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.
Reflections on the 2017 Michigan Cup Season
4/18/2017 - By Ernie Brumbaugh
Has anyone else noticed? Younger skiers! College participation! Junior achievement! Ski technology!
Andy Liebner offers training program to skiers
4/17/2017 - By Andy Liebner
Attention all Michigan Cup affiliated Nordic skiers! Andy Liebner has a special offer to anyone who seeks improvement in a variety of areas. Direct to your inbox, weekly emails with a motivational training / exercise plan.
Ski race report from Lillehammer, Norway: Birkebeiner Rennet (VIDEO)
3/26/2017 - By Allen Sorgenfrei
Saturday we got on our bus which stopped at the hotel at 4:15 am, and two hours later we were in Rena. We hopped another bus for a short ride to the start. Plowed fields held the stacks of big busses and cars and porta johns.
Huron Meadows Groomer Appreciation Party, Sunday, March 26th
3/25/2017 - By Mike Muha
Yes, this has been a rocky year. But, because of the constant freeze/thaws, the folks at Huron Meadows Metropark have actually worked harder than ever to bring us what skiing we have had.
Michigan Cup Skiers Compete in Lake Placid Loppet
3/25/2017 - By Doug Cornell
“You can do it!” a spectator yelled as I single-sticked my way up a vertical pitch. I crested the summit and with wobbly legs, dropped into a tuck and blasted the descent.
Team NSR and GRNST at the Engadin Skimarathon
3/23/2017 - By Allen Sorgenfrei
Despite a very disappointing year for snow in Europe, rumor was that there was still snow in Switzerland. We drove there from Munich, which was spring like, with not a snow pile in site.
2017 Muffin Race results
3/21/2017 - By Mike Muha
Last Michigan Cup Race of the season! The Muffin Race, held at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters, was a junior-only race. Racers did an 8km classic race, then an 8km freestyle race, pursuit-style.
RESULTS, VIDEO: 2017 Michigan Cup Relays
3/21/2017 - By Mike Muha
It was a little worrisome, what with the warm weather and rain leading up to the Michigan Cup Relays, but the Cross Country Ski Headquarters spread man-made snow where they could and farmed snow elsewhere to successfully keep the course covered.
The Muffin Race is this SUNDAY (not Saturday)
3/14/2017 - By Mike Muha
The Muffin Race was incorrectly listed in the NordicSkiRacer event calendar for Saturday and is actually taking place this Sunday, March 19th. If you are going the race, make sure you show up on the correct day!
Deedra Irwin and Kyle Bratrud win Great Bear Chase
3/13/2017 - By Angela Luskin
Two former U.P. college skiers took the victories in the 50km skiathlon: former Michigan Tech standout Deedra Irwin of Pulaski, Wisconsin, and Northern Michigan alumnus Kyle Bratrud of Marquette, Michigan. Bratrud eked out the win by just 1.4 seconds
Rebecca Davis and Sam Holmes win Michigan Cup titles
3/10/2017 - By Mike Muha
Rebecca Davis and Sam Holmes win Michigan Cup senior titles in close racing.
Weekend wax recommendations
3/10/2017 - By Mike Muha
Great Bear Chase! Michigan Cup Relays! Fast Wax! Toko! Swix! Solda! But only a weather report for the Relays so far....
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
Sleeping Bear Dunes: ***Grooming Update!***
Our amazing Trail Groomer Milan, was out on the Norther Section of the trail this Tuesday, grooming the amazing 3 to 4 feet of powder we received with the recent blizzard. Today's warmer temps are going to make the snow a little slushier.
From Crystal River Trail head to Lawr Farm have been groomed.
Stokely Creek: Wow, one of the best tracks of the season! The last week has stacked a whole second base worth of snow on top of the already above average base.
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...
