System (Tofte):
Morning[ ]Observation Secondhand
No tracks are set. The snow was cold enough to track, but of course is now warming in the afternoons, and the website says they might not track again until Thursday evening (no promises I guess).
(Mary Kay Aufrance) -
NewMar 23 - Central Gunflint Trail System (Grand Marais):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming Scheduling
We groomed everything again last night and early this morning. A ton of snow out there yet but warmer weather is now on the way. Great conditions and skiing yet, especially in the morning. Trails will be open until the 27th of March.
(Zach Baumann, Golden Eagle Lodge) -
NewMar 23 - Northwoods Ski Trail (Silver Bay):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Wow! What a treat. Trails are groomed and in great condition after the latest snowstorm. Skin skis worked great. By noon trails were softening but still in great condition.
Photos:
(Melissa Kittock) -
Mar 21 - Pincushion Mountain Trail (Grand Marais):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Skied pincushion today and it was in great shape for March 21. The grooming was solid and so much fun. This time of the year is so enjoyable and you ski to have fun. What a yea!
Photos:
(Jim Williams) -
Mar 20 - Bally Creek Trails (Grand Marais):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Excellent and fast conditions overall. Tracks were deep, solid and partially glazed but not too icy. Perfect conditions for skin skis. Solid pole plants. Absolutely fantastic grooming A++. Hardly any debris. Trails are beautiful and sheltered from the wind.
Photos:
(Tracy Stacy) -
Mar 20 - Bally Creek Trails (Grand Marais):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
The USFS groomers have really done a great job: the trails are firm and perfectly set to keep your skis in the track. The elevation gain is slight over this trail system as it careens through the woods. Some glazing on the track; great spring skiing.
Photos:
(Patrick Bryan) -
Mar 20 - Northwoods Ski Trail (Silver Bay):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Tracks were quite icy in all but a few spots this morning. Luckily the snow on each side of the tracks is soft so you can ski with one ski out of the tracks to slow down. Most skiers opted to walk the steep downhill at the end.
Photos:
(Karla Anderson) -
Mar 19 - Bally Creek Trails (Grand Marais):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
All trail segments on the most current map (A through V) were packed and tracked and the trails are in very good condition. Portions of the unplowed road were also double-tracked. The Gunflint Ranger District is grateful for all of the comments that have been submitted this winter. The loops on the northeast end (Bally Creek and Moose Rub loops) as well as the Connector Trail to Pike Lake Road were difficult to access this winter due to blowdown events, heavy snow, and late freeze-up on water crossings. We will be working towards maintaining and grooming these sections in the future, but for this season will continue to focus on providing a quality experience for our users on the currently groomed trails. Stay tuned next season for updates, and thanks for the support! The trail is seeing a fair amount of use and gets quite busy on weekends. Please be mindful that the parking lot could fill up while you're out, so leave room for other cars and grooming equipment. The truck and trailer usually take up the whole West side of the lot (same side as the kiosk/map) so keeping that side clear Monday-Friday would help a lot.
(Kris Rich) -
Mar 19 - Northwoods Ski Trail (Silver Bay):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Beautiful day for a ski, some debris in tracks and snow drifting in open sections, but overall nice set of tracks. Always such a treat to visit these pretty woods.
Photos:
(Casey Carbert) -
Mar 19 - Pincushion Mountain Trail (Grand Marais):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
All trails were groomed and tracked this morning after the wind died down. Conditions are excellent, perhaps best conditions of the season.
Photos:
(Timothy Lederle, North Superior Ski & Run Club) -
Mar 18 - Sugarbush Trail System (Tofte):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Beautiful, if cold, afternoon classical skiing in Tofte today. Pristine, though squeaky, dry snow and a dusting of new snow made for a slog on the way out; our (and then another couple) having skied the tracks, along with the slight increase in temperature, brought longer strides with less effort on the return portion.
Photos:
(Jill Hansen) -
Mar 18 - Sugarbush Trail System (Tofte):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
It's like January in Tofte. Trails were groomed overnight, the skate deck was nice and firm. They set tracks, which were also ok. But the wind was blowing relentlessly, leading to some drifting across the trail. The whole trail was skiable, we saw several out skating even, but there was significant drifting. The snow was dry and powdery with the wind leading to the perfect combination of no glide and no kick. I skated the last five km on my classic skis and the skate lane was awesome when there wasn't a lot of drifting. It was mid teens when we got out on the trail. Lots of snow left and plenty more skiing to be had and great grooming!
(Kristin Riker-Coleman) -
Mar 18 - Norpine (Deeryard/Lutsen) (Lutsen):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Western portion of Norpine trail system groomed today. This includes: Massie and Hall loops, Whitesides/Deertracks, Cascade Connector between Cascade Lodge and Ski Hill Rd. All trails are in great shape.
(Adam Dettman) -
Mar 18 - Norpine (Deeryard/Lutsen) (Lutsen):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Eastern portion of norpine trail system groomed overnight. This includes: deeryard main loop, firetower, pioneer, ridge run, and lookout mt. Trails are in great shape! Two sets of classic tracks around deeryard main loop and most of pioneer. Short loop at deeryard closed for the season.
(Adam Dettman) -
Mar 17 - Pincushion Mountain Trail (Grand Marais):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
The winter storm has delivered less snow than forecast so far, about 4-5 inches of relatively wet snow. More light snow is forecast through the day and evening, but in the meantime, we've regroomed the skate decks and reset tracks on all green trails and Pincushion Loop. Bill reports that conditions are really nice. Current Trail Conditions/Notes: Packed Trail Base: Average 10+ inches, Snowfall last 24 Hours: 4-5", Snowfall last 7 Days: 10", Average Depth off the Trail: >24".
(Timothy Lederle, North Superior Ski & Run Club) -
Mar 14 - Sugarbush Trail System (Tofte):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Quite honestly the best spring skiing ever in MN. Rivals out west ski areas with so much snow -- freshly groomed trails and no one here! They will be skiing for a long time yet!
Photos:
(John Dewall) -
Mar 13 - Sugarbush Trail System (Tofte):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Absolutely gorgeous sunny no-wind day at Sugarbush. Only had time to ski the Hogback Loop from the Britton Peak trailhead around noon... freshly groomed and great conditions. Pretty good hill climbs on Hogback and returning on Bridge Run. Classic tracks also were excellent.
Photos:
(Dave Carlson) -
Mar 13 - Norpine (Deeryard/Lutsen) (Lutsen):
Evening[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Entire Norpine trail system groomed Monday (with the exception of Short Loop at Deeryard which will be closed for remainder of this ski season). All trails are in great shape after the snow we got this weekend! Two sets of classic tracks groomed around Main Loop at Deeryard as well as majority of Pioneer Loop.
(Adam Dettman) -
Mar 13 - Pincushion Mountain Trail (Grand Marais):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Trails were freshly groomed after fresh snow. 25° and sunny. Classic track was great on Pincushion Loop, Upper and Lower Snowman with blue kick wax and good glide.
Photos:
(Steve Langenbrunner) -
Mar 13 - Bally Creek Trails (Grand Marais):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
All trail segments on the most current map (A through V) were packed and tracked and the trails are in very good condition. Portions of the unplowed road were also double-tracked. The Gunflint Ranger District is grateful for all of the comments that have been submitted this winter. The loops on the northeast end (Bally Creek and Moose Rub loops) as well as the Connector Trail to Pike Lake Road were difficult to access this winter due to blowdown events, heavy snow, and late freeze-up on water crossings. We will be working towards maintaining and grooming these sections in the future, but for this season will continue to focus on providing a quality experience for our users on the currently groomed trails. Stay tuned next season for updates, and thanks for the support! The trail is seeing a fair amount of use and gets quite busy on weekends. Please be mindful that the parking lot could fill up while you're out, so leave room for other cars and grooming equipment. The truck and trailer usually take up the whole West side of the lot (same side as the kiosk/map) so keeping that side clear Monday-Friday would help a lot.
(Ryan Blaisdell) -
Mar 13 - Pincushion Mountain Trail (Grand Marais):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
We received about 6" of new snow yesterday and all trails were groomed and tracks reset this morning. Conditions are excellent. Current Trail Conditions/Notes: Packed Trail Base: Average 10+ inches, Snowfall last 24 Hours: 6", Snowfall last 7 Days: 7", Average Depth off the Trail: >24".
Photos:
(Timothy Lederle, North Superior Ski & Run Club) -
Mar 13 - Sugarbush Trail System (Tofte):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Both
Darren worked his magic with the PB last night, grooming 9" of fresh snow. The cold temps last night and into this morning resulted in surprisingly firm conditions. It doesn't get much better than this. Get out there and enjoy it while you can!
Photos:
(Jared VanderHook) -
Mar 13 - Central Gunflint Trail System (Grand Marais):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
We received just shy of 3" of fresh snow yesterday. All trails have been freshly groomed again as of this morning. Conditions continue to be excellent!
(Zach Baumann, Golden Eagle Lodge) -
NewMar 23 - McCarthy Beach State Park (Side Lake):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Just finished setting track on two of three loops: Campgrounds and Big Hole. Possibly last for year. Excellent shape on thirty inch snowpack, SWE 7.45".
(Neil Gardner) -
NewMar 23 - Bird Lake Trail (Hoyt Lakes):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Trail is in fair shape. Due to the warming temps, the track did not set as well on the sunny slopes otherwise most of the trail groomed well. Expect deteriorating conditions as the temps continue to warm up. Have fun out there and enjoy springlike weather!
Photos:
(Dave Coy) -
NewMar 23 - Portage Park (Cohasset):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All ]Grooming
Trails were groomed this afternoon. It might be the last grooming of the season. Enjoy it!
(Stephanie Kessler) -
NewMar 23 - Giants Ridge (Biwabik):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Winter doesn't know it's spring yet- another 6" of snow yesterday! Bronze-Summit-Northern Lights groomed and tracked overnight for a perfect 15km loop today.
Photos:
(Shawn Callahan) -
NewMar 23 - Aurora Recreation Trails (Aurora):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial, ]Firsthand: Classic Secondhand
Broke trail on the blue loop today and then went over it again to get some enjoyment from it. Snow was over my ankles in open areas. Initially my waxless skis were sticking to the snow in the sunny areas so I put liquid Glide wax over my fish scales kick area. It worked good. Illegal dump pile just before the trail meets the sports field, looked recent.
(Mark Peil) -
NewMar 23 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Packed and set track on south suomi trails. Didn't do the connecting trail to orange lake road. Got stuck at the bottom of the mean hill, use caution when coming down.
(Randy zupan) -
NewMar 23 - Amen Lake (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Packed and set track on amen lake trails and south suomi. More snow than I thought, so unhooked the groomer and packed first.
(Randy Zupan) -
NewMar 23 - Blackwater Environmental Area (Cohasset):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All ]Grooming
Trails were groomed this morning. This might be the last grooming for the season. Enjoy it while you can!
(Stephanie Kessler) -
NewMar 22 - Mount Itasca (Coleraine):
Night[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Finished packing the new snow and setting tracks throughout the entire trail system. Should be awesome skiing!
Photos:
(Bob Conzemius) -
NewMar 22 - Mount Itasca (Coleraine):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
5" new snow. Pressed for time before work, but I groomed the lower trails with one pass of the Pistenbully. Also ascended the biathlon 3.3km loop, did a loop on Bittersweet, then came down the service road. Grooming plans: I'll have to get the rest (remaining Grant in Aid trails as well as the downhill portion of the biathlon 3.3km loop) this evening, and it all needs a second pass.
Photos:
(Bob Conzemius) -
Mar 20 - Big Aspen Recreation Area (Virginia):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Classic
I was surprised how skiable the eastern, easier trails were (some are closed due to logging). Quite a bit of ice, though, but with nice stretches of snow. Quite fast, so I didn't attempt the blue runs at #8 or points north.
(John Ely) -
Mar 20 - Trout Lake Recreation Area (Grand Rapids):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Skied Doan Lake trail (left loop). High drifts on lake section, boot prints and chevron steps roughed up hill tracks. Icy, sticky depending on sun exposure. Always a beautiful day on skis.
(Jane Moore) -
Mar 20 - Portage Park (Cohasset):
Morning[ Trails Open: All ]Grooming
Portage was groomed on Friday entirely and again today where the heavy drifting had occurred over the weekend. All trails should now be open and ready for skiing.
(Stephanie Kessler) -
Mar 20 - Bird Lake Trail (Hoyt Lakes):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
I skied the trail in the morning, in the vicinity of the shelter near Lillian Lake. Good base, but after a 3 to 5 inch snowfall last week, there were some deep drifts on the trails in some spots, especially near the shelter due to winds off the lake. Because of the higher angle of the sun now, the snow gets stickier early in the day. Wax accordingly.
(Mark Roalson) -
Mar 19 - Blackwater Environmental Area (Cohasset):
Morning[ Trails Open: All ]Grooming
Blackwater was groomed on Sunday. Hopefully the wind won't cause bad drifting.
(Stephanie Kessler) -
Mar 19 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
Skied all of the trails that were groomed from the North Suomi Hills trailhead off HWY 38. Came away with a better understanding of the trail system. There is a nice novice loop if you head north out of the parking lot. The trails toward Kremer Lake and around Balloon Lake are for daredevils, even in slower snow. If you are an average skier and would like to experience this beautiful backcountry try this approach: Park at the lot at the end of Orange Lake Road and head North toward Kremer Lake. Take a left at the first branch and go south to Pot Hole lake. When the trail starts to exceed your comfort level, return back the way you came.
Photos:
(Jeff Pesta) -
Mar 19 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Generally nice trail conditions today. South part of Suomi was groomed after the 10" storm last week but not after the smaller one. The connector trail was ungroomed between South Suomi and Orange Lake Road. I skied tracks into this section, and others followed, so now it is a tracked segment North Suomi was all groomed. Trail conditions there were excellent! There were a few sun-baked areas, but those didn't slow things down too much.
Photos:
(Bob Conzemius) -
Mar 19 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
South Suomi not groomed but skiers did ski in the tracks. Continued to North Suomi parking lot which was full with seven cars. Lots of good classic skiing if you are a good classic skier... :) Balloon Loop has lots of fun but somewhat scary twisty turny downhills. Good grooming and soft snow on the sides helped to slow descent. Others bravely ventured to Spruce Island Loop. Beaver Pond loop nice cool down. All in all, a great day to classic ski!
(Catherine McLynn) -
Mar 19 - Mount Itasca (Coleraine):
Afternoon[ ]Observation
Trails used for Saturday race have skate deck. No classic tracks.
(Darren Neuman) -
Mar 19 - Sugar Hills (Grand Rapids):
MorningObservation
Not groomed, No classic tracks. Did not ski.
(Darren Neuman) -
Mar 18 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Observation
Extra note on the North Suomi Trail system. I stopped by and snow plowed the North parking lot and the Orange Lake Road to the trail head parking lot. I see someone had skied north towards Kremer Lake, which was good to see someone went out to enjoy the fresh groomed trails. Parking lots are clean, trails are ready, go out and get that last skiing in!
(Dale Juntunen) -
Mar 18 - Portage Park (Cohasset):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Both
Started at the Lake Street access.
Trails had been groomed before the last snow and the classic tracks had been used and were in good condition in most places. Exception was along the Mississippi backwater stretch, where there is some drifting, and around the ball fields.
The skate lane was not bad in most places either, even with the dog and boot tracks, although I would start at the Lake Street access, and avoid the Park Loop. I skated the railroad grade loop, which is groomed back southwest much further than is shown on the map, and returns back to the main trail close to the Lake Street parking spot.
Photos:
(Brad Bensen) -
Mar 18 - Forest History Center (Grand Rapids):
AfternoonObservation
Stopped by early afternoon. Not groomed. Fair amount of snow over the trail by parking lot and around visitor center. Didn't look further down in the trees.
(Brad Bensen) -
Mar 18 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Groomed and track set all trails north of the Orange Lake Road. (North Suomi trails). 3 to 4 inches of fresh snow made for a nice track set. There was drifting in many areas near the lakes, so use caution as those areas will be a little uneven. Very nice sunny day, please get out and enjoy the trails while you still can!
Photos:
(Dale Juntunen) -
Mar 17 - Big Aspen Recreation Area (Virginia):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
Freshly groomed. Parts of the trail are being logged out, and expect there will be less trails available. Other than that, excellent condition for the most part. Love the fresh snow.
(Tracy Cesari) -
Mar 15 - Scenic State Park (Bigfork):
Evening[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
The snow was wet and heavy when I was out. There are no bare spots. The track varies from shallow to nice and deep due to how the snow compacted.
(Alan Dettmer) -
Mar 14 - Portage Park (Cohasset):
Morning[ Trails Open: All ]Secondhand
Portage was groomed and tracked on in the morning.
(Stephanie Kessler) -
Mar 14 - Blackwater Environmental Area (Cohasset):
Morning[ Trails Open: All ]Grooming
Trails were groomed and tracked on in the morning.
(Stephanie Kessler) -
Mar 14 - Bird Lake Trail (Hoyt Lakes):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
I skied the Bird Lake Trail and it was groomed Monday right after a snow during the weekend. Excellent conditions. Thanks for the efforts of the Laurentian District grooming crew!
(Mark Roalson) -
Mar 14 - Mount Itasca (Coleraine):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Powder conditions in mid-March. The truth cannot be controversial. I skated, but the tracks were also in excellent shape. Still a soft track since the last snow, so be prepared for a strenuous workout.
Photos:
(Jeff Pesta) -
Mar 14 - Big Aspen Recreation Area (Virginia):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
Nicely groomed from recent snow. Conditions vary as you move in and out of the heavily forested areas. Today, it was on the edge of Klister conditions. Beautiful skiing. One small section of trail is shut down for logging.
Photos:
(Rob Kopp) -
Mar 14 - Forest History Center (Grand Rapids):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
Most of the system is soft but lovely. A few south-facing sections are icy from snow falling from trees. There's one bit before the second bridge that wasn't groomed (groomer issues), but we bushwhacked to connect the trail.
Photos:
(Bryan French) -
Mar 14 - Sugar Hills (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
10" of new drifting snow took three days of rolling, packing, and grooming to set skate lane and track (except Atomic Run). Trails in very good condition. Thanks Ken V for your help and all the other groomers out there in snow land.
(Boomer Moritko) -
Mar 14 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
All trails north of Orange Lake Road groomed and track set. The one short trail on the east side of the north end of the chain of lakes (Beaver) I didn't do because I didn't get that packed prior. Lots of fresh snow. There was however some very serious drifting, but all and all it came out fine. Running the system first was a must so one could groom without getting stuck. (And still did). Nice sunny day! Please get out and enjoy the skiing, as there probably will not be but a couple weeks left of the snow.
(Dale Juntunen) -
Mar 13 - Blueberry Hills (Deer River):
Morning[ Trails Open: Partial ]Observation
Prelude loops groomed and tracks set. Snow conditions were perfect midday where I had been skiing north of Marcell. I was too tired to ski again at Blueberry, but grooming looked good.
(Catherine McLynn) -
Mar 13 - Trout Lake Recreation Area (Grand Rapids):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Incredible touring conditions with plenty of snow, yet solid pole plants! Great weather to take the time to soak in the beauty. The occasional drifting was easily worked around.
Photos:
(Jeff Pesta) -
Mar 13 - Mount Itasca (Coleraine):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Freestyle
Great skating on new corduroy. Others were skiing classic in the firm tracks. A few sections are not groomed but fun to ski down in the fresh powder. Enjoy the excellent skiing while it lasts!
Photos:
(Catherine McLynn) -
Mar 13 - Suomi Hills (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: Most, ]Grooming
Groomed south Suomi trail along with Amen. About 6 inches of fresh snow. Tried to do it in one pass, but the drifts along Hill lake got me. Didn't do the connecting trail to the orange lake road, just went around Big Horn lake.
(Randy Zupan) -
Mar 13 - Amen Lake (Grand Rapids):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Groomed amen lake trail and south Suomi. About 6 inches of fresh snow. Did it in one pass, but the drifts along long lake by the bridge, got me stuck. Better to go south along long lake so you're going up the hill at the end rather than down. Pretty rough in that area.
(Randy Zupan) -
NewMar 22 - Flathorn-Gegoka Trails (Isabella):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Well, the ski conditions today were much better than my expectations were anticipating. About 2 inches of heavy snow fell last night and into today covering the tracks. But while not a fast ski, the snow did not stick to my wax-able skies and slid easily through the newly fallen snow. If you pick a not-so-sunny part of the day the stick factor seems to be tolerable. Spring skiing with over 3 feet of base has arrived.
Photos:
(Nancy Schultz) -
Mar 21 - Flathorn-Gegoka Trails (Isabella):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Amazing day skiing around lakes and through the woods on wonderfully groomed trails. I especially appreciated the maps at every intersection we came to. A few slick spots around flathorn lake but pretty minimal. One downhill area required a short walk on the side of the trail as it was a bit steep. You can see in the photo just how deep the snow is as only half a leg is shown above the snow. The eastern loop section with three river crossings was pristine! We skied a little faster when we saw the huge claw marks in the track. See pic.
Photos:
(Karla Anderson) -
Mar 20 - Flathorn-Gegoka Trails (Isabella):
Afternoon[ ]Firsthand: Classic
All trails groomed - track set - this afternoon. We have a cold night coming so the tracks should set up nicely. Base has grown up to about 2 1/2 feet minimum now. With the big snow dump we had last week and logistics of getting packing and grooming done, we have ended up with narrower widths to the trails than we would like - in other words, the trails are just the width of our groomer. The only places this will pose a challenge is on the hills where it will be a little narrow to snowplow or herring bone. So, until we widen trails, consider taking your skis off to walk down the bigger hills.
Photos:
(Mary Shedd, Friends Of Flathorn Gegoka Trails) -
Mar 19 - Flathorn-Gegoka Trails (Isabella):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Spring skiing has arrived. After 10 inches of pretty light snow on Saturday, our groomers were able to pack all the trails on Sunday. We tried to then set track later in the day and due to soft snow in one area of the trail, the snowmachine got stuck and had to postpone tracking of the remainder of the trails. We did go on a nice long ski on the packed trails and experienced true spring conditions. Sometimes it was a reasonable glide and other times it was sticking to the bottom of the skies regardless if there were waxless or waxable skis. However, the waxable skis seem to perform much better. The dogs loved the conditions because the packed trail was perfect for them to stay on top without too many difficulties. All of us still enjoyed being outdoors on a beautiful winter sunny day. Grooming plans: We hope to set track on Wednesday.
Photos:
(Nancy Schultz) -
Mar 17 - Flathorn-Gegoka Trails (Isabella):
Evening[ Trails Open: All, ]Observation
Trails are not groomed, though there is a firm base under new snow. Over the last few days we have gotten 12-15" of new snow. Soonest we can get out to pack and trackset is Sunday. This could be the weekend to get out on your touring skis or even snowshoes and slow down, break trail and have a sense of wilderness and quiet. Bring your dogs! (And clean up after them!).
(Mary Shedd, Friends Of Flathorn Gegoka Trails) -
Mar 15 - Hidden Valley Ski Trails (Ely):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: Most, ]Firsthand: Classic
Hey it's spring skiing and you watch the clock and watch the thermometer and take your chances and some days you might just have perfect conditions. This wasn't quite one of those days. Classic skied Bambas and Sommer loops with fishscales. The track was deep and firm, and snow conditions ranged from clumpy and slow to icy and fast, depending on sun exposure and how used the trail was.
(Andrew Slade) -
Mar 14 - Howard Wagoner Trail (Tower):
Afternoon[ Trails Open: All, ]Firsthand: Classic
Great day on these trails. Was surprised to see that they had just been groomed as some are not doing that due to forecast. Have to remember to send in my $10 membership donation to the club so they can show support for the trail in order to get more trail pass money. Today alone was worth $10!
(Mark Peil) -
Mar 13 - Howard Wagoner Trail (Tower):
Evening[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Trails were groomed today. Great base layers and some fresh snow. Lighted trail is in good condition, if someone is interested in going out with the warmer evening temps. Enjoy!
(Aaron Kania) -
Mar 18 - Tilson Creek Ski Trail (International Falls):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Yes, more snow, dense white snow. We rolled yesterday and groomed with both Ginzus today in chilly windy conditions. Everything looks good, no rocks showing for now. Is this the end?
Photos:
(Burgess Eberhardt) -
Mar 17 - Manka Trail (International Falls):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
5" snow overnight. Windy conditions caused some drifting on the west side. The last couple of snowfalls have brought us to our yearly average of 65" and created great March ski conditions. Skate lane and tracks are perfect with nice temps for the next few days! Get out and enjoy while it lasts.
(Steve Johnson) -
Mar 13 - Tilson Creek Ski Trail (International Falls):
Morning[ Trails Open: All, ]Grooming
Beautiful day! Cold! We pulled both Ginzus on all trail sections this morning, and although the skate lane on the Green wasn't perfect, everything else looks great.
Photos:
(Burgess Eberhardt)
