Team NordicSkiRacer's Zibgy Zlobicki, Tony Percha, Doug Cornell, and Cyril Grum at Island Lake Recreation Area, testing the new pavement. Conclusion? The section to Kent Lake is a 5; the rest of the repaving is only a 3.
How to race wax for cold conditions with best results
1/31/2023 - By Ian Harvey
I think the best way to look at cold snow from a practical or usable point of view is to break cold snow down into cold and slow, cold, and cold and fast. Each wax has its “sweet spot” and there is no one wax that performs best in each.
Registration open for the Black Mounain races
1/31/2023 - By John Gravlin
There is currently one foot of snow in the woods with more on the way. The entire system has survived the warm temperatures and rain and has been groomed since early January.
Goodbye Chris
1/30/2023 - By Don Kane
Chris Weingartz, my dear old friend and ski buddy passed away last Wednesday, the 25th of January. He was 67 years old. He had a fairly long bout with cancer, one that we thought he had largely won six months back, but that was not to be.
UPDATED: Wax recommendations for JNQ races and the Noquemanon Ski Marathon
1/26/2023 - By Mike Muha
Wax recommendations for the JNQ races in Brillion, Wisconson, and the Noquemanon Ski Marathon.
Vasa news!
1/26/2023 - By Gussie Peterson
What do snow, volunteers, snowshoers, and Oleson's Food Stores have to do with the 2023 North American Vasa?
Team NordicSkiRacer takes lead in Brumbaugh Cup
1/25/2023 - By Ernie Brumbaugh
Due to lack of snow and three race cancellations, the Frosty Festival of Races became the Michigan Cup Opener. Host club, Team Nordic Ski Racer took full advantage and opened a commanding lead in the Brumbaugh Cup standings.
Sarah Goble is going to the World Cup!
1/25/2023 - By Sarah Goble
I qualified for my first World Cup races and will be competing in Les Rousses, France and Toblach, Italy! And I was a former Michigan Cup skier!
Larry Kanaby Memorial Classic Race is on!
1/25/2023 - By Ann Downing
We will have enough snow to hold the Larry Kanaby Memorial Classic Race on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at Forbush Corner.
UPDATED! White Pine Stampede: We are having a race!
1/24/2023 - By Ben Tarbutton
Crazy weather has forced us to come up with White Pine Stampede 2.0, an alternative race which utilizes the resort’s King of the Hill Nordic trail. This trail has plenty of man-made snow, and traverses the perimeter of their ski hill, Schuss Mountain.
United States Ski Pole Company will have booth at the Noque
1/20/2023 - By Brady Hebert
The United States Ski Pole Company is returning to sponsor the Noque this year after a few years of absence due to COVID-19. Please stop by our booth in the Dome on either day and check out our newly released poles.
Another race bites the dust: Flying Squirrel Freestyle Junior Race
1/17/2023 - By Tim Furbacher
We have concluded that the Flying Squirrel Freestyle will not be held this Sunday Jan 22. Even if we get the snow that is forecast on Thursday, it is less than certain that we could guarantee safe, well-groomed trails.
Fischer Helium Skate Demo Days + Preorder Sale!
1/17/2023 - By Mariah Frye
Demo the new Fischer Helium Skate Skis and preorder a pair for next season at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters this weekend, January 21 and 22, 2023!
UPCOMING
SAT, DEC 7, 2024
Stone Turtle Cafe Opens & Free Beginner Ski Lesson*
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com
XC Ski HQ Ski Team Kick-Off Dinner!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com
SUN, DEC 8, 2024
Oregon Fall Camp, Dec 8-14
Mt Bachelor/Bend, Oregon
SAT, DEC 14, 2024
CXC Jr. Cup / Midwest Division - Classic Sprint
Cable, WI - American Birkebeiner Trailhead
PSIA Education Clinic
Forbush Corner, 4971 W Co Rd 612, Frederic, MI 49733
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 15, 2024
CXC Jr. Cup / Midwest Division - Freestyle Individual Start
Cable, WI - American Birkebeiner Trailhead
Forbush Corner Time Trial
Forbush Corner, 4971 W Co Rd 612, Frederic, MI 49733
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
TUE, DEC 3
Sleeping Bear Dunes: There is a lot of fresh snow in the region, but because most of this fresh snow is lake effect, it is a bit spotty. Low-lying areas like Glen Arbor and Empire received only 2-3". Areas at higher elevation like Palmer Woods, and Kettles Trail have about 10-12" on the ground. The warm temperatures mean the snow is pretty sticky.
At this time, there is not enough snow and the temperatures are too warm for us to groom the Heritage Trail.
We are watching the weather forecast and if we get more snow and colder temps, we'll groom.
Huron Meadows Metropark: The Metroparks have spoken:
"The Ski Center and Bucks Run are not open for the season yet. It is anticipated that they will open sometime in early January, weather dependent.
Skiers are welcome to use any of the other ski trails if there is enough natural snow. The trails will only be groomed if there is significant snowfall.
Please do not use the golf course as a skiing or walking trail. Please ski and walk on designated trails only."
Updates here: https://www.metroparks.com/park-closures/#HuronMeadowsMetropark
Michaywe: Groomed out maple ridge, Nordic, the river trail, herringbone, and the lake loop. All the fluffy snow is finally starting to firm up. With snow forecast for the next couple days, we should be able to start setting classic track. Just a couple of thin areas trail wide otherwise trails are good.
Hanson Hills: Groomer Dan is out this morning combing in 3 inches of new snow on the skate deck of Yellow, brown and Easy return. Later this morning he will be packing Wilderness. Test tracks are set from the trailhead to the woods at the moment.
Lodge and Trails open at 9am.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Trails are open again today for classic skiing, and rock skis are recommended. Groomer Mike has rolled all the trails, and has snowcombed the practice area, which is in prime condition for lessons and demos. Come try some new Fischer Heliums or skin skis! We are forecast to get some more snow in the next few days. Cafe opens on Saturday. Have fun out there!
Crystal Mountain: I got so excited yesterday morning when I woke up to 4.5 inches of snow at my house. I only live 5 miles from Crystal. I thought I could pack the trails with the snowmobile but when I got there they only got about an inch. I gave it a try and it was going good until I hit the cart paths and it was too thin to continue. At home this morning I have another new 4 inches. I will see what Crystal got and will determine what to do. Hopefully we can get in the game. I skied after work what I did pack and it was sticking to my old wax less skis. Will let you know what happens.
MON, DEC 2
Vasa Trail: 12+ inches of snow on the trail. It's good old fashioned trail breaking on Evo skiis.
Dunes Golf Club: Snow continues and conditions vary but oh yeah it is here. Forecast calling for an amount of significant snow securing a base for this Nordic wonderland.
Those who know that this is not your typical golf course.
Enjoy the season!
Please avoid the greens as we are the visitors.
4mi east of empire on m-72 the original m-22 bypass
Ski long
Kevinski slowski
Vasa Trail: A group of us put up the wax room at Timber Ridge and then went skiing. We all used our evo's because the snow was so deep. We came to a bench and the snow measured close to 18" . We were told they had rolled the trail earlier but it snowed another 8" on top of the base. Hopefully we will get to see a piston bully groom soon. The snow was so deep we had to break trail. It took us over an hour to ski the 6k loop. It was a winter wonderland
Valley Spur: We received about 2' of snow. We rolled and tracked 20k of trails today.
Interlochen Golf Course: Couldn't resist the sunshine again this morn, so headed back to IGC & met up with Paula Dreeszen for one lap, then one more on my own. The snow is now 3.5" deep, but still pulling up snow in the tracks some, esp in the sunshine, less with cloud cover. It was mild again today, 30F, so hard to beat a quick 4.3 mile ski in 1:20 hrs close to home. Don't forget to stop in at Bradley's for a cup of hot chocolate, lunch or a beverage of your choice for allowing skiers access to their lovely fairways.
Michaywe: Maple ridge and nordic were packed and rolled this morning. The golf course loops, the lake loop, herringbone, and the river trail were groomed this morning as well.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received more snow last night, bringing the total on the trails to about 5 inches. I had a wonderful time skiing the Manitou trail this morning on my Fischer Spider 62's (with plenty of liquid glide wax on the bases to prevent the fresh snow from sticking too much)! While coverage is quite good, rock skis are still recommended, just in case. Groomer Mike will be packing and rolling the trails this morning. We will see how that goes before grooming and setting tracks. The rental desk is open from 10:00am-5:30pm, and the cafe opens Saturday. What fun to be SKIING!
Hanson Hills: 3am- XC trail grooming has begun! We received about 12inches of lake effect snow yesterday which is packing into a 2-3 inch base. Ground is not frozen yet so we have quite a few patches of leaves that peeled up with the groomer. All-trails, green, Sue’s return, blue, easy return and yellow have all been packed. Rock skis recommend, blue is very rough right now between Sue’s return and the shack (avoid). No tracks set at the moment. We will be back out this morning, leveling and packing Xc trails. Please give us time this morning to plow parking lot and allow trails to set up. Lodge and Trails will open at Noon today!!
Forbush Corner: The plan for the week.
1. We will be open today Dec 2, 9 to 5.
2. East side trails will be regroomed.
3. West side trails will be packed.
4. We will be closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We need that time to prepare for snowmaking, make the snow and then distribute and groom the snow. We are taking advantage of the cold temperatures to build a base to ensure we have skiing throughout the season.
5. Re- opening Friday December 6, open Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Then entering our normal winter schedule. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Open all other days.
SUN, DEC 1
Crystal Mountain: Sadly once again we drew the short straw and only got 2-3" of fluff which does not make enough to even pack. Hopefully we will get what they are predicting for this coming week. We can't wait to try out our new trails. I will let you know.
Michaywe: Received another 4 inches of fluffy snow overnight. The lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and both golf course loops were rolled this morning.
Interlochen Golf Course: Followed my skied-in tracks at IGC, but ground is not frozen, so melted & settled from 5-6” on Fri to only 3” this morn. I always carry Swix EZ Glide & a scraper but finished before got really sticky. Passed Paula & Bryce as I was finishing, taking it easy since both are recovering from injuries. Received a Code Red weather warning at 11:38, but on my way home. So delighted to be skiing & hope it lasts, so the groomers can get out on the trails as soon as the ground is frozen & we get more accumulation.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: It’s a beautiful, snowy morning in Northern Michigan! We have received about 2 inches of snow, and it continues to fall heavily. We made snow for the last two nights on the practice area, which is progressing towards full coverage with a base of 10-20?. The trails have trace amounts of snow, and are not skiable yet. Depending on the weather, we are tentatively hoping to have the practice area skiable for lessons and demos by next weekend! Thanksgiving Weekend Sale is on through tomorrow! Get your stoke on today at Boyne Mountain Nordican, Michawye, or Forbush for groomed trails!!
Michaywe: Another 4 inches of fluffy snow overnight. Lake loop, herringbone, the river trail, and both golf course loops were rolled this morning.
Kensington Metropark: Another good morning skiing on the Kensington Metropark Golf Course. A little more snow and more cold made skiing a little nicer at 8:00am. Snow on the east side of the golf course seemed a little faster. Skating was good. Rock skis if you have them!
Forbush Corner: Looks like another wintry day today! Lite snow at the moment, more in the forecast. We will be open today and tomorrow for sure. We are formulating a plan to make snow and get more trails open, so that maybe we can stay open past Monday. East side trails are open, classic tracks too. Grooming as necessary. I would suggest avoiding Ridge though. Hours 9 to 5.
We were glad to see that you were able to use the Ipad to sign in today. The initial signin where you agree to the release and waiver is for the entire season. You can now sign in quickly on each visit to
Forbush Corner by entering your first name and last name or by using your user ID which will be assigned to you in a follow up email.
Signing in on each visit to Forbush lets us know who is out on the trails and to have a little more data on how many skier days we have throughout the season. Information like this will hopefully help as we apply for different grants to help support Forbush Corner.
More trail reports...
