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Other stories in "Skiing, cross-country"

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Skiing the North Shore

On snow-laden trails, skiers glide on cloud nine.

On the North Shore, it’s a happy day when snow is as abundant as scenery.

Despite its miles of cross-country ski trails, the western shore of Lake Superior gets only modest amounts of lake-effect snow, because the storms that do blow in from the east tend to dump it inland, where the land mass is colder.

But we go, even if we have to hike instead of ski. We love to be on the North Shore, near moody Lake Superior and its dramatic, ice-draped river gorges.

Lately, the North Shore has been blessed with copious snow. But it had been suffering a three-year drought when we drove up early one January. So when we saw a few flakes turn into real snow, it seemed like manna from heaven.

We grabbed our skis and headed up the Sawbill Trail from Tofte to the Britton Peak trailhead, from which the Sugarbush Trail Association maintains 69 kilometers of trails. We glided along, marveling at the beauty of the new snow, draped so picturesquely on bough and bush.

But under the new fluff lay the old lumps and ice. So after skiing the Piece of Cake loop, we drove farther up the Sawbill Trail to the Moose Fence trailhead.

The Maple Loop was in much better shape, and we were able to turn our attention to the lovely tableaux in the forest and to the trees ahead, from which clumps of snow occasionally exploded over the trail. Gliding along on snowy lanes crowded by spruce and fir, we didn’t even notice we were working.

After hot chocolate at the Coho Café in Tofte, we decided to squeeze a hike into the waning afternoon. Unbroken snow covered the Cauldron Trail along the Temperance River, making forays to the gorge’s edge highly unwise, but we got as close as we could, looking down the narrow rock walls at the dark water.

The next morning the snow was falling in wet little round balls, not the lacy crystals of the previous day. We decided to drive farther inland to the National Forest Lodge near Isabella.

At the lodge, former proprietor Mark Wendt was preparing lunch for his guests.

 “The North Shore is very fond of sending people up here to ski,’’  he said wryly. “They love to use the trails.’’ But that’s fine, he says, because the Flathorn-Gegoka system, which he maintains, is supported by state ski-pass revenues and the U.S. Forest Service.

From his window-lined lodge, we could see skiers begin to emerge from the woods on the other side of Lake Gegoka.  The 30-kilometer all-classical system is entirely within Superior National Forest, away from snowmobile trails.

It’s  lovely and remote;  on that overcast day, it was a duotone world of green and white, and I felt as if I was skiing through an overgrown Christmas-tree farm until I emerged onto a marsh, tawny cattails waving on its edges.

When I stopped to examine fresh wolf tracks crossing the trail — and cautiously look around — I heard bird calls echoing through the silent forest.

We left an hour before dark, hoping to avoid an unpleasant encounter with any half-ton moose that might be loitering along Minnesota 1, as they tend to do. Snow was still falling, and along Minnesota 1 people were plowing their driveways.

But by Two Harbors, signs of the snowfall had faded away, and as we neared the Twin Cities, we saw only familiar gray and brown.

And that's why skiers drive four hours to the North Shore.

Trip Tips: Skiing the North Shore

Trail fee:  A Great Minnesota Ski Pass, which costs $15 yearly or $40 for three years, is required for skiers 16 and older.  It’s available at the Holiday Station in Tofte, the Clearview Store in Lutsen and sports shops around the state or can be purchased by mail or on-line.

Trails: The Sugarbush Trail system between Tofte and Lutsen has 69 kilometers of classical and skating trails groomed by Pisten Bully.

Many people like the 3-kilometer Tofte Ski-down, a gradual downhill from the Britton Peak trailhead to Sawtooth Outfitters/Bluefin Bay; there’s also a 4-kilometer ski-down from the Oberg Mountain loop to the golf-course loops at Lutsen Resort.

The Homestead Loop, a 12-kilometer intermediate ski from Britton Peak, has views of the lake. For more challenge, ski the 25 kilometers from Moose Fence to Minnesota 61.

The all-classical Cascade River-Deer Yard Lake system between Lutsen and Grand Marais has trails on both sides of the Cascade River. The Norpine Trail Association maintains the trails west of the Cascade River, up to the Sugarbush Trail system.

Pincushion Mountain, three miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais, has 25 kilometers of trails tracked and groomed for striding and skating, with a public warming house and a 2-kilometer trail that's lighted most nights.

The Northwoods Ski Trail has 19 kilometers of single-track classical trails through rolling forest around Bean Lake, with a 5-kilometer connecting trail to Tettegouche State Park through Palisade Valley. To get there, County Road 5 from Silver Bay or County Road 4 from Beaver Bay, turning right onto County Road 5.

There’s skiing in the state parks, but don’t expect great grooming.

Lighted skiing: The 10 kilometers of the Erkki Harju Ski Trail in Two Harbors  includes a very nice, easy three-kilometer loop that's lighted. Donations help the local ski club maintain it. From Minnesota 61, turn onto County Road 2; it's less than a mile.

Candlelight skiing: In mid-February, the Sugarbush Trail Association holds a  ski on its system near Tofte, and Gooseberry Falls State Park holds a ski, snowshoe and walk (see Ski or snowshoe by candlelight).

Equipment rental: Cascade Lodge between Lutsen and Grand Marais and  Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte rent skis and also snowshoes.

Trail shuttle: Many resorts, including Lutsen Resort and Bluefin Bay, offer shuttles to trailheads; ask when reserving. Sawtooth Outfitters also offers a shuttle from its shop.

Accommodations: Reserve early for weekends and remember, cross-country skiers who want to stay in the Lutsen area compete for lodgings with downhill skiers. See Where to stay on Minnesota's North Shore.

Skiing elsewhere: The Flathorn-Gegoka trails, 30 miles up Minnesota 1 from Minnesota 61, have reliable snow cover all season. Public access is half a mile from the junction of Minnesota 1 and Sand Lake Road (watch for the Knotty Pine Inn).

Information: The handy guide "Skiing the North Shore,'' by Andrew Slade ($15.95) has maps and all the information you need to find the best trails.

Last updated on February 23, 2010