Sugarbush Trail Association Conditions are excellent and the surface should be considerably firmer than before due to a second or third pass with the groomers. The Sugarbush Trail Association reports Jan. 2 that there is a packed base of 10-20 inches, with total snowfall for the season measuring between 28 and 35 inches; 3-6 inches of snow fell during the past week. See www.sugarbushtrail.org for an update. Bearskin Lodge We ended 2010 on a great note — the trail system is in wonderful shape. Everyone assumed we were hit with the rain that most of Minnesota received at year’s end, but actually it had very little effect on our trails. We had a foggy, misty day without the downpour reported on the North Shore and in other parts of the state. The moisture turned to big flakes of snow and early the next morning about 4-6 inches of new snow had been added. All of the trail system on both sides was groomed. Poplar Creek had so many bent down trees (again) that Quinn had to stop the Pisten Bully constantly and get out the chainsaw, so he never got to Oxcart before dark. Our trees are all snow-covered, so it is very beautiful on the trails; skiers are reporting fantastic conditions. For all the latest, see bearskintrailreports.wordpress.com or call (218) 388-2292. Golden Eagle We received an inch and a half of new snow overnight Jan. 1, and have groomed the trails on the north side of Golden Eagle. We are in the process of grooming the west end Logging Camp and Ridge Run. Trails are in great shape. See golden-eagle.com for up-to-the-minute conditions and groomer’s report, or call (800) 346-2203. Banadad Trails Trail groomers tracked the east end of Banadad Jan. 2. Groomers found more brush from last week’s storm blocking the trail and hope to track the west end within the next three days. At the end of the year there was 18 inches of snow on the ground, and the packed trail base (where rolled) was 14 inches. For more information check the latest at boundarycountry.com. Gunflint Trail/Cook County Ridgeriders Forrest of Hungry Jack Lodge reports on Jan. 3: “Well it is still winter here on the Gunflint Trail. We did not get much rain when it got warm. If anything the little bit of rain we did get really helped the trails to firm up the base we already had. We had two storms that came through and dropped 6-8 inches of fresh snow. The groomers are out this morning getting the trails back into shape after the weekend. We had quite a few sledders come through last week and overall the trail reports were excellent. I have heard snow conditions around the Mid- West have deteriorated almost entirely.” According to snowmobiletrails.com, the best conditions are inland from Lake Superior, because most of the rain fell along the immediate shoreline. Trailheads in towns along the shoreline do not have adequate snow to use sleds in downtown areas — plan on launching over the hill from Superior for best conditions. Shele Tofte of the Cook County Ridgeriders said Jan. 4 that members have been out grooming, and there is a good base. “The trails are in wonderful condition with very little traffic,” she said. For more information, listen to the club’s recorded message at (218) 387-9392 or see boreal.org/RidgeRiders. Updated information on the Grand Portage trails may be had by calling the lodge at (218) 475-2401 or toll-free (800) 543- 1384. West End snowmobile trails The Superior Timber Wolves report Jan. 4 that all trails are being groomed weekly, the Tofte trail three times per week. Lower trails have ice in lower areas; please use caution when approaching ice at speed. Upper trails are groomed and in very good condition. Side-of-trail cut-back brushing continues weekly with the newly acquired brush bar, which sometimes leaves small branches on trail — sorry for any inconvenience. Additionally, reports Steve Bragg, all Lutsen trails have been recently groomed and are in great shape. “Enjoy the riding, our season is here,” he said. Pincushion Mountain Ski Trails The Sawtooth Races on Jan. 9 will provide opportunities for both classical and freestyle skiers and skiers of all ages and ability levels. There will be a 10K classical technique event, followed by a 20K freestyle event. Both will be run on a 10K loop utilizing intermediate level Pincushion Mountain trails. The entire trail system has been Pisten Bully groomed and conditions are excellent. Go to pincushiontrails.org for the latest conditions. Lutsen Area Groomer’s Jan. 1 comments regarding Cascade/Deeryard Lake: “We were out first thing this morning and have re-groomed the main Pioneer Loop and the main Deeryard Loop. Ski conditions are excellent.” Conditions on the Hall Massie/North Shore Trail: “We have groomed the Hall/Massie loops as well as the smaller deertracks and Whitesides loops near Solbakken. We will be grooming the connector to Cascade this afternoon and will be grooming the connector to Lutsen soon.” Visit norpinetrails.org for all the latest conditions.
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