UPCOMING

THU, JAN 16, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Silver Streak Week - Seniors ski free!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

FRI, JAN 17, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Silver Streak Week - Seniors ski free!
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SAT, JAN 18, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Classic Individual Start
Rhinelander, WI - Northwoods Nordic Ski Club

Cote Dame Marie
Hanson Hills Recreation Area, Grayling, MI

Winter Trails Day at Timber Ridge Resort
Timber Ridge Resort, 4050 Hammond Road East, Traverse City, MI 49696

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Lunch at Trapper's Cabin
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

SUN, JAN 19, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Individual Start
Rhinelander, WI - Northwoods Nordic Ski Club

Team NordicSkiRacer Junior Ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

Flying Squirrel Freestyle Junior Race
Crystal Mountain, 2500 Crystal Mountain Dr., Thompsonville, Michigan 49683

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

MON, JAN 20, 2025

XC Ski HQ: Gourmet Mac ‘n Cheese Bar
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

TUE, JAN 21, 2025

Vasa Ski Club Raptors Tuesday Night Race Series
Hickory Hills Recreation Area, 2000 Randolph Street, Traverse City, MI 49684

WED, JAN 22, 2025

BARC Learn to Ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

FRI, JAN 24, 2025

Noquemanon Ski Marathon: Junior and Adaptive Races
Al Quaal Recreation Area, Ishpeming, MI

SAT, JAN 25, 2025

Noquemanon Ski Marathon
Al Quaal Recreation Area (Ishpeming, MI) and NTN 510 trailhead

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Sprint
Minneapolis, MN -- The Trailhead, Loppet

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

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

Lantern-lit Trail
Fayette Historic State Park, 13700 13.25 Lane, Garden, Michigan, 49835

SUN, JAN 26, 2025

CXC Jr. Cup / Great Lakes Division - Freestyle Mass Start
Minneapolis, MN -- The Trailhead, Loppet

Boyne Mountain Classic 10k
Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls, MI

Beach Nuts Junior Nordic Race
Nubs Knob, Harbor Springs

XC Ski HQ: Learn to Skate Ski Clinic
Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N Cut Rd, Roscommon, MI 48653. 800-832-2663, [email protected], CrossCountrySki.com

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

TUE, JAN 28, 2025

Vasa Ski Club Raptors Tuesday Night Race Series
Hickory Hills Recreation Area, 2000 Randolph Street, Traverse City, MI 49684

WED, JAN 29, 2025

BARC Learn to Ski
Huron Meadows Metropark, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

FRI, JAN 31, 2025

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

More events...

LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS

THU, JAN 16

Huron Meadows Metropark: Perfect conditions for skating and classic on Bucks Run. Golf course is not groomed and no info on whether it will be before the weekend.

Vasa Trail: Best snow conditions on the Vasa trail that we had in years. Great coverage in all areas with deep set classic tracks. This years Vasa race will be the best we had in a long time. The entire trail system should be groomed with piston bully and we are confident it will be best groomed trail ever. Don't forget to signup for race at www.vasa.org and make sure to get Community Celebration party ticket. I encourage all the ski tourers out there to signup for the 6k tour on Sunday. A non-competitive but very friendly event, classic or skate. This is Superbowl Sunday and we all know what that could mean. If the Lions are in SB we should all wear something Lions, that would be very cool.

Hanson Hills: Groomer Dan is back out this morning combing in a dusting of snow on all the skate lanes. Tracks are holding up well on Green, Blue, Brown, Yellow, Easy Return.

Cote Dame Update: 1/16
Dear Racers,

I want to sincerely apologize for my confidence in announcing a full-course race yesterday. We are so close! The red trail base is improving, but as much as I want to include this section, it currently has a marginal and bumpy base that I fear would not positively showcase our trail system or our grooming efforts.

Snow is predicted today and tomorrow, and we remain hopeful. However, if we do not receive the necessary 2–3 inches, we will need to adjust the race course accordingly.

We have a solid backup plan in place should the red trail remain unavailable. While this will result in slightly shorter races, it will ensure good to great trail conditions. The adjusted courses will utilize our inner trails, which have been groomed all season and are in prime shape. The approximate distances will be:

22K for MI-Cup Men
11K for MI-Cup Women
5K for Citizens/Juniors
If these adjustments are necessary, we will also modify the starting timeline for all races to safely manage skier flow and prevent two-way collisions.

I will make the official announcement on Friday afternoon, as we are still holding out hope that the predicted snowfall will allow us to proceed with the full course. While there are various ways to extend the race, this adjustment offers the best balance of course quality, fairness, and race integrity for all divisions.

Thank you for your understanding and support. I look forward to seeing you on race day!

Crystal Mountain: Got more snow here than at home. If i were you i would wait until noonish to give us a chance to get everything groomed. I tried skiing this morning and i had to push to get down the hills.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: All the trails have full coverage and the skiing is fantastic. There are firm classic tracks on Trappers cabin trail, but we need a few more inches to set classic tracks on the remaining trails. The snowcombing on the rest of the trail network has things looking pretty darn dreamy up here in the snowy northern woods.

Forbush Corner: The cold weather and additional snow over the last few days has created the best conditions of the season so far. All trails open, fresh grooming and deep classic tracks for sure. Open 9 to 5.

Crystal Mountain: All the trails were groomed yesterday and are in great shape. Have a good track set but with the daily snowfall the skating lanes are still soft. We got another 2 inches overnight. Tim will be re-grooming again today. We are getting ready for the Flying squirrel race on Sunday so he'll be concentrating on the race course/ We did not trackset any of the blacks. Call for details.

WED, JAN 15

Vasa Trail: Excellent snow finally at the Vasa trail!! I skied everything but the headwaters. Took me way too long but my first foray onto the trail. Sunshine chilly temperatures with fresh snow made shaded area slow for skating. Only thin spot on Anita’s and it is skiable. Jack pine well covered. Transform and fast.

Vasa Trail: Today was a day like John Denver sang about, "Sunshine, on my shoulders, makes me Happy," so we were all happy skiers this afternoon. Adding to the delight was the immaculately groomed skate lane and classic tracks now that the trail has a 6" compacted base in most areas, with 12"+ in the woods. It just keeps getting better and better with overnight LES and morning grooming. The Vasa K Sponsor Signs have now been posted until after the race, so you know who to thank for the fine grooming conditions.

Valley Spur: Full sun with temps rising to mid-teens. JC did a full groom with new tractor. Excellent classic skiing. Solid 13” base with fresh snow on top. Approximately 36” on the level off trail.

Independance Oaks: Blue Skies/Blue Swix. Fresh groom, solid 2" and clean. No tracks but not a problem. Skied Lakeshore and parts of Rockridge and Springlake. I'll be back. Tomorrow.

Milham Park Golf Course: Kalamazoo Milham Park Golf Course Ski Trail was in great shape for skating and classic thanks to a wide, firm base provided by the Kalamazoo Nordic Skiers (KNS). The track was deep, consistent and debris free - suitable for "A skis". Enjoy it while you can and remember to donate via the tube at the driving range pkg lot or website - Well done KNS!

Pigeon Creek: Excellent skiing on a mostly silky trail system. The county has been improving the trails in some areas with widening, some removal of trees and of course it never hurts to have ample snow cover along with cold temps. etc. Surprisingly it was very busy, Bob,,Steve, Peter and I were tired after several laps on each side. Kudos for the newer trails on the north side.

Stoney Creek Metropark: They've finally got enough accumulation to make the golf course skiable. Used waxless rock skis and had a very nice time. Skied some in the woods, flats are doable but wouldn't try any hills, not enough snow yet.

Huron Meadows Metropark: Snow was added today. Trail in excellent condition from the building and back for skating or classic. Break the glass and get your good skis out BIll. Should be good the rest of this week and next with the cold temperatures.
Snow gun was running with a big pile made.
Thanks everyone at Huron Meadows for keeping us going.

Stokely Creek: 16° and 10+mph wind, snow blowing from the trees. Perfect fresh groomed track around Interlochen and Belleau Lake. Swix special green covered with thin layer Rode super blue worked today as well as yesterday when it was 4° cooler. Well over 1.5 ft snow over last 3 days has been groomed in and leveled prior irregularities. Very fast track behind groomer, a bit slower where fresh snow has fallen. No fear staying in track down bigger hills ??

Stokely Creek: Great classic track in the fresh snow all the way around the Hakon Lien trail. Firm and easy to control outta the track for safe down hills and turns.

Michaywe: Received almost 2 more inches since yesterday. Groomed and set fresh track on the lake loop, maple ridge, nordic, the river trail, and herringbone. Freshened up the skate lane on both golf course loops, track just has some fluff. Conditions continue to improve.

Hanson Hills: Fresh snow is falling! Groomer Jason has freshly combed Blue and easy return, and is out on RED leveling the skate deck this morning. Tracks are still set on Green, Blue, Brown and Yellow.
Lodge and trails open at 9am. Trail Passes required

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Hallelujah! All trails are groomed! Trappers Cabin has classic tracks set as well. It's a winter wonderland out there!

Independance Oaks: Trail was rolled but no classic track set. The trail was in great condition with no bare spots and the signs are up for the skiers! Not sure if the rentals are open yet and the park is only open until 530pm currently.

TUE, JAN 14

Hickory Hills: Wanted to get out to feel the snow under my feet and the wind at my back (lol, hopefully). I specifically did Hickory Meadows. It was still snowing lightly, lilting down amongst the trees. Evidence of corduroy underneath the newly fallen snow but a pretty "squishy base". Good coverage overall, just not able to be packed well yet. I know it will get better and better. Wish I had brought classic skis for these conditions but man was it good to get out and log in a worthy workout (albeit a slow grinding skate). Didn't afford the time to go across the parking lot to check out Hickory Hills. I'm so thankful for our trails !!

Vasa Trail: The snow continued to fall as I made the pilgrimage to Brian Donnelly’s memorial. The VASA has a great base. One must love when the kick wax is just right on your best classic skis. I had exceptional glide and good kick in the snow-covered tracks. I saw a few skaters, but the temperature and conditions warrant classic skiing.

Valley Spur: LES snow bands dropping big fluffy flakes all day. Single digits in the a.m. but climbing to low 20’s. New tractor/groomer out this a.m. with ginzu and track setter. A steep learning curve but seeing good results. Climbs big hills with ease.
We can’t thank all those from out of the area enough for your donations to make this happen. We are a small club in a small population county and could not have pulled this off without you.

Hanson Hills: A cold day at Hanson Hills. As expected, the classic tracks near the start were minimal/disappeared, but soon reappeared. There were no set tracks on Wilderness, and none at the beginning of Yellow. We were told to avoid Red today to preserve the trail for the race. We skied Brown and Blue, which had set tracks. Snow coverage was good on Brown and Blue, though grass and dirt appeared at times on the way back to the start. We then drove to Traverse City, and it was/is snowing quite hard. Looked like 2-3 inches of new snow this afternoon.

Vasa Trail: With several inches of fresh additional snowfall each night since last week's big 8" storm, followed by an oh-dark-thirty daily grooming, the trail just keeps getting better and better each day. The skate lane is firm and flat, and the classic tracks are well-cast.
The yardstick on the 0K signpost indicates compacted depth of about 6", forgot to check the one on the 4K post. Saw several of the regulars on my 10K skate, but the highlight was hearing from USMC-Jim about his races in Estonia and Argentina last year, and planned Swedish Vasa this year, though he was a little tired after 30 Miles of classic yesterday.
Then chatted with Jim M. in the parking lot about the Vasa Race History that is commemorating events amazingly similar to those commemorated by the BirkeBeiner Race in WI. if you want to learn that history view the Norwegian action adventure movie "The Last King" filmed in their mountains showing how amazingly they skied back in the 8th Century or thereabouts.

Lost Lakes Pathway: Ungroomed trail through state forest with ~10" snow. Southern loop has had skiers and walkers, but it was fine since snow is soft. We were 1st skiers today to smooth skier-made tracks on the Northern loop. We used EVO 60 fish scale touring skis, which are perfect for this trail.

Huron Meadows Metropark: 16 degrees, around 3pm
Bucks Run, I do tracks
Looked groomed to me.
Great deep tracks, one spot has a little dirt mixed in the track at one curve but plenty of snow to glide on, as someone had mentioned in Monday's post. Snow looked fluffy.
It looked like everyone was having fun

Huron Meadows Metropark: Bucks' Run in excellent shape today for Classic and Skating. As of this afternoon nothing else was available.

Milham Park Golf Course: Skate lane re set after 4+ inches of fresh snow last night. A little soft right now but should set up nicely. Classic track will be set this afternoon. As good as we can hope for folks, let's get out there and enjoy!

Dave D

Michaywe: Maybe another 2 inches since yesterday. Both golf course loops, the lake loop, herringbone, and the river trail have been groomed and track set. Just a few easily avoidable thin spots.

Cross Country Ski Headquarters: We received more snow yesterday, and Groomer Mike has snowcombed the Manitou, Trapper's Cabin, and Rolling Hills trails as of 10am. Trappers Cabin has classic tracks set as well. It's a winter wonderland out there! Stone Turtle Cafe is open for lunch. It's Silver Streak Week at XC SKI HQ this week, so skiers who are age 60 and older receive a Free Facilities Pass today through this Friday!

Hanson Hills: Combed skate deck and Set Tracks on All Trails, Green, Blue, Brown, Yellow and Easy Return.
We are hoping to groom RED tomorrow in preparation for the Cote Dame.

Cote Dame - January 18th. Sign up ONLINE!! Souvenir Pint Glass, and Custom finisher medal for all participants!! https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Grayling/CoteDameMarieSkiLoppet

Corsair Ski Trails: Five to six inches of fresh snow on the trails today! The parking lots are plowed and there’s enjoyable skiing on some nice skied-in tracks. It’s still not deep enough to pack and groom, but it’s a beautiful white snowscape for some winter fun.

More trail reports...