Cross Country Ski Report – Saturday, December 7th
We received a bit more snow yesterday, and are happy to report that the trails have freshly set tracks and snowcombed skating lanes! Conditions are fantastic, especially in the morning before the temps warm up. Come ski with us, join the free lesson today at 10:30, enjoy lunch at the Stone Turtle Cafe, and live music today from 2-4pm! Forecast: Today: Cloudy with snow […]
Cross Country Ski Report: Friday, December 6th
We received more snow throughout the day yesterday, and the trails are in great shape. All trails are open and groomed. The ground beneath the snow is still working its way towards being totally frozen, which means that we can’t set classic tracks just yet; however, skating and non-tracked classic skiing will be fabulous today. The rental desk is open and the day lodge […]
Cross Country Ski Report – Thursday, Dec 5th
We received about 3-4 inches of snow last night, which is enough to give us a base for grooming. Groomer Mike is rolling the trails and will follow with snow combing and track setting or rolling. Trails are open and it’s a winter wonderland up here! Forecast: Today: Snow this morning will taper off and give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 24F. […]
Cross Country Ski Report – Wednesday, December 4th
We received nearly an inch of snow last night, and are forecast to receive more today and tonight. The trail surface has good coverage of packed snow, making for some really nice skiing this morning. Still not enough accumulation to use the Ginzu snow comb, or set tracks, but there are some skied-in classic tracks on nearly all the trails that can be used! […]
Cross Country Ski Report – Tuesday, December 3rd
Trails are open again today for classic skiing, and rock skis are recommended. Groomer Mike has rolled all the trails, and we are forecast to get some more snow in the next few days! The Stone Turtle Cafe opens for the season on Saturday, December 7th! Get excited for a few new menu items, featuring some delicious, local meats, plenty of veggies, and lots […]
Cross Country Ski Report – Monday, December 2nd: 5 inches of snow and trails open!
We received more snow last night, bringing the total on the trails to about 5 inches. I had a wonderful time skiing the Manitou trail this morning on my Fischer Spider 62’s (with plenty of liquid glide wax on the bases to prevent the fresh snow from sticking too much)! While coverage is quite good, rock skis are still recommended, just in case. Groomer […]
Cross Country Ski Report – Sunday, December 1st
It’s a beautiful, snowy morning in Northern Michigan! We have received about 2 inches of snow, and it continues to fall heavily. We made snow for the last two nights on the practice area, which is progressing towards full coverage with a base of 10-20″. The trails have trace amounts of snow, and are not skiable yet. Depending on the weather, we are tentatively […]
How should my cross country ski boot fit?
HINT: Not like a downhill boot, and not like a loafer. Your foot has to have a bit of space to expand as your body warms up, but also needs to be firmly held to give you control over the skis. Buying new nordic ski boots doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Follow these guidelines for getting the perfect fit! Step 1.) Start […]
How to Ski Farther
Are you intrigued by the idea of skiing farther this winter? Finding the incredible vista, pushing yourself, getting to the more remote areas of nature, where it’s quieter, wilder, and more pristine? Finding yourself in places that remind you of the vast greatness of this beautiful world? We are, too. Skiing farther doesn’t only have to do with your technique and your skis. How […]
New Year, New Gear: New Equipment for the 2024-25 Ski Season
We’re excited to be carrying some new gear this year, starting with a few new skis from Fischer. We were lucky enough to demo the Orbiter Crowns last winter and found them to be just a riot! They are a short cut ski with Fischer’s reliable “Vario-Crown” pattern for grip, which is cut to be less aggressive at the tips and tails (to increase […]
Why We’re Here: Reflections of nature and purpose.
The seasons of Northern Michigan are captivating. In spring, muddy brown gives way to glistening green, and the return of regular sunshine brings tears to the eyes. In summer, we swim in crystal lakes and paddle winding rivers, grow bountiful food, and take respite in vibrant green forests bustling with wildlife. In fall, the leaves of the maples, birches, aspens and oaks shock us […]
Looking back on 50 years: An interview with the founders, Bob and Lynne Frye
Stu: What was the inspiration or catalyst for starting Cross Country Ski Headquarters in 1974? Bob: I had gone out to Jackson Hole Wyoming to go downhill skiing and it was so cold, the hydraulic fluid in the chairlift froze, so they closed the lift. So my friend Archie Macgillivray and I found, in the corner of a downhill ski shop, some cross-country skis […]