Happy New Year from Maplelag! Gorgeous day on the trails to send of 2020. Trails are near tip top shape after 10" of snow this week and daily grooming. We have been grooming during each snow event while there is good moisture in the snow making the most with the snow and enhancing the base. At dusk I skate skied all the skate trails and enjoyed being only the second skier on the North Loup. A check of the tracks on random trails found the cuts in good shape. Outer trails seeing lot less traffic and only one skier had been on Roy's Run today after being groomed in the morning. Should be great skiing in the morning. We have 15km groomed skate only, 25km groomed double track classic, 18km groomed singletrack classic and 10km is ungroomed for adventure skiing with a skier made track. We are pacing the grooming to provide authentic cross country skiing versus immediate "hard" conditions.
Grooming plans: All skate trails will be restructured in the morning and the more used double track trails will be reconstructed. Daily grooming will continue on trails as needed until Monday. Although we will be closing for lodging January 4th-14th, trails will be open daily for use with no lodge services. Grooming will occur when needed to maintain best conditions possible. Park in far parking lot where porta bathrooms exist, purchase pass online.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Another dusting of light fluffy snow this morning accumulating to an inch or so after a couple of dry inches yesterday. We continue to groom daily. Today we combed all the skate only trails (15km) and Suicide Hill. We also reset all the double track classic trails (25km). The singletrack classic only trails (15km) were left alone with the previously machine groomed set tracks being "skied in". There is also 10km of ungroomed trail designated "adventure skiing". Conditions have been improving daily with the light dustings and skiing has been reported "good" to "great". Still a few areas of thin cover etc. to watch out for otherwise very good skiing.
Grooming plans: We plan to groom in the afternoon tomorrow, anticipating new snow and grooming while it snows. If no new snow, we will touch up on select trails.
Operating plans: Lodging and take out food package in place until January 3rd. Lodging or lodge services not available January 4-13, opening on the 14th again. Day use of trails open will be available but no lodge services.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

I did both classic and skate skiing this morning. When I arrived there was about 1 new inch of snow. I was able to ski before and after grooming. The conditions are much improved since I skied the same trails two days ago. Conditions are very close to good skis. It was another beautiful morning at Maplelag!

Photos:

(Tom Dooher)

15km groomed skate only trails. 35km classic only trails, 25km double, 10km singletrack. Rest of trails packed or skier made track. Beautiful frosty day, sunshine peaking out on occasion and ideal temps making for a great day on the trails. We set an additional trail with double track today, Rootin Tootin. We also set intermittent track on two of the singletrack classic trails, Wavy Gravy and Roy's Run. Those trails need a bit more more snow to have better conditions but skiable with caution. We also touched up the skaters waltz. A afternoon ski found the trails holding out well with the skier traffic today. Rootin Tootin skied nice despite a few rough spots. I was using C skis to play it safe. Temps were perfect and no wind made for a awesome outing.
Grooming plans: We plan to groom the skate trails in the morning. If more than 1" of new snow, select classic trails will be reset.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

I skied both classic and skate this morning. The classic trail was above average for the total number of inches received at Maplelag so far this season. There were a few spots where I had to jump from one track to the next to avoid a couple of rough spots, but for the most part it was very good. Sukkerbusk trail was in excellent condition while Sap Run and Twin lakes were a little more exposed in a few areas. It was about 6 degrees when I started and the tracks were firm and fast. I skied the entire Skaters Waltz loop and it was soft, but very skiable the entire way around.

Photos:

(Tom Dooher)

Merry Christmas from Maplelag! We were out in the morning cleaning up the trails in double digit negative temps and resetting double track after the storm finally settled down. We reset tracks on almost 25km of trail including Mother North Star for first time track setting. Temp didn't climb above 0 but brilliant sunshine and light winds made for great skiing in the afternoon. Tracks had firmed up nicely and the base was firm thanks to packing during the storm the day before. Skating is still a bit soft and slow but should improve with warmer temps, skier traffic and more grooming. Grooming plans: We will be out in the morning Saturday setting additional new track and touching up the skate only trails. Plan to have nearly 40km of classic only trail by noon Saturday.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Another full day of grooming, packing the new snow as it fell on over 50km of trail. Later in the day after packing we set track on Sap Run, Mother Hen, Sukkerbusk, JibFly and Twin Lakes ski trails for a total of 15km of track set. Most trails just one track but double track set on select segments. We didn't set track in a few of the thinner areas and hit the ground in a few spots but with most of the trails designated double track, ample space to ski around the thin areas and overall good to very good early season skiing. A classic ski after grooming found the tracks setting up hard, and as expected, blown over in a few spots. We will ski in the set tracks the next few days and should be good skiing once the weather settles out. We'll be back out in the morning to touch up a few trails and continue with daily grooming through the Holidays as needed.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

A very nice day of skiing. Temp stayed below 32 and the snow was silky and smooth. Classic skied on Sukkerbusk than switched to skate skis and skated on Skaters and the extension. Although no tracks set, skiing was still very nice. Skating bit softer today but still very good early season skiing. Few dark and rough spots easily avoided. We packed on Roy's Run this morning, skiable and a few more inches we will set track. The groomer's are ready for a full day of grooming tomorrow! We will try setting track on select trails where possible.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Good to very good early season conditions. 3" of dense snow the past 24 hours. We started packing last night as the snow started to fall than stopped when temp climbed to 34. Packing while snow was at the highest moisture content last night would pay dividends today as the temp fell throughout the day to the mid teens boning up the snow nicely. This morning we resumed grooming and worked on the entire trail system except two trails for a total of 53km of trail groomed. After grooming I skated to check conditions on Skaters Waltz, the extension and part of North Loup. Ran in to some other skiers and reports were good. I was using B skis, expecting some possible damage but easily avoided the few areas of issue. To be safe, C skis might be best if you don't want to risk scratching your B skis. I would say there is at least 20-25km you could use B skis. With slightly warmer temps, we will not groom on any of the trails groomed today but work on the remaining two trails not groomed today (Roy's Run and Bullhead).

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Couple more light dustings of snow this week. Most recent grooming Thursday the 18th, roll combing same trails groomed earlier in the week (Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Suicide Hill and Skaters Waltz). Jonell and I skied on the above trails this afternoon to check conditions and also ventured on the scenic and isolated Bullhead lake accessed from the bottom of Suicide Hill. Beautiful sunshine and perfect temps made for a very nice outing even though the snow cover is thin. We still need a few more inches of snow until we feel comfortable opening the trails to the public. Hopefully on Monday!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)