Cross Country Ski Headquarters reports that the ice storm took its toll on the ski trail, with downed trees and sticks lodged in the ice. They are working to open a trail. Forbush Corner is still investigating the damage but hopes to have something open this coming Thursday.
Toko High Performance Liquid Paraffins: Easy and fast
2/27/2019 - By Mike Muha
TOKO is shipping a line of spray-on High Performance Liquid Paraffins that look to greatly reduce the time it takes to wax race skis, reducing the mess, and still give you fast skis.
Team NordicSkiRacer still leads Brumbaugh Cup competition
2/26/2019 - By Mike Muha
Team NordicSkiRacer continues to lead the Brumbaugh Cup competition as the most powerful team, with a 46 points lead over Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop.
Team NSR moves into third in MI Cup standings; Vasa still leads
2/26/2019 - By Mike Muha
Team NordicSkiRacer has overtaken Grand Rapids Nordic to move into third place in the overall Michigan Cup standings. There have been big changes in the individual junior and senior standings, too!
Crystal Community Ski Club host 2k junior race
2/26/2019 - By Amy Powell
Thirty-five Nordic Middle and High School skiers raced this past Saturday, some first time racers, at Crystal Mountain. The new Nordic ski club, Crystal Community Ski Club (CCSC), hosted a 2k classic and skate interval start junior race.
RESULTS: Ellie Callison and Kevin Tarras win fast Boyne Vistas race
2/24/2019 - By Mike Muha
The race started with a 300 foot climb straight up an alpine ski slope with an average climb of 8%. That's average: the climb actually ranged from around 1.5% to a gradient of almost 16%.
Over 36 inches of packed snow on Great Bear Chase course
2/22/2019 - By Angela Luskin
he 39th annual UP Health System Great Bear Chase is almost here! Conditions are looking great, with a packed base of 36” on the course and great temperatures leading up to Saturday, March 9th.
Vasa continues to lead Michigan Cup after Hanson Hills Classic
2/22/2019 - By Mike Muha
Not much has changed with the finish of the Forbush Freestyle and Hanson Hills Classic: Vasa Ski Club has increased it lead over the Cross Country Ski Headquarters and the Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team is still in third.
Waxing recommendations: Michigan Cup and latest Birkie suggestions
2/22/2019 - By Mike Muha
Waxing recommendations for Boyne Vistas, the Muffin Race and the latest round of Birkie suggestions.
Birkie wax recommendations
2/19/2019 - By Mike Muha
American Birkebeiner wax recommendations have started. See what people are recommending... Toko, FastWax, Swix, Rex, Start, Star, Vauhti...
Team NordicSkiRacer leads Brumbaugh Cup by 13 points
2/19/2019 - By Mike Muha
Team NordicSkiRacer continues to lead the Brumbaugh Cup competition as the most powerful team, with 960 point. But Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop is closing in, just 13 points behind.
RESULTS: Kyle Hanson and Emily Blackmer win Hanson Hills Classic
2/18/2019 - By Mike Muha
Kyle Hanson and Emily Blackmer win Hanson Hills Classic after both winning the Forbush Freestyle the day before. UPDATED RESULTS FOR EVERYONE ELSE!!!
RESULTS: Emily Blackmer and Kyle Hanson will Forbush Freestyle
2/18/2019 - By Mike Muha
The Meijer State Games Of Michigan / Forbush 8K/17K Freestyle race was held this past Saturday on an excellently groomed trail, with cool temperatures and little wind. The course wound around most the Forbush Corner trail system.
UPCOMING
FRI, MAR 20, 2026
FRI, MAR 27, 2026
2026 US Ski & Snowboard SuperTour Finals - 1.5km classic sprint
Craftsbury Outdoor Center, 535 Lost Nation Road, Craftsbury Common, VT
SAT, MAR 28, 2026
2026 US Ski & Snowboard SuperTour Finals - 4 x 5km mixed gender club relay
Craftsbury Outdoor Center, 535 Lost Nation Road, Craftsbury Common, VT
Team NSR End-of-Season and Groomer Appreciation Party!
Huron Meadows Metropark Ski Center, 8765 Hammel Rd, Brighton, MI 48116
SUN, MAR 29, 2026
2026 US Ski & Snowboard SuperTour Finals - 40km freestyle mass start
Craftsbury Outdoor Center, 535 Lost Nation Road, Craftsbury Common, VT
TUE, MAR 31, 2026
Citizen’s Night Ski Race Series
Main MTU Trailhead, Michigan Tech Trails, Houghton, Michigan
More events...
LATEST TRAIL CONDITIONS
THU, MAR 19
Hickory Hills: This might be my last ski of the season so I wanted to thank the people at Hickory Hills for the fantastic grooming they have been doing all winter. For a family downhill ski venue, Hickory Hills has done so much for the Nordic skiers that it seems it is more of a Nordic center now than a downhill ski area. The downhill looks like they are closed for the season yet they are grooming with the piston bully on the Nordic trails. Special thanks to coach K who works numerous hours using the sleds to groom the trails. The last couple of days when no one was grooming, John had to spend 6 hrs a day laying a skating lane and setting a track. Saw lots of skiers still taking advantage of the great snow. Gave some instructions to a lovely lady named Margaret who I found out was a professional marathon runner in her youth and competed in the 1988 summer Olympics in South Korea. Amazing the people you meet on the trail.
WED, MAR 18
Forbush Corner: It took a couple of days but we are dug out, and all trails are clear. 100%+ coverage. We plan to be open the next 5 days, Thursday through Monday, 9 to 5. Grooming plan for skate and classic (might change depending on weather): East side trails will be groomed tomorrow. West side Friday, and Pines Loop on Saturday.
Big M: Perfect, but warming tomorrow, thursday
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: After a long day's work, the practice field, Blizzard Trail, and Trappers Cabin trail are all skiable. There are some really pleasant sections, as well as area with sawdust, branches embedded in ice, jack pine needle clumps, and some precarious looking trees!
After the chainsaws and tractors went through, we were able to snowcomb a path. Classic skiing on fishscale skis is recommended, as waxable classics and skins may attract unwanted pines needle and sawdust!
We have rentals available for anyone who doesn't want to use their "A" skis. Skating is not recommended, except on the practice field. We will get back out there tomorrow and see if there is anything else that we can open up. Thank you for your patience and you good cheer!
Stokely Creek: I was told there would be Spring Skiing. I'm running out of blue wax.
Unlisted trail: Crawford County
Crust skiing is at optimal levels. The recent ice and snow storm has produced a ski surface throughout the local region that only comes once in a great while.
TUE, MAR 17
Unlisted trail: Crawford County
Crust skiing is at optimal levels. The recent ice and snow storm has produced a ski surface throughout the local region that only comes once in a great while.
Stokely Creek: Wow, a bonus day of perfect cold snow skiing! Blue sky, blue wax and a pristine track to Norms Cabin.
Cross Country Ski Headquarters: Well, what an eventful couple of days. We had a major storm system move though Sunday night, and with it, lots of ice and winds. The shop has been without power or phone lines for 2 days, but our generators have kept the heat on and all is well inside. Outside is a different story...
The trails have been hit pretty hard, to the point where most are impassable without hurdling fallen trees. Not to mention the 1,000,000 sticks that have lodged themselves into the ice throughout the 19km network. It will be a big project to clean up. This afternoon, there was a gentle, picturesque snow fall, lightly dusting the devastation with a layer of fresh fallen snow. Though beautiful, slightly painful to watch because we knew we couldn't really ski on it due to the massive amount sticks and branches everywhere. The trails have about 1/2" of fresh snow on top of 1" of ice crust, with 3-4" of soft powder underneath, rendering the use of heavy equipment null.
We will do an extensive survey tomorrow to see if we can salvage one trail for the rest of this season, and will update from there. Rest assured we will keep our heads high and carry on! The shop will be open 10-5 if anyone wants to come warm up and say hi. Stay safe, and stay warm!
Forbush Corner: Well, the storm left us with a weird mess of frozen snow. We spent over an hour trying to break it up and access the doors of the shop, yurt, ski school and vault toilets. We were unsuccessful with the vault toilets, but will try again once it warms up. Wednesday's plan is to get the piles of built up cement snow out of the entrances and get the parking lot plowed. We will also check the trails for downfall.
We plan to open up this Thursday through Monday. Looks like another great week of skiing is on tap.
More trail reports...
