Total snowfall since November 1:  64.20 inches

Spring skiing is here with solid trails in the morning and softening during the day.  For the most current conditions, call us.

The temps are great, but the conditions vary by the hour. The ski trails firm up overnight with below freezing temperatures, and then get soft in during the day.  Here are some tips:

Classic:  Best skiing is in the morning while the tracks are still firm from setting up over night.  The tracks may have a glaze of ice if the temperature is still below freezing, but that will go away soon when the snow warms up.  At some point the firmness and structure go out of the snow and the tracks get soft.  The best wax for these conditions is: waxless skis.  Conditions change so fast

Freestyle:  Ought to be really good early.  Use a soft glide wax and get out there while the skate deck is still frozen and firm. At some magical moment the whole thing will collapse and you’ll have to slog back to the lodge.

Snowshoeing:  Still great!

We’re hoping these unusually warm temps don’t last. We expect to get more snow.  It’s not uncommon for us to still have snow in early May.  This weather is probably just a teaser.

It snowed again last night, giving us a brilliantly white new coating of snow over the older base. A few warmer days last week had resulted in a  stiff top layer of snow.  Last night’s new snow gave the groomers fresh powder to work with today.

The challenge will be to get through the warm temps forecast for the next few days with our snow base intact.  We have a lot of snow; it won’t disappear just because a few days could be above freezing.  But we’ll all be very happy if the high temperatures turn out to be a bit cooler than predicted. Like everyone, we look forward to spring — just not quite yet.

We’ve fallen a little behind in blog updates, but the basic trail report summary is: Lots of snow, well-groomed trails, and beautiful weather.  You should be here skiing!

It snowed again all day Friday, adding another 3″ to 5 ” of fresh snow to our already substantial snow base. Groomers have been out since before dawn, so trails are ready to go.  It’s beautiful out there — pleasant temps, no wind, snow coated trees, sparkling fresh powder, and a continuing light snowfall in the air.

You need to be here.

We received around 3 inches of new snow in the last 24 hours. Groomers are out on the trails.

“One day. Hundreds of skiers. Every centimeter of North America’s largest groomed Nordic system. Join us for the Volks Ski 400 on Saturday, Feb. 11 during the 2012 Winter Tracks Festival and become part of the team that collectively tackles all 400 km in one day. Sign up for a section of trail with a team or on your own, and ski your way into Volks Ski history.”

That was the plan for Cook County’s Volks Ski 400, and it was a great plan — if only all 400 K of ski trails had snow. Alas, in this peculiar winter a fair number of the Cook County ski trails make better hiking paths at the moment. Realistically, all 400 K of ski trails probably can’t get covered in one day this year. Lucky for us, Bearskin and the Central Gunflint Trail System have plenty of snow. A group of Bearskin guests and staff members gathered together this morning to attempt to ski all of our 70+K of our trail system this afternoon.

It’s a bit brisk out there today, with a current temp of -2 ° and a -18 ° windchill — one of the few cold days we’ve had this winter. But everyone was well-dressed for the conditions and prepared for a challenge, so we think we’ll get it done before 3:30. Some people will do almost anything for a cool T-shirt.

Consider being part of this event next year. More info at: http://www.volksski.com/

Karen and Tom Reynolds documented their location during the Volks Ski