Skaters Waltz is very skiable. The fresh snow helped clean the surface up. Because the base is so deep, the deck is still very level. A few small areas with sunburn or maybe wind burn creating 'snowless shiny spots easily seen and easily avoided. We didn't ski North Loop, but ran into two friends that had just done do. Both reported good skiing, with the one usual quick to show ground area. Avoidance by a short walk seemed to be in order. We ventured onto a small pond for crusting. Plans are to check out the N Loop ponds this week. Temperatures and conditions look promising for a great week of Springtime frolicking.

Photos:

(Denny Barry)

Groomers were greeted to temps in the teens this morning and worked over the skate lanes on North Loup and Skaters Waltz. Deck groomed out nice and good day of skiing. Tracks that were reset yesterday have some wind blown snow but still some good skiing were full and defined. Sun is strong and softening even with cold temps. Looks like even a colder evening and should freeze everything down and be good for Sunday skiing. Use caution on thin areas and one short bare spot on North Loup otherwise good late March skiing.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

North loup is open and groomed. Has snow covering trail. Trail is wide, has tracks for classic on right then just snow groomed on left. Woods blocked most of wind so trail is very consistent with snow cover. Can use left path going down hills. Not a lot of ice for this time of year Rare for late March.

Photos:

(Todd Paulson)

A return to wintry weather with temps in the 20's this morning and light snow falling. Around an inch of snow this morning. The colder temps setting up the existing base hard. Wind not as noticeable in the woods. Skate skied Skaters Waltz and North Loup before grooming and the new snow took off the hardness and providing a improvement in the skiing. After skiing went out and groomed, setting a new track on the east side of Sukkerbusk and all of North Loup (on the side and) and combing the skate lane on east side of Skaters Waltz. Saturday morning we will groom the skate lane on North Loup and the remainder of Skaters Waltz, (minus the Kamikaze segment). With cooler temps in the forecast, everything should set up hard. Classic tracks might be icy, skate deck should ski well. No trail fee being assessed the remainder of the season.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Hard freeze and clearing overnight set up for a really nice morning of skiing on the remaining snow base. Skaters reported good conditions despite some ruts to navigate that froze from yesterday afternoon skiers. Skied with my mom on Sukkerbusk at the transition and was really nice skiing. Sun was incredible and coverage was good. Bright conditions always makes things look better. Got bit warmer today with rain moving in this evening. Snow and colder temps forecasted in the morning. Tentatively planning to groom the east side of Sukkerbusk, Skaters Waltz condensed loop and North Loup both skate in classic in the morning, if conditions allow.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Last night's groomed segments glazed over nicely and provided some good late season classic skiing this morning on the groomed trail, east side Sukkebusk and North Loup. No new snow at Maplelag but the corn snow, albeit a bit dirty, providing good skiing as the temps climbed back above freezing today. Ended the ski with a little bit of fun pond skiing even though our pond had drained off a bit. Grooming/operating plans: No grooming on tap until either Friday or Saturday, depending on any new snow. We plan to stay open through the weekend then close the trails Sunday at dusk.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

No new snow past 24 hours, a hour of light rain last night. Cooled down early morning to lightly glaze the trails. Skated the open skate trails around noon, a bit soft but the creamy corn snow provided nice glide. Evening groom on the condensed loop of Skaters Waltz (4km) and the entire North Loup combing out the skate lane and resetting a track. Things are winding down, but still should have a few more days of ok skiing. No grooming planned on Wednesday, possibly Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Didn't freeze overnight as expected making for a short window of fast skiing in the morning. Skated the open skate trails, was definitely slower but so nice to be out in spring weather. Late afternoon groomed all of Sukkerbusk (definitely last time grooming the west side) and the condensed loop of Skaters Waltz. Early evening Jonell and I classic skied Sukkerbusk. The fresh grooming was really nice. Fast glide, silky smooth corn snow albeit a bit dirty. Light rain moving in this evening, maybe switching to snow...could be interesting in the morning! Looks to be cooler tomorrow and we will plan to groom (unless conditions warrant otherwise) the condensed loop of Skaters Waltz, the east side of Sukkerbusk for track and North Loup for both skate and classic.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Another glorious day of spring skiing! We were a little bit cooler overnight than forecasted and froze down hard extending the sweet spot skiing a bit longer today. Lots of happy skiers today enjoying the brilliant sunshine and pleasant temps. Skied all the classic trails around 10, Twin Lakes was super fun fast than softened up quickly on North Loup but still great glide thanks to the corn snow surface. The snow is dirty but skiing surprisingly well thanks to the tracks being clean on the bottom. Didn't plan on grooming today but with the deep base of snow and good coverage, but went out late afternoon and early evening setting new track on Sukkerbusk than combing out the skate lanes on Skaters Waltz and North Loup. Also dropped a fresh track on the side of North Loup. Doesn't look to cool down as much tonight. Most likely see just a surface glaze this evening and be a small window of fast skiing tomorrow. Not sure what the weather will bring the next 48 but will groom if meaningful and keep riding this spring skiing wave as long as possible! Moving forward the trails we will be focusing on will be the east side of Sukkerbusk to North Loup for classic and Skaters Waltz and North Loup for skate. The "Kamikaze" segment on skaters will mostly likely be closed after tomorrow. Use Sap Run connector to make loop of Skaters Waltz.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Awesome morning of spring skiing! Got out a bit later than I wanted but still caught a hour of primo creamy corn skate skiing. Conditions were fast but just enough loose for perfect edging. Skaters Waltz was especially firm from the late afternoon grooming yesterday and setting up nicely overnight with temps in the 20's under a beautiful "sugar/crust" moon. The area lakes were fantastic crust skiing for the first time this year and surprisingly, the edges as well. After the skate, Jonell and I had the opportunity to take some first time skiers out classic skiing. The tracks were just softening up and even at noon were well defined and great skiing on the corn snow. Skin skis worked perfectly. Grooming plans: We won't be grooming this evening or in the morning but the grooming from yesterday should hold fine overnight and set up with low's forecasted to be in the low 20's again. Best skiing tomorrow will be in the 830-1030am window. The only thin area I noticed was at the bottom of the hill to Twin Lakes. Everything else has excellent coverage with 1-2 feet of snow on North Loup still. Enjoy!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)