Banadad Trails - All 41 kilometers tracked

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 17"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 8"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0"

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 0"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: 41 Kilometers- entire Banadad Trail System open and traced;

 LAST DAY GROOMED: January 4

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles of trail open- Some slush on Swamp Lake

 

First Tracks Set; More to Come

Northeast Minnesota's

Banadad Ski Trail

An intimate classical groomed trail through the BWCA (map)

Snow Conditions

DATE: December  19, 2013

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 16"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 6"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 3-4"

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 6"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: Lace Lake and Tall Pine Trails (6.5 KM.) tracked; Banadad packed awaiting new snow to set tracks

LAST DAY GROOMED: December 17

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles of trail open

Year's First Major Snow Storm

The seasons first major snow fall left 13 inches on the Banadad and adjoining trail. We are out barrel rolling the Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Part of the Banadad. Still lots of work to do to open the remove BWCA sections of the Banadad.

Get Your Skiis Ready- The Ski Season will Soon Be Here

November 23 East end of the Banadad-  This fall maintenance crews and volunteers have been out on and cleared all but about two kilometers of the Banadad's thirty kilometer. That last few kilometer yet to be completed will be opened as soon as the snow arrive and the groomers can start packing.  

As of now there is only an inch of snow but the last two nights the temperature has dipped below zero which is a very good thing. This will allow any standing water along the trail to freeze hard enough to get the grooming equipment through. With this cold weather what is needed now is snow to start packing the trail. Think Snow!

Great Skiing - winter is not over

Skiing is Excellent - Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 17" We have had a lot of snow lately but it has settled.

TRAIL BASE: a lot

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 6"

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS:8" 

 

Banadad Tracked from eastern trail head to  Meads Lake Portage- 7 kilometers

Winter is still here. Why not get out and enjoy it folks

Great Skiiing on the Banadad Trails

Skiing is Excellent - Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 20" 

TRAIL BASE: 10"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS:  4" 

 All trails tracked; ski conditions could not be better

New Snow- Great Skiing Continues.

Skiing is Excellent - Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 19" 

TRAIL BASE: 8"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS:  3" 

Banadad traced from eastend out 7 km, Lace and Tall Pines tracked March 10. Remainder of the Banadad to be tracked mid this week. Great skiing conditions

Banadad Trail Association

Skiing Remains Excellent-all trails tracked

Skiing is Excellent - Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 18" While we had additional snow the existing snow settled a little

 

TRAIL BASE: 8"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS:2"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS 4" 

 

All 41 kilometers of the Banadad and adjoining trails tracked. Lots of fresh snow. The trails are beautiful. 

Excellent Skiing Continues

Skiing is Excellent - Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 20"

 

TRAIL BASE: 8"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS:8"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS 11" 

 

All 41 kilometers of the Banadad and adjoining trails tracked. Lots of fresh snow. The trails are beautiful. 

Skiing is Excellent

Skiing is Excellent

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:15"

 

TRAIL BASE: 5-7"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 3"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAY: 5"

TRACKED TRAILS:   41 kilometer 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing excellent. All trails tracked. Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Knopp and entire Banadad.  Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association

Skiing is Excellent

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:14"

 

TRAIL BASE: 5-7"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS Trace

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAY: 3

TRACKED TRAILS:   41 kilometer 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing excellent. All trails tracked. Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Knopp and 7 kilometers of the eastern end of the Banadad tracked today,  January 31. Skiing is excellent.  Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association

Fresh Snow Ushers in Great Skiing

ALL TRAILS TRACKED AND OPEN

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:14"

 

TRAIL BASE: 5-7"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAY: 9"

TRACKED TRAILS:   41 kilometer 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing excellent. All trails tracked, included the 30 km BWCA's Banadad, tracked two days ago.  This past weekends snow fall has made for the best skiing of the year.  Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association

ALL TRAILS TRACKED AND OPEN

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

DATE: January 10, 2013

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  9

TRAIL BASE: 2-3"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAY: 1"

TRACKED TRAILS:   41 kilometer 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing fair to excellent. All trails tracked included the 30 km BWCA's Banadad. Some center stubble showing through all trails. Lace Lake and Tall Pines trails still is quite bumpy (not enough snow to level). Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association

Excellent Skiing on Banadad's Eastern End

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

 

DATE: January 3, 2013

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  8-10

Trail  Base: 3-4"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 1/2"

TRACKED TRAILS:   12 kilometer

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Banadad tracked from eastern trail head 7 km to the Mead's Lake Portage. Skiing on this section of the Banadad is excellent.  Lace Lake  and Tall Pines Tracked - 5 km. Ski on these trails fair to good.

Remaining 23 km of the Banadad to be tracked on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association

Twelve KM. Tracked on Banadad Trails' Eastern End

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

 

DATE: December 22, 2012

 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  5-6"

 

Trail  Base: 2-3"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

3-4

 

TRACKED TRAILS:   12 kilometer - some brush still showing through on trail.

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Banadad tracked from eastern trail head 7 km to the Mead's Lake Portage; Lace Lake  and Tall Pines Tracked - 5 km The maintenance crew has  cleared and packed the remainder of the Banadad and awaiting more snow to tracked.

 

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association.
 

Eastend of Banadad - 7 km tracked- Need More Snow

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

 

DATE: December 20, 2012

 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  5-6"

 

Trail  Base: 2-3"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: Trace

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: Trace

 

TRACKED TRAILS:   7 kilometer - some brush still showing through on trail.

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: The maintenance crew has  cleared and packed the Banadad and adjoining  trails- 41 km. 

 

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association.
 

Lodging along the Trail at  Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt- 218-388-4487

Banadad Cleared But Awaiting Snow

Yesterday, the Banadad maintenance crew completed clearing the Banadad of last of the summer's accumulation of down trees and brush. There is only a couple inches of base on the east end of the trail and even less on the west end. The Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Knopp Trails, which are outside the BWCA,  were cleared and mowed earlier.  Because of the shallow base skiing is not recommended.  We are now awaiting snow to track; we will keep you posted on conditions.

Need More Snow Before Tracks Can be Set

 

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map 

 

DATE: December 12, 2012

 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  5-6"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: Trace

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS:  3-4"

 

TRACKED TRAILS:   Not open for skiing; awaiting more snow

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: The maintenance crews are out clearing and packing the trails. The crews are hoping the trails will be completely cleared and ready for more snow by December 18. However another 6-8" inches of snow will be required before the trails can be tracked for skiing.

 

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association.
 

Lodging along the Trail at  Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt- 218-388-4487

bct@boundarycountry.com

Winter is Here- Get the Skis Out

Last Wednesday night eight inches of fresh snow fell on the Banadad. Four more inches fell yesterday. Plenty of snow to ski. Have not started to groom since the two snowmobiles we use are in Lutsen  getting tuned up for the season  Hopefully we will be out this week working on the Banadad and other trails. This does not mean you can not ski, it just means the trails are not tracked yet.

Banadad Closed for Season

Last skiers on the trail was March 17. See you next year. Not sure what happened to winter.

Banadad Still Ski Able

The temperatures has been in the 40s even up 50 over the past week but the Banadad is still up for you to get in that last spring ski.   While the tracks on the Banadad have melted away. There is still plenty of snow throughout the
trail, with few if any bare spots. A couple of groups of skiers were on the trail yesterday and said the
skiing was fine.

East End Trails and Banadad to mid-trail Retracked

Ski Continues to be excellent! Two more inches of snow.

Skiing is Excellent

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

DATE: March 2, 2012

 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  25"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: Trace

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS:  Eight inches

 

TRACKED TRAILS:   41 kilometers- Banadad tracked three days ago, Lace, Tall Pines and Knapp tracked yesterday.

 

SNOWSHOE TRAILS:  Open and in great shape

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Sking is excellent

 

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association.
 

Lodging along the Trail at  Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt- 218-388-4487

More Beautiful Snow

Last night the mid Gunflint Trail area received eight inches of new snow. On the ground there is now twenty-eight inches of snow. Groomer are out today working on the trails. Because of the depth of the snow-fall two snowmobiles are required.- one snowmobile to compact the snow  followed by another snowmobile tracking. Hope to have all the trails opened and tracked by late tomorrow. 

Skiing Continues to be Excellent

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

DATE:

 

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:14"

 

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 2.5 inches

 

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 2.5 inches

 

TRACKED TRAILS:   41 Kilometers- Banadad Tracked today; ast end trails tracked yesterday

 

SNOWSHOE TRAILS:   Open

 

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing is excellent

 

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association.
 

Skiing is Excellent

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

DATE: January 28, 2012

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  14-15 inches

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS:  5 inches

TRACKED TRAILS:  41 Kilometers - Banadad, Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Knapp

SNOWSHOE TRAILS:  Open 5 miles

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing is excellent

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association.

Lodging along the Trail at  Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
    phone: 218-388-4487

All Trails Tracked

The entire Banadad Trail System is now tracked. The Banadad was tracked January 13 and the Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Knapp trails were tracked January 12. East end of Banadad and adjoining trails the skiing is excellent. The west end of the Banadad skiing is only fair. More snow is need on trail's west end.

Currently there is 13-14 inches of snow in the woods.

Great Snow Conditions: Great Skiing

 

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota.  Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

DATE: January 2, 2012

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 12"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 3"

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 6"

TRACKED TRAILS:   10 km.-  East end trails all tracked. Reminder of Banadad to be tracked on January 4 and 5.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS:   5 miles open

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Great snow conditions; great skiing

Trail Maintained and Groomed by the Banadad Trail Association.
 

Lodging along the Trail at  Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt    phone: 800-322-3227

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Awaiting That first Good Snowfall

Sorry folks! We have had a few days of light freezes and a few snow flakes but no real snow yet. However we are working hard to get the Banadad ready for winter. It could be here any day.

Late Spring Skiing

Snow on Ground – 18 inches

Packed Trail base – 16  inches
New snow last 24 hours –6

New snow last 7 days –  8

Groomed and Tracked – Tracked Banadad East, Knapp, and Lace Lake- 9 Km.

Comments-Excellent skiing. With the fresh snow the trail is beautiful.  Morning expect some icy conditions; warning conditions in PM. with softer track

Spring Skiing

Early Spring Skiing conditions

Snow on Ground – 18 inches

Packed Trail base – 16  inches
New snow last 24 hours –0

New snow last 7 days –  0

Groomed and Tracked – 41Kilometers- East end of Banadad, Lace Lake, Tall Pines Trails retracted March 25

 

Comments-Good to excellent skiing.  Morning expect icy conditions; warning conditions in PM. with softer track

 

Early Spring Skiing conditions

Snow on Ground – 18 inches

Packed Trail base – 16  inches
New snow last 24 hours –0

New snow last 7 days –  0

Groomed and Tracked – 41Kilometers

 

Conditions- day temperatures predicted to be in 30s this week; Cooler at night. Trail maybe icy in morning. Track in great shape.

Great Skiing

 

Snow on Ground – 20 inches

Packed Trail base – 16  inches
New snow last 24 hours – dusting

New snow last 7 days –  3 inches

Groomed and Tracked – 41 kilometer ready to go- Banadad, Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Knapp Trails tracked.

Comment- Skiing is excellent

Could use More Snow

Snow on Ground – 20 inches

Packed Trail base – 16  inches
New snow last 24 hours – 3 inches
New snow last 7 days –  3 inches

Groomed and Tracked –Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Knopp and 3 kilometers of Banadad tracked today - Feb 20.
Comment-  Three inches of light powder over rock hard.frozen base. Skiing is fair

Great skiing on the Banadad

Snow on Ground – 25 inches

Packed Trail base – 20  inches
New snow last 24 hours – trace
New snow last 7 days –  4 inches

Groomed and Tracked –Banadad, 31 km tracked Feb4; Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Seppala 6.4 km tracked Feb 3.
Comment- . The Banadad was re-groomed yesterday and according to Jim, who did the grooming, the snow laden brush that has been hanging into the trail is beginning to disappear. Jim went on to say the, "Trail is in the best shape of the year." 

 Banadad Access Trail at Bedew Yurt Camp

Banadad Trail Snow Conditions

Snow on Ground – 19 inches

Packed Trail base – 14  inches
New snow last 24 hours – trace
New snow last 7 days –  4 inches

Groomed and Tracked – Banadad retracked- January 12; Lace Lake, Tall Pine and Knapp Tracked January 10

Snowshoe Trails - 5 miles open and mapped

Banadad Opened and Tracked- January 7

Snow on Ground – 19 inches

Packed Trail base – 14  inches where rolled
New snow last 24 hours – track
New snow last 7 days –  4 inches
Groomed and Tracked – Banadad 30 km, Lace Lake 6 kilometers and Tall Pines  3 kilometers. .

More Information click-on Banadad Trail Association

East End of Banadad Tracked

Trail Groomers tracked the east end of Banadad yesterday. Groomers found more brush from last weeks storm blocking the trail. Hope to track the west end within the next three days.

Banadad New Years Eve- Snow Conditions- December 31, 2010

Snow on Ground – 18 inches

Packed Trail base – 14  inches where rolled
New snow last 24 hours –  4-5  inches
New snow last 7 days –  4-5 inches
Groomed and Tracked – Banadad eastend-  tracked 4 kilometer, Lace Lake Tracked 6 kilometers and Tall Pines  tracked 3 kilometers. .

More Information click-on Banadad Trail Association

Addition Information- Perfect snow condition; set a great track Plan to start tracking the reminder of the Banadad Tomorrow

Banadad Opened and Roll East End Trails Tracked

Banadad Ski Trail- December 23, 2010

Snow on Ground – 16 inches

Packed Trail base – 13  inches where rolled
New snow last 24 hours – 0 inches
New snow last 7 days –  5 inches
Groomed and Tracked – Banadad eastend- 4 kilometer, Lace Lake Tracked 6 kilometers and Tall Pines 3 kilometers

 

Additional information- entire Banadad opened and rolled as of December 21. October wind storm and Novermber rain/snow resulted in the dropping of many trees and ice/snow covered brush into the trail. This made opening the trail very difficult. 

Banadad Snow Conditions- First Tracks Set, December 11, 2010

Banadad Ski TrailSnow on Ground – 20 inches

Packed Trail base – 14  inches where rolled
New snow last 24 hours – 0 inches
New snow last 7 days –  6 inches
Groomed and Tracked – Lace Lake Tracked 6 kilometers and Tall Pines and Banadad 11.2 kilometers Rolled-
More information – go to  Banadad Trail Association

Good Early Winter Snow Conditions

Banadad Ski TrailSnow on Ground – 15 inches

Packed Trail base – 6-8 inches where rolled
New snow last 24 hours – 4 inches
New snow last 7 days –  9 inches
Groomed and Tracked – Lace Lake and Tall Pines Rolled-
More information – go to  Banadad Trail Association

November's Snowfall

Almost enough snow

We now have 8" of snow on the ground but because the ground has yet to freeze we cannot get on to the trail to begin compacting and rolling the snow in preparation for setting tracks.  However the from the east end the first 3-4 kilometers are ski able.

Banadad Closes for Season

Sorry folks the snow is gone; the Banadad is no longer ski-able. See you next winter.

East end of Banadad Still Open for Skiing

There still is enough snow left from the east end of the trail to the lisz lake portage to ski. Tracks are about gone, bare spots on the sides of the trail and 3 kilometers out at the first swamp the snow is gone for about 50 meters across the beaver swamp.

Banadad Ski Trail Snow Report

Banadad Ski Trail - Saturday March 13, 2010-  Trail Map

Snow on Ground	0- 10
Packed Trail Base	6-8”
New Snow last 24 hours	0
New snow last 7 days	0
Groomed and Tracked	Banadad –8 km- west from eastern trailhead. Entire Bandad 30 km has mostly 6"-8" of continuous snow cover. Only eastend tracked.
Conditions Rated	Good spring skiing -continuous snow cover on trail Bountry Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse

               

bct@boundarycountry.com

 

Boundary Country Trekking/Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B
800-322-8327       218-388-4487
11 Poplar Creek Drive                 218-388-2253 Fax
Grand Marais MN 55604          
        
Before printing this e-mail, assess if it is really needed                

Banadad Ski Trail - Feb 26, 2010-  Trail Map

Snow on Ground	23 inches
Packed Trail Base	16”
New Snow last 24 hours	none
New snow last 7 days	trace
Groomed and Tracked	Banadad 31 km, Tracked -Feb. 19 Lace Lake 5 km, Tracked Feb. 24 Tall Pines 2 km , Tracked Feb 24
Conditions Rated	Skiing excellent; great snow conditions. For More Information: www.banadad.org

Trail Conditions

Banadad Ski Trail - January 14, 2009-  Trail Map

Snow on Ground	25 inches
Packed Trail Base	16”
New Snow last 24 hours	traces
New snow last 7 days	1 1/2 inches
Groomed and Tracked	Banadad 31 km, Tracked Jan. 12 Lace Lake 5 km, Tracked Jan. 11 Tall Pines 2 km , Tracked Jan.  11
Conditions Rated	Skiing good to excellent - some brush on trail from trail clearing following ice storm great snow conditions. For More Information: www.banadad.org

               

Storm Clearing Continues on the Banadad

Trail Alert- Portions of the Banadad Ski Trail remain closed due to the accumulating on alder brush and small trees caving them into the trail and making the trail impassable.  Crews of two to four people composed of Boundary Country Trekking's staff, members of the Banadad Trail Association and other Gunflint Trail residents have been out daily clearing the trail but the going is slow, wet and cold. It has been taking the crews four to five hours per mile to clear the brush. Thus far the Lace Lake and Tall Pines Trails are open and tracked. Twenty kilometers of the Banadad's thirty kilometers have been cleared. It is expected that the remainder of the Banadad should be cleared and re-opened by Februrary 10. Stay tuned folks!

Re-Opening of Banadad Moves Along

The good news is the Lace Lake and Tall Pines are once again open for skiing. However much of the Banadad is still blocked by ice covered brush. Opening of the trail is moving ahead as crews are out daily cutting the brush off the trail. The going is slow!  Crews report that it is taking about hour to five hours per mile to clear the clutter. As of yesterday, Tuesday, about one half of the Banadad has been cleared.

Lots of Snow- Re-grooming Begins

With some 12 inches of heavy wet snow dropping brush along the trail into the trail now frozen in place, the job of opening and re-tracking of the Banadad begins today. We plan to send out two snowmobiles early this morning- one to compact the snow the other to set tracks. As the pair travels along the trail the brush blocking the trail will have to been cleared. While the  crew hopes to open and the entire 30 kilometers of the Banadad, it is not certain if they will be able to complete the job today. Stay tuned folks! We will keep you posted.

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 12-14”

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 8”

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS:  Trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS:  2”

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL:  All trails- 40  km.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: Open and in good shape

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Good to excellent skiing

ADDITIONAL COMMENT:  Looking for more snow this coming weekend

The forty-kilometer. Banadad Trail System is managed by the Banadad Trail Association under an agreement with the Gunflint Ranger District USFS. Grooming and Maintenance is provided by Boundary Country Trekking. Minnesota Ski Pass and BWCA Day Permit required on trail. Free parking available at both the eastern and western trailheads.

Snow Report December 29, 2009

Bandad Ski Trail- Conditions good to excellent. Snow depth of fifteen inches on eastend of Banadad  and lesser amounts of snow on westend. Banadad, Lace Lake and Tall Pines Trails all tracked. Some brush still showing through the snow particularly in the westend.

Season's First Tracks set on Banadad

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS:  9"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 4-5"    

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS:  4"
NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: - trace

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: 8 KM.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: awaiting more snow

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: The Banadad from the east end trailhead to Lizz lake Portage 2.5 KM - very good to excellent tracked skiing. Seppala and west side of Tall Pines Trails tracked fair skiing. Remainder of Banadad Trail System packed ski able but awaiting more snow to track.

The forty-kilometer. Banadad Trail System is managed by the Banadad Trail Association under an agreement with the Gunflint Ranger District USFS. Grooming and Maintenance is provided by Boundary Country Trekking. Minnesota Ski Pass and BWCA Day Pass required on trail. Free parking available at both the east and west trailheads.

Snow, Cold Weather - Trail Packing and Opening to Begin

December 3- The last three days have seen the temperature getting down into the lower teens. This morning it stood at ten degrees. We have some snow, about three inches and more on the western end of the trail. It is not enough snow to stop the standing water along the Banadad from freezing. Another inch or two of snow and we should be able to get onto the trail with snowmobiles to pack and clear as we go. Still shooting for a December 15th opening of the Banadad and a bit earlier for the eastern Banadad trails. Stay tuned!

It is expected that Boundary Country will begin packing and opening the trail this Saturday.

Getting the Banadad Trails Ready for Skiing

Our trail maintenance  began this year in August when a crew of five people from the Minnesota Concervation Corp sent-up camp some four miles from the west end of the Banadad. Working from this camp land and from an another camp at the Bedew Lake Yurts the crew working ten hours days widen and clearied most of the western end of the Banadad. Eight days later the crew had logged 400 hours of labor widening two miles and clearing the down trees from a storm this past suimmer along five more miles of the trail.

Aided by Pete Harris, Ted and staff moved replacement bridge beams into the Croft Yurt on Sept 12 and 12 and opened the Moose Trail to the Croft yurt with chainsaws and using hand saws cleared from the Yurt to the Bridge site. unfortunately we will have to wait now until next spring to get the beams into the bridge.

Then is September the three mile section of the eastend of the trail outside of the BWCA was opened by Ted and staff using an ATV and Chainsaws.

October 22-25,  saw five members of the Northstars Ski Touring Club with the help of staff from Boundary Country Trekking clearing the first 1 1/2 mile of the western end of the Bananad and the removal oft many large trees along a 3 mile streatch of the trails west end.that had fallened in a storm earlier this summer. The following two days the North Stars cleared the Lace Lake Trail. In all the five member North Stars crew put-in some 128 hours of hand labor on the trail.

Two weekends later five members of Adventure Vacations, a Twin Cities travel company hiked 1 1/2 miles in along the old Winchell Lake Fire Trail, west of Poplar Lake and then cleared west about 1 1/2 miles almost to the Lodgging Camp The group logged about  35 hours.

Still more work to due so stay tuned!

First Snow on the Gunflint

First snow of the season! Over the last two days the mid-Gunflint Trail area has registered about three and one-half inches of snow. More is predicted through Monday. But don't break-out your skis just yet. The trails still need more work; the swamps and ponds along the trails are not frozen and it is quite likely we will have some more warm weather before we finally settle into our winter season sometime around mid November.

Minnesota Conservation Corp takes on the Banadad

A five-person crew from the Minnesota Conservation Corp (MCC) spent eight tough days widening the remote interior of the Banadad Ski Trail. The crew hiked in from the west end trailhead, setting up camp at the bench midway to the Bedew Lake Yurt Camp. After several days clearing the trail on either side of their camp, the crew then moved onto Bedew where the sent several more days widening the trail from the yurts to the midtrail junction. When they finally hike out from Bedew the crew had widen two full miles and cleared many down trees blocking the eight miles of the trail they covered.

It is speculated that the down trees were the result of a nasty hail-wind storm cell that hit the western end of the Banadad on August 13. Luckily it appears the storm missed the trail’s eastern end.

Now with this year’s work by MCC some eight remote interior miles of the Banadad have been widen over the last four years. Yet to be widened is about one and one-half more miles some of which it is anticipated will be taken-on this fall.

Bandadad Trail Receives Grant for Trail Improvements

The Minnesota DNR recently announce that the Gunflint's Banadad Trail Association will receive a $4500 grant to upgrade the 3.5 Kilometer Tall Pines Ski Trail located south of the Lace Lake Trail and near the Banadad Trail's eastern end. The project will inable the Association to hire a contractor with a bulldozer to level and clear rocks and stumbs from the surface of the previously hand-cut trail.

The trail was first marked in the fall of 2005. Later the North Stars Ski Touring Club and the Minnehaha Acadamy's Ski Team help to hand clear the trail. However the trail has been to rough to be very usefull as a ski trail. It is expected the latest trail work should be completed by this fall and the improved trail ready by this winter season.

The trail was built to extend the Lace Lake Ski Trail and to connect the Trail with lodging facilities at the Tall Pines Yurt camp with

Gunflint Nordic Ski Trails Carbon Off-Set to Gunflint Green Up

Nordic Skiing is normally considered an eco-friendly sport, northeast Minnesota’s Gunflint Nordic ski trail managers have taken this one step further. The Central and Upper Gunflint Ski Areas connected by the Banadad Ski Trail known collectively as the 210 Kilometer Gunflint Nordic Ski System this year went carbon neutral.

The trail managers calculation the cost of sequestering the carbon emissions produced from the maintenance and grooming of the trails based on information from the Chicago Climate Exchange, “Regional Estimates of TreeAnnual Carbon Accumulation,” and the Gunflint Ranger District, USFS tree plant cost estimates.

Then, yesterday, May 5, at the Gunflint Trail Association’s Spring Meeting ski trail representatives presented a $896 “carbon off-set” check to Nancy Seaton, Gunflint Green Up chairman, The money will be used as seed money for next year’s tree planting. Since the Gunflint Trail’s 2007 Ham Lake Fire, the Gunflint Green Up has annually purchased young trees and organized volunteers to plant the trees. To date the Green Up has planted over 100,000 new trees in the area burned over by the Fire.

According to Ted Young, Banadad Trail manager, “It was a great snow year for the Gunflint’s ski trails. That translated into lots of grooming hours. And as a result we put lots of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere- by our calculation the maintenance and grooming of the Gunflint’s three ski systems created some fifteen metric tons of CO2. We feel that offsetting this carbon by planting trees in our neighborhood, to us, is the right thing to do for the Gunflint and our environment.”

Resorts participating in Gunflint Nordic Ski Trail’s Carbon Off-set project are Gunflint Pines, Hestons and Gunflint from the Upper Gunflint Trails: Boundary Country Trekking from the Banadad and Bearskin from the Central Gunflint Trails. Golden Eagle Lodge, that maintains half of the Central Gunflint Trail offset the carbon their maintenance and grooming created by planting trees on their own property.

Note- Attached image- Left to Right Ted Young, Boundary Country Trekking, Nancy Seaton, Gunflint Green Up Chairperson, Dennis Neitzke, Gunflint Ranger USFS, Shari Baker Gunflint Pines Resort, and Sue McCloughan, Bearskin Lodge.