What a beautiful weekend!  The first Bearskin Wilderness pursuit race was great fun.  Sam Holmes, a high school skier to watch in the future, won it all.  But more importantly, there was shared sense of camaraderie during and after the races that made the experience memorable.  We will do it again next year during Winter Tracks, for sure.  We learned a few things about race organization and race grooming that will make it go even more smoothly next time.

Bear Cub was groomed as skating only for the race, but is now back to skate and classic as usual.  Beaver Dam was used for the second day of the race and groomed up beautifully. It was tilled and regroomed with the pisten bully afterwards to get it back in good post-race condition.  The cold snap after tilling set the tracks up extremely hard and firm.

Wind the last few days has caused a little drifting on some trails, especially on the usual problem spot, the North South link. We may be able to get out tomorrow again to make a few repairs. 

There were many, many skiers out the past few days; most are thrilled with the current conditions. Overall skiers have been effusively enthusiastic about the excellent snow conditions this year, but the skiers who were here the past couple days might have been the happiest group of all.   Lots of snow, more daylight and the warmer, sunny afternoons have made for perfect ski vacations for our guests. 

Plus the astonishing bird population around the lodge right now is turning even ordinary “Is that bird a robin or a blue jay?” types into fascinated birders.  The bird watching has been exceptional. One guest told us on Sunday that birds were preventing her from skiing  — she was too preoccupied watching birds out her cabin window. 

There is a slight warm up and a little precipitation in the forecast for a couple days.  We have a LOT of snow–even if temps get up in the 30s and the precipitation turns out to be some rain, there will continue to be ample snow on our trails. March skiing is great.

Trail overlooking Flour Lake after some snow. Photo by Karen Reynolds.

It snowed periodically yesterday and nonstop all day today.  The flakes were small, so at first it didn’t look like there would be a significant accumulation.  But the snow was persistent, so we actually have quite a few inches of fresh snow.

Bear Cub and Oxcart were groomed yesterday, just to give skiers some fresh tracks.  Today the groomers impatiently watched the sky, waiting for the snow to stop so they could get out to do the trails.  It never stopped snowing enough for grooming to make sense. 

Skiers reported that Bear Cub had just enough snow in the tracks to make going down the steep hills easier.  Another pair of skiers who came across on trails from Golden Eagle reported that the fresh snow made the trip slower, but still just fine.  Tracks were still visible and, as one skier said, she “fell down less because the snow was slower.”

Bob has headed out now to do some evening grooming and try to beat tomorrow morning’s predicted cold snap. It’s going to get quite cold tonight, but then gradually warm back up tomorrow.   The weather forecast for the weekend is actually not too bad, with pleasant daytime skiing temperatures predicted.

Not much to report on trail conditions — trails continue to be good. Quinn went out on the weekend with the G2 just to clean up a few skate lanes.   We had many skiers comment this weekend that all of our trails were good, but those retouched trails were the best  they’d skied on up here.  We’re expecting a little snow tonight and if it does appear, we’ll groom tomorrow.

Today’s project is creating a sprint track on the lake for the Winter Tracks Festival sprint races, to be held this Friday.  The track is a large oval on the bay of East Bearskin Lake.  If you’re skiing our trails, feel free to go out on the bay and ski around and around on the track  if you’d like.

Don’t forget the Bearskin Wilderness Pursuit this weekend.  Read more at: http://bearskin.wordpress.com/  There’s still time to register for the individual races or the 2 days of pursuit.  The field looks like it will include some fairly competitive skiers, as well as a few who ski at a more leisurely pace.  It should be a fun race for every type of skier.

Beautiful skiing through the woods at Bearskin Lodge

Winter days just about don’t get more beautiful than the ones we’re experiencing at Bearskin right now. It’s 16 degrees this morning, with only a 3 mph hour wind, and sunny skies. The 12 inches of new snow we received in the last week is glistening white, and still clinging to the pine boughs. These are the winter days we often imagine but that Minnesota doesn’t always deliver. Needless to say, the skiing is wonderful.

As predicted, the groomers were out early this morning to do the entire system. Skiers today reported great conditions.

In town, Grand Marais had wicked wind this afternoon that made even a short walk unpleasant. We didn’t get that nasty wind at Bearskin, as we often seem to be a bit sheltered here. However, we assume that there were places on the ski trails that probably were affected by strong winds — expect to encounter some blown over spots over the next couple days.

Golden Eagle sent this report today about the trails:

Conditions: Good to Excellent Skiing for both Classic and Freestyle

Comments: With over 12 inches of new snow since the rain of last week the trails are in great shape. Dan groomed yesterday and is out again today with the snowcat. Take advantage of these great conditions and come up skiing!

It snowed persistently almost all day today, sometimes heavily, at most other times lightly.  Fewer skiers were out today compared to the busy weekend, but there was a fair amount of activity on the trails. Skiers reported the trails were still quite good, in spite of the new coating of powder in the tracks.

Groomers plan to get out in the morning if possible.

Our Valentine’s Day gift to skiers:  one of the most gorgeous ski days ever, with sunny blue skies,  pristine white snow clinging to tree branches, and great trail conditions.  It couldn’t be a nicer day to be on the Central Gunflint Ski Trails.

Bob went out early in the pisten bully to do Bear Cub this morning.  What a difference a day makes! Colder tempertaures had hardened up the snow nicely, so this time the groomer moved through the snow with no problems.  Quinn went out to do some touch-up grooming on the spots that were problematic yesterday, especially the hill down to Aspen Lake where he got stuck yesterday.

Bob measured the base in several spots this morning while out grooming Bear Cub and thought that about 13 inches seemed to the norm. 

Skiers are reporting lovely trail conditions.  Everyone is packing a camera in their pocket or pack today, as the pictures on the trails should be superb.