Classic tracks at Maplelag were firm and in great shape Sunday on the trails we skied including Twin Lakes, Wavy Gravy, Sukkerbusk, North Loup, and JibFly. There was a good number of cars in the parking lot, and we crossed paths with very few skiers on the trail (likely due to the 70km of groomed trails at Maplelag). The temps were in the mid-30's when we finished about 2:45pm. We started with zeroes, then switched to skin skis and fish-scales and all worked well today, although the zeroes started icing about midday as the temps warmed. Very nice day with excellent skiing. Thanks to Jay and the grooming crew for keeping the trails in such fine shape.

(Glenn Gifford)

2" new snow past 48 hours. We completed grooming of the 90km groomed trail system, including the fat bike trails, this afternoon. Jonell and I classic skied on Twin Lakes loop at dusk and it was about as good as it gets. 15km groomed skate only, 50km groomed classic, 25km groomed for fat biking. There is also around 10km of non groomed trail for backcountry skiing.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

1-2" new snow this morning. All singletrack classic trails on the west and north part of the system groomed and reset today with the GInzu's. We ran the Pisten Bully on most of the inner classic trails than cut a track with the Ginzu. Inner skate trails groomed with Ginzu. Scheduling plans: Tomorrow we will be hosting the 30th DL Invite Nordic Ski meet. Trails used will be Sap Run, Mother North Star and Skaters Waltz from 10am-2pm. All other trails open. Grooming plans: The remainder of the trail system will be groomed Thursday evening and Friday morning and daily touch up grooming will continue as needed.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

It's been a great week of grooming, skiing and fat biking on 90km of trail. Subzero nights has set the base and deck up hard and daily rime frost has fallen to the deck making for really fun glide. We've opened up and groomed more singletrack classic trails to the north (Roy's Run) and have also groomed and tracked a loop on Bullhead lake that has access to the Bullhead quinzee shelter. 15 km groomed skate, 50km groomed classic and 25km groomed for fat biking.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Conditions being reported as very good to magical. This morning Sap Run, Sukkerbusk, Poki Loki, Mother North Star was Pisten Bully groomed with the front end renovator and double tracks set. JibFly singletrack groomed. All skate trails Ginzu groomed this morning as well. Tomorrow we will be hosting a JV/JR High race on Sap Run and Mother North Star from 10am-12noon. All other trails open for skiing during this time frame.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

A "Maplelag Magic" kind of day. Conditions reported as "Heavenly". Dusting of new snow overnight giving the deck a nice refresh. Skate lanes combed with the Ginzu this morning. After skate grooming I jumped in the Pisten Bully hitting Sap Run, Poki Loki, Mother Hen and Sukkerbusk trails. The front end renovator was going deep pulling up the moisture laden snow and setting fresh double track behind. Late afternoon skied with Jonell, Jake, Anna and granddaughter Eira the "Snow Baby" on the inner trails finding firm tracks with silky glide, just softer pole plants on singletrack classic only minor issue. Jake and I went to Island Lake and North Loup. After over 20 years of skiing the singletrack classic Island Lake together agreed it was one the best skis ever, conditions wise. North Loup track next to the skate lane had set up nicely as well.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Keith and I been working on 70km of trail this week. 45km classic, 15km skate and 10km fat bike grooming. All western trails are singletrack, North Loup groomed skate and classic. Inner trails a mix of double and singletrack. Fat Biking conditions still very soft, another grooming run planned in the morning should make it rideable for the weekend. We have been below freezing all week, today the temperature dropped down to the lower teens during the day. I have been skiing at nights, both skate and classic, to check out the day's grooming and tonight's skate ski with Jake was by far the best of the week, silky smooth fast gliding surface. Classic skiing has been excellent, just a little soft on the pole plants but should improve after more grooming Friday and through the weekend. The frost falling from the trees today covered some of the debris from the storms last week. With skier traffic about 5% of normal, the deer are wintering on the inner trails and have been using the groomed trails for passage.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Although grooming is on hold until the 26th, we've enjoyed some nice skiing breaking in the most recent snowfall on the most recent groomed trails and the backcountry trails. Merry Christmas from Maplelag!

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Once the temperature warmed up to -15 air temperature I groomed Mother North Star and Rootin Tootin setting new tracks. Also combed out Skaters Waltz. After grooming Jon and I skated on Skaters Waltz. Was slow going but deck was much firmer than expected. We double poled in some of the tracks and the glide was better in the tracks. Saw a few other people classic skiing.

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(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)

Skate trails groomed in morning. Classic skied this afternoon on the recently groomed and fresh set classic trails as super fluff snow was falling. Total new snow accumulating to 4-5". Temps near 0 and unusually low humidity made for pretty slow glide but the woods are flocked like we have never seen before making for a almost surreal experience. Went out grooming as the snow was wrapping up and set new track on Sap Run, Mother Hen, JibFly and Sukkerbusk.

Photos:

(Jay Richards, Maplelag Resort)