Finding enough snow for winter fun is possibe

It's been a dismal winter for Minnesota's snowmobilers and cross-country skiers, but there is enough snow for winter fun in some regions. "There's plenty of snow to run around on — we probably have 18 inches in the back country,'' said Tom Pearson, owner of Stony River Cafe in Isabella, Minn. But few snowmobilers have shown up in the Isabella area this season, Pearson said, likely because of the lack of snow in the Twin Cities and elsewhere. "We've had 12 snowmobilers so far this season; normally we'd have 40 or 50 a day,'' he said. They're missing some fun action, he said. Much of the northeast has 12 to 18 inches, though the North Shore has less. The popular North Shore State Trail from Duluth to Finland was rated in poor condition, and the stretch from Finland to Grand Marais was rated fair. But good cross-country skiing was reported at Bear Head lake State Park near Ely, McCarthy Beach State Park near Hibbing, Judge Magney State Park north of Grand Marais and Lake Bemidji State Park near Bemidji. Skiing was very good at Koochiching State Forest. Snowmobile trails are fair to poor in those regions, and both ski and snowmobiles trails are closed at some popular state parks, including Gooseberry Falls and Jay Cooke. Get updated state ski and snowmobile trail conditions at www.startribune.com/a67.