Sunday, April 19, 2009
Spring Skiing on the Gunflint Banadad
April 17- Starting at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, two skiers from Tofte skied 9-10 kilometers out and back from on the Banadad. Upon their return they stated the skiing was great and had a excellent time. The temperature was about 40 degrees. Today it is down below thirty and snowing.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Spring Skiing - It ain't over till it's over
April 16, 2009. Six Kilometers of the east end of the Banadad Tracked. Great Spring Skiing! 12-16" of snow; no bare spots.
You can expect snow on the Banadad to remain at least another two weeks. Right now the trail is in great shape. Also go "crust skiing" and travel anywhere in the area.
You can expect snow on the Banadad to remain at least another two weeks. Right now the trail is in great shape. Also go "crust skiing" and travel anywhere in the area.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
April Fools Spring Snow No Joke
April Fools Day brought 12 - 14 inches of heavy wet snow to the Gunflint Trail's Banadad Ski Trail.
The Banadad remains snowed-in. The trail groomer is expected to begin opening the Trail on Friday, after the snow has settled a bit making it easier to groom. It is anticipated that about 5 or 6 kilometers of the east end of the Banadad and the Lace Lake Trails will be tracked by this coming weekend. According to Boundary Country Trekking which maintains the trails, it is anticipated that with the addition of this snow fall the Banadad should remain ski-able well into April.
Total measure snow on the ground at Poplar Creek Guesthouse is now 32 inches.
The Banadad remains snowed-in. The trail groomer is expected to begin opening the Trail on Friday, after the snow has settled a bit making it easier to groom. It is anticipated that about 5 or 6 kilometers of the east end of the Banadad and the Lace Lake Trails will be tracked by this coming weekend. According to Boundary Country Trekking which maintains the trails, it is anticipated that with the addition of this snow fall the Banadad should remain ski-able well into April.
Total measure snow on the ground at Poplar Creek Guesthouse is now 32 inches.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Spring Skiing Report
Snow on Ground – 24 inches- Crust with 2" of fresh snow on top
New Snow last 24 hours- 2"
New snow last 7 days - 2"
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –5 km- March 27
Lace Lake –5 km – March 27
Knapp-3 km- March 27
Tall Pines (Westside) March 27
Crust skiing in Backcountry excellent. Trails-good to excellent ski condition. Snow should hold well into April.
Snowshoeing trails and backcountry open.
For lodging along the trail information go to- www.poplarcreekbb.com
New snow last 7 days - 2"
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –5 km- March 27
Lace Lake –5 km – March 27
Knapp-3 km- March 27
Tall Pines (Westside) March 27
Crust skiing in Backcountry excellent. Trails-good to excellent ski condition. Snow should hold well into April.
Snowshoeing trails and backcountry open.
For lodging along the trail information go to- www.poplarcreekbb.com
Labels: Snow Report
Friday, March 13, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail - March 13, 2009
Snow on Ground – 33 inches
Packed Trail Base - 29+"
New Snow last 24 hours- 10-12"
New snow last 7 days - 10-12"
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- March 12
Lace Lake –5 km – March 13
Knapp-3 km- February 10
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -February 10
Excellent ski conditions continues; trails in great shape. Snow should hold into April.
Snowshoeing could not be better with 12 inches of fresh powder.
For lodging along the trail information go to- www.poplarcreekbb.com
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Late Winter-Early Spring Skiing Can be the Best
Skiing here along the Gunflint Trail does not end just because the calender says it is Spring. Some of the best skiing of the season is yet to come. In a recent article by New Hampshire ski writer, Roger Lohr, he states, "It happens every year – winter wanes and spring blooms with a flip of the calendar page. People, who live to ski and ski to live also known as snow lovers or winter worshippers can be disappointed to see springtime come. But there are a few well kept secrets about so called “spring skiing.” Spring snow conditions have many faces and offer many different opportunities. We see wet snowy blizzards that dump deep heavy feet of pillowy snow. And the warm March or April sunshine turns the snow to beads of corn before it turns to mush. The days are longer so we can ski after work or into the early evening hours."
You do not have to stop skiing just because it is spring. Long ago "local" skiers have learned to taken advantage of the hard crust formed on the snow by the alternating freezing and thawing that occurs in the spring. "Crust skiing," as it called enable you to skate off-trail deep into the Boundary Waters and other places inaccessible during the winter. Then there is the Banadad, perhaps, the last remaining trail in the state to close for the season. Protected from the warming spring sun by its east west orientation, the heavy forest shading along the trail and the use of light grooming equipment, the Banadad normally is still ski able through at least the first week in April and often longer.
Whether you want to try the fun of crust skiing or another tracked ski along the Banadad, spring skiing on the Gunflint is the place to come!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail - March 1, 2009
Snow on Ground – 28 inches
Packed Trail Base - 20+"
New Snow last 0
New snow last 7 days - 6
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- February 28
Lace Lake –5 km – February 27
Knapp-3 km- February 10
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -February 10
Excellent ski conditions; trails in great shape. Snowshoeing could not be better with ten inches of powder over snowshoe supporting ice-crust.
For lodging along the trail information go to- www.poplarcreekbb.com
Packed Trail Base - 20+"
New Snow last 0
New snow last 7 days - 6
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- February 28
Lace Lake –5 km – February 27
Knapp-3 km- February 10
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -February 10
Excellent ski conditions; trails in great shape. Snowshoeing could not be better with ten inches of powder over snowshoe supporting ice-crust.
For lodging along the trail information go to- www.poplarcreekbb.com
Friday, February 27, 2009
Trail Association Meets with Forest Service
Grand Marais, MN- Banadad Ski Association members; Barb and John Bottgar, Pete Harris, Jim Morisson and Ted Young met with Dennis Neitzke and Steve Schug from the Gunflint Ranger District yesterday. The purpose of that meeting was to bring the forest service up to speed concerning the maintenance supervision of the trail being transfer from our company, Boundary Country Trekking to the new Association.
At the meeting we gave Dennis and Steve Schug,a list of the Trail’s needs, projects and concerns (see attached). In reviewing this list, Schug agreed that the Forest Service would assist in rebuilding the Banadad Bridge and Dennis stated that they had applied for stimulus funds to hire Minnesota Conservation Crews to work on trails. Dennis stated that if funded, a crew could be assigned to work on the Banadad Trail Widening Project. Schug also mention that they had budgeted $750 for each trail in the District for this year. It was however unclear if this would be in addition to what the Forest Service would spend in replacing the bridge.
It was also agreed that as a first step in moving the trail's west end, the Assocation should layout a proposed new route ending near the Loon Lake Public Landing. When that is competed the Forest Service could then consider re-routing this section of the Trail along this proposed route.
Schug will be drawing up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the USFS and the Banadad Trail Association which if acceptable to the Assocation will define the rights and responsibilities of each party in the administration of the Banadad Trail.
At the meeting we gave Dennis and Steve Schug,a list of the Trail’s needs, projects and concerns (see attached). In reviewing this list, Schug agreed that the Forest Service would assist in rebuilding the Banadad Bridge and Dennis stated that they had applied for stimulus funds to hire Minnesota Conservation Crews to work on trails. Dennis stated that if funded, a crew could be assigned to work on the Banadad Trail Widening Project. Schug also mention that they had budgeted $750 for each trail in the District for this year. It was however unclear if this would be in addition to what the Forest Service would spend in replacing the bridge.
It was also agreed that as a first step in moving the trail's west end, the Assocation should layout a proposed new route ending near the Loon Lake Public Landing. When that is competed the Forest Service could then consider re-routing this section of the Trail along this proposed route.
Schug will be drawing up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the USFS and the Banadad Trail Association which if acceptable to the Assocation will define the rights and responsibilities of each party in the administration of the Banadad Trail.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
New Ski Trail Association Formed on Gunflint Trail
Grand Marais, MN – Boundary Country Trekking, Gunflint Trail area residents, and several members of the Twin Cities-based North Star Ski Touring Club (NSSTC) have joined together to form the Banadad Trail Association (BTA). According to Karen Monsen, the association’s new president and NSSTC member, “the purpose of the association is to maintain and enhance the Banadad Ski Trail, preserve the history of the forest and the trail, and promote the appreciation and care of wilderness lands”.
The new association will manage the 46-kilometer Banadad Ski Trail system that includes the Banadad Trail (the BWCAW’s longest tracked trail), the Lace Lake Trail, the Tim Knopp Trail, and the Tall Pines and Seppala Trails. The trail system is centrally located along the 200-kilometer Gunflint Nordic Trail system.
The organization’s founding meeting was held February 14 on the Gunflint Trail to adopt by-laws and elect a Board of Directors. In addition to President Monsen, the board includes Vice President Linda Bosma of Minneapolis, Treasurer Karla Miller of Duluth, and Secretary Barb Bottger of Hungry Jack Lake. Elected as at-large board members were Jim Morrison of Poplar Lake, Wayne Monsen of Stillwater, Tom Rice of Shoreview, Mel Peterson of St. Paul, Peter Spink of Poplar Lake and Minneapolis, John Bottger of Hungry Jack Lake, and Anne Rykken of St. Paul.
Following the meeting, the board met and selected Ted Young of Boundary Country Trekking to continue to serve as the trail maintenance manager. Board members were also assigned responsibility for incorporating the new association as a non-profit organization.
Until a permanent mailing address and e-mail account are established, the Banadad Trail Association can be reached by e-mail at bta@boreal.org.
The new association will manage the 46-kilometer Banadad Ski Trail system that includes the Banadad Trail (the BWCAW’s longest tracked trail), the Lace Lake Trail, the Tim Knopp Trail, and the Tall Pines and Seppala Trails. The trail system is centrally located along the 200-kilometer Gunflint Nordic Trail system.
The organization’s founding meeting was held February 14 on the Gunflint Trail to adopt by-laws and elect a Board of Directors. In addition to President Monsen, the board includes Vice President Linda Bosma of Minneapolis, Treasurer Karla Miller of Duluth, and Secretary Barb Bottger of Hungry Jack Lake. Elected as at-large board members were Jim Morrison of Poplar Lake, Wayne Monsen of Stillwater, Tom Rice of Shoreview, Mel Peterson of St. Paul, Peter Spink of Poplar Lake and Minneapolis, John Bottger of Hungry Jack Lake, and Anne Rykken of St. Paul.
Following the meeting, the board met and selected Ted Young of Boundary Country Trekking to continue to serve as the trail maintenance manager. Board members were also assigned responsibility for incorporating the new association as a non-profit organization.
Until a permanent mailing address and e-mail account are established, the Banadad Trail Association can be reached by e-mail at bta@boreal.org.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Snow Report for February 15, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail - February 15, 2009
Snow on Ground – 24 inches
Packed Trail Base - 18+"
New Snow last .5 hours - traces
New snow last 7 days - 6
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- February 14
Lace Lake –5 km – February 13
Knapp-3 km- February 10
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -February 10
Excellent ski conditions; trails in great shape
For lodging along the trail information go to- www.poplarcreekbb.com
Snow on Ground – 24 inches
Packed Trail Base - 18+"
New Snow last .5 hours - traces
New snow last 7 days - 6
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- February 14
Lace Lake –5 km – February 13
Knapp-3 km- February 10
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -February 10
Excellent ski conditions; trails in great shape
For lodging along the trail information go to- www.poplarcreekbb.com
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Snow Report for February 11, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail Snow Report
The temperature over the past 24 hours has been in the low 30’s, this along with some rain has dropped the snow on the ground from 27” to 20” a loss of seven inches.
All the Banadad Trail System is tracked but the trails are now icy. As soon as the temperature falls we will attempt to cut-up the ice and re-set the tracks.
The temperature over the past 24 hours has been in the low 30’s, this along with some rain has dropped the snow on the ground from 27” to 20” a loss of seven inches.
All the Banadad Trail System is tracked but the trails are now icy. As soon as the temperature falls we will attempt to cut-up the ice and re-set the tracks.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail - February 5, 2009
Snow on Ground - 27 inches
Packed Trail Base - 20+"
New Snow last 24 hours - traces
New snow last 7 days - 4"
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- February 3
Lace Lake –5 km – February 4
Knapp-3 km- December 30
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -February 4
Conditions Rated
Skiing excellent - great snow conditions
For More Information:
Boundary Country 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
Packed Trail Base - 20+"
New Snow last 24 hours - traces
New snow last 7 days - 4"
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- February 3
Lace Lake –5 km – February 4
Knapp-3 km- December 30
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -February 4
Conditions Rated
Skiing excellent - great snow conditions
For More Information:
Boundary Country 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
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail
January 28, 2009 Trail Map
Snow on Ground - 25 inches
Packed Trail Base - 16-18”
New Snow last 24 hours- 0
traces
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- January 27
Lace Lake –5 km – January 25
Knapp-3 km- January 25
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -December 27
Conditions Rated
Skiing continued excellent - great snow conditions
For More Information:
Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Snow on Ground - 25 inches
Packed Trail Base - 16-18”
New Snow last 24 hours- 0
traces
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- January 27
Lace Lake –5 km – January 25
Knapp-3 km- January 25
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -December 27
Conditions Rated
Skiing continued excellent - great snow conditions
For More Information:
Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Snow and Trail Conditions
Monday, January 021, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail - January 6, 2009
Snow on Ground- 24 inches
Packed Trail Base - 16-18”
New Snow last 24 hours- <1"
New snow last 7 days- 4-5 inches
Groomed and Tracked
Conditions Rated
Skiing excellent - great snow conditions continues
For More Information:
Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Banadad Ski Trail - January 6, 2009
Snow on Ground- 24 inches
Packed Trail Base - 16-18”
New Snow last 24 hours- <1"
New snow last 7 days- 4-5 inches
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- January 19.
Lace Lake –5 km – January 20
Knapp-3 km- December 30
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -December 29
Conditions Rated
Skiing excellent - great snow conditions continues
For More Information:
Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Friday, January 09, 2009
Cook Country Volks Ski Fest
Skiers Unite; attend Cook County's Gunflint Trail and Northshore Volks Ski Fest- January 31, 2009 - Sunday, February 08, 2009
The Volks Ski Fest is a fun, laid back, skiing and snowshoeing festival for the whole family! All week-long, all over the county, there are events and contests designed to help everyone get out and enjoy hundreds of kilometers of beautiful northwoods trails.
You can try to be the person to ski the most km in a week...or enjoy a leisurely ski just one day. You can get your festival booklet stamped to show you've made it to all of the trails...or you can just go to the events that feature food. Whatever you enjoy the most. Check out the list below for the details on the many events planned.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Banadad Ski Trail - January 6, 2009
Snow on Ground- 25 inches
Packed Trail Base - 16-18”
New Snow last 24 hours- traces
New snow last 7 days- 13 inches
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- January 5.
Lace Lake –5 km – January 5
Knapp-3 km- December 30
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -December 29
Conditions Rated
Skiing excellent - great snow conditions
For More Information:
Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Packed Trail Base - 16-18”
New Snow last 24 hours- traces
New snow last 7 days- 13 inches
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km- January 5.
Lace Lake –5 km – January 5
Knapp-3 km- December 30
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km -December 29
Conditions Rated
Skiing excellent - great snow conditions
For More Information:
Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Happy New Year Snow Report- 12/31/08
Snow on Ground 19-20 inches
Packed Trail Base 12-14”
New Snow last 24 hours 1/2 inch
New snow last 7 days 7 inches
Groomed and Tracked
Conditions Rated -Skiing good to excellent some trails wind has blown snow onto tracks
For More Information:Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Packed Trail Base 12-14”
New Snow last 24 hours 1/2 inch
New snow last 7 days 7 inches
Groomed and Tracked
Banadad –31 km-12/29
Lace Lake –5 km – 12/30
Knapp-3 km- 12/30/08
Tall Pines (Westside) 1 km - 12/29
Conditions Rated -Skiing good to excellent some trails wind has blown snow onto tracks
For More Information:Boundary Country Trekking and Poplar Creek Guesthouse
Monday, December 29, 2008
First Skiers Through the Banadad This Winter
Gunflint Trail-With the temperature hovering above freezing, the ski conditions on the Banadad Ski Trail were not great, as Erik and Karl Hoeg became the first skier to complete the entire 31 kilometer Banadad non-stop this winter. The two boys time was about 4 hours. They both are very good skiers and they explained afterwards that had the ski conditions been better they certainly would have made the trip much faster. Their parents shuttled a car to the western end of the Banadad then skied in from the western trail head, about 7 kilometers, where they met-up-with Erik and Karl. The pair were staying at one of Poplar Creek Guesthouse’s cabin with their parents.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Snow and Trail Conditions
Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map
DATE: December 17, 2008
SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 20"
COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL:12"
NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0
NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 11"
GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: 10 km.
SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open
ADDITIONAL COMMENT: excellent - plenty of snow/eastern end of Banadad to Lizz Lake and Lace Lake Trails Tracked; remaining trails packed and grooming underway
Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web
DATE: December 17, 2008
SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 20"
COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL:12"
NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0
NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 11"
GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: 10 km.
SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open
ADDITIONAL COMMENT: excellent - plenty of snow/eastern end of Banadad to Lizz Lake and Lace Lake Trails Tracked; remaining trails packed and grooming underway
Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Great Snow for Skiiing on the Gunflint
Grand Marais, MN- The cross-country skiing season has begun along Minnesota’s famed Gunflint Trail as the snow piles up- over nine new inches of snow fell yesterday. More is expected this week. With yesterday snowfall, area B&B and lodge owners along the Gunflint report eighteen to twenty inches of snow now on the ground.
According Ted Young from Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, which operates the Banadad Ski Trail, “we are grooming the east end of the Banadad now and we should be completed tracking all our trails by the weekend. With this new snow skiing should be great!” Those responsible for the Central and Upper Gunflint Ski Trails expressed similar optimism.
Nordic Skiing is by definition an eco-friendly sport but the Gunflint area ski trail managers have taken this one step further. Last year, the Banadad Ski Trail became “carbon neutral” with the purchase of carbon credits to offset the emissions of grooming. This year, the Central and Upper Gunflint ski trail systems are adopting carbon neutral strategies. The cost to sequester the carbon released into the atmosphere from the maintenance and grooming for the Gunflint Nordic Ski Trails will be invested in planting of trees along the Gunflint Trail.
According Ted Young from Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, which operates the Banadad Ski Trail, “we are grooming the east end of the Banadad now and we should be completed tracking all our trails by the weekend. With this new snow skiing should be great!” Those responsible for the Central and Upper Gunflint Ski Trails expressed similar optimism.
Nordic Skiing is by definition an eco-friendly sport but the Gunflint area ski trail managers have taken this one step further. Last year, the Banadad Ski Trail became “carbon neutral” with the purchase of carbon credits to offset the emissions of grooming. This year, the Central and Upper Gunflint ski trail systems are adopting carbon neutral strategies. The cost to sequester the carbon released into the atmosphere from the maintenance and grooming for the Gunflint Nordic Ski Trails will be invested in planting of trees along the Gunflint Trail.
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