UPCOMING

SAT, DEC 21, 2024

FIRST DAY OF WINTER

XC Ski HQ: Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SUN, DEC 22, 2024

XC Ski HQ: George Frye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SAT, DEC 28, 2024

XC Ski HQ: Free Beginner Ski Lesson
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SUN, DEC 29, 2024

XC Ski HQ: Joe Frye Live
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

THU, JAN 2, 2025

U.S. National Championships at Kincaid Park - Freestyle Individual Start 10km
Kincaid Park, Anchorage, AK

SAT, JAN 4, 2025

U.S. National Championships at Kincaid Park - Classic Sprint
Kincaid Park, Anchorage, AK

Winter Wolf 2x5k Skiathlon
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling, MI

Skate and Classic Ski Clinics with Jordyn Ross
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SUN, JAN 5, 2025

U.S. National Championships at Kincaid Park - Classic Mass Start 20km (10k for Juniors)
Kincaid Park, Anchorage, AK

PSIA XC Level 1 & 2 exam (On-snow portion of Hybrid PSIA Clinic)
Forbush Corner, 4971 W Co Rd 612, Frederic, MI 49733

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LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS

SAT, DEC 21

Vasa Trail: Not sure why Vasa/Tart isn’t posting on here about trail conditions? Very skiable and good coverage throughout the trail, with a 2-3” base with 1-2” of fluffy skied in new snow on top. Solid pole plants and wasn’t hitting ground. A little bumpy and uneven in spots but that is expected with the snow depth the trail has. NO classic track. B skis recommended, could get away with A skis if you really wanted to. Best skiing was between Timber Ridge, The Rock and The Wall. Even looks like they tried using that large grooming machine that they purchased as the trail was rather wide in spots (TR > The Rock). If you groom it (and advertise it), skiers will come.

Vasa Trail: Not sure why Vasa/Tart isn’t posting on here about trail conditions? Very skiable and good coverage throughout the trail, with a 2-3” base with 1-2” of fluffy skied in new snow on top. Solid pole plants and wasn’t hitting ground. A little bumpy and uneven in spots but that is expected with the snow depth the trail has. NO classic track. B skis recommended, could get away with A skis if you really wanted to. Best skiing was between Timber Ridge, The Rock and The Wall. Even looks like they tried using that large grooming machine that they purchased as the trail was rather wide in spots (TR > The Rock). If you groom it (and advertise it), skiers will come.

Valley Spur: Several inches of new snow overnight from north wind off the lake, so groomer was able to roll and track the system. Conditions should hold with snow showers over the next few days and colder temps.

Nubs Nob: Upper loops,red and blue , groomed with the large groomer.. Conditions are perfect. Base developed enough to get us through the upcoming mini thaw.

Elk Rapids Golf Course: With last night's fresh dusting, there is now a nice 1" base. I was in luck as a skier had been out before me today and "broke the trail." From his tracks it appeared he was clumping under the wax pocket. I was on wax-able skis, but they had no wax on them and I had no clumping - just good glide.
If you have any family or friends visiting for the holidays and they are looking to try Nordic skiing, there is a rack of free loaner skis, boots, and poles by the TH at the GC parking lot. Even a bench to try on the boots.

Interlochen Golf Course: I just drove by the golf course & it has been track set, if you want to enjoy a lovely classic ski. Not sure I’m going to have time, but someone should get out there!

Hanson Hills: ????? Trail Update ?????
Groomer Dan is out this morning, giving the trails a fresh touch-up with a dusting of new lake-effect snow! With a 2-3 inch firm base, conditions are shaping up nicely for an enjoyable day.

??? Lodge and Trails Open at 9 AM ???
Trails Available:
? Green
? Blue
? Brown
? Yellow
? M-93
? Easy Return

?? Please note: No tracks have been set.

Come out and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery! See you on the trails! ?????

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Happy Sunny Solstice! Cold temps through the night have allowed the snow we received yesterday to set up nicely. The main trail network is not groomed or rolled, but still very skiable! Classic skiing is recommended. We have about 3 inches of unpacked snow on the trails, plenty for a rustic adventure! The practice field is groomed for the free lessson this morning at 10:30, and it's looking like a beautiful day for outdoor winter fun!

Forbush Corner: Good temperatures for making snow! Snowmaking overnight on the “Valley” and Ridge trail, and 2 to 3 inches of lake effect snow fell as well. Snowmaking will continue throughout the day in these areas then switching to the 240 Loop later in the day. Plan is to groom the east and west trails. This new snow should enhance the base that we have for the skate deck, and allow for classic tracks to be set. Welcome winter! Open 9 to 5 everyday through January 6th. Then back to normal winter hours. Closed Christmas.

FRI, DEC 20

Forbush Corner: It was one of those perfect days to ski, and with great Piston Bully grooming by Larry & Todd at Forbush Corners, it was hard to stop since the trails were so good, in spite of a minimal base on the natural snow loops. I began with Badlands 2x, then the bigger hills on Roller Coaster, yippee, the snowmaking loop & Home Run Hill, the Ridge & finally, Lil Coaster. It was well worth the drive, esp since I was getting some work done at Northbound Outfitters / Cross Country Ski Shop. Afterwards, I enjoyed a sandwich at Spikes among the canoe racing memorabilia. I only received 2” at home, so hoping to ski local tomorrow before head to Valley Spur next week to join some friends on their hills. ??????

Valley Spur: I am guessing 70+” of snow so far this season. And with the latest warmup Sun/Mon we still have a solid 10” of base. 4-5” of new snow was groomed in Thurs a.m. Today an inch or so of new snow drifting down on the trails. Classic was very good. Kick wax with a little pine tar in it prevented any icing from the fresh snow off the lake. The fresh snow overnight on the deck made for some good glide and edging for skaters. The snowshoe trails are in good shape. Lodge open every day from 10am to 4pm.

Hanson Hills: I approached Hanson Hills expecting some sorry conditions after the recent melt. What a happy surprise greeted me. I skated all groomed trails except 93 hills. All were well covered with good base and pleasant dusting. B-skis recommended as there was a stone here and there. Entry by far the thinnest area. One other skier said they were slippery with control. I was never sorry I chose this area today. No tracks but wilderness was skied in and saw tracks left on a lot of the trails. No leaves

Elk Rapids Golf Course: The GC had received a fresh 0.5" to 0.75" of snow overnight that almost covered up the grass, and being desperate for some skiing that was adequate for me today.
Recalling from decades ago how the A2 skiers in our club would hop onto the local golf courses for Frost Skiing when the grass was glazed with early morning frost I knew that classic was possible with today's nice white dusting. It was surprisingly decent, and even got a little glide on most of the loop. Wouldn't work for skating, but fortunately classic can handle most anything in the depth extremes.

Boyne Mountain: Lower trails are rolled and tracked. Most of the trail is excellent, but there are spots which blew out with the rain and you need to be alert for those. Most of the questionable parts are close to the trailhead and it gets better as you move further away.

Michaywe: Received about an inch of fluff past couple days. Combed out the entire trail system. Just a few easily avoidable thin spots. Base still holding around 1-4 inches. Too thin in most spots to reset track right now. For the most part skiing should be pretty good.

Forbush Corner: Pristine conditions! A little new snow made classic skiing easy and fun. Tony and I skied Corkscrew, Badlands, and Pancake. Get outside today and ski, ski, ski!

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received about 2 inches of snow last night and the trails are open! We did not roll or groom, but the the trails are definitely skiable and certainly beautiful. Classic skiing is recommended; expect the snow to be soft and fluffy. The practice field will be groomed for demos, and the spirits will be bright! Come Ski With Us!

Forecast:

Today: Snow in the morning. High 26F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Cloudy. Low 10F.

Tomorrow: Partly sunny. High 14F.

Hanson Hills: We are back in business! Our base is firm, and we received just over an inch of lake effect snow last night. Groomer Dan is out cutting and combing the skate deck this morning on Green, Blue, Brown, and Yellow Trails and reports 2-3 inch base. Thin in some areas. The first 200-300 meters from the trailhead is thin. No tracks are set.

Lodge and Trails open 9am. Trail Passes Required

Forbush Corner: Just a dusting of snow overnight, maybe another inch or two in the near term. Expect the 240 loop and Ridge (snowmaking) to be groomed. Coverage is good, some dirt spots that are avoidable. Some of the other east side trails, Badlands and Rollercoaster, may be groomed today. Skiers venturing out on those ungroomed trails yesterday reported mostly skiable, some bare spots and dirt here and there.

THU, DEC 19

Boyne Mountain: Skated pancake and airport loops on decent conditions. The trail just out of the parking lot was very thin and looked like rock skis, but further-in the trail improved and was very skiable on “A” skis. Grooming is as good as can be expected with the melt down earlier in the week. The fresh snow falling will help a lot.

Nubs Nob: Just skied the upper red loop of Nubs Nob and was surprised to find excellent conditions !
The hard groomed flat skate deck was covered by an inch plus of new snow. It made for fast easy and controlled loops . The classic tracks looked mostly intact with similar structure and filled with ski snow . On the windward side of the red loop there were a few thin spots but nothing that interfered with my tract.

Valley Spur: Skated today on the more difficult and less difficult trails with temps in the mid 20’s . Plenty of old and new snow on the trails, good glide, very enjoyable outdoor exercise. The grooming was inconsistent with some trails with a good flat skate deck and others with valleys of unfilled gaps on the left side. Where the skate deck is full and level it is firm and nice. Still nice skating though despite the imperfections.

Forbush Corner: We received just a little fresh snow last night, with a few more inches in the forecast. The 240 Loop and Ridge will be groomed today. The base on all other trails is holding up and will be evaluated to see if they can be groomed. Since we are heading into the busy holiday season, we will be open everyday now, 9 to 5, through January 6th.

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