We received 3" of fluffy snow this morning after early morning lows in the single digits. We packed the early season loop, mainly to compress the snow on Suicide Hill that should stay through the warmer weather forecasted later this week. The ground has been freezing down and making good progress especially the past few days thanks to multiple nights in the single digits. The larger lakes also froze again. We need more snow before we can safely open the trails but always nice to see the trails covered in white.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

A spring like ski this morning on the early season 3km loop, first skating at the transition period than classic with Jonell when it softened a bit more, capped off a great end to the month of October skiing. The loop was still fully covered as of noon with a solid frozen deck. Suicide Hill hasn't changed much since the base froze down hard the beginning of the week. Yesterday we logged the last grooming of the month, roll packing a dusting of new snow on the early season 3km loop than combing after. The snow transformed during the day yesterday than froze making for nice glide surface this morning with the structure still holding out nicely on most of the loop. We were able to ski the most days ever in October with 13 skiable days and grooming 8 of those days. Thanks to everyone out that came to ski! Once the snow melts off completely and it dries out, we will resume fall grooming, touching up on the outer trails clearing leaves etc. Think Snow!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Trails open. 5km groomed skate. No tracks set. Morning low 14 degrees, overcast. Check of the trails this morning found a very skiable deck. Well used, bit hardpack with plenty of texture for good edging. Continued cold weather has frozen the base down even farther. The few low/soft areas are now frozen down rock hard. Just a few areas to watch out for for surface rocks, otherwise good to very good October skiing. Looks like we will having skiing all day today and for sure be open until noon tomorrow. Possible light snow could extend the early season skiing a few more days.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

The expected flurries overnight turned into a nice solid dusting this morning after the temp had hovered in the mid teens before hand. It was enough snow to groom as we structured the fresh snow on the existing groomed trail. We also added a few more segments to bring total km of trail groomed around 5.5km with a nice variety of terrain and scenery. The trails saw good use today with lots of happy skiers. The temps stayed in the mid 20's. The sun in between the snow squalls today ate out some snow in the south facing but overall the deck held out great on the groomed loop. We will be open again tomorrow and plan until noon on Tuesday then closing the trails until winter returns!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

22 degrees at 6pm, clear. A nice day of October skiing. Great seeing folks out, especially all the high school kids. Jonell and I went out for a ski at dusk to check the groomed loop and ski on random flatter non groomed segments. The temps stayed below 30 all day, we did have some welcomed beautiful sunshine that gently softened the base on the sun facing but did not ice the deck. The random ice patches on the groomed loop are from melting underneath than freezing on top. There were also a few thin/open areas but easy to avoid. Although the base is bit more compacted and the structure and texture not as evident, there is still some nice October skiing to be had. We will have the trails open again tomorrow. We will not be grooming again until more new snow. Chance of flurries this evening that could freshen the surface.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Unbelievable conditions for October 24th. It was 14F when I start at 7:45AM. I skated the 3K loop and also did some no track classic. A bit of ice on highly exposed sunny areas, but generally as good as it can be for this time of year! Thanks for grooming, Jay!

Photos:

(Tom Dooher)

3-4" of new snow past 24 hours. 10" new snow past 48 hours. 14" snow past seven days. 26 degrees at 8:00pm. Forecast low of 17 degrees, could get lower if clearing. 5km of groomed trail. Compacted base on groomed trail 1-4". Snow depth in woods 0-8". Good to excellent "October skiing conditions". Fair to poor on non groomed trails. Variable groomed surface of packed powder, icy sections, exposed rock/bare areas.
We have been grooming primarily on a 3km loop, sometimes multiple times during the day, since our snow event on October 20th. We have also been skiing, along with a handful of locals, 1-2 times a day. This mornings ski was incredible, in my opinion, for third week of October on the groomed areas. The ground is warm and melting underneath but a ski at dusk today to check conditions found the melting to be slowing down and the compacted base freezing down thanks to air temps in the 20's and dew points that have finally separated from the air temperature. We have been grooming when we feel the timing is right in effort to freeze the base down at various times of the day and evening. We do not plan on any more grooming with no snow in the forecast and do not want to risk making things worse. The trails remain open, recommended to ski on the groomed loop that has been maintained and cleared of any debris. The loop consist of the east side of Sukkerbusk and Skaters Waltz ski trails. Sap Run and Skinny Field for the connector to make the loop. Suicide Hill is also groomed. Only ski that hill if comfortable skiing straight down and turn right at bottom -- please no snow plowing to preserve the base. Folks have been venturing off on the other trails but extreme caution must be used. Ski at own risk and assume all responsibility. No lodge services or lodging, please purchase day pass online and just ski.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

4-5" of new snow as of 6pm, snow continuing to fall. 28 degrees. Good early season/rock skiing conditions on groomed loop. Fair to good bushwhack skiing on non groomed trails.
There was purpose to groom today with 4" of fresh snow, snow continuing to fall, existing snow coverage, partially frozen ground and sub freezing temps and more snow in the forecast. After sneaking in touch up fall grooming on Suicide Hill this morning, groomed a 3km loop after 3-4" had fallen including Suicide Hill. Roll-combed, no tracks set. Grooming went very well considering the ground is not frozen below the partial surface freeze. After it set up for a few hours, Jonell and I went out classic skiing on the groomed loop. For October it was fantastic skiing. Snow was dry and gliding very well. I was using good skin skis (B skis not rock skis) and had no issue. Just a few flat surface rocks that were exposed and easy to ski around. Will groom this loop again either tonight or tomorrow morning. There will be some obvious melting from underneath but should be enough coverage for some nice early season skiing the next week with cold temps in place. The trails will be open for skiing, no lodge or lodging services available for snow. Trail pass can be purchased online. Park and ski!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

3-5" of fresh snow was enough to get out for the first ski of the season! Typical early season skiing, always a blessing to ski anytime of the year. Up until today, we have been fall grooming daily from sun up to sun down clearing leaves as they have fallen in waves from the thick canopy forest at Maplelag. Thanks to a rather dry past 6 weeks, the trails are in some of the best condition ever for this time of year. Once the trails dry up, we will be back out fine tuning until the snow flies for real. Having a cleared deck allows the frost to set in faster and allows us to groom even just 2" of snow to prepare the base for the season. We will be open this upcoming winter season with a few changes due to COVID, obviously.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)