The snow squall that moved through last night has created a lot of local buzz. Why did everyone receive a emergency notification for this unique weather event and not others? Discussion continues but regardless we ended up grooming more than we planned with all inner classic only trails being groomed and outer trails Twin Lakes and North Loup. I skated this morning and was pretty slow going but relished the January like conditions in mid March. Grooming plans: All skate trails and classic trails Wavy Gravy on tap for Saturday morning grooming.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Another January like day made for consistent skiing all day. A sunset ski on the western freshly groomed classic trails capped off a nice day of grooming and fat biking. This evening we had a quick hitting mini blizzard with close to an inch of fresh snow. Grooming plans: Select ski trails on tap for grooming in the morning and the entire 25km fat bike loop will be groomed in the afternoon. Some trails not groomed might have tracks blown in and a few finger drifts in the open areas.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Incredible conditions for early March. Felt more like January this afternoon than March. An inch or so of new snow overnight. This morning we cut new track on Rootin Tootin and North Loup. Early evening we set new double track on Sap Run and Sukkebusk. We also continued work on the Bootleg fat bike singletrack today. Grooming plans: Skate trails, singletrack classic trail Wavy Gravy and double track classic trails JibFly and Twin Lakes on tap for grooming tomorrow. Touch up on the fat bike trails. We are up to 25km of groomed fat bike trails now.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Sensational day on the trails. Trees covered beautifully in frost this morning providing a scenic backdrop for today's group skiers. A thin coating of silky frost on the tracks provided some euphoric glide and the same could be said about the skate deck. Afternoon grooming occurred on the skate trails and we also worked on the Bullhead Bootleg singletrack loop. Grooming plans: We will be working on North Loup tomorrow bringing the skate deck back to life along with the track set. We will also resume work on the Bootleg singletrack for fat biking.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Dusting of new snow last night that filled the lower part of the tracks and made for really nice skiing today. With temps in the teens and a gentle breeze from the NW, it felt more like January 6th! No grooming today for the first time since December 26th! Skied on Mother North Star and Mother Hen this evening and was fantastic. Just a few minor areas the tracks filled in a few spots. This afternoon we had a spirited fat bike ride on the entire 25km groomed loop, finding conditions close to the best of the year. So fast if you catch the edge you'll be flying!! Grooming plans: Select trails on tap for grooming tomorrow.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

We had a nice day on the trails with some good late season skiing, touch of springlike conditions. Temp reached a high of 32 but with transformed snow already and mostly cloudy conditions, the snow held out great and there was very little if any softening. We had no precipitation of any kind. This afternoon we touched up select classic trails with Mother North Star getting the nod for groomer's choice for tomorrow. We also cleaned up the Twin Lakes fat bike trail which got rutted out in a few spots. At dusk I skated all the skate trails and enjoyed dry fast snow but not icy other than a very short section of Kamikaze hill. Grooming plans: We are ready to groom select trails if any significant snow. Otherwise will probably leaver everything alone if just a dusting with with defined tracks and light skier traffic keeping the structure in place.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Outstanding conditions. Everything is providing fantastic action after daily grooming, a gentle transformation of the snow deck and seasoning of the snow pack. Today we touched up a few double track and singletrack classic trails and reset the track on Bullhead lake to Bootleg extension. Fat bike trail in best condition of season and now up to 22km of groomed trail. Grooming plans: Skate trails on tap for a restructure in the morning.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Dusting of fluff snow overnight. Unlike most fluff dusters this year that are very dry yet greasy and tricky to wax for, this fluff dusting was laden with moisture and made for magical skiing on the grooming from yesterday. Today we rest the singletrack on Roy's, Rootin Tootin and the double track on Twin Lakes and JibFly. We also combed out the skate lanes on the skate only hills and the "challenge" hill. During grooming the front was pushing through as temp dropped to the single digits setting everything up nicely. Grooming plans: Tomorrow tracks to be reset on Rootin Tootin and JibFly again. Everything else is in fantastic shape as we enjoy the best week of skiing this year!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Snow forecasted last night and this morning didn't happen, instead another day of brilliant sunshine, temps in the 20's and silky transforming snow making for as good as it gets skiing for March 1st. Jonell and I skated in the late afternoon and the skate conditions were the best I have experienced since Sections and before that, mid December. Grooming today saw a track reset on singletrack classic trails Wavy Gravy, Bullhead/Bootleg and one track refreshed on the double track trails Sap Run, Mother North Star and Sukkerbusk. We also set a track across Bullhead lake to use for access to the Bootleg loop on the north end. Take Suicide Hill down and follow the grooming. We also started working on the Bootleg Fat Bike singletrack trail. The other fat bike trails are rolling great after grooming the damp snow yesterday. Grooming plans Wednesday: Track will be renovated and reset on Rootin Tootin Roy's Run, Twin Lakes and JibFly and the skate only trails will be renovated and combed.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Fantastic day of skiing and grooming. Hard to top days like today. Today we finally hit the outer trails Island and Bullhead/Bootleg paths. These two trails probably see the most drifting and finally were able to get to them after feeling comfortable with the conditions of the other trails. National Weather Service out of Grand Forks has issued 11 blizzard warnings this winter. Although we have only had two legit blizzards here at Maplelag, gives you an idea of the windy conditions this season. Thankfully the wooded trails makes it another day at the beach and daily grooming keeps conditions skiable. We also touched up the skate decks where needed and renovated the challenge hill. Brilliant sunshine highlighted the day before clouds moved in late afternoon. Grooming plans: We will be out in the morning refreshing select singletrack trails. We are not powertilling the snow with the Pisten Bully. We are using the front end renovator with a compactor bar mixing the snow, and more lately, the Ginzu groomers. The method provides a more natural skiing experience. Especially noticed now when our signature dry snow is sun kissed and transforms to a creamy silky goodness which isn't always possible on powertilled snow. This is a observation from grooming and skiing the past 40 years at various places across the country.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)