November 16- Some Snow but Need More

Yesterday eleven members of Minnehaha Academy's Nordic Ski Team lead by their coach, Anne Rykken, worked on clearing the west end of the Banadad.. The kids on the team thought the work was great fun.

On the westend there is about 1-2" of snow. Not near enough snow to get onto that end of trail with equipment. However, on the east end the snow measures 3-4 inches. Four inches is almost enough, but not quite enough, to get out onto the trail and start packing. While the snowmobiles are out  packing the packing crew will work on clearing the down trees remaining on the  remote section of the east end just beyond the Logging camp.

Banadad Trail Maintenance Report-21 1/2 Miles Completed-3 1/2 BWCA Miles Left to Complete

•  Coming up:  There is still about three and one half miles of the Banadad's east side, inside the BWCA (from 1/4 mile beyond the logging camp to the Whoppee 2 hill) that must be cleared. Because of this section's remote location contract groomers will be removing the down trees here when snow condition allow snowmobiles to start the packing (grooming) of the trail.
• Coming up: November 15-16,  Minnehaha Academy Ski Team. The plan is  to have the ski team cutting brush along the Banadad's west end trail section inside the BWCA. While this area has been cleared the objective with this project is to cut back the brush.
•  November 1 and 2:  North Star Ski Touring Club- 4 volunteers removed large inactive beaver dam blocking Tall Pines Trail and they cut back bush on the  Tim Knopp Trail

• October 15:  Banadad Trail Association annual trail workday - 18 volunteers clear down trees (including clump above) blocking trail in first mile west of eastern trail head inside BWCA and cleared side brush west of Lizz Lake Portage outside the BWCA
• October 15:  All east end trails outside of BWCA were mowed by paid contractors at a cost of $1300. This included the Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Knopp and the 3 miles of non BWCA Banadad.
• October 17 and 18: Two volunteers cleared down trees on the entire west end of the Banadad
•  October 14-16 and 22 :  Paid contractor cleared side brush and removed hundreds of down trees blocking trail along 2 1/2 miles of the eastern side of the Banadad inside the BWCA. Most of these down trees were in the Meads Lake Prescribed Burn area and were likely blown over during a July storm. The cost thus far is $1621 from the Federal SRS Grant and $512 in match from the BTA. Volunteer labor is not included.
  
  
  
  
  
 

 

Easter on the Banadad

Grooming of the Trail ended for this winter- the last time tracks were set on the Banadad was April 6. Two days later skier, marathon runner and retired teacher Judy Ross was the last skier to travel along the groomed trail. Judy is a marathon runner, retired teacher and consistent skier on the trail.  Along with her husband Jim, they own a cabin a few yards from the Trail’s eastern end.

While grooming of the Banadad maybe over for this winter there is still plenty of snow out there to ski- as of Easter morning it is snowing very hard and at the trails eastern end the snow depth  measures 18 inches. So you backcountry skiers and snowshoers what are you waiting for!

Late Spring Skiing - 10 km tracked

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 27"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 24"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 0"

     GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL -10 km. Banadad to Lizz Lake Portage, Lace Lake and Tall Pines tracked today- April 6
       
Spring skiing get on the trail will it is still there;  temperature is in the mid 40s; tracked will only last a few days.

Thirty-Two Measured inches of Snow and Great Spring Skiing

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 32"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 28"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 5"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL - Tracked Trails- Lace Lake, Tall Pines and  from the eastern trailhead to Lizz Lake Portage of the Banadad for a total of 11.2 Kilometers of the Banadad Trail System tracked and ready for skiing. Cold AM temperatures and mid to high 20's in the afternoons the last two days. Those that skied yesterday said the skiing was "great."

East End Retracked

Three inches of snow covered recently tracked trails. The east end - Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Knopp and part of the Banadad Retracked today.  Great skiing!!

Excellent Spring Skiing

All 41 Kilometers of the Banadad Groomed

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 28"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 24"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 0"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL - All 41 km of the Banadad, Lace Lake and Tall Pines Trails are tracked.

 LAST DAY GROOMED:Today-March 13

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles of trail open- great snowshoeing

Comments- Heavy drifting snow slowed the re-opening of the Banadad. In the meantime five parties of skiers  broke through and skied the entire untracked trail..

Banadad Eastend Trails tracked and in great shape

The Lace Lake, Tall Pines and 5 km of the Banadad's east end are tracked and in great shape. Temperature in the high 30s have made tracking the remainder of the Banadad difficult. Wednesday it is expect to cool down a bit so the groomers should be out on the trail then. Stay tuned!

Continued Great Skiing on the Banadad

All 41 Kilometers of the Banadad Groomed

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 24"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 18"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 0"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL - All 41 km Banadad, Lace Lake and Tall Pines

 LAST DAY GROOMED:Today- January 31

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles of trail open- great snowshoeing

Excellent Snow and Trail Condition

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 24"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 18"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 4"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL - All 41 km Banadad, Lace Lake and Tall Pines

 LAST DAY GROOMED:Today- January 25

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles of trail open- great snowshoeing

Great Snow along the Banadad

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 23"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 16"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 6"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL East end of Banadad-30 Kilometers tracked January 17; West end of Banadad to be tracked Sunday January 19.

 LAST DAY GROOMED: January17

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

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.