December 2, 2018 Grooming Report;
Thank you Trail Builders: Today’s report is brought to you by Neil and Laurie Winkler. The Winklers are feted at the 12k mark of the Noque’. Without folks like the Winklers we would not be able to enjoy the great skiing we have come to expect. So, if you see Neil or Laurie please say thanks.
Please Renew Your Membership: It is the first of December and now is the time to ante up and support the operation. Get your Trail Builder membership and you will be feted. Each day we will thank one of our Trail builders.
Special note to skiers: The Trail Head is Open: The Building will be open daily from 7am – 10pm with trail hosts at the desk generally from 10am-4pm daily for memberships, donations or equipment rentals. Please stop in and sign the guest log, warm your toes, or have a hot cocoa in front of the fire. The Trailhead is a great spot to head out for a ski, skijor, snowshoe, or fat bike adventure. With a jump start to the grooming thanks to early snow, we hope you have already gotten a few kilometers of skiing in. Our grooming crews for both skiing and singletrack will be out as conditions allow and ramping things up as more snow arrives. If you have any special requests or grooming input going into the season or as the winter progresses, please email [email protected]
You can sign up to receive daily ski grooming reports here. Skiers are reminded we have rental equipment at the trail head. Adult and youth classic and skate ski equipment as well as snow shoes can be rented daily from 10-4.
Forestville Real Grooming Report: Warm weather in the pre-dawn hours with heavy snow forecast during the day has the groomers parked until mid-day or later depending on the weather. See comments about optimizing such days in the WTLGR below.
Saux Head: Tim groomed and John rolled all trails Thursday. New snow today will be rolled as time permits. The trails are spectacular with great hills as well as rolling terrain. The views are beautiful and overlook Superior and Saux Head. The trail head is located 15 miles west of Marquette just off Co Rd 550; follow the signs.
Fit Strip: The low spots are still wet so trails are closed. We groom as weather permits so think cold and snow.
Big Bay Pathway: Too little snow in the woods so trails are closed. The Big Bay Trails are groomed for classic skiing and are through the rugged hills south of Big Bay. They are spectacular but need ample snow to cover the rugged terrain. We groom as weather permits so think cold and snow. Trails are just off Co Rd 550 in Big Bay.
Way Too Long Grooming Report: Skiing at the start of a blizzard is one of those great things in life. The conditions for skiing will be quite nice as the base is in place and the new snow will be only an inch or two (or 4-6 later in the day) and newly fallen snow has not become wind packed or settled. I find skate technique the best when the new snow is 2” or less and classic when the ski tips are covered by more than 2”. I switch to touring skis over 4” and snow shoes over 4’. I think the real trick to enjoying blustery conditions is the balaclava. Keeping wind off my neck and under ears makes me feel as in a space suit if you use the proper eye protection. You are watching this spectacular display of nature from this comfortable little room and you get to ski too. Just as alpine skiing in the mountains, half the fun of skiing (or more than half or less than half depending on the conditions and the weather) is being in the environment.
TLTR:
In the Too Long To Read section you will find information that will not be on the test. So, although one may find pearls of wisdom in this section, today’s conditions will only be a passing reference if at all.
December 1st is the traditional end to early season skiing and all the heads of state were out. We all have the same date circled on the calendar and time, just like the tide, waits for no one. So, it was appropriate they were singing Gounod’s Faust at the Met yesterday on WNMU. Who hasn’t tried to sell their soul to hang with the big dogs. So, I am out in an attempt for secret miles but find myself skiing with someone sporting enviable BMI. Pretending I was not breathing hard was getting difficult so I was pleased she turned back at the 17k bridge. I also must add, at 10AM I was the first skate skier to go down the hill at 10k. This business of skipping the hill without a dog is troubling. This could be the canary in the coal mine and western civilization could crumble. I mean, if you don’t have enough vinegar and that other substance 1k out… It is a great hill and I urge everyone to enjoy it both ways.
Sondo