Minnesota's cross-country skiers slide into the cold, happily

When winter struck early this year, a chorus of cursing could be heard around the Twin Cities. Most of us didn't like unearthing our snow boots and ice scrapers so early in the season.

You didn't hear that kind of language from the metro's sizable population of cross-country skiers. They seem to know something the rest of us don't — early winters are glorious, so long as you have the right gear and a good amount of snow.

At Elm Creek Park Reserve, a Three Rivers Park District property in Maple Grove, Nordic skiers just celebrated the earliest season opener on record: November 18. A popular destination for skiers, with some of the most reliably good trail conditions around, Elm Creek saw 38,500 skiers during the 2013-14 winter season. After three-plus weeks of snow-making, often in prime weather conditions, the park promises 2.5 kilometers of cross-country ski trails in good condition this weekend.

Also on Nov. 18, the snow-makers started blasting at Hyland Lake Park Reserve, another Three Rivers park property, this one in Bloomington. The winter of 2013-14 was Hyland's first with snow-makers, attracting an impressive 45,800 skiers over the course of the season. Thanks in part to those brand-new machines, Hyland boasts 5 kilometers of packed and tracked trails, ready for prime cross-country skiing this very weekend. CHRISTY DeSMITH