Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: XC Ski :: Trail Reports 2011/2012
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mocha |
New Snow Last 24 hours: 4.5 inches New Snow Last 7 days: 5.75 inches Trail Base: packed 6 to 8 inches Snow in Woods: 18-20 inch average Surface Conditions: Packed powder Total snowfall since November 1: 29.65 inches Comments: Execllent ski conditions!! We’re out grooming and plan to have the system done by tomorrow. Amperage and Magnetic rock trail remain packed only, no tracks set. Folks have been using Amperage for ski-joring, but beware there is still quite a bit of raspberry bramble about knee/thigh high. stings when it swats your legs! |
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Zulu |
Hidden Valley Trails in Ely are in nice shape today after the 4"-5" of new snow Sunday and Monday. Nice classic track on most loops with only a few shallow spots with protruding grass and sticks in the deep woods. It was my first time out this year other than a trip onto the lake last week when there was very little snow. Hope to get out tomorrow when the trails should be faster. Happy Skiing to all. |
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fitgers1 |
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mocha |
the groomer is out already this morning! 90% of the Upper Gunflint trails will be groomed today. It's been snowing for two days and is still coming down. Pack your bags and head up north! |
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mocha |
New Snow Last 24 hours: 0.75 inches New Snow Last 7 days: 1.75 inches Trail Base: Snowcat packed 4 to 5-1/2 inches Snow in Woods: 13 to 15-1/2 inch average Groomed with classic tracks: 70K Groomed for skating: 40 K Surface Conditions: Fresh packed powder Snowshoe trail: Open Total snowfall since November 1: 24.65 inches Comments: The last two days brought 1.75” of snow and the groomers have been out working! On Saturday, Bearskin groomed Lower Beaver Dam, Summer Home Road and Ox Cart and report those to be in excellent shape. Bear Cub was also groomed and is in good shape. Poplar Creek Trail will be groomed today. Golden Eagle is out today and reports conditions to be good on Upper Ridge Run with west end Lower Ridge Run fair; Upper Beaver Dam is good with some stubble still showing on those trails. Moose Pasture, Wolf Point, West End Logging Camp, Deer Mouse, Cross Fox, Red Pines, Moose Ridge, and Logging Camp on the north side of Flour Lake are in excellent shape. For the latest report you can call us at 1-800-346-2203 or 218-388-2203 or Bearskin at 218-388-2292. |
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mocha |
Year’s First Thru-Skiers on the Banadad Two skiers from Little Falls, Minnesota, Nicole and Mathew were the first to ski the entire Banadad this season. The pair started on January 6 from the west end trailhead and skied the 12 kilometers to the Bedew Lake Yurts. After spending two nights at the yurt camp they skied the 18 Kilometers to the east end trailhead. After completing the trip they stated that the trail was in good shape and they a great time. The Banadad is part of the Minnesota State Trail system so your MN Ski pass is valid on this trail. |
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Banksiana |
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schweady |
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jwartman59 |
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schweady |
If anyone is looking for a perfect spot for xc skiing in the Perham-Fergus Falls area, look up Spidahl's. |
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moosedrool |
Skied the Onion River Rd. today at the Sugarbush trail system out of tofte today. The first k or so was okayish and after that it was quite good but not as good as it was at bearskin. |
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mocha |
most of the Upper Gunflint Trail system have been trackset for classic skiing only, single track on one side of the trail. Cross River Lodge, Heston's Lodge, Gunflint Pines Resort, and Gunflint Lodge maintain and groom these trails, stop at any of these Lodges to purchase system passes for the day or weekend. the Banadad is groomed and trackset on the east end, although it sure looked trackset on the west end, too. The Banadad connects the lower and upper Gunflint systems, and is part of the Minnesota State Trail System so that license is purchased from the same place you'd purchase your fishing license. Boundary Country Trekking maintains and grooms the Banadad so contact them with questions about the trail conditions. |
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mc2mens |
The day before, my son and I skied and snowshoed at Pillsbury State Forest, a spectacular forest, about 15 miles from Brainerd. It was Minnesota's first established State Forest area and now it's over 15,000 sq acres, contains about 50 acres of old growth forest (red pine and oak), black bear, wolves, coyote, fox, deer, owls, eagles, ospreys, mink, fisher, rabbit, etc. Here's a few pics of my son from our day at Pillsbury. Finn started a small fire by himself with his new firesteel firestarter and we warmed up on a break during our snowshoe. |
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gutmon |
quote tremolo: "banks took me on a ten mile ski from the dock of hoho's down the dead river, burnside, northarm, w. twin back. i'm tingling with muscle fatigue by the fire. my first ski of the year. wow. its amazingly pretty here and lake skiing is fun. the ice sounds and shifting are a bit disconcerting, but jon explained what was happening. it was cool to ski where i paddled this summer. " I'm jealous. I went for a walk in the woods yesterday and actually felt compelled to check for ticks when I got home (didn't find any). I am more than ready for some snow. |
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tremolo |
quote gutmon: "quote tremolo: "banks took me on a ten mile ski from the dock of hoho's down the dead river, burnside, northarm, w. twin back. i'm tingling with muscle fatigue by the fire. my first ski of the year. wow. its amazingly pretty here and lake skiing is fun. the ice sounds and shifting are a bit disconcerting, but jon explained what was happening. it was cool to ski where i paddled this summer. " lol yeah. i would be jealous too. despite some of the stuff i am going through w the divorce, i have good friends and skiing. i do feel blessed. |
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gutmon |
quote fitgers1: "Thanks for the updates mocha. Me too! (in all seasons!) Thanks for the reports, Mocha. We still have less than 2" in the Brainerd area with temps approaching 40 in the forecast... |
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mocha |
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mocha |
REPORT: Upper Gunflint trails: no snow yet. great hiking on the ski trails, lots of animal sign. |
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fitgers1 |
quote Banksiana: "Skied (still on the lakes/rivers) in the snow- heavy enough at times that it was hard to see- but alas only an inch or two added. Beautiful though.... making me salivate down here in the metro! |
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mocha |
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mocha |
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fitgers1 |
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Zulu |
The snow will be great for the forest and lakes this spring too. |
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jwartman59 |
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mocha |
(Golden Eagle and Bearskin areas) New Snow Last 24 hours: 0 inches New Snow Last 7 days: 3.8 inches Trail Base: Snowcat packed 4 to 5-1/2 inches Snow in Woods: 13 to 15-1/2 inch average Groomed with classic tracks: 70K Groomed for skating: 40 K Surface Conditions: Packed powder Snowshoe trail: Open Total snowfall since November 1: 28.45 inches Comments: Groomers on both sides were out yesterday and skiers reported that skiing was fantastic! With the new snow this past week, much of the stubble on Beaver Dam, Ridge Run, and Bear Cub is disappearing and trails are in good to excellent shape. For the latest report you can call us at 1-800-346-2203 or 218-388-2203 or Bearskin at 218-388-2292 or 1-800-338-4170. |
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fitgers1 |
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fitgers1 |
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schweady |
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Banksiana |
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schweady |
From science.nasa.gov: What Happened to All the Snow? |
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Banksiana |
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Banksiana |
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gutmon |
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mocha |
New Snow Last 24 hours: .5 inch New Snow Last 7 days: 6.0 inches Packed Base: 4 to 5-1/2 inches Snow in Woods: 12 – 14 inches Trail Conditions: Packed powder – great to excellent! Trails Open: all but Amperage, Magnetic & South rim. Total snowfall since November 1: 26 inches Comments: Skiers are commenting the trail conditions are great! We have packed Amperage and are working on some additional side brushing on the whole system. We had more new snow yesterday but lots of blowing too so will re-groom the entire system as soon as the wind dies. Currently all trails are tracked single track, single skate lane. The forecast for this weekend is for sun and day time temps in the 20’s. Perfect ski weather!! |
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mocha |
New Snow Last 24 hours: 1.75 inches New Snow Last 7 days: 7.5 inches Trail Base: Snowcat packed 4 to 5-1/2 inches Snow in Woods: 13 inch average Surface Conditions: Packed powder Trails Open: 70 km Snowshoe trail: Open Total snowfall since November 1: 21.40 inches Dan was out grooming most of the day today with the snowcat. He groomed everything on the north side of Flour Lake as well as Wolf Point, West End Logging Camp and the North-South Link from Golden Eagle to the Beaver Dam Trail. He was able to take over the grooming from Bearskin on Ridge Run, the Upper Beaver Dam and Moose Pasture and did those for the first time this year with the snowcat, double tracking to help pack and level the trail. The lower Ridge Run needs more packing and Jonathan spent a couple of hours today on the snowmobile working on prepacking the trails in that area so hopefully next snowfall we’ll be able to groom those. We had a crew out yesterday on the section of trail in the Boundary Waters, hand brushing stubble and limbing trees. We’ll re-groom that section when this storm is through so we get as much new snow on the trail as possible. Our trails are really in great shape, especially those on the North Side of Flour Lake as well as West End Logging Camp. BANADAD Trail (maintained by Boundary Country Trekking) DATE: December 29, 2011 SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: Eleven inches NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 4-5 inches NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 6 inches GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: 10 km. - first mile of Banadad's east end, Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Knapp Trails. SNOWSHOE TRAILS: Five miles open ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Great Skiing; great snow more is expected |
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fitgers1 |
I wish I lived a lot closer to the Gunflint! |
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Banksiana |
Come to Ely to ski. |
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fitgers1 |
So, unofficial snow report for the Twin Cities. There is a small pile remaining on the north side of my garage. That's about it. This sucks! Wish I was up north with those of you that are! |
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tremolo |
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Banksiana |
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jwartman59 |
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gutmon |
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jwartman59 |
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mocha |
bearskin (lower gunflint trail system) here are a couple links to snow conditions. it's probably better to check blogs from the gunflint trail businesses, not sure how often the first link (GTA) is updated. |
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fitgers1 |
I think I am going to pack up and head to Bemidji for some afternoon ice fishing. |
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fitgers1 |
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moosedrool |
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mocha |
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tremolo |
quote mocha: "we got about 1-2 inches overnight, Trail Center reported 3 inches." You are the keeper of the rare snow gift, Mocha. Sounds wonderful. |
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mocha |
quote tremolo: "quote mocha: "we got about 1-2 inches overnight, Trail Center reported 3 inches." we are truly blessed, and we aren't complaining! it's beautiful. |
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mocha |
the groomer guy went out very late last night and groomed part of the system, and then went out about 5am this morning to do the other part of the system. the trails set up nicely when groomed during the night. |
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mocha |
nice to hear there are 65 young kids interested in skiing and being outdoors. |
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schweady |
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Banksiana |
The Sad- The trails and the snow are in Alaska. Met a high school team on the trails today, the coach said he has 65 kids on the team (grade 9-12). Unbelievable trails in town. Up and down and corners and firm set track. It is cold (high's around zero) and the snow is slow. Saw the biggest, lowest, brightest sundog I've ever seen today (sun is off frame to the right). |
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mocha |
maintained and groomed by Gunflint Pines, Heston's, Cross River Lodge and Gunflint Lodge New snow last 24 hours: .75 inch New snow last 7 days: 2.25 inches Trail Base: 6-8 inches of packed base Snow in the woods: 20 inch average Snow condition: Packed Powder, excellent ski conditions Total Snowfall since November 1 - 37.25 inches |
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mocha |
trails maintained and groomed by Golden Eagle Lodge and Bearskin Lodge New Snow Last 24 hours: 2.0 inches New Snow Last 7 days: 3.25 inches Trail Base: Snowcat packed - Average - 7-1/2 inches, High - 8 inches Snow in Woods: Low -17 inches, Average -19 inches, High - 20 inches Groomed with classic tracks: 70K Groomed for skating: 40 K Surface Conditions: Fresh packed powder Snowshoe trail: Open Total snowfall since November 1: 38.35 inches Conditions: Excellent Comments: The Groomers are out again today! We’ve had over 17 inches of snow this January and the trails are in excellent mid-winter condition. For the latest report you can call Golden Eagle at 1-800-346-2203 or 218-388-2203 or Bearskin at 218-388-2292 or 1-800-338-4170. |
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schweady |
First time this season on the Sigmund Ruud boards |
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gutmon |
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Kevlar |
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