Blue Hills Trail

Thanks to the big snowfall one week ago, we’re still able to enjoy x-country skiing in the Blue Hills.  A couple days of very warm temps (Tuesday/Wednesday March 6/7) – and the light rain on March 7 – served to further compact the groomed trails (see map image below).  Good crust skiing is available now on the 23 km of trails that were groomed last weekend.  After an overnight freeze, try to catch that magic window!

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house

• 3/8: Good crust skiing at midday today if you ski the packed (groomed) trails. –Ladysmith, WI

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True wintry conditions were enjoyed by a surprising number of skiers Monday morning (March 5th) – & again Tuesday morning.  Obviously these skiers have been watching their calendar and the weather reports.  Cross country skiing of this quality has been sorely lacking this winter.  If you missed out, take a look at a video submitted by a Tuesday morning skier (turn the volume way down if you find southerly breezes disturbing).

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house

• 3/4: Mankind speaks & I long for the whispering silence of the forest; the forest speaks & I forget the clamoring voices of mankind. –author’s location unknown
• 3/4: XC skiing for us is one of the most glorious parts of living in northern Wisconsin.  Thanks so much to the Blue Hills Bunch for saving winter 2011-12. –author’s location unknown
• 3/4: The Lion the Witch & the Wardrobe – Through the Wardrobe into the Winter Magic of the Blue Hills beautifully groomed. –author’s location unknown
• 3/5: Monday morning & there were at least 5 cars in the parking lot when we arrived!  The conditions were fabulous!!  Thank you groomers! –Ladysmith, WI
• 3/5: It was all worth the long wait this snowless winter just to ski on the trail today!  Thanks to the groomers & Mother Nature. –Eau Claire & Ladysmith, WI

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Thursday evening’s 3/4-inch snowfall was a very welcome addition.  Before that snowfall, the trails were quite icy – but this weekend the skiing was much more controllable.  To get an edge, I still needed to tread lightly while climbing the sun exposed hills.  But once I reached the Eastside ridge line (numbers 9 through 20 on the map), the more sheltered trails provided very good skating.  Fast, fun, & pretty much under control.

With the ongoing snow drought to the South, East and West, the Blue Hills attracted many visitors this weekend.  A fun social time while sharing the beauty of this trail system.  Come back soon!

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house

• 2/11: Enjoyed ourselves. –Amery, WI & St. Paul, MN
• 2/11: Thank you! –Eau Claire, WI
• 2/11: I came back! –Twin Cities, MN
• 2/11: 1st time here!  –author’s location unknown
• 2/12: Great trails!  Did the snowshoe trail north of the warming hut – beautiful little trail following the green ribbons – took ~1 hour slow walk in boots, but ~24 minutes fast walk on snowshoes.  –Farmington, MN
• 2/12: 8+ folks from Ride & Glide Ski Club.  Both classic & skate had a good time.  Called the “bare spots” the duathlon course.  Klister, base wax, powergrip all worked fine. –Twin Cities, MN
• 2/12:      :-)     –Rice Lake, WI
• 2/12: Great first time here.  Many thanks for trails & advice. –Twin Cities, MN
• 2/12: Great job dealing with what Mother Nature dealt you this winter.  I tried to bring some snow from the Pacific Northwest but it all melted on the way :-)  –Sumner, WA
• 2/12: Thank you Mr. Groomer.  Lots of happy skiers today. –Ladysmith, WI
• 2/12: Well worth the drive from Eau Claire!  Newly groomed areas were great, & the caramel corn a sweet treat.  Thank you! –Eau Claire, WI
• 2/12: Thanks! –Neillsville, WI

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Freeze-thaw cycles (January 31 – Feb 6) provided fantastic skiing during the magic window each day as the trail softened.  But without new snowfall, eventually the thin hard base couldn’t be manipulated by our magical groomers any more and the trails set up like concrete – and then the downhills became somewhat treacherous earlier this week.

We chose to prepare for the weekend and saw an opportunity to groom most of the trails during the late afternoon Thursday (Feb. 9).   This removed the chevrons (frozen ski marks) and brought back a nice smooth surface.  Thursday night, we received 1/2″ – 3/4″ of fresh snow.   We decided to let the new snow sit and this new snow is providing nice edge control on the sun exposed downhills.

Come ski the Hills this weekend!  You’ll find fresh snow, silence in the north, good skiing, and perhaps some animal tracks to captivate your imagination.  And if you’ve never experienced spring crust skiing, take a side trip to Audi Flowage which can be reached by skiing the Westside trials (bushwhack north across the small lake near Letter F) – or by driving a couple miles to the campground where you can park adjacent to Audie.

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house

• 2/5: Mr. Groomer, You the Man!  Nice talking to you on top of the hill.  You made many skiers happy this weekend.  Thanks for making the Blue Hills so wonderful!!  –Alma Center, WI
• 2/5: It was so good yesterday, I came back for more.  Woo hoo!  What more can I say?  High marks to the groomer! –Eau Claire, WI
• 2/5: Excellent grooming – thank you!  thank you!  thank you! –author’s location unknown
• 2/6: My first time up this winter.  Conditions were fine, much better than down south in Eau Claire.  Thanks for the grooming & great skiing. –Eau Claire, WI
• 2/6: Beautiful full moon-rise sunset ski – fast trails – challenging the speed of light!  Careful on those downhills. –Ladysmith, WI
• 2/7: 1st-timer - awesome!  Hardpack, needless to say, but still worth the trip from Maple Grove.  See ya next time!  –Maple Grove, MN
• 2/9: If you are waiting for the trails to soften, try skiing Audie Lake!  We put the moon to bed, & saw the sun come up this morning.  Beautiful!  Then skied the Westside.  Great way to start the day! –Ladysmith, WI
• 2/9: Before grooming began, downhills were fast & ‘screaming mimis’!  Difficult to get a good cut & skate.  Flats OK & fast.  –Chippewa Falls, WI & Rockford, IL
• 2/9: No hat, no mittens, no brakes!!  Yikes. –author’s location unknown
• 2/10: Drove thru 4+ hours of snow – happy to be here. –Fredonia, WI
• 2/10: Cold aggressive snow created a good workout today.  But nice to see that white stuff again. –Ladysmith, WI

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Freeze-thaw cycles continue – the base is now about as thick as a brick, & as hard as one too.  Today’s groomer had a tough time getting the grooming knives to penetrate the icy surface; fortunately he was able to scarify the surface just enough to help skate skiers get an edge.  Sunny skies and midday temps near 35°F made for another blazing fast day on skis.  As I stepped into a downhill section of classic track, Clark Kent came out of hiding –  I felt like Superman!

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house

• 2/4: Another nice warm day to ski the Westside.  What a beautiful day.  –Apple Valley, MN
• 2/4: Thanks for the grooming!! –Eau Claire, WI
• 2/4: Beautiful grooming!  The Westside was outstanding! –Ladysmith, WI
• 2/4: Silver Boys up for a beautiful epic adventure.  Ski therapy had by all. –Twin Cities, MN
• 2/4: Thanks for the trails! –St. Paul, MN
• 2/4: Thanks for your generosity & foresight in planning & maintaining these trails! –St. Paul, MN
• 2/4: Wow is right!  I second the person who said it was the best of the season.  For us snow-starved Minnesotans this redeemed our winter!  Thanks a bunch! –St. Paul, MN
• 2/4: First time here.  Enjoyed the view. –Milwaukee, WI
• 2/4: Trying out the Blue Hills, have been skating at Timberland in Cumberland where the trails are only in fair condition. –author’s location unknown
• 2/5: Fun Day!  Thanks for the touch-up grooming! –Ladysmith, WI
• 2/5: Three days in a row of great skiing.  Nice, sunny warm day! –Apple Valley, MN

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Blue Hills Bill spent the past six weeks,
Sunbathing beneath a big tree;
It’s been too warm to call this a winter,
And Bill has some advice for thee:

“Do not hesitate, go ski the Hills now,
‘Cause my shadow I could not see;
Enjoy those trails while they’re covered with snow,
This winter has perplexed even me!”

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Cross country skiing conditions at the Blue Hills Trail this past weekend were outstanding!  With several light snowfalls this past week, groomers were busy preparing for the weekend.  Additional grooming on Saturday and Sunday mornings was very timely, and skate skiers enjoyed firm packed powder and surprisingly fast skiing despite the seasonably cold temps; classic skiers had about 12-14 km of good track to enjoy.

Overall, this winter has been a disappointment for skiers.  However, here in the Blue Hills, we’ve been able to enjoy steadily improving conditions with each little snowfall.  If you are sitting at home waiting for conditions to get better, you’re missing some great skiing.  Ski now or forever hold your skis!

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house

• 1/25: More snow, more grooming.  Lovely corduroy! –Ladysmith, WI
• 1/26: 2 1/2 hr ski – wonderful trails.  Started in with cloudy sky & now bright blue!  A great day! –author’s location unknown
• 1/27: It was so freakin’ FAST the bottom of my skis were too hot to touch — which is amazing considering the fat old fossil strapped to them! –author’s location unknown
• 1/27: Skied core loop then all of Westside trails.  Westside more level, firmer base, better glide. –Prairie Farm, WI
• 1/27: Enjoyed a beautiful day skating on both the East & West side.  Thanks for the nice grooming job.  Enjoyed skiing while it was gently snowing. –Eau Claire, WI
• 1/28: Trails were awesome – had a great time – we’ll be back tomorrow. –Edina, MN
• 1/28: Beautiful scenery & conditions!  –Cumberland, WI and Iron Mountain, MI
• 1/28: Trails with snow!  What a treat! –Eau Claire, WI
• 1/28: Absolutely wonderful!  Snow & trail conditions were perfect! –Eau Claire, WI
• 1/28: Beautiful & picturesque, nice skiing conditions.  Loved the skier in the tree. –Minneapolis, MN
• 1/28: What fun!  Great job on the trails. –Chicago, IL
• 1/29: Great grooming, NOW that’s skiing. –author’s location unknown
• 1/29: Thanks! –Twin Cities, MN
• 1/29: What a work of art the grooming was today! –Ladysmith, WI

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Fresh corduroy almost everywhere!  With temps in the low teens, skating was much faster than anticipated.  Groomers have done a great job with the limited base – most trail sections are smooth enough to ski all out.  The underlying base is solid packed powder, the surface provides good edge control, and the infrequent dirt spots are easily avoided.

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house

• 1/16: Skied core loop!  Excellent!!  1st time out this year & it was great.  Thanks! –Madison, WI
• 1/16: Wow!!  What a treasure for all you folks lucky enough to live here AND to have so many dedicated to “Mother Earth” to so painstakingly maintain & preserve & respect her for all of us “City Sisters” to enjoy. –Plymouth, WI
• 1/16: Thanks for the tracks. –Chetek, WI
• 1/20: Thanks. –Eau Claire, WI

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In the past week, 4 days set or approached record high temps.  Thanks to great grooming of the snow we’ve received this winter (timely grooming helps preserve the base) – and a well timed 3″ snowfall January 12th – we’re skiing on amazingly good conditions considering the little snow we’ve received during this winter done missing.

Packed powder skiing was thoroughly enjoyable this afternoon.  Those of us chatting in the warming house today are predicting a fun weekend in the Blue Hills.  Carpe diem – come ski the Hills!

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It’s been a warm dry fall, allowing time to prepare the trails for the upcoming ski season.  If you’d like to reflect on the beauty of the Blue Hills Trail, take a look at the following video.  It’s guaranteed to get you ready for snow.

How to view the video: on the lower right corner of the video screen, choose one of two different resolutions – for those of you with a slower internet connection, select the 360p mode; for faster connections choose either 360p or 480p.  Pause and play buttons are available, as well as volume control.  When the control buttons disappear, hover your mouse over the video to find the controls.  Just give the various control options a try – be sure to try the full screen view (the rectangle on the lower right).  Enjoy the show!

Grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, turn up your volume control, then sit back and relax.  See anyone you know?

If your time is short, try this version:

We thought Spring was around the corner, but a March 22nd snowstorm created the opportunity for more grooming, more skiing, more fun!

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house:

• 3/19: I think we closed out the season today!  Still lots of snow!  Thanks for another great year!  Groomers rock!!!  –Rice Lake, WI
• 3/25: I lied.  14″ of groomed snow, about 20 km available.  Enjoy!  Please be generous with your donations – this was a lot of unexpected snow to groom! –Rice Lake, WI
• 3/25: Thanks for everyone’s hard work to keep us skiing just a little longer!!! –Cameron, WI
• 3/26: Skied from 9-12 noon.  The trail was beautiful the whole time.  Several sections very smooth with great edge control.  Thank you. –Sarona, WI
• 3/26: Freakin’ fantastic. –Ladysmith, WI
• 3/26: Excellent grooming & thank you for this late season opportunity. –Rice Lake, WI
• 3/28: Holding up nicely.  A little soft & sticky by 1:30.  Thanks to all who came out & supported us this season! –Rice Lake, WI
• 3/28: Yay groomers!  Be puttin’ treats in your Xmas stocking next year! –author’s location unknown
• 3/29: Still good in a.m.  Next two mornings probably the last hurrah. –Rice Lake, WI
• 3/31: Skated 12:45 – 2:30.  A little sticky.  And I thought the 25th would have been my last day to ski!  Thanks again. –author’s location unknown

What a ride this past weekend!  Temps on Friday were pushing -20° F, and on Sunday reached the low 40s.  Fabulous cross country skiing the past several days, riding the roller coaster of temps.  Visitors from near and far enjoyed a firm classic track, solid pole plants, and great skating conditions that quickened daily with the warm-up.  Grooming was outstanding, sandwiched around a timely snowfall Saturday afternoon.  A pleasure to chat with the happy visitors.

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house:

• Great conditions!!!!!  You guyz rock!!!–Blue Island, IL
• Finally warming up.  Wax was marginal (Toko red) but will be great when warms up even more in next few days.  Great to be back after a year.  Good workout (a bit colder & drier snow than Cascade concrete I’m used to!).  –Sumner, WA
• Great day!!  The groomer rocks!!! –Blue Island, IL
• I got black & blue at the Blue Hills. –Manhattan, IL
• Love skiing here!  :-)  –author’s location unknown
• Great grooming, silent skiing through ‘liquid’ sunshine. –Ladysmith, WI
• Great stuff! –author’s location unknown
• Great ski conditions, beautiful ski area. –Burnsville, MN
• Snowflakes in my windpipe, quiet, beautiful day. –Ladysmith, WI
• Outstanding!  Thank you! –Eden Prairie, MN
• Wicked awesome.  Thank you for the cup cakes. –Blue Island, IL
• Feb. 13 – Spring is just around the corner.  27° F to start at 9:30, 40+ degrees by noon.  Beautiful day! –Ladysmith, WI

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Wednesday’s bright sunshine won out over the stiff northwest winds.  Taking advantage of sheltered trails, it was easy to stay warm despite the single digit temps in the Blue Hills.  With the trails in fabulous shape, my attention was drawn to the rhythm of classic skiing, the abundance of animal tracks, and lengthening late afternoon shadows.  Great wintry day!

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house:

• Kicked the West Side, broke trail, 1″ powder, temps high 20s.  Beautiful!! –Weyerhaeuser, WI
• Super Bowl Sunday, went skiing with the family (big group!).  Some took short path, others went for a longer trek.  Soon will be going to watch the Packers and Steelers play and have a fish fry with friends. –Birchwood, WI
• Yay Packers!!!  Great grooming, thanks so much. –Ladysmith, WI
• Zero degrees F.  Kept you moving.  Excellent trail conditions.  Enjoyed the warmth of the ‘lodge.’  Hopefully warmer this weekend for more fun adventures. –Cameron, WI
• Wild kingdom skiing.  Kept just ahead of the Big Bad Wolf. –Ladysmith, WI

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Friday’s light snowfall was beautifully groomed Saturday morning.  Mild temps and high humidity produced snow with a buttery consistency.  Striders enjoyed a mostly firm classic track; skaters had amazing edge control – perfect conditions to work on technique.  To top it off, treats in the warming house (caramel corn) were a surprise hit.  Great way to prepare for a Packer’s Super Party!

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Cold January temps mean sunny skies and hot skiing in northern Wisconsin.  Conditions in the Blue Hills this past weekend were excellent – freshly groomed packed powder, solid pole plants, a firm classic track, and 20 miles of trails where visitors can disappear.

Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house:

• High temp 5 degrees F.  Gorgeous sunny day, sheltered from the North Wind in the trees.  Cold, aggressive snow in the skate lane – perfect day for striding. –Ladysmith, WI
• Good trails!!  Thanks.  Go Pack Go!!! –author’s location unknown
• Loved West Side.  Fabulous ski. –author’s location unknown
• 1st on track.  Beautiful day.  Good workout.  Saw wolf between #22 & #33! –author’s location unknown
• My friend is an amazing instructor & we learned how to skate ski.  Thank you Michelle for inviting us all to this beautiful place today. –author’s location unknown
• Thanks for single handedly grooming today, Dan.  Twas wonderful! –Ladysmith, WI

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