Thick cloud cover with dense fog and sub freezing temperatures kept the deck a bit icier and faster skiing today. Skaters Waltz was really nice skiing for the afternoon skiers after it had been groomed. Tracks recently groomed in good shape but crusty/icy. Grooming plans: We plan to groom on 20km (10km skate 10km classic) of trail tomorrow focusing on the trails of Sukkebusk, Sap Run, North Loup and Skaters Waltz.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Is a dastardly "rapid meltdown" threatening to cut your ski season short? Check out Maplelag. It remains incredibly nice. I found full snow coverage today on Twin Lakes Trail and Sukkerbusk. The classic tracks were in very good shape when I finished skiing about 1:15 pm. Very nice skiing is still available at Maplelag. Due to warming temps and potentially changing trail conditions (especially on sunny slopes), always good to use a little spring-season caution, just in case. I also noticed some trails (Island Lake and Wavy Gravy) while still open, were displaying only natural snow cover with no track. There are still plenty of km's available, crisply groomed, both classic and skate. Always worth the trip to Maplelag!

(Glenn Gifford)

No new snow ensured primo textbook spring skiing today. Morning groom saw all the classic tracks reset. Late afternoon Jonell and I skied Sukkerbusk and North Loup as the snow as transitioning back to light surface glaze. Fantastic glide but enough softness for control. Overall excellent spring skiing. After skiing groomed on Sukkerbusk and Sap Run setting new track and renovated Skaters Waltz and the big hill down to Bullhead Lake. Should freeze good again tonight and be snappy and fast in the morning before softening around noon. The fat bike trail is also in primo condition and should be another great morning of riding before noon tomorrow.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Just under a inch of new snow overnight. Determined best to let it be skied in as forecast was calling for more snow in the afternoon. Skated on Skaters Waltz with Jack and the deck was level, smooth on top of rock solid base making for a very nice ski despite slightly slower conditions. Temperature was around 32 degrees. The forecasted snow never happened this afternoon. While we waited to see if it would snow and for the temperature to drop, Jonell and I went classic skiing early evening. Temperature was 36 degrees. No rain. The new snow overnight was surprisingly fast, not sure if it was the Vauhtil LV violet or snow. Really really nice skiing. Still no snow as of 9pm and the current system looks to stay south of us.We also have been grooming on 17km of fat bike trail. A check of the conditions today found really nice riding. The base is rock solid and with tonights hard freeze should be really nice riding in the morning. The deer have migrated to the southern slopes that have a bit of openness and food source for their remaining wintering. Grooming plans: The grooming plan now is to get out in the morning to classic track groom and reset all the singletrack and one side of the double track. Skate deck should be good. Maybe a bit faster to start but the new dusting should be a transformed sugary goodness on top of the rock solid base.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Another morning of mid winter ski conditions! Did get a little warmer today but very little transformation of the snow with cloud cover most of the day. This morning we combed out the skate lanes. Tracks remain in excellent shape and were left alone. Grooming plans: We plan to groom on the 25km of trail currently open and groomed in the morning based on the forecast of snow. Operating plans: We will now plan to be open until at least Easter weekend grooming on the same 25km of trail.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Little bit more new snow than expected this morning as a hard and fast hitting squall moved through dropping 2-3" fresh fluffy powder. Made for really fun skiing this morning on the big hills and crusted slopes with the fresh powder on top to carve up. Once the system exited, temperature and humidity dropped along with totally clearing of the skies, hopped on snowmo and started grooming on the 25km of trail we have open with the Ginzu's.Teeth running deep mixing the old snow with the new. With temps unusually cold, (-3 this morning and climbing only to the teens), mid winter conditions are in place. Grooming plans: We will continue grooming daily this week into the weekend. Thanks to all the Twin Cities skiers that have trekked north to enjoy our special late season conditions.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

A really nice weekend of late March skiing. Sunday wasn't quite as warm with temps staying in the mid 20's. This kept the Sunday early morning groom fresh all day. The skate deck is firm and fast but enough give for edging. The most pleasant surprise was the crust skiing on Sunday. The lakes, meadows and most generously snow covered marsh areas have all seasoned now for coveted crust skiing. Grooming plans: Skate lanes will be renovated Monday morning. Tracks to be reset on JibFly and Sukkerbusk. We will continue to groom on 25km of trail (15km classic 10km skate) this week.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Another fantastic late season day of skiing and grooming. Sunny and frosty to start than clouds moving in keeping the sun from doing any damage. Late afternoon tracks were reset on Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, JibFly and Twin Lakes. North Loup track holding out great and was not reset. This evening skate lanes on North Loup and Skaters Waltz renovated and combed out. Should be a great day of skiing on Saturday!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Beautiful hoar frost adding to the incredible conditions today. All tracks reset and skate deck on Skaters Waltz renovated. We also groomed 20km of fat bike trail. Grooming plans: We will groom the 25km of trail that is open both Friday and Saturday afternoons. Fat bike trail on tap for grooming again Friday afternoon as well.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

We received 6" of snow overnight, oozing with moisture. This morning we packed 25km of trail then combed it out and set track in the afternoon. Probably the best day of grooming this season. The snow was incredible, so nice to work with. A skate ski at sunset found unreal conditions for March 22nd. Possibly the best March 22nd ski ever. The sunset over the Goat Ranch Rd when I crossed over to the north caught me off guard and stopped me in my tracks. Temps were dropping to lower teens and skiing should be even better in the morning. Grooming plans: We will reset the track on Sukkerbusk, Twin Lakes, and North Loup in the morning.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)