Minnesota Nordic Ski Association

Ever wonder whether the trail and route maps for various systems and rides are accurate? Help the Minnesota Nordic Ski Association measure and record your local ski trails. Use a Garmin, and upload your data to Garmin Connect. Let us know about your efforts, and we’ll add your results to our portal. Take a look at our initial efforts as recorded by board member, Rich Hoeg.

Northland Cycling and Skiing.

For instance, here is the 54k American Birkebeiner Classic (Garmin Data). At the end of the race you will have climbed (and descended) approximately 1,900 feet (or a 190 story building!). Click link to view image at full size

I am the Lorax! I speak for the trees,
Which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please;

But I also speak for the brown Barbaloots,
Who frolicked and played in their Barbaloot suits,
Happily eating Truffula fruits.

Now, since you’ve chopped the trees to the ground
There’s not enough Truffula fruit to go ’round!

From the Lorax by Dr. Seuss.

Sad … Sad … Sad. One of our board members went skiing this afternoon at the Boulder Lake Ski Trails just north of Duluth. Minnesota Power has done significant logging on the Lonesome Grouse “classic only” ski trails. What once used to be a beautiful narrow trail that snaked through pine trees, now meanders through an ugly logged out area.

Thanks Minnesota Power. We recognize your need to make money, but why could you have not left a buffer zone around the ski trails? You are to be commended for everything you normally do with the Boulder Lake Management Area. The MNSA does not want to sound unappreciative of your providing this great recreation area.

Here are three photos. Two photos show the new Lonesome Grouse, and one photo shows what most of the trail used to be like.

The Minnesota Nordic Ski Association is now on Facebook. Check us out … MnNordSki. We will try to provide an open site which lets skiers post photos, commentary, and have discussions.

As we head into the Winter ski season, and you purchase your Minnesota Nordic Ski Pass, please understand even with the small amount of revenue provided by your fee, our trail systems around the state would not exist without the countless hours put in my hundreds of volunteers.

Earlier this Fall we caught “Mark Stadem”, president of the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club, in the act of mowing the French Rapids Ski Trail system. This trail is one of three Grant-in-Aid (GIA) ski trails in the Brainerd area managed by the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club. Click upon the image to get a full sized view!