Cross country ski pass sales statistics were recently released by Tom Danger, program manager for trails and waterways of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Holiday station store in Tofte, MN was the top seller of cross country ski passes in Minnesota with sales of 746 passes last season. The Minnesota DNR website was the number two seller. Coming in third in total ski pass sales in the state was the Clearview store in Lutsen with 395 total sales. Buck's Hardware in Grand Marais came in 5th and Cascade Lodge followed closely behind at 6th.

"This is a testimonial to the outstanding cross-country ski trails in Cook County, MN" said Greg Fangel, President of the Sugarbush Trail Association (STA) in Tofte. The 65k Sugarbush Trail system is located between Tofte and Lutsen in Northeastern Minnesota. STA has spent hundreds of man-hours and thousands of dollars getting the ski trails ready for the snow this winter. "I've never seen the trails in such good shape before the ski season", said Nathan Clay of Bluefin Bay Resort. Clay and members of the Sugarbush Trail Association, North Star Ski Touring Club and the local community spent days working on the trails, clearing brush and 'face slappers'.

Jeff Lynch, trail maintenance supervisor of the 65km Sugarbush Trail network agreed with Nathan Clay about the trails. "I spent 40 hours on a mechanized brushing machine, getting these trails ready for skiing. The trails look the best that I've seen". Lynch was also very appreciative of the cooperation that STA has had with the US Forest Service in Tofte.

Access to the Sugarbush Trails is accomplished at three different trailheads. Moosefence, which is 6 miles north of highway 61 on the Sawbill Trail; Britton Peak, two miles up the Sawbill Trail from highway 61 and the Oberg Trailhead, which is 3 miles from highway 61 on Forest Road 336 between Tofte and Lutsen.

This season a donation box was installed at the Oberg Trailhead to encourage skiers and supporters of the trail system to help with costs. "Trail maintenance and grooming costs for the Sugarbush system are approximately $385/km" said Joe Stasney, treasurer of the trail association. "Most people don't realize how much time, effort and money go into making the trails great." Sugarbush Trail Association is a 501-(c)(3) non-profit, publicly supported organization.

More information on the Sugarbush Trail System can be located at www.sugarbushtrail.org