Started at the snowmobile trailhead off Hwy 61. Classic skied up the Pioneer Loop, over to Deeryard, around Deeryard and Short Loops and back down the other side of Pioneer Loop. Temps had been above freezing all morning and were in the 40's even up on Deeryard. But the skate deck was solid and starting to soften from frozen granular. The tracks were glazed at first and varied in depth and firmness. As the afternoon progressed, they got softer, but remained intact. Skin skis were the ticket today due the variable conditions and the debris in the tracks which would gum up any klister layers. Plenty of snow but a refresh would be nice. Hope cooler weather will come soon.

(Tim Nelson)

Tried to classic ski the connector from Cascade to Caribou Trail, but the classic track on much of the connector had been trampled by fat bikes. Snow was fresh and grooming was old but the tracks where they existed were helpful. But the fat bikes tracks ruined the experience for me. Skiing was much better on the Massey and Hall loops where fat bikes are not allowed. They are allowed on the connector on an experimental basis, and based on what I experienced today, the experiment is not working.

(Tim Nelson)

Did a quick ski around Deeryard and Short loops. Tracks were in great shape and pole plants solid. Deck was firm with 2 inches of fluff in the non tracked lane. Some portions were snowshoed on and others had a second set of skier made tracks. Main track was great, kick and glide on VR30 was the ticket.

(Tim Nelson)

Skied the Deeryard-Firetower trails. Skier tracked over the last inch or two we had this morning. Easy to stay in the track. 29 degrees. Glide was great now that the temp improved. Stellar afternoon of skiing. Great trail!

(Ross Jacobsen)

Skied Deeryard up to the top of the main hill, then down the Short Loop and back to the parking lot. While grooming on the main trail was fine, Short Loop grooming was erratic, much caution needed to navigate the uneven base and wiggly track.

(Bill Schnell)

I skated the Pioneer and Deeryard Loops after a fresh grooming that dealt with very deep soft snow and a recent decision not to double track the system and open it to skating. The trail was not groomed wide enough to skate without skating over the classic tracks, but the deck was firm. In a effort not to break down the classic track I double poled in the track as much as possible. Outside pole plants were problematic in the soft snow, but the tracks were good. Next time back I will be in classic mode.

(Tim Nelson)

Tried to skate the Massie Hall loop from the Caribou Trail. Skate deck is very soft and roughed up with animal traffic, snowshoers, hikers, and on the connector, bikers. Skating was very difficult due the soft and rough condition of the skate lane. In addition, the heavy snow has left the skate lane narrower than usual and it was impossible to skate without impinging on the classic track. On the other hand, the classic track was in good shape and I double poled in it as much as I could. I strongly recommend using classic technique when skiing this loop until the skate deck is regroomed, firmed up, and made wider.

(Tim Nelson)

Classic skied the Hall-Massey loops in Lutsen. Lots of deer and wolf tracks! Great snow conditions, 20's after the last storm. Good set tracks and descent pole plants. Sunny and 28 degrees. Great skiing and will only get better as trails set up firm. The North Shore is in good snow shape for the winter. Magical!

(Ross Jacobsen)

Scheduling: A portion of system is closed this Saturday Jan 11 Fat Bike Norpine Race. Event will use Massie/Hall loops, Cascade connector and Pioneer/Deeryard Loops. OK to ski from Lutsen Ski Hill Road to Caribou CCH 4 and to Jonvick Creek, OK to Ski Whitesides area by Solbakken. Avoid the race area especially 10 am to 3 pm Saturday except to spectate. Trails will be regroomed post race. Trail signage in place at trailheads for limited winter fatbike access to Ski Hill Bike Loop, No Bikes in SNA or from SNA to CaribouCCH4. Bikes allowed conditions permitting on connector trail from Caribou CCH4 to Cascade Lodge. No bikes allowed on Massie/Hall, Pioneer/Deeryard except on race day.

(Elger Lorenzsonn)

Pioneer Loop and Ridge Run groomed. Trail depth ranges from 8" to 14". Deer Yard track in great condition, and plan to groom again this week.
Note: Norpine Trails will be closed to skiing on Saturday January 11th, as we host the 4th Annual Norpine Fat Tire Bike Race. This year the race has a new host location and will be run exclusively on Norpine Trail Association managed trails. Fat Tire biking on the Norpine Trail Association trails is still restricted outside of the race day to the connector trail between Cascade Lodge and Caribou Trail, when conditions allow.

(Thomas McAleer)