Light dusting of dry snow and fresh groomed tracks made skiing OxCart and Bear Cub perfect. Poplar Creek trail was different with windswept areas, areas with the light fresh snow, and areas with snow drifted into tracks. All areas have a base of more than a foot of packed dry snow and deep well set tracks. Temperatures were at about 20 degrees for the afternoon.

Photos:

(Bobbie Gostout)

Tracks are deep and well set. Most parts of the trails are wind protected. I skied OxCart and Bear Cub. Both were perfect and had seen only light use before I got out there. Note: In these evergreens, birch, and aspen woods there is no issue with late-dropping oak leaves littering the trails - a real bonus!

Photos:

(Bobbie Gostout)

Deep tracks on a deep base with 2 1/2 inches of fresh dry snow on top. The skate trails look perfect too. I skied OxCart, beaver dam, logging road, cross fox, ridge run, and moose pasture. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful ski. Thanks to the Bearskin and Golden Eagle staff groomers for expert grooming!

Photos:

(Bobbie Gostout)

Pristine conditions at Golden Eagle Lodge and the Central Gunflint trails this morning. There were about two inches or so of new snow, but the trails had already been groomed for both skate and classic. The classic tracks were well formed and perfect, and so was the skate deck. It's so beautiful up here with fresh snow hanging on all the pine boughs, and the lake vistas and deep woods views are always amazing. Many thanks to Ruth, Zach, and the Baumann family for another great day on the trails.

Photos:

(Bill Lundberg)

Everything was groomed fresh again this morning after 2 more inches of fresh snow! Great skiing out there!

(Zach Baumann, Golden Eagle Lodge)

Groomed everything this morning after some fresh fluffy snow last night! Trails groomed up great - wonderful conditions out there!

Photos:

(Zach Baumann, Golden Eagle Lodge)

We groomed everything this afternoon - the trails turned out great! The base is very firm with the cold temps but folks are still able to get good bite skate skiing. Classic tracks set deep and solid. The lake crossings and skijoring trail were also groomed.

(Zach Baumann, Golden Eagle Lodge)

First time visiting this system. Amazing. Grooming was impeccable, scenery was gorgeous, and the staff at the Bearskin Lodge were super accommodating. So many trail option in terms of length and difficulty. Just a great day of skiing.

Photos:

(Pete Wurl)

Excellent conditions again this morning, with the bonus of sun and blue sky. This offset the -18F temperature and breeze. The trails we skied, Beaver Dam and Ridge Run, had been groomed this morning and were again in perfect condition. And we could see that some of the other connecting trails had been groomed this morning as well.

Photos:

(Craig Wiklund, North Star Ski Touring Club)

Groomed trails again this morning! Logging Camp, Red Pines, Cross Fox, Moose Ridge, Deer Mouse, Cabin Loop, Beaver Dam, Ridge Run, North-South Link. Cold day today but beautiful conditions! Trails groomed up great! Averaging about 10" of trail base throughout the trail system - nearly 20 inches of snow has already fallen in January!

(Zach Baumann, Golden Eagle Lodge)