It should be getting time of year that the snow should be getting a crust that you float on top,but just wondering if much slush or any on lakes?
That shouldn't effect your trip but you may just have to adjust a little.

Was out Friday through Sunday, northeast of Ely. Lakes had lots of snow and some slush, heavy in spots. No crust, yet. Walking in the woods was tough going, even with snowshoes, lots of deep powder. Skiing wasn't an option on land or on the lakes. Was told that only thing that sill help is a mild meltdown followed by cold spell.

Interesting comment...skiing wasn't an option?? If you can snowshoe, you can ski at some level. You might not go swooshing by but you can still maneuver. Thoughts??

Skiing across the lake would have you sinking down in 12-16" of snow, so yes, you could ski, but pushing a lot of snow with your shins. Then you hit slush and you are pushing slush and eventually topping your boots and winding up with wet feet and ice on bindings. The slush was really watery. The crust that was mentioned in the first post had not yet formed on the lake.

Nothing kills skiing like that slush! I've been skiing all over central and northern MN this winter and man what a ride. At times you do sink a foot or more depending on the timing of the last snow. We have been adding gators for those times to keep the ankles free of snow. The snow on this shot is about 30" and you can see how it was wind packed enough to keep us almost on top.

quote Sobi: "Interesting comment...skiing wasn't an option?? If you can snowshoe, you can ski at some level. You might not go swooshing by but you can still maneuver. Thoughts??"

I guess you can ski at some level however, last weekend when we were out skiing with a sled behind you was incredibly difficult with all of the sugary snow on the lakes. Snowshoes were still a lot of work, but a lot better option than skis.

quote walleye_hunter: "

quote Sobi: "Interesting comment...skiing wasn't an option?? If you can snowshoe, you can ski at some level. You might not go swooshing by but you can still maneuver. Thoughts??"

I guess you can ski at some level however, last weekend when we were out skiing with a sled behind you was incredibly difficult with all of the sugary snow on the lakes. Snowshoes were still a lot of work, but a lot better option than skis. "

You get that like I call it Mountain snow(nice and fluffy) you can do some good bulldozing while pulling sled. If you average 1 mile a hour on the lake you are doing good. Sometimes the challenge makes it kind of adventuresome in those conditions. You just put the young bull(lad) out front and keep praising him how good a trail blazer he is out front. One thing coming out you usually have a great trail. We had a couple of lakes we did 6 miles in about 9 hours,that was good days work. Would do it all over again tho.
That said some springs the snow is off the lake or just a light crust you just fly and don't even know you are pulling a sled. Once in a while the sled passes you.

Totally agree on the pulling side of things. A few buddies have skis you can pull with, but I prefer the snowshoes too. Skis are sure fun to screw around with though. Just about to pull the trigger on those Hok skis another member mentioned somewhere out here. Shorter, wider, more playful.

Let me know if you get the skis or see more reviews on them. Presently use a 80 inch x about 2.4 inch wide ski with a scaled bottom. Usually works great.

quote Kawishiwashy: "Was out Friday through Sunday, northeast of Ely. Lakes had lots of snow and some slush, heavy in spots. No crust, yet. Walking in the woods was tough going, even with snowshoes, lots of deep powder. Skiing wasn't an option on land or on the lakes. Was told that only thing that sill help is a mild meltdown followed by cold spell."

Thanks for the info. It really helps in planning where you can go with the amount of time you have available etc.. Thanks.

Also agree if your doing a lot of just pulling the right snowshoe will give you more traction. Also the old fashion snowshoe more floatation than many skis.

I was wondering about that as well. So the jury is that the old "flat lander" snow shoes float better than the back country skis? I should run some tests just for kicks. I rarely use the flat landers any more since I ski or use 30 inch tubs shoes with climbing claws. The flatlanders certainly float better than the tubs, but you give up all the climbing/pulling.

quote Sobi: "I was wondering about that as well. So the jury is that the old "flat lander" snow shoes float better than the back country skis? I should run some tests just for kicks. I rarely use the flat landers any more since I ski or use 30 inch tubs shoes with climbing claws. The flatlanders certainly float better than the tubs, but you give up all the climbing/pulling."

I did test them last week at home. The old 48 x 13 Michigan style wood snowshoe would float on top or sink 2 inches,my atlas 36 x 9 1035 would sink about 5-8 inches in front and not in the back. Yes my 80 inch skis would sink only about a couple of inches.
The new type snowshoe with claw and binding is much better for pulling and going up and down hills. Nothings perfect.

Like everything one size does not fit all or all conditions like slush etc.,and people have different styles they prefer. Also what you use depends on how many people you go with with to trail.

Very true. Nice to have options and nice to have people in sync so you can travel efficiently together. What a great winter for all of this! Quite sad to see her go. The sippi rose 6 inches overnight and is now clowdy. Won't be long and she will be busting from the seams.

Alway's appreciate people who can give you a update on conditions.

So true and perhaps even a life saver at times. There are some monster holes out there now where all that slush and water melt begins to find the best hole.

Just out east of ely for three days. Was on four lakes. Deep powdery snow on the lakes and the woods. At least up to your knees. Only slush we encountered was in a small bay and on two small lakes. Once off the beaten paths, travel was tough. No crust yet but supposed to be 45 on Friday.

Hope that helps.