Midwest Cross-County Ski / Snowshoe Week end

“Sign up people! We had a LOT of fun last year in the Black River State Forest. The location this year has not been selected. We'll choose a location when we know where the snow is going to be. For now this gets the event on the calendar so everyone can plan ahead.”

“Yogi... Yogi.. (knocks on Yogi's head)... ya remember an e-mail I'd written on this very topic?... I've been looking at stuff, trying to find a place with both winter camping and with lodging for those not wanting to camp outside. I've got ideas.... And was looking at either this same weekend or the one following. Ya said ya hadn't planned anything when I wrote...”

“hread (think I have one here, too, but not sure when and didn't want to search): http://forums.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=613107219;t=9991110829

Anyhoo, ya stuck on doing any set thing. Wanna combine resources? That could be cool. :-) I've thought, in addition to Natural Gait, of:

1. Back to Black River State Forest, but getting the lodge (wherever it is) to allow indoor and outdoor camping.

2. Houston, MN. Outdoor camping (plus indoor showers) at nature center there right on the groomed Root River ski trail (pretty flat and, well, pretty!). Also Wet Bark Trail/Oak Ridge Forest unit close to horse farm which has a couple places to stay. There's a campground at Wet Bark, too.

3. Kickapoo Valley Reserve, La Farge, Wi. Haven't checked much into it yet, but think there could be both camping and lodging.

4 Any number of state park in MN or WI. I've been on the MN parks southern geocaching challenge so am seeing lots of nice parks. Also, was just at Devil's Lake in WI. Would want to check into winter lodging.

Etc. Dryfoot, any other ideas around here?
last edited: 9/29/08 12:27:34 PM”

“oh crappity crap crap i forgot about that email lizs.

i think we are open to anything...pros made some good calls too.

we should wait a while and see where the snow actually falls.

i wonder what kind of wax you use on skis when you are on bare ground! lol!”

“BACKPACKING AND WINTER SNOW SPORTS CAN BE DANGEROUS: This trip is inherently dangerous and the risk of death or serious injury can never be completely eliminated. It is up to each individual to make his or her own choices regarding acceptable risk. By signing up for this trip you acknowledge that you recognize these risks and are prepared to be responsible for your own safety.

So, where'ed ya get the CYA!!
Kinda looks like Ed's work! LOL
See ya later.
Randall
last edited: 10/01/08 3:49:50 PM”

“got it from a rock climbing place”

“Why do you think Yogisans/Boogeysans has his lawyer accompany him on the trips he leads?”

“folks, i may have to go in for surgery and the doctor says i'll be totally out of action for 3 months as i recover. he means total stop of all the fun stuff i do. real bummer. so he said i need to pick a season and basically "take it off". ok, so i have struggled but i think this winter is the one.

NOT skiing this winter is very difficult to accept. i just got new skis and boots and was totally stoked and gaggin' for major snow... not that i knew i would get it but i am free to hope.

anyway, i am still willing to organize this trip but if someone else is willing to step in as trip leader it would help. i don't like the thought of organizing a trip i can't attend. if there is going to be a fiasco i should at least by the victim of my own bad planning... :)

i think technically i could "slackpack" this... drive in and camp. i just couldn't backpack or carry any weight.

it's a long and dreary story. you can imagine this is tough for me. it's nothing life threatening but i don't really want to talk about it.”

“That is just the kind of karma that will bring a major snow on before the winter trip. And now MataHariHiker has a partner to hike in from the nearest trailhead. Thank you YogiSans.”

“Hmmm... well, I **love** to organize trips and was trying to do that here. Truly, I want what you guys want, I just also want to perhaps make a more feasible trip for people who like the winter, but might not want to camp out in it. I think these two warring (lol) groups can not only get along, but do it on one, single trip. I have ideas... and am looking at more spots as there has been concern about snow where I am. I agree, keep the weekend date, but keep eyes open as to where snow is. And I'd welcome organizing or helping to organize it.

Sorry about the potential surgery, Yogi. That sucks. :-( BUT... you can still get out there and camp!! Right?? Hope so!”

“ok lizs, i changed the trip so you are now the planner (go to the trip page and see). thanks for this. hopefully you can strike a balance for all. I have put myself down as potentially going but i won't be skiing, snowshowing, or backpacking. slacking is possible but i don't want the trip to accomodate me.”

“In”

“it will be good to see you. i am taking this season off for medical reasons but i hope to come and camp / hike in.”

“I'm totally ready to put 2008 behind me. Buried dad in June and mom in September and my best friend's son was killed in an auto accident last weekend. This trip sounds like just what my soul needs to start 2009--with good people and lots of laughs!”

“Oh wow C, very sorry to hear that! I have had an up and down year, but as of late cannot wait to welcome a new year! Hope to be able to make this”

“boy, we had a LOT of fun last year. the snow was great. it would be great if you came, knee.”

“Hm...Thinkbubelz & I Might be interested, depending on the dates and location... :-)”

“Count me in! (Unless it's there's a blizzard when it's time to hop in the car and drive however many hundreds of miles.)

Btw, those who don't know me, I'm from The Message Board That Shall Not Be Named.”

“great to meet you!”

“NC and I would consider this depending on location. I'll keep checking back.”

“Any ideas yet about a location? Tired of bailing on my own trips so need another one I am interested in to bail on.”

“Right now the only location that has adequate snow for cross country skiing or for real snow shoeing would be Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/snow_model/images/full/Northern_Great_Lakes/nsm_depth/200812/nsm_depth_2008120305_Northern_Great_Lakes.jpg”

“not true! my kids are doing laps around the block as i type this... in the dark.

very stoked about the snow.”

“We got something like 4" over the weekend. Need more (can I really be saying that??), but we have a nice base. I'm not sure if the Root River Trail is tracked yet for XC skis.”

“we got some here in the burbs... still enough for the kids to ski in.

i almost cried... my oldest son can wear my xc ski boots. guess he isn't a kid anymore.... lol!”

“OK, this trip is likely moving to somewhere in MN or IA (maybe western WI). I may well set up a new trip page for it. Yogisan looks to be planning a sequel to the 2008 event sometime in February, when he is all better from his surgery... and ready to kick some Yogisan butt! (or at least to maybe NOT fall down when skiing from the shelter, hehehehee)

New trip has a 90 percent possibility of including some type of cabin or lodging for those who don't necesarily want to camp out in cold... but also the opportunity to do that, too. I am currently leaning toward Houston, MN - which has two or three opportunities for camping... two or three lodging options (motel, cabin and lodge)... cross-country skiing on the groomed Root River Trail (flat as long as you go west)... and snowshoeing at the Wet Bark Trail/Oak Ridge Unit of the Dorer forest. Lots to do!!

Stay tuned... and meanwhile I await a Yogi trip posting. We will have opportunities for all kindsa fun this winter. :-) Yeah!
last edited: 12/07/08 8:52:28 PM”

“The further south you pick, the less likely you will have ski-able snow in January.”

“I signed up as a Yes, but to be honest I'm now waiting to see how cold it's going to be. Teens and above, I'm in. Lower than that and I'm not going since I just don't have the gear for it and I can't fork out the cash for the hotel.

So.... if it's "warm" I'll be there in a tent. If not, have a great time and I'll catch you all on another trip!”

“When the wind chill temperature is forecasted to go below the -10 F. rating of my bag, I just build and sleep in a snow cave. If properly constructed, ones body heat keeps the inside temperature in the snow cave in the upper 20's even when it is below zero outside.”

“Well, maybe.... I was planning on trying that for the first time in the safety of my own backyard. I do want to go - I just don't want to be miserable. The coldest I've camped in was high 20's. My sleeping bag is down and rated for -10, BUT it's over 13 years old and has lost some loft over the years. I don't have any snow pants/ski suit type stuff, but I do have synthetic long underwear, winter socks and a variety of synthetic or wool layers and a cozy down coat.

The only other concern I have for the temps besides comfort is my asthma. If it gets lower than the teens I doubt I'll be able to exert myself without a problem. (Not that I'll keel over or anything - don't worry!)”

“Any location determined yet?
later '09
attila”

“Yogi, yer s'posed to be healin up!”

“Here is where the deep snow is at:
http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/snow_model/images/full/Northern_Great_Lakes/nsm_depth/200901/nsm_depth_2009010105_Northern_Great_Lakes.jpg

Specifically, the snow on the North Country Trail between Drummond and Mellen is 9 to 10 inches.
http://www.norwiski.com/norwiski-bin/list_trails_2004.cgi/0?feed_objective=ACTIVE

Snow depth at Black River Falls is 14 inches.
http://www.wunderground.com/StateSnowDepth.asp?state=WI

Another view of Wisconsin's snow depth:
http://www.johndee.com/snowcover/wicover.htm

The Root River Trail in Minnesota has less snow and has some icy spots on their trails:
http://www.rootrivertrail.org/ski-update.php

An inch or more snow is in the forecast for the next week, with more snow the farther north you go:
http://www.accuweather.com/maps-precipitation.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&site=usnc&type=snow&fday=3
last edited: 1/01/09 4:59:46 AM”

“Yes, this event is set. It's MY event at this time, not YogiJimmySan's. As I understand it, though, he will plan something in Feb. or March, when his back is better.

This event has been posted as a Minneapolis/St. Paul Backpackers MeetUp event. It was posted there both as a camping trip and also with an option to stay at a motel and just get out for those not wanting to winter camp. So far - and the deadline to sign-up for that purpose has now passed - there are no motel takers and just a couple winter camping takers. HOWEVER, IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO COME, YOU ARE DEFINITELY WELCOME.

I have a location, Isinours Forest Unit of the Richard J. Dorer State Forest near Preston, MN. As of 2-3 weeks ago, this was a PERFECT SPOT. We had close to 35" of snow in December, which was pretty unbelievable. However (and this sucks), we then had rain... and warm temps. Which leaves conditions so-so.

I am not sure what our forecasts are going into the weekend of Jan. 9-11. I think 2-4" of snow is predicted this weekend... and if anything comes next week.

Whatever the case is, an event is planned and your attendance for winter camping welcome. Since it appears we will have a couple new winter campers, the campsite will not be far from the parking area. HOWEVER, 1) the parking lot is on a deadend and it's very peaceful there, and 2) if you really want, you can climb up the hill for a nice campsite, too, near a small, three-sided shelter.

If we have more snow, this location is perfect (and why I selected it) because 1) it is right on the Root River State Recreational Trail, which is groomed for XC skiing back toward Preston and Lanesboro (but not toward Fountain, although someone had skied that way and put down tracks). These trails are beginner, flat trails along beautiful rivers and bluffs on former railroad beds. I skied a week ago Sunday by Isinours and while other spots were losing snow, it was still pretty decent. It was only my second time out on the skis. The snow was kind of granular, but I was defnitely getting glide.

The Isinours Unit also offers snowshoeing, if the snow holds. It has a nice trail around 3 miles, plus some areas to double back and cut across on, as well as offtrail options. If that isn't enough, there would be additional locations 10 miles away at most. I know I like to try to find nice, untrodden, powdery, virgin snow for snowshoeing - and we do know locations to do just that.

Another option is the Liking Hiking Club will have a snowshoe, ski or (more likely at this point) HIKE Saturday, Jan. 10, at 12:30 p.m.

Plus yet another option - and I need to check the moonrise time - is a moonlight snowshoe, ski or hike, as the moon should be pretty full.

And geez, I just thought of an additional option if anyone geocaches. The Isinours Trail and area probably has at least a dozen geocaches... maybe more like 20!!??!!?! So it's something else people could do.

We were even looking at building an igloo, potentially, but chances of that are looking slim.

Bottom line, the event is happening if you are interested in coming. I can't guarantee snow, though, so if it's definitely snow you want - as opposed to fine comradeship and likely a big, big bonfire (and the tales you only hear at events like these) - and roasted marshallows (if not indeed Peeps!) take it upon yourself to go find snow.

Before you complain, just know I've spent a bunch of time on planning this, whatever happens, trying to take each and every contingency into account. And with that said, any questions, kiddies??? ;-)

(Psst.... Ed, me thinks you need to host something up in your neck of the woods at some point each winter... eh? It would be a good location. Although I need flat ski trails with no hills!!! LOL)
last edited: 1/03/09 12:36:34 AM”

“Can I get specifics on where the campsite is? I pulled up the Isinours Unit map at http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_forests/sft00033_isinours.pdf .

Is this the right place? Don't want to drive for 6 hours and not be able to find y'all.”

“Just drive to the end of the road and park in the parking lot. Unless we get a real heat wave this week I will be there finishing an igloo I started last weekend. We can decide if we want to camp there in the valley or go up on the hill to one of the other campsites. What time do you expect to arrive?”

“I'll be there sometime between 3:00 and 6:00 pm on Friday. Can I get onto Route 17 in Preston?”

“Yeah, croft! Yes, you'll find Co. 17 at the junction of a gas station and Preston Service Plus car service shop. Also, there is a sign at the junction pointing the way to The Old Barn Resort. Go out 3 miles and at the foot of a hill you'll see the sign for the Isinours Forest Unit, as well as signs warning of a bicycle crossing (which is the Root River Trail). You'll readily a gravel/dirt road right along the former railroad bed trail. Take it as far back as you can, from 1/4 to 1/2 mile.

I would have sent you directions, too, but you beat me to it!”

“Well WE ARE LOOKING AT SNOW (although there may be some freezing stuff as well)! See below

UPDATE AS OF 1/8:

Ski conditions:

The DNR guy said to me in an e-mail he thought snowshoeing at Isinours should be "excellent."

Now the DNR ski report from Jan. 8:

Currently, the ski trails are icy in many areas and in fair to poor condition. The trails were last groomed from Peterson to Preston on December 22 and from Peterson to Houston on December 30. If we get at least 4" of snow from the weather system moving in tonight (1/8/09) , we will attempt to groom either Friday or Saturday from Peterson to Preston. Any additional snow will greatly improve the trail conditions even if there is not enough to groom.

The candlelight skis are scheduled for Preston on Saturday, Jan. 17 and for Whalan on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 5:30-7:30.

A MN Ski Pass is required for anyone 16 and above to ski on the state trails. More information can be found at:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/skipass/index.html

Weather forecast:

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 15. Wind chill values as low as -10. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tonight: Snow, mainly after midnight. Low around 9. Wind chill values as low as zero. West wind at 10 mph becoming east. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday: Snow. High near 24. East wind between 10 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -9. Northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 14. North wind between 10 and 15 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 0.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 15.”

“Snow is a good thing. Thanks for the update! I'm packed and ready to go--will be rolling out first thing in the morning!

I lived on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota in the 70's. This will be my first time back in the land of 10,000 lakes since then. Looking forward to it.”

“Hey, there's about two-thirds of an igloo built out there and its' really neat! The area looked lovely in late afternoon sun. Plus, the moon was well on it way up in the opposite part of the sky.

Looking forward to seeing you again, Croft.”

“Sleet - out. Snow - IN. The weather just gave predictions of 3 to 6"... and a 5.5 "guestimate" for RIGHT HERE. :-)”

“Mapquest shows this park to be about 400 miles away. Without being able to take time off, we can't make this trip. Glad you're getting some snow for it!! Enjoy”

“Trip report and photos?”