Northeastern Minnesota's largest ski resorts will be at least partially open this weekend for downhill skiing and snowboarding, and some areas have cross-country skiing to offer.
Spirit Mountain will have several runs open even as the Duluth National Snocross takes place. Lutsen announced it will have about 20 runs open this weekend and Giants Ridge will have four downhill runs and one loop for cross-country skiing. Indianhead Ski Resort near Ironwood in Michigan's U.P. is set to open today.
The Mont du Lac ski area outside Duluth will open Saturday, and Duluth's Chester Bowl ski hill has been making snow for a week and is scheduled to open Dec. 19.
Duluth received only about 4 inches of snow this week and there's still grass showing through in places, but Snowflake Nordic Center in Duluth reported being open and grooming Thursday. Duluth city trails are not yet open or groomed.
In Northwestern Wisconsin, where 10 to 20 inches of snow fell, the After Hours ski trail at Brule River State Forest was rolled Thursday and is due to be tracked today.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds snowmobilers, however, that specific trails will be opened as local clubs are able to clear and groom them. Both the Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR are urging people to call ahead and stay off trails that aren't formally open.
Trails may be covered by downed trees or other debris. And swamps and streams along trail routes may not be fully frozen. Groomers like a foot of snow on the ground to get a good base, and no area of Northeastern Minnesota has that much yet.
"Each year, a few snowmobile enthusiasts take to the trails after the first snowfall, only to find they are rushing the season,'' said Les Ollila, the DNR's northeast regional parks and trails manager. "It takes a lot of work to get trails ready each year, and with the wet and warm fall this effort is taking longer in many cases."
Trail condition reports also are available at www.mndnr.gov and www.travelwisconsin.com/
snow_report.aspx.
