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.
USSA names 2017 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team
11/23/2016 - By USSA
Head Coach Chris Grover is anticipating a strong season with stars on both the men’s and women’s side, and an especially deep women’s team with the return of Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, AK), who took last season off for the birth of her first child.
Toko introduces table and two ski vises for Nordic waxing
11/17/2016 - By Ian Harvey
Toko introduces an inexpensive workbench with good vise options: a XC Profile Set and a Ski Vise Nordic
2017 Vasa announces Collegiate Challenge
11/16/2016 - By Pete LaPlaca
In our 2017 Festival of Races we are offering a new Collegiate Challenge that is open to all current collegians. The male and female skiers will be judged on a cumulative time for both a 11km freestyle race and a 16km classic race.
Registration is open for the 2017 Great Bear Chase!
11/10/2016 - By Great Bear Chase
Registration is now open for the 37th annual UP Health System Portage Great Bear Chase. The race will take place on Saturday, March 11th, 2017 at the beautiful Swedetown Trails in Calumet, Michigan.
Forbush Corner Pines Loop trail clearing this weekend
11/9/2016 - By Forbush Corner
If you haven't heard yet - the beloved Pines Loop is set to re-open for the upcoming ski season. Trail clearing is underway. We plan to continue work this weekend and could use your help to finish this project.
Why Toko Waxes? How Toko is different
11/9/2016 - By Ian Harvey
Innovation. Simplicity. No compromise / performance. Service.
Straits Striders to hold Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Swap
11/3/2016 - By Jim Harrington
Straits Striders is holding a Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Swap on Saturday November 12, 9am-1pm at the Petoskey Winter Sports Park. in Petoskey, Michigan.
$200,735 Adaptive Sports Grant to assist disabled veterans across Wyoming
11/2/2016 - By Cathy Rosser
The aim of the grant is to support adaptive sports and recreation for veterans and active duty military, in this case adaptive biathlon and Nordic skiing.
Krazy Klassic to host Michigan Senior Olypmics
11/1/2016 - By Mike Muha
The 2017 Krazy Klassic Ski Race will be part of the 2017 Michigan Senior Olympics. Any Krazy Klassic participant age 55 and older over will be able to indicate during registration that they would like to be considered an MSO participant.
NOAA Winter Outlook predicts cooler, wetter Michigan
10/30/2016 - By NOAA
The Climate Prediction Center issued a La Nina watch this month, predicting the climate phenomenon is likely to develop in late fall or early winter. La Nina favors drier, warmer winters in the south and wetter, cooler conditions in the northern U.S.
Vasa Ski Swap this weekend
10/20/2016 - By Eric C. Jean
Gear up for the cross country ski season at the annual Vasa Ski Club "Nordic Ski Swap" Saturday October 22nd from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM at Brick Wheels in Traverse City.
Michigan Cup Committee set rules for 2016-2017 season
10/11/2016 - By Mike Muha
The Michigan Cup Committee made a number of decisions at it's annual meeting this past Sunday for the upcoming 2016-2017 ski season.
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...
