First outing today. They rolled trail at Hidden Valley last night and again this morning. I skated late this afternoon; decently quick, a little soft and uneven but I did not feel ground or grit in a little over ten miles of trail. Great early season skiing. They had a classic track cut on most of the trail.

Fabulous. Hopefully it holds out for the holiday weekend.

can't wait!

I got my younger soon some new skate skis. We are ready for Hidden Valley on Friday.

Out yesterday off trail in Brainerd on my Euro 109 skiis. Excellent conditions with 6 inches in the woods. Just right. talking 1 foot Fri-thru Sunday now. That is too much too early.

3Ball: "I got my younger soon some new skate skis. We are ready for Hidden Valley on Friday.
"

Hope you got out. Decent trail today.

Hidden Valley was a little soft on the skate deck, but I’m not complaining.

egknuti: "Hidden Valley was a little soft on the skate deck, but I’m not complaining."

Kicking has been better than skate for the last 2-3 days. Not much grab on the uphills but downhills and flats are flying.

Should be fun tomorrow.

Bottomless snow in Idaho.

Banksiana: "Bottomless snow in Idaho. "

Did some back country in Colorado and than again in Yellowstone. The back country in Yellowstone was in March and skiing among the animals was something else. Waking up in the morning and a big old Buffalo staring at me.
The thing I remember about Colorado is the fluffy snow and sinking like 2 feet plus in some areas.

Overall tho it is very tough to beat Minnesota for cross country skiing.

Fast trails on the North Arm today. Quicker trails than most of what I skied in the west. Unfortunately the groomer has limited concept of skiing and laid track (in the area outside the BWCA) on the steep twisting downhills. Quite challenging and very unforgiving for the average skier.

Pinetree- I'm better at waxing for Minnesota snow but I love the views and challenge of skiing in the mountains. I had fantastic skiing at Galena Lodge, Stanley, ID, The Chief Joseph Trails and Crosscut Nordic outside Bozeman.


Deep snow on the Chief Joseph Trails

There is perks for skiing both places. The fresh Mountain air and beauty of the Mountains in the winter is special. Because of the rough terrain out west in many ways your more limited to where you go. But the deep fluffy snow is something special. Also being able to see lond distances I liked. The Mountains and wildlife have unique drawing.

When I skiied Yellowstone back country was a very long time ago-1988 and the northern part of Yellowstone had 19,000 elk present than(a all time high),there was like 100's in a line at times and huge bulls everywhere. Yes and I was the only skiier in that area.

My favorite is the BWCA in March when days are long and having fairly hardpack snow you can venture deep into the BWCA be it day trip or over night. I still remember winter camping on the Man Chain and two skiier's skied up from Moose lake to Man and back the same day. They were from Ely-at least one of them was.

North Arm trails (just to the west of the North Arm of Burntside Lake) are in astonishing shape. Bottomless snow, relatively good glide, decent tracks (somewhat difficult pole plants) and a landscape that is beyond stunning. Fabulous classic (in the best and all senses of the word) skiing.

Banksiana: "North Arm trails (just to the west of the North Arm of Burntside Lake) are in astonishing shape. Bottomless snow, relatively good glide, decent tracks (somewhat difficult pole plants) and a landscape that is beyond stunning. Fabulous classic (in the best and all senses of the word) skiing. "

beautiful area

Banksiana: "North Arm trails (just to the west of the North Arm of Burntside Lake) are in astonishing shape. Bottomless snow, relatively good glide, decent tracks (somewhat difficult pole plants) and a landscape that is beyond stunning. Fabulous classic (in the best and all senses of the word) skiing. "

Awesome! Thanks for posting. We'll be up there for skiing and snowshoeing in a couple of weeks so looking forward to anymore updates you want to post.

Trails at Boulder Lake Management Area outside Duluth have been phenomenal this winter:

I've been a North Arm wanton. Skied there for each of the last 16 days and not a bad day of skiing amongst them. Trails are (as of this afternoon early) still in good shape- a little beat down close to the trail head- (the groomer seems to believe that significant snowfall is the only prompt for grooming). The outer trails are in exceptional shape.

It has been an incredible year. Local spots dependent on natural snow have been open this season for a long time. I have discovered new classic trails I didn't know existed. The quality of grooming on groomed trails has improved. Since so many spots are open, there are less congested areas. Its the best year I can remember.

3Ball: "It has been an incredible year. Local spots dependent on natural snow have been open this season for a long time. I have discovered new classic trails I didn't know existed. The quality of grooming on groomed trails has improved. Since so many spots are open, there are less congested areas. Its the best year I can remember."

That's great,some areas of the State that get grant money or funds from the State haven't groomed as much or at all. Funds were down this year. That is too bad in those areas.

My son finished the 50 k skate at the birkie today. 46 th place, Ten minutes back from the leaders. Yes I’m bragging. We started him skiing when he was two. He’s now coaching kids at the Duluth Nordic ski club. My Duluth grandkids are future champs.

jwartman59: "My son finished the 50 k skate at the birkie today. 46 th place, Ten minutes back from the leaders. Yes I’m bragging. We started him skiing when he was two. He’s now coaching kids at the Duluth Nordic ski club. My Duluth grandkids are future champs.



"

That is awesome-great time and anyone who finish's is a winner.

My coworker before I retired finished 1st in the 50K Classic in the age 40-44 bracket and 18th overall this year.

Like your son, he and his wife been working and getting a kids program going and participation has exploded and continued right into record number of kids in the sport in High School.
Better yet it is a activity they will do all their life.

Excellent late season skiing in Ely. Great skating at Hidden Valley. Surprisingly good run on the North Arm trails on Sunday @ 50+ degrees. Maybe even some lake skating by the end of the week.

I skied the north arm trails about a week ago and were somewhat icy in the morning but in good condition as the day warmed up. I didn't see a soul the entire day. Looking forward to some lake skiing.

egknuti: "I skied the north arm trails about a week ago and were somewhat icy in the morning but in good condition as the day warmed up. I didn't see a soul the entire day. Looking forward to some lake skiing. "

lake skiing is my favorite like going back into the BWCA this time of year with maybe a couple of inches of snow on the lake or a hard crust.

Lakes in my area-Brainerd are now bare ice,we still have 11 inches of snow in the woods.

egknuti: "I skied the north arm trails about a week ago and were somewhat icy in the morning but in good condition as the day warmed up. I didn't see a soul the entire day. Looking forward to some lake skiing. "

I tried to ski the North Arm last Monday (after finding too much snow on B-dub lakes), but gave up a mile in due to hard walked over trails that I couldn't get decent purchase on. Had good skiing on the North Arm for the two days after the 5" of snow and then on Sunday's thaw with rilled skin skis.

Yesterday's skating at Hidden Valley was deliciously fast, I went intending for a quick hour or hour and a half and ended up circling for three and a half hours it was so quick and fun.

Banksiana: "

egknuti: "I skied the north arm trails about a week ago and were somewhat icy in the morning but in good condition as the day warmed up. I didn't see a soul the entire day. Looking forward to some lake skiing. "

I tried to ski the North Arm last Monday (after finding too much snow on B-dub lakes), but gave up a mile in due to hard walked over trails that I couldn't get decent purchase on. Had good skiing on the North Arm for the two days after the 5" of snow and then on Sunday's thaw with rilled skin skis.


Yesterday's skating at Hidden Valley was deliciously fast, I went intending for a quick hour or hour and a half and ended up circling for three and a half hours it was so quick and fun."

I’ll be back up at the end of the month, hopefully there’ll be lake skiing opportunities still to be had.

How is the lake crust skiing shaping up?

Good skating on North Arm of Burntside yesterday. Fine layer of slush on top of slush ice. Ball bearings floating in oil; blisteringly fast, especially with the significant wind. Ended the ski when the slush ice began to soften and began to feel the threat of punching through to slurry trapped between top ice and black ice. Though the main ice is not yet exposed the bright sun of April is causing some pull away from shore. Conditions will vary from day to day and hour to hour. When its good it is very good. Unfortunately the opposite probably holds as well.