This morning I tried to ski the trail from the Hoyt Lakes parking area. Recent melt days have made the deck into a uneven bumpy frozen crust. A half inch of fresh powder helps, but it is an icy slip-sliding effort at best. All the groomed tracks are melted and/or filled in with melted snow. My skis tend to go sideways sometimes in these conditions. Hoping for more snow and re-grooming.

(Mark Roalson)

I went out on this trail early in the morning to avoid thawing and sticky snow. Conditions were great and I did the loop to the shelter from the Bird Lake Trail parking area to way points 8, 7, and 6 and back to the lot. There were interesting wildlife signs such as otter "half pipe" trails made by them gliding along on the snow. Their trails led to Lillian Lake and were seen near Bird Lake as well. They did not use the groomed ski trails except to cross them and then continued on through the woods. Nice to live in an area where wildlife can be observed and enjoyed. Thanks to the Forest Service crews for posting warnings to keep ATVs and snow machines out of the Trails.

(Mark Roalson)

Beautiful day for skiing, but a bit windy. Sunshine was refreshing (sunglasses needed) and good snow conditions on the trails. Skied the loop leading from the St. Louis River Road parking area and back again. Fortunately this section has not been accessed by unauthorized snow machines or ATVs.

(Mark Roalson)

Only did the trails west of the highway. Mostly easy going terrain and only had to step out of the tracks four times for some little downhill areas. Tracks are nice and deep except for a few areas which were good enough. All of the rocks and rough areas were perfectly covered. One glitch is the maps don't show the closed areas of marker 3 to marker 4 to marker 8 due to downed trees from summer storm. Due to a bad leg I chose to continue on to marker one then ski up the Moose Line Road to the highway in hitch a ride back to the parking lot.

Photos:

(Mark Peil)

I was going to start the trail at the access point south across the highway from the Bird Lake picnic area. However, a snowmachine had already messed up the trail. This was not a grooming machine issue, but a trespass. So I went and accessed the trail from the St. Louis River road parking area. The trail was nicely groomed, as well as the SLRRoad itself, which was a nice surprise. Thanks to the Laurentian crew for doing a great job grooming.

(Mark Roalson)

First tracks on precision groomed, classic only trails! Soft and snow dusted lanes, made the trip to Hoyt Lakes and back extra casual, but the solitude of this old trail system is just the best. Many thanks to the Laurentian U.S. Forestry for maintaining this local gem.

Photos:

(Cheri Johnson)

Trail is in great shape after grooming other than the open areas that got drifted in from the high winds Thursday. Grooming plans: we hope to get back out again next week again and groom over the drifted areas.

(Dave Coy)

I started at the trail access south across from the Bird Lake picnic area on St. Louis County Highway # 110. I skied to the shelter loop and back to the parking lot. The trails were excellently packed and groomed. Thanks to the Forest Service crew who did the work.

(Mark Roalson)

Finished grooming the rest of the trail (East of Hoyt Lakes parking lot to the St.Louis River Rd). Trail groomed nicely leaving a good track, still some rocky areas, over all good. Hopefully snow soon. Enjoy!

(Dave Coy)

Set tracks on most of trail system except loop 5 to 4 to 8. Trail groomed up poorly as there's still not enough snow and there is exposed rocky areas. Use caution and use older skis if you have them. Scenery is beautiful though.

(Dave Coy)