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Author	Message Text
schweady	02/16/2017 12:10PM   We will be in Duluth for our annual Presidents Day weekend outing, and feel like the skis and snowshoes could just as well stay at home. Maybe bring the cleats to put on our boots and do some hiking, but most trail reports include the words "fast" and "icy" and "bare spots." The weekend forecast doesn't make it look like that will improve, either. (Although 50 degrees (!) in Duluth?! In February?!... we might still find a way to enjoy the outdoors in that...)
NotLight	02/17/2017 01:41PM   I ski in the little park by my house, or on the lake by my house. Usually after dark. Waxless skis. I'd love to do more, but no way I'd have time! This year I skied maybe only 15 times - no snow! That said, I just bought a new pair of classic (wax) racing skis, so I can at least do one race per year going forward. I tried my fastest waxless skis on a groomed trail. No fun! I might still finish close to last in a race, but I'm happy just to participate. With classics I feel I don't need to train or have great snow - I can just kind of plug along.
schweady	02/17/2017 02:35PM   Today, I talked with office staff at the state parks up and down Hwy 61. Sounds as if we'd have go at least as far NE as Tettegouche for any chance at some decent skiing. Their website still says 'very good' ski conditions, but that was posted more than a week ago. They promised that an update would be put up today. (And, I see that it is 45 degrees in Silver Bay right now...) Yes, there was a good snowfall there only a few days ago, but it doesn't last long in this. :-( Maybe we will toss in the 'shoes, but that's probably about it.
3Ball	02/16/2017 08:01AM   What a miserable snow year it was near the metro. I skied in Ely maybe 10 times, but only skied natural snow once other than that. The one time I did it I drove over an hour south to Red Wing. I worked hard on a 12 week plan to ski the Birkie. I finally gave up because I can't take 4 times a week driving 30 minutes to ski on a short loop of manmade snow. I skied the 35K, reduced to a 28 or so, at the Vasaloppet. That was very enjoyable, nothing wrong with the Vasaloppet at all. I have been skate skiing. I might essentially stop that and go back to waxless classics that I don't care about using over some debris etc. I think that would give me more opportunities. In fact, I am sure I would do that if my two boys didn't like skating so much.
NotLight	03/13/2017 04:33PM   There's 4" of new snow in the park by my house. I'll get one more really crappy ski in. Yay! Good news is there are sales. I bought racing classic skis to replace my 33 year old Fischers - 40% off. Based on the age and condition of my old pair, these new ones ought to last me til I'm dead.
Banksiana	03/13/2017 07:43PM   I have to say a pretty decent ski year. First ski at Hidden Valley (in Ely) at the end of November. A week in Bruksvallarna in December. Great skiing on the North Arm Trails in January (until the thaw). Some nice days in Montana in January and Idaho in February. Skating the lakes and Hidden Valley in March. With luck more skating on the lakes when I get home at the end of March. Not as many miles as last year, but getting close.