Trail Report: Highlands and Ham Lake

We recently gathered up our skis and boots and took off to give the Highlands and Ham Lake a run.Greg decided to join us, after an eight-year hiatus to give his knees a real long rest from skiing.  It seemed to have worked, because he was ahead of some of us for most of the trail! 

The day was cloudy and windy, so the first part on Highlands was a little challenging.  I got one quick snap of Gunflint Lake before my fingers froze.  We kept the pace up while skiing along the ridgeland, so that warm blood would soon be flowing throughout the limbs.  It worked.  By the time we reached the turn for the Ham Lake trail, I was nice and toasty.

Ham Lake is one of my favorite trails in the Upper Gunflint Ski system.  It has just the right amount of ups and downs, and the big bonus is the wonderful forest that has grown up to shelter the trail.  When I first skied it, some 29 years ago, the trees were only about three feet tall.  Now they tower over me, giving a feeling of closeness that I enjoy while skiing.  The wolf tracks sprinkled throughout also added a note of interest.

The skiing was good, given that we are on the low side for snow this year.  That is one thing really nice about cross-country skiing:  We don't need deep snow before we can get out there.  Even with only eight to ten inches in the woods, we still had plenty beneath our feet.  It looks like we may be on track for more this weekend.  I'm once again keeping my fingers and toes all crossed.