Snow Sports Report
WTIP will publish the latest information we receive on snow and trail conditions and winter sports updates. Sports organizations, trail clubs, groomers, rink maintainers and others are requested to send updated information to wtip@boreal.org.
DOWNHILL SKIING AT LUTSEN MOUNTAINS
1/30: 4 mountains,63 runs and 9 lifts open. Beginner Progression Park open on White Wolf, terrain park on Moose Mountain now open with 3 jumps, 12 boxes and rails. Base is 18 - 36 inches, with power-tilled surface. Hours of operation are 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, and 9 AM to 4 PM Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. More information is available from ski@lutsen.com or 218-663-7281, or on the website, www.lutsen.com.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Sawbill Ski Trails, Sawbill Trail, Tofte
1/14: Sawbill Ski Trail was groomed this morning -- 7.5K of classic tracks starting in the Sawbill Campground at the end of the Sawbill Trail north of Tofte. 10" base, 15" of snow on the ground. More information at www.sawbill.com.
Sugarbush Trails, Lutsen-Tofte
1/27: With new tracks and skating lane set, the upper Onion River Rd continues to have the best conditions on the system. The rest of the system has fair conditions. The most snow is away from the lake on the Upper Onion River Road, Hogback, Homestead, Picnic and Moose Fence. Skate lane and track set on most trails. Caution around conifer trees. Their branches block the snow leaving rocks and roots exposed. Current trail conditions and information are available at www.sugarbushtrail.org.
Norpine Ski System
2/2: The best conditions are on Deeryard. Hall Massie and all connectors are groomed. Lousy skiing on Hall Massie in cedar-laden
areas. Tactical skiing on connector from Caribou to Lutsen except in some areas that are nice and flat. Deeryard Loops, Pioneer Loops, Cascade Connector, Hall/Massie and Caribou to Lutsen were groomed 2/1 and 2/2. Lower trails and loops have not been groomed. More information is available at www.norpinetrails.org.
Pincushion Mountain Ski Trail
1/31: 3" of new snow fell on Monday, grooming finished up in the early morning hours on Tuesday. All trails have been groomed for classic and skate skiing. The warming house is open from 10-9 each day and the lights stay on until 10 PM. More information is available at www.pincushiontrails.org or email nssrc@boreal.org.
Central Gunflint Ski Trail
1/24: There has been lots of snow in the last few days and both groomers are out again today! The two snowfalls since Saturday have added a couple of inches to the base and trails are in excellent shape. The latest reports are available from Golden Eagle Lodge at 800-346-2203 or 218-388-2203, or www.golden-eagle.com, or www.facebook.com/goldeneaglelodge, or Bearskin at 218-388-2292 or 1-800-338-4170.
Banadad Ski Trail, Gunflint Trail
1/28: There are 41k of tracked trails and six miles of snowshoe trails. Skiing is excellent. Information on the Banadad Trail is available at 388-4487 or on the website, www.banadad.org.
Upper Gunflint Nordic Ski Trail
1/27: The groomers report excellent ski conditions. Entire system was groomed as of Wednesday with the exception of South rim. South rim has a packed base with fresh snow on top for snowshoeing or back country skiing. Amperage and Magnetic rock trail remain closed. More information is available from Gunflint Pines Resort, www.gunflintpines.com, 800-533-5814.
ICE SKATING
Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais
The Cook County Community Center outdoor skating rinks and warming house are open for the season. Skates are available for rental for use .
Monday, Jan. 30 3;30 - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 1 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3 3:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Skating, hockey, and curling schedules are available online at www.cccommunitycenter.com, at the Community Center and at various locations around the county. More information is available at 387-3015.
SNOWMOBILING
Lutsen Trails
1/24: Trails that have been recently groomed are: Muehlberg, Deer and Caribou. There finally is enough snow to groom the trails up in the hills away from teh shore of Lake Superior. Some of the nicest and most scenic trails are groomed now and teh State Trail has been groomed as well. The services at service stations, resorts and restaurants are available although the snow conditions closer to the Shore are marginal. With more snow on the way, things are looking up.
DOWNHILL SKIING AT LUTSEN MOUNTAINS
1/30: 4 mountains,63 runs and 9 lifts open. Beginner Progression Park open on White Wolf, terrain park on Moose Mountain now open with 3 jumps, 12 boxes and rails. Base is 18 - 36 inches, with power-tilled surface. Hours of operation are 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, and 9 AM to 4 PM Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. More information is available from ski@lutsen.com or 218-663-7281, or on the website, www.lutsen.com.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Sawbill Ski Trails, Sawbill Trail, Tofte
1/14: Sawbill Ski Trail was groomed this morning -- 7.5K of classic tracks starting in the Sawbill Campground at the end of the Sawbill Trail north of Tofte. 10" base, 15" of snow on the ground. More information at www.sawbill.com.
Sugarbush Trails, Lutsen-Tofte
1/27: With new tracks and skating lane set, the upper Onion River Rd continues to have the best conditions on the system. The rest of the system has fair conditions. The most snow is away from the lake on the Upper Onion River Road, Hogback, Homestead, Picnic and Moose Fence. Skate lane and track set on most trails. Caution around conifer trees. Their branches block the snow leaving rocks and roots exposed. Current trail conditions and information are available at www.sugarbushtrail.org.
Norpine Ski System
2/2: The best conditions are on Deeryard. Hall Massie and all connectors are groomed. Lousy skiing on Hall Massie in cedar-laden
areas. Tactical skiing on connector from Caribou to Lutsen except in some areas that are nice and flat. Deeryard Loops, Pioneer Loops, Cascade Connector, Hall/Massie and Caribou to Lutsen were groomed 2/1 and 2/2. Lower trails and loops have not been groomed. More information is available at www.norpinetrails.org.
Pincushion Mountain Ski Trail
1/31: 3" of new snow fell on Monday, grooming finished up in the early morning hours on Tuesday. All trails have been groomed for classic and skate skiing. The warming house is open from 10-9 each day and the lights stay on until 10 PM. More information is available at www.pincushiontrails.org or email nssrc@boreal.org.
Central Gunflint Ski Trail
1/24: There has been lots of snow in the last few days and both groomers are out again today! The two snowfalls since Saturday have added a couple of inches to the base and trails are in excellent shape. The latest reports are available from Golden Eagle Lodge at 800-346-2203 or 218-388-2203, or www.golden-eagle.com, or www.facebook.com/goldeneaglelodge, or Bearskin at 218-388-2292 or 1-800-338-4170.
Banadad Ski Trail, Gunflint Trail
1/28: There are 41k of tracked trails and six miles of snowshoe trails. Skiing is excellent. Information on the Banadad Trail is available at 388-4487 or on the website, www.banadad.org.
Upper Gunflint Nordic Ski Trail
1/27: The groomers report excellent ski conditions. Entire system was groomed as of Wednesday with the exception of South rim. South rim has a packed base with fresh snow on top for snowshoeing or back country skiing. Amperage and Magnetic rock trail remain closed. More information is available from Gunflint Pines Resort, www.gunflintpines.com, 800-533-5814.
ICE SKATING
Cook County Community Center, Grand Marais
The Cook County Community Center outdoor skating rinks and warming house are open for the season. Skates are available for rental for use .
Monday, Jan. 30 3;30 - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 1 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3 3:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 4 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 5 1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Skating, hockey, and curling schedules are available online at www.cccommunitycenter.com, at the Community Center and at various locations around the county. More information is available at 387-3015.
SNOWMOBILING
Lutsen Trails
1/24: Trails that have been recently groomed are: Muehlberg, Deer and Caribou. There finally is enough snow to groom the trails up in the hills away from teh shore of Lake Superior. Some of the nicest and most scenic trails are groomed now and teh State Trail has been groomed as well. The services at service stations, resorts and restaurants are available although the snow conditions closer to the Shore are marginal. With more snow on the way, things are looking up.
