A Just a Portion of the 45 Member MSU Womens Rowing Team that visited Forbush Corner this past Saturday, Jan 28.  See an additional pic at the bottom of the page.  Pics by staff Photographer, "Rookie."

Forbush Corner & "Staff" would like to extend a warm welcome to the Wolverine Sport Club.  ALWAYS a fun group to have visit.

Sunday, Feb 5, 6 am, 28 deg with a high expected of 36.

Will begin groming in a few minutes.  Have some snow saved on the other side of the track that should groom up and make a very nice track and skate area.  Looking forward to your visit.

More snow predicted for the end of next week.

Saturday, Feb 4, 6 am, 7 deg! But heading for a high slightly above freezing.  Will begin tilling the old snow in a few minutes.  Should be a very nice track and skate area but it will take a bit of time to achieve.  Open at 9 with a few trail open.  The balance of the trails should be completed before noon.

Closing today at 5:30.

Friday, Feb 3, 3 pm, 34 deg.  Parking lot is now safe to cross and the tiller is installed on the small Pisten Bully (thanks Larry!).  Ready to go for an early morning grooming.  Should really be fun.  Easily controlled and yet effortless.  Pleasant temps too!  Expect a few bare spots but overall, it should be a wonderful ski experience.  Start on the easy flat trails and then move up.

Friday, Feb 3, 9 am, 30 deg.  As long as it gets well below freezing each night, the snow will survive for a very long time.  Warm nights and rain are usually what ends the season.

Open today but ungroomed.  Will put all of the grooming into the surface tomorrow as outlined below.  The more snow is worked the harder it gets by the end of the day. 

Busy installing the tiller on the small Pisten Bully and have the large one warming up to attempt to break up the ice in the parking lots.  Well, that's the plan anyway.

In the morning, here is what I am hoping to achieve.  Trails softened up and retracked with the tiller.  With the tillers, warm snow does not tend to get so "sucky" slow (as some describe it esp those who are not into wide rills and Flouros).  It will be quick but easily controlled.  As it warms, things will slow slightly but the high is only predicted to be 35.  As evening nears and the temps drop below freezing, I would recommend getting off the trail as it will get too fast. 

On Sunday, I expect a repeat of Saturday.

It can be some of the most fun and most comfortable skiing of the year.  However, if you get upset over a few bare spots (by Sunday, you may need to remove your skis on a couple of them) then this skiing is not for you.

Snowshoeing will be excellent and comfortable the entire weekend.

Thursday, Feb 2, 8:30 pm, 31 deg.  The snow held on better than expected today.  There is bare ground in all of the places that normally have bare spots when the snow gets light. 

Here's the plan.  Friday, I will be around if you want to ski.  Call 989 348 5989 to be safe and get properly checked in.  However, on Friday, it will not be groomed.  The surface is not bad.  When it warms above freezing the speeds and the surface should be quite acceptable.  If we groom it tomorrow it will be too hard for the weekend. 

Saturday, the trails will get groomed with the small Pisten Bully and the light tiller (sure lucky to have one!).  It will be very cold Friday night and so the tilling will go slowly.  The surface will be super nice in the morning and as it warms thru the day.  By nightfall as it re-freezes, it will get too fast.  But in the morning and thru the day it will be really really nice. 

Sunday will be a repeat of Saturday with slightly warmer temps thru the day. 

So....if you become upset because there might be an occasional bare spot, then this probably is not the weekend for you.  If you are the optimist that views the trails as being 95% exceptionally good then come ahead and have a blast.  The way the weather continues to change, I think we are all going to have to get used to enjoying it when there might be a few less than perfect spots on the surface.  Having a tiller available will make this a great weekend.

Don't forget your snowshoes.  Glinda and I had a great snowshoeing experience this evening checking out the trails.

Now the parking lot....be very very careful.  it is horribly icy.  I will attempt to till it in the morning and see if it can be made safer.  Your MSR snowshoes work extremely well on this sort of surface.  It is totally different from the ski trails.  I will update it here tomorrow.

Thursday, Feb 2, 8:30 am, 27 deg.  Snow expected today but with no significant accumulation.  Highs thru the weekend above freezing but lows will be well below.  Of the 24 hour period, most of the time the temps will be below freezing and that will help preserve our snow.

We are developing some bare spots but they are easily skied around.  Based on the present forecast, the grooming will be done with the shallow plate and Bombardier Friday morning unless today's snowfall exceeds expectations. 

Great weather for ski instruction as it will be easier to stay warm.  Also, don't forget the snowshoe trail.  The popularity of these trails increases each weekend.

Open Friday thru the weekend.  Closed Monday thru Thursday.  If you would like to ski on those normally closed days, call 989 348 5989

Wednesday, February 1, 33 deg.  The snow seems to be handling the warm temps of yesterday and today with grace.  Sunday and Monday 2 to 4 inches of snow fell and provided a layer of insulation for this warm up.  Some snow has been lost but the trails are holding up well.

Expecting our lows to return to well below freezing at night and slightly above freezing for the highs. 

Difficult decision for Friday opening.  I would rather do the grooming early Saturday morning as much colder temperatures temps are predicted.  If the Friday nightime low gets shifted slightly lower, then we will groom Friday morning and be open on Friday.  If the temps shift higher then we will not groom on Friday and do the grooming Saturday morning.  Check back.

Monday, Jan 30, 6 am. 1 deg f! but heading to a high of 25 deg with 1 to 3 inches of snow possible. 

Open at 10 closing at dark.  However they are calling for a wintry mix tonight.  Might be good to ski early and get an early start for home.

Sunday, Jan 29 8:30 pm, 17 deg.  Another day of almost perfect skiing.  Open tomorrow at 10 am.  Then closed until Friday.  Thanks to all of you that made this such a fun weekend.

Sunday, Jan 29, 6:30 am, 19 deg heading for a high of 23.  Gained a couple of inches of snow yesterday thru the day and another inch last night.  Expecting 2 to 4 inches today.  Will begin the grooming in a few minutes.  Should be another outstanding weekend of skiing.

Great fun having the MSU Womens Rowing team visit.  Wonderful attitudes!   Hope they return soon!

Saturday, Jan 28, 5:30 am, 28 deg with an expected high of 30.  light snow in the night.  Expecting 1 to 2 inches thru the day today.  More tonight and tomorrow.

BIG SALE in the ski shop.  All clothing has big markdowns as does the wax AND the Nanosonic Classic Skis.  Incredible Values!!!!

Trail fees remain unchanged for the last 5 years.  $20 individual & $50 for a family trail pass. 

Open 10 am until dark, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday (for the moment).  Always open for the Monday Holidays but Monday is usually the day that is most apt to be dropped as the season progresses because of light skier turn out.  Check back here from time to time regarding FC being open on Monday.  On our normally closed days (Tuesday thru Thursday) we have on occasion allowed skiers to use the trail but we require that you call first and get permission.   989 348 5989  We will then meet you in the ski shop.

 Having a problem with skiers coming onto the trails when we are closed.  Not a problem if you call first (989)348 5989 and arrange to be met at the ski shop for the sign in procedure.  Otherwise, there is a risk of having your car impounded and a trespassing arrest. 

BACK FORTY RETURNS!!!!

Wednesday, Oct 26.  For many, it was our favorite trail.  Long and cruisey on the hills with a couple of challenging ones (Deadman's Drop & Hammerhead Hill) and then there is the perfect training hill, Interval Hill.  It will be great to have this wonderful trail returned to us.  Oh yeah, AND TJ Hill will also be returned to the system. 

Over $10,000 was spent intially to bulldoze this trail and an additional $5,000 was spent on the manual labor part of the trail.  [Ok it was back when I was working and the money flowed a little better.]

There are more km of trails at Forbush Corner than ever before.  This one is a very special trail to have back.  It was designed to compliment Rollercoaster.  Where Rollercoaster has a natural interval with continuous and abrupt ups and downs, this trail was designed with longer climbs & more gradual uphills ("with a few exceptions").  It is a great trail for training when you are not quite ready for the interval work of Rollercoaster but want more than just a flat trail.  Still with Hammerhead Hill and Interval Hill, it possesses some challenging spots.