Just to have a place to put such things I started a new thread.


Got back from skiing Pine Beach trails on the South end of Gull Lake in Brainerd. Very nice. They have almost 40k of classic groomed trails on this system, most of it on the golf courses, but some fine woods skiing on the West end, including some of the hairiest hills you'll find in the Brainerd area on the far end of the trail, West of the Pillsbury Forest Road. We didn't ski that section today as it is early in the season and my hips are still getting used to hard snowplows. Also, the trail was a little icy on the steeper hills that were getting sun on them this afternoon.

I posted this on another thread-- scroll down to see: Fort Snelling: 12/28

Got my youngest daughter out for a ski in the back this afternoon. It was beautiful out- sunny, 15 degrees and calm in the woods.

What a beautiful picture, Gutmon.

I was thinking today that I should buy my daughter xcountry ski gear. She is more enamored of downhill, but I think if she had the equipment she might really get into xcountry. Thanks for the inspiration.

MOLO- check out ski swaps or other sources for used gear. You can usually pick up stuff dirt cheap. If she hates it you won't be out much.

Good idea. Maybe Thrifty Outfitters. The good thing is that we are about the same size so I can use whatever we buy if it doesnt "take" with her.

Most of the North Arm Trails are now tracked and conditions are much better than they seemed while I was breaking trail -one or two rock scrapes per mile. Well packed trails were very fast.

I skied Wolf Lake trail East of Brainerd this afternoon. It was in great shape and was a fantastic ski.

I skied Fort Snelling again. Not bad. Blue Moon walkers destroyed short section of trail. Saw evidence of a bunny kill. One deer. The sun was warm and I was overdressed. Kind of tired of flats. Ready for some hills.

I've skied in the back yard every day since the day after Christmas (plus other spots as reported). It feels good to be able to ski again for regular exercise. I have been waiting for the "warm" part of the day when it's been around zero. Not too bad with calm winds. I've been chasing around a big barred owl most every time I go out. He was sitting in a tree sleeping today when I started out and still there when I got back that way about 25 minutes later. The deer have really trampled the snow under those oak trees that dropped acorns and the squirrels have been digging in for acorns as well. I need to remember to bring the nippers with one of these times as there is one spot on the trail where the raspberries catch your legs and arms as you go by.

Met my friend at Hiawatha Golf course in the mid day sun. No wind. We were instantly warm, and by the end, sweating even though they say the tempt was barely above 0 F. Snow was packed and rutted in sections, the tracks shallow or nonexistent around some curves. We saw two skiers with dogs skijourning. One guy let his dog run. I don't bring my dog 'cause it is WRONG to mess up trails. grrrrr

New snow should make for excellent conditions after regrooming.

Oh yeah, first thing I did was ski down a steep hill into a thin rope fence which I failed to see until I had to make a butt landing to avoid tripping over it. Not graceful.

Pic of Hiawatha Golf today:

Just got back from skiing Louisville Swamp, about 2 miles south of Hy 169 and Hy 41 intersection. The U.S. dept that manages the area has plowed a road about .75 miles long to reach the spot where the bridge was swept out by flood about 8 years go. They are prepping the area for a new bridge. The plowed road is a bit tricky to ski on the downhills due to a little bit of exposed sand and gravel. Once across the creek (on the ice), it's the same old trail, established by boot, snowshoe, and ski. The U.S. did cut out several logs that blocked that part of the trail. I reached the Jabs farmsite (warming house, historic site), and then did the Johnson Slough Overlook rail, which had only one set of boot tracks on it. I worked pretty hard on that mile. The U.S. had come through with a snowmobile past the farm and on the mail trail, so that made easier skiing once off the slough loop and heading back to the parking lot. Saw three hikers, 5 deer, and a few little tweety birds, and many animal tracks. Get off those golf courses and try this one! Took me three hours, including a 10 minute break at the farm. There are signposts and maps along the route, but it isn't as well marked as a typical state park system.

Wow, Kevlar. Way to explore.

Golf Course is next door; L.S. 45 minutes away. Need a day to do it.

Did you use rock skis?

Pictures?

Karen

Definitely rock skis, waxless. I never use wax skis at LS 'cause there really isn't a groomed trail for the wax to grab. As for pics, I'm computer challenged. I know how to take the picture thing out of the camera and get pics make at Sams, but I don't know how to do anything else. It's my way of avoiding frustration, I guess.

If you want to make the drive, I'd be glad to guide and show the place off. Its got the biggest erratic rock (an out-of-place rock) I have ever seen, about the size of a two car garage, just sitting on a field.

Okay, I will bring a camera and take pics.

Hate my rock skis and refuse to use them, so we have to wait for some new snow-- I think there might be some coming.

Sunday would be a good day...outdoor church service on the move, truly in God's country. New snow tonight, warmer Sunday, time to make the drive...

No skiing today-brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

It snowed steadily while I skied today- trails are still a bit rocky. The thought that stuck with me: if you love this country, visit it under snow, not just on the ground but while it is sifting through the trees -after twenty some years it still takes my breath away.

Hard to get it into the photo though.....

Banks-- love the photo! Kevlar-- Have to play it by ear, but maybe Sunday.

my hiawatha golf course trail report on skinnyski

Skied Maria State Park, 7 mi. west of Monticello, this afternoon. This is a hilly, oak-wooded park, with maybe 200 yds of ski trail in the open. All the rest is in woods. Trails (all traditional except .8 for skating) are in good shape. They did not get very much freezing rain, so little ice. Many oak leaves in the tracks, and a few twigs, so your ski can get "grabbed" a bit. None of the downhills are "oh my God" types, but you often have to negotiate a turn, and I did snowplow on a number of them to stay under control. A few of the uphills are longer than 10 yard, but most of the time it's level, then down, then up. The deer have been pawing through the snow, looking for acorns, but I didn't actually see deer, just a lot of sign. I switched from waxed skis to waxless halfway around, trying to make the uphills easier and the oak leaves less a problem. Didn't help the hillwork much, but helped some with the leaves.

I usually ski the perimeter trails of the park, and that distance is about 12 K if you include going out to the boat launch at the lake. Altogether there are about 22 K of ski trails, and there are three cute little wood-heated cabins you can rent. Tremelo, you'd love these, and I bet your kids would, too. The cabins are usually rented full on weekends, but often during the week are available. Play hooky?

Kev- that sounds like fun. Nice day today- I had my window down when driving through St Cloud... Here are a couple of other state park options with camping cabins. Kathio has GREAT ski trails. Look at the map and you can see they are really nice for skiing with groups of different level skiers- you can keep hooking back up by taking different trails that keep intersecting.

Savanna Portage also has camping cabins


Savanna Portage Mille Lacs Kathio

Excellent trail reports. I love the sound of Maria. Always wanted to try those trails. I hope the snow lasts for awhile. My husband is going to Ironwood to xc ski with his brother on the 20th and my oldest goes back to college on the 21st, so I was thinking of that weekend. Thanks for the great info.

Gutmon, I have skied Kathio in my distant past...good trails, some big hills. Never used the cabins, but saw them. Only skied Savanna once, short distance. Wild River just built 4 more cabins to go with the original two--haven't used them, but we rent the old ranger house every February, and I have skied all of that park.
Tremelo, you'd like Maria.

Skied Louisville Swamp again today. The bridge project is moving along...abutments (?) are built, and they are working on the roadway, so I imagine the bridge itself will be hauled in soon...probably right after our first good thaw. Had to walk about 70 yds on the roadway due to gravel and sand. Once past the bridgework (crossed on the ice again--very solid), the trail was good for skiing--other skiers and better yet, snowshoers, had made a good track. Several snowmobiles had driven thru part of the trail system--I don't know if illegally, or maybe government people checking on things. Saw three squirrels, one very close--we surprised each other--and three deer. Also two snowshoers and a skijorer with two dogs--really moving. Lots of snow, but I'd still advise "rock skis".

I'm still skiing the back yard daily. With the recent warm days I have been going right at dawn while the trail is still firm. It is getting really littered from the deer and squirrels. We could use some fresh snow. This trail is so flat that it is really at it's best when it's icy. Sounds like that is going to happen this weekend. Think I'll go fishing when it's warm...

As you can see from the photos, I need more snow here. With today's highs in the mid 30's I will have to stick to skiing in the morning when it's still frozen. I haven't seen the snowshoe hare yet- I saw him back there in November before we got snow. He was all white except for a little mottled grey on his ears, but he did stand out against the brown woods...

Just booked a room at the William Munger Inn in Duluth for a ski weekend the first weekend in Feb. Their rates are great and they offer cheap ski passes for spirit mountain for down hillers. I plan to xcountry. Cannot wait.

I'm jealous! I've heard they have good skiing there, but never ried it. The closest skiing to Duluth that I've done is at Goosebery Falls, and they have some good trails there. Still thinking of Maria next weekend? I'm trying it Tuesday, but I'd go there again.

I would love to try Maria next weekend. Hope the snow stays around.

Taking several teens girls to downhill at afton alps. I will ski the state park. Looks like it is okay for classic right now. My recollection of afton trails is that they get hard packed and icy in these conditions, not my favorite skiing, and there are plenty of downhills.

Skied Fort Snelling last night with headlamps before a late movie (Moon, very good film, highly recommend). We saw two other skiers enjoying the woods at night.

Happy long weekend!

Tremolo, you gonna hit Magney Snively in Duluth?

molo- Lester Park has some really nice trails. They are lit for night skiing- brite white light that you never have to look into so your vision stays good on the whole trail. Magney Snively is right across the street from the Spirit Mountain XC trails. Have fun up there.

Thanks for the tips.

Skied for over three hours today. I always seem to get lost at Afton. Didnt take a map and the signage is for summer. Had to ask someone how to get back to alps parking lot where kids were downhilling. so many ups so many downs. so pretty. so tired. Best skiing of the year. Saw only a handful of other skiers. Suprisingly excellent conditions. will post pics after glass of wine:)

A pic of afton.

gutmon-- thanks for the lester park night skiing tip. Sounds like fun. I love skiing at night.

Gbusk-- definitely will ski magney Snively as it is right across from where the kids will be skiing.

Was out for a ski in the backyard yesterday midmorning. We had gotten a dusting of fresh snow- just enough to cover the debris littering the trail. I did notice that the skunks are starting to get a little active- I smelled at least two of them at different spots on the trail.

Received at least a foot of snow Sunday/Monday- started off wet and finished fluffier. Trails will be in great condition once they are tracked and all the downed limbs and bent over trees are cleared. Started breaking yesterday- cold and slow going but beautiful and in the end exhausting......

Banks- beautiful shot! I can almost smell it!

If anybody needs to travel for snow and trails, Ely has good coverage. Most of the North Arm Trail system has been broken and with luck the rest will be done by Sunday night.

Nice shots Banks!

Skied Louisville Swamp again...had about 4" of powdery new snow on the trails. A light breeze was blowing it off the trees in puffs and streamers. Very pretty with the sunshine. The bridgework seems to be on hold...I can see where they are cutting a track to get the bridge to the stream, but it seems to be at government job speed. The downside of the day? Some damn 4-wheeler had illegally run down the woods trail, making two ruts too narrow to get both skis in, and too far apart to ski in separately, and the wheels piled the snow in a mound in the middle--so he ruined the whole trail. He only ran the trail for about .75 miles, but that was frustrating enough. Two skijorers had been thru before me part of the way, but I saw nobody else. Many deer tracks in the oak woods, and a pair of turkey tracks near the old farm.
I skied across the swamp (lake?) on the way back, and surprised 5 trumpeter swans sitting in a small run of water coming from a hillside spring. A slow, pretty day of skiing, with a little frustration thrown in.

I skied French last night while it was snowing with my wife and a buddy. It was a magical experience out there with the fresh flakes.

Today work called and said they didn't need me. So I went to Murphy Hannerhan. The trail was rolled at approx. midway through the storm last night. It was slow going so I decided to make it even slower and stick to the Classic groves.

Kevlar, I thought about you half way through and said to myself, why didn't I give you a call. Would have been the perfect day to finally get out.

I skied the PAul Bunyan Arboretum in Brainerd/Baxter tonight. It was in fantastic shape with just a touch of dry, powdery snow. Very nice.

Took a long ski to Cummings Lake- good track the whole way though had to use the saw quite a bit to clear trail. The light was beautiful. All the major trails of the North Arm system are broken.

Skied French Rapids ski trails along the Mississippi River east of Brainerd this morning for the first time this year. It was fantastic!!! The snow was fresh and the grooming well done. This is really the premier trail system in the area. Wide (10-30 foot) trails with both skating and classic tracks, BIG hills that are safe due to the width of the groomed trail and beautiful scenery overlooking the river. We may get up to 14 inches of fresh snow by Tuesday morning according to the last forecast I heard. Bring it on and keep it coming.

Hey, guys-- look at all the new icons by our monikers!

Just returned from Duluth in time for the Super Bowl. Go COlts!

Sat: Dropped the kids and spouse at Spirit Mt. and headed up the hill to Spirit Mt. XC trails. Very pleased. Groomed to perfection. First thing I saw-- a Pileated Woodpecker. Good omen. Skiied the 5 k three times, the 3 k once and the 1 k once. I added 1 k of back and forth to Nordic Center so I could say that I skied 20km. The last 5 I skied in the dark with a malfunctioning headlight. Lots of gentle ups and downs ups and downs ups and downs.

Today, Pat and I skied the Magney Snively. I was pretty knackered from Sat and only managed about 75 minutes. More ups and downs, but icier, steeper, and slicker. A challenging ski for me due to fatigue. Amazing views. Look forward to returning there to do more of the loops.

No one at Spirit Mt. Sat. A fair number of skiers at Magney Snively.
I have to say, the skiing at Spirit was so amazing that I actually cried with joy.

Duluth has so many trail opportunities, I look forward to a return visit to try Boulder, CHester, Lester, Snowflake, and others.

Glad to hear we should get several inches over the next few days here in Mpls.

GO COLTS!

molo- sounds like you had fun- glad to hear it. I am really liking the forcast for the next week or so.

Mon-- you had a good ski day too. French Rapids sounds wonderful.

Let it snow!

I'm planning to head to Duluth tomorrow. May have to hit the Mag Snively trail.

You ever skied the Korki Trail Tremolo? It too may bring a tear to your eye! If you like Classical, that's all that it is. It's a trip back in time and is worth the extra drive. It's about half way to Two Harbors.

gbusk

I have not, but have heard about it from multiple skiers, including on this thread.

Another trip maybe.

Be careful driving tomorrow.

Just got in (well, a beer ago) from packing down the trail in the backyard. We got about 2" of new snow since yesterday morning. It was really nice out- about 25 degrees and calm in the woods. I saw some kind of a spider on top of the snow at one point on the trail and had a flock of 11 tundra swans fly directly over my head just above the trees- they were low. It gave me a shiver to see and hear...

Crow Wing State Park (This is a color photo)

Gutmon-- I read "a bear ago", and thought what? In winter? In Brainard? Had to reread. Beer is better. Happy Snow! Karen

Although we don't see them in the winter, there are definitely bears in Brainerd. When we built our house our youngest was around two and one day she said she'd seen "a bad guy". Didn't think much about it until the next day when our garbage can was knocked over. We had a huge can that the haulers provided and I knew it was too big and heavy for a dog to knock over. Later that day we heard a ruckus on our deck and when we went and looked there was an approximately 400 pound sow on the deck trying to get into the bird feeder. We scared her away and called the DNR. They came and caught it in a live trap elsewhere in our neighborhood a couple of days later.

I love the way kids say things. Yes, not surprised there are bears in Brainard. I imagine they were there first. I spent a summer near there years ago when I taught horse back riding at Camp Foley. Good memories.

Great conditions at Maria St. Pk. And today was a great day to ski...cloudless, very little wind...Thermometer said 12 degrees at 11 AM but it could have been +25. I did 16 K of up and down skiing wearing two thin shirts and an unlined nylon shell and worked up a sweat. Saw three deer and three other skiers.

Ron - there are definitely bears in the Brainerd area. We've seen them in Pillsbury State Forest while grouse hunting. BTW - we've also heard the wolves howling in Pillsbury State Forest. The locals say there's a pack of wolves living there.

Skied at Lebanon Hills last weekend. Conditions were awesome! I'm sure they're even better right now with the fresh snow we received this week.

I love Lebanon Hills. It's a metro treasure.

Wolf Lake this morning. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! The trail was in great shape, the temp in the low to mid 20's, clear blue sky after fog and frost this morning. You can see the frost falling off the trees in the second photo.

Nice pics gutmon. The grooming on the trail looks sweet.

Kevlar is right-- Lake Maria is amazing! We skied 22 km. My new favorite spot. It is beautiful (oak, ironwood, birch), with the sweetest rolling terrain. Sunny sky.A bit of a wind, but so what. Only saw a few other skiers. The groomer was out doing his thing. Best of all, only 5k of the trails are skate groomed. The rest are double tracked for classic skiing. Nice.

Hope to take my best friend there Friday morning if anyone (Kevlar) would like to join us.

Ended up staying home and skiing the backyard yesterday- did nip some rasberry bushes back on the trail. Today my buddy and I both had the day off for the President's Day holiday. We went up to Shingobee and ended up skiing about 1/4 mile before we got to the first hill. I got about 1/3 of the way down and did a sitzmark stop. I was in a full snowplow and was absolutely chattering across the snow- to go down the rest of the hill would have been suicide. We decided to scratch it and ended up skiing at Goose Lake trails near Longville. The trail was great, but there was a ton of debris on the trail due to high winds the last couple of days and the mix of pines and oaks there. We were about half way through when I picked up a peice of pine bark on the wax of my ski that completely stopped me in my tracks. I fell forward landing with my right fist and pole between me and the ground. I don't think I broke any ribs, but they are bruised and tender. Skiing didn't really hurt it, but tonight I'm sore.

Went to the doc today- I have one cracked rib. I can do anything activity-wise that I can tolerate, but sure wouldn't want to land on that spot for a few weeks anyway. Think my skiing may be limited to the (flat) backyard for the remainder of the season...

:(

Sorry to hear it g-mon.
It's not the skiing that's dangerous, it's the sudden stops.

Gutmon, that is a real bummer. The ski season is so short already, and to have it yanked away like that. And the old bones heal slow is unfortunately true. Hope you can ski some flatland stuff and enjoy it.

Thanks everyone for the condolences... the upside is is that it is getting to that time of the year where everything is either mush (during the day) or ice (at night/early morning) which is when my backyard trail is at its best. Since it is so flat, icy conditions means that you can ski it fast and safely. Glad I didn't get hurt in December or January...

Skied the backyard this morning without so much as a twinge. Felt good to get out again after not skiing since Monday.

Kevlar and I skied Maria Friday. It was great, despite "old" snow. I got to use my new wax and new wax skills (thanks Finnsusu). Kevlar knows every twist, turn, up and down. A great guide.

Gutmon, glad to hear you're up and skiing.

Karen

Anybody wanna go next Tue.

Kevlar and I have been trying to get together for a month now, but something always comes up.