A "Maplelag Magic" kind of day. Conditions reported as "Heavenly". Dusting of new snow overnight giving the deck a nice refresh. Skate lanes combed with the Ginzu this morning. After skate grooming I jumped in the Pisten Bully hitting Sap Run, Poki Loki, Mother Hen and Sukkerbusk trails. The front end renovator was going deep pulling up the moisture laden snow and setting fresh double track behind. Late afternoon skied with Jonell, Jake, Anna and granddaughter Eira the "Snow Baby" on the inner trails finding firm tracks with silky glide, just softer pole plants on singletrack classic only minor issue. Jake and I went to Island Lake and North Loup. After over 20 years of skiing the singletrack classic Island Lake together agreed it was one the best skis ever, conditions wise. North Loup track next to the skate lane had set up nicely as well.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Keith and I been working on 70km of trail this week. 45km classic, 15km skate and 10km fat bike grooming. All western trails are singletrack, North Loup groomed skate and classic. Inner trails a mix of double and singletrack. Fat Biking conditions still very soft, another grooming run planned in the morning should make it rideable for the weekend. We have been below freezing all week, today the temperature dropped down to the lower teens during the day. I have been skiing at nights, both skate and classic, to check out the day's grooming and tonight's skate ski with Jake was by far the best of the week, silky smooth fast gliding surface. Classic skiing has been excellent, just a little soft on the pole plants but should improve after more grooming Friday and through the weekend. The frost falling from the trees today covered some of the debris from the storms last week. With skier traffic about 5% of normal, the deer are wintering on the inner trails and have been using the groomed trails for passage.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Although grooming is on hold until the 26th, we've enjoyed some nice skiing breaking in the most recent snowfall on the most recent groomed trails and the backcountry trails. Merry Christmas from Maplelag!

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Once the temperature warmed up to -15 air temperature I groomed Mother North Star and Rootin Tootin setting new tracks. Also combed out Skaters Waltz. After grooming Jon and I skated on Skaters Waltz. Was slow going but deck was much firmer than expected. We double poled in some of the tracks and the glide was better in the tracks. Saw a few other people classic skiing.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Skate trails groomed in morning. Classic skied this afternoon on the recently groomed and fresh set classic trails as super fluff snow was falling. Total new snow accumulating to 4-5". Temps near 0 and unusually low humidity made for pretty slow glide but the woods are flocked like we have never seen before making for a almost surreal experience. Went out grooming as the snow was wrapping up and set new track on Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly and Sukkerbusk.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

40km of trail groomed and open for weekend. 25km classic only, 15km skate only. Watch for overhanging branches on the skate trails, better on the classic since we are setting best line but branches continue to fall as more snow falls. Over 15" total since Tuesday. Grooming plans: Touch up grooming on select trails over the weekend depending on additional new snow and skier traffic.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

12" of new snow the past 48 hours. With the downed branches and and overhanging limbs making for slow going, we focused on 30km of trail today, 15km skate only and 15km classic only. Classic trails taking shape after the third pass, setting best line. The remainder of the 25k of fat bike trail was groomed today as well. We skied at dusk, clearing sticks and releasing snow off the limbs and skiing was almost surreal. Best line classic skiing on normal double track trails enhancing the experience. The tracks are firm and gliding great. Jonell said the solar lit trail Sap Run was magical. Grooming plans: We plan to regroom the same 30km of trail in the morning and also track a few more classic trails and touch up the fat bike trails.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

7" of mixed precipitation the past 24 hours with 5" of fresh snow overnight. We were out early this morning packing and will continue through the day, including grooming out the 25km fat bike trail. Grooming plans; This afternoon we will track select inner trails and Twin Lakes to the west. Lot of branches and small trees folded over from the heavy wet snow, use caution. Plan by the weekend is to have 102km of trail available for groomed classic, skate, fat biking and non groomed backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Fabulous skating in the morning hours - and I am not even good at that style. 2x Skaters Walz and North Loop = 16.5 K. Then a bit of classic on Sukkerbusk and Jib Fly. I wish I could have stayed a bit longer. Thanks for opening the Brant Cabin for that sandwich break and changing clothes. Hope to be back soon. Enjoy your weekend on the trails!

(István Gombocz)

45km open and recently groomed. 30km classic only, 15km skate only. Good early season conditions. We opened up a few more western trail this week after 3" of new snow and subsequent grooming. Recent ski outings including a incredible moonlight ski last night, have found the best tracks on Twin Lakes and Rootin Tootin. All skate loops are skiing well, still a few rough spots on North Loop in the middle section. Grooming plans: We'll finish tracking the western trails and hope to open up Roy's Run to the north. the entire 25km "FatLagChilada" fat bike course on tap for grooming tomorrow as well.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)