Snow and Trail Conditions Update

As of 2/13/2023:

(2/8/23): Trails are holding up just fine. No worries here. Warm weather adds some challenge to keeping trails flat but cold weather at night will maintain our trail base. Mid-February sun doesn't hurt as much as mid-March sun so get your sleds out, no more than 7 weekends (best case scenario) left to ride. Typically we are toast by March 15!

Groomers around the County have been working around the warm weather and will continue to do so. Nearly every trail in the County has been groomed since the weekend and it's only Wednesday. As we go through this warm stretch remember that warm weather brings out a lot of fair-weather riders. Trails will be busy and the packy snow will chop up the trails quicker than a 20 degree day.

I know it's bad timing for trail updates but I will have very limited access/time to keep up with Ride Rusk over the next week. I will again be participating in Snowball Cancer, a tremendous event sponsored by tremendous people in the Keller Family Community Foundation. If anyone has interest in participating in the future, I'd love to talk you through it! I'll be riding the v500 tomorrow and v700 on Valentine's Day and joy riding and spending time with family in between.

If you should feel inclined to generously donate to the cause you can donate to anyone on the roster. Everyone in the group is doing it for the same reason! CANCER SUCKS!

-Please check the Ride Rusk page for confirmation on your trail routes and for updates on trail maintenance and grooming.

 

Cross Country Ski Trails

Blue Hills Trails report:     

We groomed again Sunday evening. Groomers worked on the skate lane on most of the trails while they waited for temps to fall so they could groom the newly opened East Side 'Core Loop Bypass' 15-20-21-22-24-25. As midnight approached, they groomed the bypass trails, this included classic track. It should be skiable today.

If planning on skiing that section of trails, note that there is a segment of trail just west of #20 that is bare ground where loggers have been turning around. Plan on removing your skis to walk through that 100 meter section. Due to the destructive December ice storm, open trails are currently limited to about 45% of the East Side of the trail system, and Excelsior Road on the West Side. Click on 'Trail Conditions at the center top of each page on our website to view the daily updates and informative maps.

-Be sure to visit their website or Facebook page for more trail conditions.

 

Ladysmith Area Trails report:

(2/3/2023): Jim groomed the east side skating lane and reports it as very good skiing. We also continue to work on our trail system after the storm in December. This includes the lighted trails at Ladysmith High School. There are a number of trees down and many branchs still covering the trail. Jim has organized a work day this Saturday at 10:00 am to work on clearing the lighted loop. If we can get 8 or so volunteers we could get the trail cleared by noon. If you can lend a hand that would be great. Also there is a fun snowshoe hike of 1,3 or 5 miles on the Ice Age Trail on highway F south of Birchwood near Murphy Flowage Campground next Saturday, February 11. Snowshoes can borrowed from the Ladysmith Info Center at no cost.

-For more updates, check out the Ladysmith Area Trail Association Facebook page.

 

Christie Mountain

(2/11/23): Blue Bird skies today! Ski hill open 10am-10pm $30 all day lift tickets! Rentals $15. Tubing Hill Opens at 5pm! If you didn't get a chance to ride the new park reset in Foxhop and Alli Oop today, now worries... It will be here all weekend! See you tomorrow 10am-10pm.

-Check out their website or Facebook page for more updates.