First tracks: a little late; Hidden Valley had skiing for a while but I was indisposed. On dog walk this morning saw two folks dragging sleds with an auger onto the lake. They remained even after carving holes in the ice so I figured it was safe to ski. Skied the shoreline of a couple of lakes with the dog- skated. Not perfect but a sweet start.

Banksiana: "First tracks: a little late; Hidden Valley had skiing for a while but I was indisposed. On dog walk this morning saw two folks dragging sleds with an auger onto the lake. They remained even after carving holes in the ice so I figured it was safe to ski. Skied the shoreline of a couple of lakes with the dog- skated. Not perfect but a sweet start."

Lucky you have snow

Banksiana: "First tracks: a little late; Hidden Valley had skiing for a while but I was indisposed. On dog walk this morning saw two folks dragging sleds with an auger onto the lake. They remained even after carving holes in the ice so I figured it was safe to ski. Skied the shoreline of a couple of lakes with the dog- skated. Not perfect but a sweet start."

I was able to ski hidden valley the day after thanksgiving, but knew the warm weather would ruin the trails. But it was nice while it lasted!

Hope to hear some ski trip updates.
Been going almost every day in the woods around Brainerd. We have about 13 inches of heavy wet snow and a lot of pine branches breaking off.

Pinetree: "Hope to hear some ski trip updates.
Been going almost every day in the woods around Brainerd. We have about 13 inches of heavy wet snow and a lot of pine branches breaking off."

I think you'll hear happier reports from the lakes than the trails. Lots and lots of trees are reported to be down in the Arrowhead after the big wind and heavy snowfall.

gravelroad: "

Pinetree: "Hope to hear some ski trip updates.
Been going almost every day in the woods around Brainerd. We have about 13 inches of heavy wet snow and a lot of pine branches breaking off."

I think you'll hear happier reports from the lakes than the trails. Lots and lots of trees are reported to be down in the Arrowhead after the big wind and heavy snowfall."

That seems like everywhere-lot of bent-over trees from the rain-snow mix. Even in Brainerd trails are a mess but getting better. Snow is heavy tho and you sink very little.

Some decent skiing on the North Arm Trails the last two weeks. Still lots of unbroken trail to open but the snow is soft and deep, surprisingly quick when it gets packed down.

Banksiana: "Some decent skiing on the North Arm Trails the last two weeks. Still lots of unbroken trail to open but the snow is soft and deep, surprisingly quick when it gets packed down."

YES, down here trails seem to have excellent glide this year. Snow makeup must be just right.

Been out over 100 days off trail skiing this year. Looks like I will get another month?

Not 100 days on trail this year (don't think there have been 100 days this year). I missed two days in January (schedule) and 6 days in February (2 due to schedule, 4 due to fever). Lots of days (well nights anyway) that I've skied twice- in the dark before work and in the dark after. A good season. Skied three hours of slow and soft in the B-dub this morning.

My year was all mixed up. I skied maybe 30 times.

Any chance of crust skiing in Ely this weekend?

3Ball: "My year was all mixed up. I skied maybe 30 times.


Any chance of crust skiing in Ely this weekend?"

Probably still too much snow on the lakes. Hidden Valley should be great for skating if they groom at night.

3Ball: "My year was all mixed up. I skied maybe 30 times.


Any chance of crust skiing in Ely this weekend?"

In Brainerd we have like 28 inches of snow but a hard crust below 4 inches of fresh snow, so we have crust skiing everywhere right now.That crust will break down if it ever warms up.
I love it in March when you do have hard snow skiing on lakes in the BWCA. You can really travel and if winter camping you don't even feel the sled behind you.

Pinetree: "

3Ball: "My year was all mixed up. I skied maybe 30 times.



Any chance of crust skiing in Ely this weekend?"

In Brainerd we have like 28 inches of snow but a hard crust below 4 inches of fresh snow, so we have crust skiing everywhere right now.That crust will break down if it ever warms up.
I love it in March when you do have hard snow skiing on lakes in the BWCA. You can really travel and if winter camping you don't even feel the sled behind you."

The crust will soften to just by being in prolonged contact with the softer snow. Not sure how it works but I depend on it to make the bobsled tracks skiable again.

I broke trail on the North Arm trails last week Thursday and Friday. I only saw one other person at the trailhead. Great spring skiing!

April 10th-Brainerd-just got back from cross-country skiing. Have 17 inches still in the woods. But talking 70's now for a couple of days. Time to clean my skiis and wait for open water.

I skied the North Arm Trails three days last week (probably passed you on Thursday at the Sentinels). Probably my last North Arm ski this afternoon- though I may try again in the morning. I'm hoping that lake skiing becomes good in the next few days.

Banksiana: "I skied the North Arm Trails three days last week (probably passed you on Thursday at the Sentinels). Probably my last North Arm ski this afternoon- though I may try again in the morning. I'm hoping that lake skiing becomes good in the next few days."

You must have been the guy with the dog.

Due to the miracle of skin skis I got to extend my North Arm season. Managed a bit over eight miles yesterday and another seven this morning- quit when the dog began to punch through the deck. Dog is thrilled to extend the season- he considers skate skiing an unfair advantage.

I got a few miles in this morning. Be close to 70 degrees today here so season might be over. We got ducks, Ospreys, robins etc. now.

Well, I officially cleaned and put away my skiis today. It has been an excellent year.

I put storage wax on 4 pair of classic. But I also hot waxed two pairs of skate skis for warm conditions- hoping for some lake skating. Also re-waxed a pair of skin skis just in case.

Gave up on the season today. Put storage wax on the rest of the skis and moved them and the waxing setup into the garage for storage. Yesterday afternoon the lake surface looked great for skating- I put on my boots and grabbed my skis and headed out. Tried four lakes but could not find a way to get onto the good ice- the string of hot days destroyed the ice along the shoreline and I failed to pack a plank in the car.

Relapse.

Walking the dog in early evening and discovered access to good ice. Boots sunk a little into the slush on occasion but dog stayed up. Went home and pulled a pair of skate skis and the full waxing kit from the garage, stripped the storage wax and then glide waxed them. About an hour and a half of effortless glide (well occasional areas of snow and once some softness sinking into slush). Worth the effort and will be even faster (and louder) in the morning.

Banksiana: "Relapse.


Walking the dog in early evening and discovered access to good ice. Boots sunk a little into the slush on occasion but dog stayed up. Went home and pulled a pair of skate skis and the full waxing kit from the garage, stripped the storage wax and then glide waxed them. About an hour and a half of effortless glide (well occasional areas of snow and once some softness sinking into slush). Worth the effort and will be even faster (and louder) in the morning."
good for you, be careful, I know lakes in Brd. ice conditions are bad.

Skiing decent this morning, not quite as quick as yesterday and the lake I chose had some areas of soft snow that made for tough going.

From last night's Ski.

Holding phone in one hand, poles in the other. Pace considerably quicker once poles are deployed.