Snow - Worthington to Mankato - places

[Matt V]

I am hoping to get a partner or two to kite some areas around Windom, MN. The public areas have excellent terrain with expansive hills, valleys, a few terraces, and small ponds/creeks that make up WMA/WPA's. Using the Google Earth 3D view can give you an idea of how steep the terrain is and what wind directions will work. I have kited Timber Lake WMA and I would love to try some of the other areas. My problem is that the snow was (as of Tues, Dec 28) 24+inches over the grass and most of these areas are too big for me to explore entirely without someone making sure I make it back to my vehicle. This past Tuesday, I tweaked my ankle about a 1/4 mile away from my launch spot. Luckily I was able to ride back because crawling would have taken me more time than I had daylight left. I think the snowshoes are going to have to be packed with me at all times now even though that may not have helped in this past situation. Another consideration for kiting in these areas is that they can have the occasional bush that could tear up an inflatable. I run foil kites exclusively.

I know the allure of kiting near home. I would be doing that here if I could but thin snow over frozen lakes is just not interesting enough for me here in Nebraska anymore. I need terrain to really be stoked and Windom has it. Therefore, I will be up there again next week (maybe starting Sunday, Jan 2) regardless of the partner situation or my ankle - the wind just looks too good. I have a rule for around there that if the wind forecast is above 11mph, you still need to have your small kites with you. It is just one of those places where the weatherman undershoots the windcast as opposed to most other areas where they over shoot it.

Worthington is good too. The fields around there are just not holding snow unless you can find that rare hay field. Terrain is also nearly non existent. But the lake is awesome. That same day I was at Timber Lake, I did light winds on the ice at Worthington with about 6 inches of wind pack (soft with no crust) and 12-14inch kickers allover the place. I am sure the snow conditions have changed since I was up there last, but I will post with what I find next week.

Mankato has some decent spots too, most are just flat but the snow cover is more than 24inches on most fields.

Let me know if anybody is up for some terrain around Windom next week.

[Perry Pearson]

Hi Matt, The snow here in Iowa close to the Worthinton,Windom area of Buffalo Ridge area took a leave of absence in yesterdays rain. Right now about an 2 inch cover of very sugary snow hit us today on Big Spirit. Dont want to rain any more on your parade,but will check the lakes out tomorrow. If you have some terrain to check out soon nearby Windom, Billy and I will make a trek. Give us some notice.
Sail on
Perry seven-one-two... three two -zero.. too..oh..fore...nine

[Matt V]

Got it! Let me know what you find. I am hoping that the 24 inches of powder is at least 12 inches of frozen stuff. And these are not my spots, they are public and there is room for 4 kiters on the small spots and room for 20 on the big spots. Just look it up on MN DNR website and then look at the terrain on google earth.

I will call and let you know what I find on Sunday. My email is in my profile for now.

Matt

[Perry Pearson]

Hey Matt,You definitely get kudos for scouting these spots. Todays riding at Timber Lake was just short of a nice honey pot.
Looking forward to trying Cottonwood as those Windom hills look very inviting. Any new snow showing up and with that base the place looks like it can be incredible.
Sail on
Perry

[Matt V]

The forecast looks awesome for this whole week. Not one day in the forecast will be without wind all the way until Saturday (NWS). AND it looks like I will not get blown off with high winds either. Tomorrow and Wednesday look like they will be a good direction for kiting Wolf Lake. I think it is going to be as close to blowing right up the canyon as possible.

As promised, here is the snow condition report.

Worthington - 2-6 inches of hard pack on the lake (feels like styrofoam) over the ice. There is no ice glaze showing on top of the snow that I could see. But my 12-14 inch kickers are gone so it is pretty flat. I did not kite there but I did walk out onto the ice.

WMA's from Wilder to Windom - something like 24inches or less of refrozen snow in the grassy fields that is a little hard on top for a rough ride, but it is not glazed and you can easily edge. Almost all of the kickers are soft snow and do not give you much pop. But the terraces are still good. The surface is also hard enough to be able to get away with a smaller kite/lighter wind than was possible last week.

Matt