Winter's springing up all around

For outdoors enthusiasts, Decembers don't get much better than this.

Frigid temperatures have jumpstarted Minnesota's ice fishing season, and recent snow has snowmobilers and cross-country skiers grinning ear to ear.

"We have 14 inches of snow on the ground here," Paul Sundberg, manager at Gooseberry State Park on Lake Superior's North Shore, said Thursday. That's nothing: The area got another 12 inches on Friday, and was expecting another 10 inches or so from a storm walloping most of the state Saturday.

"Ski trails should be in excellent condition," Sundberg said.

The multiple snowstorms have produced a wonderful winter backdrop.

"The snow is hanging on the conifers, there's lots of ice on rocks and the trees along Lake Superior, and the waterfalls have gorgeous ice formations, too," he said. "It's definitely a great time to get out and enjoy the park."

The famed North Shore State Trail -- which runs 150 miles from Duluth to the Gunflint Trail and is one of the most popular snowmobile destinations in the state -- is open. From 6 to 15 inches of snow had fallen on the trail, before more snow fell Friday and Saturday.

"This is a great start," said Joe Russell, assistant area supervisor for DNR Trails and Waterways. "Last year, we had mid-December snow, but it wasn't as much and we didn't get much after that."

Russell said the trail is "very rideable" but had been rated as poor last week because the snow had been compressed. The new snow Friday and Saturday should change that rating.

The best snow conditions in the state, before the late-week additions, were in the north, ranging from 18 inches at International Falls to 8 inches near Brainerd. Cook had 14 inches, Cross Lake 12, Cass and Leech lake areas 11 and the Lake Mille Lacs and Duluth areas had 10 inches.

The Twin Cities area had about 5 inches of snow, but received more Saturday, which should make for some great skiing and snowmobiling.

Remember, a state ski pass is required to ski on state trails, and opertators need an annual trail sticker to snowmobile on state trails.