- Estimated Cost: $400
- Deposit: $400
- Max Trip Size: 30 people
I have skied the past two North Shore Treks and am registered this year for the March 3-8 North Shore Trek.
I estimate skiing 100 km in the first 2 1/2 days, followed by a day of rest (with great ski trails available), then 40 km from Bearskin Lodge to Gunflint Lodge. We could use people to shuttle cars who don’t want to ski the full distance each day. Please contact me for more info: David Byrne 612-214-3219
FIFTH ANNUAL North Shore Ski Trek
TWO TREKS TO CHOOSE FROM THIS YEAR :
1. BEARSKIN TREK 2017
Wed-Sun – March 8-12
Four nights at Bearskin Lodge
$300 – plus a meal to share
The Bearskin Trek is full, but space is available for the North Shore Trek and a new Bearskin Weeknight Trek has been added for Sun-Wed, Mar 5-8, 2017 for $225. For details go to: http://tonymommsen.com/
Ski right from your lodge onto the legendary trails around Bearskin Lodge. From here you can also ski to the BWCA, or the Banadad Trail. Skiers of all abilities are invited, ski as much or as little as you wish. There will certainly be people who ski at your pace and are fun to talk with. There will be some optional activities like skiing to Golden Eagle Lodge for tea and cookies, an evening star hike (hopefully with Northern Lights) and ski part or all of the Banadad Trail. We also plan on a group dinner/party one evening in Bearskin’s main lodge.
2. NORTH SHORE TREK 2017
Fri-Wed – March 3-8
Five nights – (nearly) point-to-point ski from Tofte to Gunflint Lake
$400 – plus a meal to share
Two nights at Lutsen Sea Villas.
Three nights at Bearskin Lodge.
The skiing
The trail names are famous: Sugarbush, Norpine, Bally Creek, Gunflint, Banadad. And they are famous for a reason. They are beautiful, expertly groomed, well designed, full of delightful surprises. Views of Lake Superior, long hills (up and down) rocky cliffs and the long meditative day on the Banadad Trail. With this tour we are piecing together a (nearly) point-to-point adventure. This is both an informal and magnificent tour. While we are experiencing the best trails, scenery and lodges anywhere, the trip leaders will not be holding your hand.
Through the BWCA
The new feature for 2017 is a connecting 35km jaunt across the BWCA. This leg will be led by an experienced guide from Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais to help select the best route and to determine conditions are safe. The first 10km will be groomed and tracked on the BWCA access road to Brule Lake. Since the next 25km will be through the BWCA Wilderness machine grooming is not allowed. We will ski this section in groups of nine (the largest number allowed in the BWCA). We will take turns breaking trail through any new snow. Early March we can experience any imaginable condition. We can have crust skiing, which would make for a good glide and a pretty fast 25km ski – we could have a foot of new snow, making for a longer, tougher haul – or spring slush conditions, in which case we would cancel the BWCA crossing and ski another fantastic Cook County trail, like the Pincushion Trails. We will not ski across the BWCA if conditions make it dangerous.
Minnesota Ski Pass
Four days of the North Shore Trek will be on trails that require a Minnesota Ski Pass. Skiers can purchase the pass earlier in the winter or the first morning of the trek at a Holiday Gas Station along the North Shore.
The Schedule
Even though we will be trying to ski the entire distance from Tofte to Gunflint Lake, there will be some shuttling.
Friday – Early morning drive from from your home to Tofte
Friday – ski Picnic Loop – Tofte to Onion River Road – start at noon – sleep at Lutsen Sea Villas
Saturday – ski Onion River Road to Bally Creek – lunch at Cascade Lodge- ski Bally Creek to Grade Road – sleep at Lutsen Sea Villas
Sunday – ski across the BWCA- sleep at Bearskin Lodge
Monday – ski the Bearskin Lodge/Golden Eagle trails – sleep at Bearskin Lodge
Tuesday – ski Bearskin Lodge to Gunflint Lake on the Banadad trail. – sleep at Bearskin Lodge – Celebration Dinner
Wednesday – Morning ski at Bearskin before heading home.
The Mission
We are working toward a true point-to-point trek incorporating the best ski trails in Cook County – for 2017 we are closer to achieving this goal than ever.
Classic and Skate
Classic Only – Banadad Trail, the trail from Cascade Lodge to Bally Creek, the ski across the BWCA.
Skate and Classic – Picnic Loop, Lutsen Road to Cascade Lodge + the trails at Bearkskin Lodge.
If the weather is warm and snow is soft we strongly encourage classic technique to help preserve the ski trails.
REGISTER
Fill out the info below and send a check. We are accepting 30 skiers for each trip.
lodges request payment by October to secure space.)
$300 for the Bearskin Trek
$400 for the North Shore Trek and the following info to the address below
Name
Mailing address
Email address
Phone number and Cell number
Dietary restrictions
Would you like to car-pool from Mpls/St. Paul to the North Shore?
Is your car available?
If so, how many seats?
Food
Each person will be assigned to bring one breakfast or dinner to share with 10 people.
Everyone will bring their own lunches.
North Shore Ski Trek
Kathy and Tony Mommsen
2656 Raleigh Ave South
St Louis Park, MN 55416
Questions to
Trip leaders Kathy and Tony Mommsen
[email protected]
[email protected]
lodges request payment by October)