A great weekend of textbook spring skiing on 100% perfectly seasoned corn snow based. We didn't have any precipitation. Freezing nights and sunshiny days. We are extending the season until tomorrow at 6pm, closing for a few days and possibly reopening later in the week if the forecasted snow event materializes midweek. This evening we groomed on Rooting Tootin renovating, leveling and setting new double track and grooming Skaters Waltz setting new structure. Recommended trails for Monday skiing include the above mentioned and also North Loup for both skate and classic.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Very nice morning of spring skiing on both trail and crust cruising on ponds etc. Morning low at 13 degrees freezing the corn snow base down hard. Texture on skate lanes on Skaters Waltz and North Loup holding out well after Tuesday nights grooming. Tracks still holding definition from most recent grooming as well. After mostly colder weather this week the week, warmer weather looks to move in for rest of week and weekend, best skiing will be in the morning hours. Trails will remain open for local skiers until Sunday at 6pm. Lodge is closed, no services, no restrooms available. Trail fee waived. Park 10 feet apart and ski.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Trails remain open at this time. At this time we plan to be open until March 29th at 6pm but subject to change and close without notice based on the COVID-19 situation. Please park at least 10 feet away from other cars. The lodge is closed and no services are available. We have been seeing 10-15 skiers a day, all local skiers that live within 1 hour and want to remain open for these folks looking to restore mental health, etc. We are waiving the trail fee. We are not encouraging skiers to come from far distances to ski. Thanks for everyone's understanding on this.
The skiing has slowed down with warm temps and Sunday's fresh snow but should transform nicely today with the warm weather. There is still good coverage on all the trails with a corn snow base that is better to ski on when temps warm. A ski on Bullhead lake trail early this morning found nice skiing on Sunday's fresh snow that was still dry. A check of the skate trails found nice conditions than slowed down when it warmed up. Recommended classic trails to ski include Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Mother North Star, JibFly, North Loup and Twin Lakes. Skating on Skaters Waltz and North Loup. Next grooming run will be skate only (either Tuesday or Wednesday) Fat biking is limited to the mornings provided it has frozen down the night before.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

2-3” fresh fluffy snow overnight. Grooming skate trails this morning and resetting tracks on select classic trails. A great day of skiing Saturday on fast spring conditions. Had more fat bikers out enjoying the best conditions of the season. Crust riding was phenomenal. Skiing will slow down this afternoon when temps warm the snow but should be fantastic until that point.

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Light dusting of new snow with some drizzle the past 24 hours. 22 degrees at 5:30. Good to excellent spring conditions. Late morning as temp was starting to drop, we went out grooming setting new track on Sap Run, Sukkebusk, JibFly, Rootin Tootin, Twin Lakes and North Loup. Skaters Waltz, Single Green and Suicide Hill skate lanes renovated and combed. We went out for a ski on Sap Run and Mother North Star late afternoon and found fantastic conditions. The thin layer of new snow on well defined tracks that had transformed and starting to glaze made for really nice glide and control. Sap Run was a bit faster after the grooming. The base was still soft (which allowed a check of the base estimated at 12-14" on average) but temps near or below zero will freeze everything down again hard tonight. The recently groomed skate lane was starting to set up. North Loup skate lane should have a velcro like surface on smooth flat deck. Crust skiing on Skaters extension for a third condition option. Fat bike trails will freeze down tonight and be very good riding all day Friday and Saturday. Sunday best to get out before 1pm. The trails remain open until Sunday 7pm. Lodge is locked and closed. No trail fee. Park and ski. No restroom facilities. No services. Trails will be closing at 7pm on Sunday. Please practice all the measures that have been discussed to keep everyone safe and healthy. Thank you and enjoy.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

1-2" new snow past 24 hours. This afternoon as temp was dropping, we groomed the skate lanes on Skaters Waltz and North Loup, mixing the transformed snow with the freshly fallen snow. The sun was out off and on softening the south facing areas but temp and sun dropped tightening up the deck up at dusk. We squeegee groomed the tracks on Sap Run with good results and decided to leave the rest of the tracked trails until Wednesday. At dusk we skied hitting up the fresh skate lanes, the groomed tracks, the untouched tracks with fresh snow and enjoyed the fresh powder on Suicide Hill. Awesome skiing for mid March. Temps look to be in single digits tonight making for really nice skiing tomorrow. Trails are open. Lodge is closed (locked/no services) -- Park and ski. Trail pass is waived. We want to offer a outside alternative that keeps in line with safe social distancing.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Sub freezing temps keeping the snow hard and fast. A bit of softening from the sun for a small window of sweet spot skiing in the afternoon. At dusk, we skied on the recently groomed trails. Solid well defined tracks, very fast! Checked the skate lane and was level and holding good structure. Recent grooming holding out well on other trails. Should be another nice day Sunday and maybe a bit of fresh snow in the afternoon. Outside the groomed trails, the crust skiing (and biking) has been incredible. Fat bike singletrack loops remain in some of the best condition of the season. Trails will remain open until snow is gone. We are waiving the trail fee. Ski at own risk, assume responsibility. Lodge, lodging, and guest services in the lodge have ceased for the season.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

A textbook spring day with a short burst of heavy snow in the morning, clearing with sunshine than clouding up again and temps dropping back down to the 20's. This afternoon during the transition period, we groomed setting new track on Mother Hen, Poki Loki, and Mother North Star. Skaters Waltz was also groomed for skate only. Trails groomed earlier in the week still have great track definition and skied very nice in the afternoon with the fresh snow when the temp was dropping. Other trails offering a variety of conditions for all tastes. With cooler temps on tap Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, should be some nice late season skiing. Unfortunately, the lodge is now closed for the season with no lodging, guest services and no ski rental. The trails are open for ski and fat bike use at no charge, use at own risk, assume responsibility, no emergency service available.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

A textbook day of spring skiing. Another hard freeze last night had the trails hard and fast this morning than gradually warmed up to the 30's softening the corn snow just the right amount for bit better control but still great glide. Really nice spring skiing in the afternoon. We touched up Skaters Waltz at the transition time and was setting up again nicely at dusk when things were freezing down. Little change in the tracks from last report and should be a good rest of the week and weekend for skiing. With cooler temps forecasted, conditions could be a bit faster unless we get some snow tonight/tomorrow. Grooming on select trails tomorrow and Friday planned.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Temps in the single digits last night froze the base down rock solid. A skiff of new snow early this morning before clearing off to a bluebird day. The trails groomed yesterday stayed fast all day today with temps staying below 20 and made for really fun skiing if comfortable with speed. The skaters I talked to said both Skaters Waltz and North Loup skied nice. More texture on Skaters with just enough give for edging. North Loup will be good to ski earlier with a smooth flat base, not much structure than Skaters later when starts to warm up. Also in the mix are lakes and fields for crust skiing! The crust is perfect now and should be great in the mornings all this week, into the weekend. Trails not recently groomed/tracked still have some definition and should be good skiing in the transition periods. The fat bike loops are in incredible shape. Please ride before temp hits 32 degrees or before noon for good measure. Touch up grooming on select trails most likely later in the week.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)