Reset track this morning on Sap Run,JibFly, Sukkebusk and also set new track on Mother Hen, Poki Loki and Mother North Star for a total of 13km track set. Everything is setting up firm making it easier to set track now which bodes well for additional trail to be tracked next week. Skaters Waltz was roll combed. Although the air temp was colder today, feels a bit warmer with sunshine and subsiding winds. Classic skied a few trails in the afternoon and found real nice skiing. The bottom of the track is transformed frozen granulated snow (hardsugar) and glides much better in colder weather providing windblown snow abides. Good to see a few other folks out as well.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Great day on the trails! Awesome seeing so many people out, even though we hovered around -5 all day with a little wind. Getting very close to mid winter conditions. Another 1-2" of snow the past 24 hours, bit more snow on the northwest part of the trail system. Out grooming today as planned and did a bit more than expected. Started the day setting a new track on Sukkebusk than roll combed about 40-45km of trail. Finished the grooming day cutting another track on Sukkerbusk and a track on Sap Run and JibFly. Skied at dusk and found really nice conditions considering we have 4-5" of snow depth in the woods. The compacted base is 2-3". There are some scattered grassy areas at bottom of tracks, maybe a small rock here and there but I had no issue. The skate decks groomed up very nice and we now have all the skate trails open. If particular on scratching B skis, I would recommend early season/rock/stick skis on North Loup.
Grooming plans: Will be back out in the morning resetting new track if much drifting/blowing snow and combing out the skate lanes for sure on 15km.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

We groomed much of the trail system after the most recent dusting, roll packing with the roller and combing with the Ginzu. We set a hasty track on 80% of Sukkerbusk. All 65km of trail are open but recommend skating on Skaters Waltz and the extension and Sukkerbusk and Wavy Gravy for classic. Early season conditions. Use a little extra caution on the outer trails, especially on the downhills. Bullhead is only trail not groomed yet but open for bushwhacking adventures. Entire 25km Fat Bike trail groomed again this afternoon. Grooming plans: We plan to be back out in the morning if any new snow and will try to set more track if conditions allow.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Just under 2" of new snow today. After a couple more pickup loads of snow to the trails in the morning, we started grooming in the afternoon and continued into the evening as the temperature dropped nearly 20 degrees. A good time to groom to get the most out of the snow and have it firm up! The new snow improved the conditions and reports from late afternoon skiers were "better than yesterday". We also completed grooming the remainder of the fat bike trails. Grooming plans: We will be back out in the morning packing and combing on 60km of the trail system and will try to set track on at least Sukkerbusk. Friday we will groom the 25km of fat bike trail again.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

No new snow the past 24 hours other than a coating of beautiful frost that glistened as it fell thanks to brilliant sunshine today. We completed packing and combing on 60 of 65km of the trail system this week and a little touch up grooming on the trails that are open for skiing. (The gates are shut on the north and west side of the trail systems as we wait for another inch or so to open them). We also groomed the back bowl/sledding hill and groomed a small loop on the lake with a track set and groomed 22 of 25km of fat bike trail today. The organic snow guns have also been fired up this week, hauling 10 pick up loads to Skaters Waltz/Section course. Skied the areas we worked on this afternoon and conditions greatly improved on the Kamikaze hill/climb out of Bullhead bay segment. Grooming plans: We will haul a few more loads tomorrow and be ready to pack in any new snow that falls. Best skiing remains on Skaters Waltz for skating and Sukkebusk for no track set classic skiing.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

We had a nice day of early season skiing under beautiful sunshine and crisp temperatures. Last night Sukkerbusk and Skaters Waltz were groomed again and set up firmly with morning lows near 0. Reports from the skiers on these trails were good, considering how thin the base is and there is only 3" of snow depth in the woods. We spent most of the day packing and clearing deadfall on the western trails. These trails are closed until a bit more snow. Tomorrow we plan to pack and clear the northern trails. Trails remain open with no track classic skiing on Sukkerbusk and skating on Skaters Waltz. Recommended to use Sap Run as a connector on Skaters Waltz to bypass the rough downhill to Bullhead Bay. Please do not skate on other trails so we can open the classic only trails after the next snowfall.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Around 2" of new snow overnight. We groomed 5km last night after the first inch had fallen and back out this morning grooming the same 5km and a few other trails for a total of 15km of grooming. The 5km we groomed last night is open for early season skiing starting this afternoon. Recommended to use early season skis. The 5km includes the east side of Skaters Waltz segments using Sap Run as a connector. Also most of Sukebusk for no track classic skiing is skiable. No tracks set, watch for rough spots, thin cover etc.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Freezing mist most of the day glazed the coverage that exists on the trails. Late afternoon I skate skied Skaters Waltz and a few other shorter trails flicking off sticks. The glide was great on the very thin base. Still not enough snow to groom or open but we are ready to groom any new snow that falls this weekend. The lake skiing has improved and trails remain open for hiking and biking until new snow.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

It snowed most of the day today which lifted the spirits of everyone at Maplelag today. The dusting of fluff snow improved the skiing on the lake as the teams staying at the resort practiced on technique in snow squalls. We traversed as much of the trail system as we could today clearing windblown and deadfall from the most recent wind and ice store over Christmas time. At dusk I took a lap around the lake on skate skis, 80% had decent coverage and adequate edging, icy on the other 20%. I also took a few laps on our solar powered lit natural snow farm loop (environmentally friendly and healthy to participants my friend in Ironwood, MI. would say) Was barely skiable, downhill segment was best but not enough new snow to groom and open. Forecast is looking better for possible snow, grooming and skiing. Think snow and stay tuned!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Happy New Year from Maplelag! A beautiful frosty morning enveloping the trails. The trails are still awaiting more snow to groom (we did groom a small loop after the last snowfall) but are open for hiking, biking and exploring to guests staying at the resort. We have also been skating on the lake. We skied last night for New Years and found best coverage on the far west and east sides. Middle was interesting.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)