2019 April 9, (Not Really a) Grooming Report;
Shoulder season is a wonderful time in the U.P. I snuck out of the office today and was faced with the dilemma of choice. Humans have the wonderful and yet also terrible power of choice. Of course my choices tend towards the rather wonderful end of the spectrum. So, I was faced with skiing, snow shoeing, snow biking, road biking, kayaking and SUP. When God invented Stand Up Paddle Boards he/she opened up the anchor ice water sport season to a new dimension. Not only is it far easier to launch but the visual angle of attack allows far more water clarity. Calm spring water is more clear than any time of the year. Not every year is blessed with an anchor ice water sport season. This year’s ample ice pack came early. The winter storms pick up and pile sand on top of the near shore ice. Then, in spring the storms pile the float ice on top along with more sand. These bergs sit off shore and create a lagoon with mill pond flat water. On a good day you can duck in and out through openings in the ice. Now that water proof cameras are ubiquitous you too can glide past and capture images of these sentinels on the bay. See you out there.
See map below for trail closures due to logging.
FOLLOWING IS A RE-RUN GOING OVER COMMERCIAL FOREST AND THE NTN (PLEASE READ ONCE) In
Over 99% of the trails we ski, bike, run and walk are owned by private land owners. Most of the trails are on commercial forest land. These land owners wish to see their land used by skiers, bikers, runners and walkers for 99+% of the time. All they ask is that we understand they need to use the land for a few months per decade.
I really want both of you to understand how important our commercial forests are to life in the U.P. In much of the country where commercial forestry has fallen behind other uses as the highest and best use, trails like the entire NTN are not possible. Land in such areas is owned in small private blocks and the public is locked out.
Effective March 25th, parts of our trail system were closed for logging. One of the keys to the NTN’s success is the fact our users understand this symbiosis. Our part in this process is to stay out of the way of the loggers and thank them for their support. Logging is a dangerous and capital intensive operation. We need to help them be safe and look out for their equipment. Trails will be marked as closed and we trust you will stay away from the logging operations.
The land owners always wait until late in the year to allow as long a ski season as possible. In addition, they attempt to keep as much of the trail open as possible. Beginning next Monday, several sections of trail near the power lines will be blocked and logging trucks will be driving on them.
The NTN is committed to providing top quality skiing if at all possible. You have come to expect nothing less and we are used to providing nothing but. We will continue to groom trails between Co Rd 510 and the logging areas. Most skiers (especially the spring time skiers) know the best skiing is near Co Rd 510 anyway.
Sondo