Last year I cross-country skied in the Brainerd area over 100 days. This year still very brown and is supposed to be daytime highs above 32 degrees at least until New Year's.

I don't think I got to 100 last year, but I remember skiing from Thanksgiving all the through first week in April.

Anyone out doing lake skiing?

egknuti: "Anyone out doing lake skiing? "

The Ely high school ski team practiced on the lakes last week. We got 4” of snow this weekend. The portages are not skiable.

Finnboy: "

egknuti: "Anyone out doing lake skiing? "

The Ely high school ski team practiced on the lakes last week. We got 4” of snow this weekend. The portages are not skiable."

It's a start anyhow.

I used Nordic Skates for the first time last week on lakes off the Echo Trail. A little shakey at first (haven't been on blades in 40 years), but once I found a solid binding position and adjusted to the blade/balance it was sweet.

Did have the shock of whistling my dog back and have him emerge from the back bay of Fenske with five (maybe seven) wolves all casually loping towards me. Switched from lips to loud metal whistle, wolves stopped and stared, dog kept coming though tried to turn back a few times. Too close of a call. Told him, "Those doggies in a gang."

Someone must be skiing by now. I hope?

I skied lakes outside Ely last week and have been skiing each morning and night on a relatively flat loop (skiing in the dark (and cold I might add)) outside of Grand Rapids before and after work. Not enough snow for tracks, but its better than not skiing.

Been out once this year around Brainerd in our 4 inches of snow-maybe.
Last year was a record for me, over 100 days cross-country skiing the back woods around home-breaking trail and then reusing my track.

Yeah last year was fantastic. Starting in December I skied at least once a day every day but ten until April 18. Ridiculous.

Where is everyone (anyone) skiing? I thought about Slim, Ed Shave? Prefer to skate, but Nordic is great too.

Well, I am done skiing around Brainerd, were all brown and no snow, 51 degrees F. right now, a couple of decades ago it was -52 degrees F. .

Decent skate skiing on the lakes. Yesterday I was punching through the crust into the slush. Today solid with decent glide. A little slick in spots but good enough. First skate ski of the year.

Banksiana: "Decent skate skiing on the lakes. Yesterday I was punching through the crust into the slush. Today solid with decent glide. A little slick in spots but good enough. First skate ski of the year."

Thanks for the update. I'm going to be up in the area next weekend and I'm hoping to do some skiing.

I was able to skate ski at Hidden Valley. Very thin coverage but I managed to find a loop good enough where I avoided thin patches and rocks, but not before I face planted several times. I drove out to Ed Shave and it definitely looked good for skiing, but it’s been very windy the last few days so I decided to stay in the woods.

egknuti: "I was able to skate ski at Hidden Valley. Very thin coverage but I managed to find a loop good enough where I avoided thin patches and rocks, but not before I face planted several times. I drove out to Ed Shave and it definitely looked good for skiing, but it’s been very windy the last few days so I decided to stay in the woods. "

you lucky guy. All I have in Brainerd is bare ground and glare ice on the lakes.

Skijored some lakes in the Ely area. Pretty decent conditions on the smaller lakes.

Great skate skiing on the lakes today with the exception of wind polished ice areas.