Conditions: Not groomed.
I skated for about an hour and a half ending about 3:45. I was worth it in the daylight. Had to dodge around but was fun doing it. Fairways were covered. Strong NW wind at times. Mostly spring skiing but some drifting on the east side of tees and sand traps. Found a golf ball (their range ball), kept it until I saw it was cracked in two places!

(Stanley Sledz)

Conditions: Plenty of snow with very few hazards.
Just had to check Phalen tonight. The fairways were in good shape. Even where grass was showing through it was good skating. There are some thin spots but other than a few slips on ice patches it was worth the time.

(Bill Stuber)

Conditions: Crusty snow on groomed track, deep crust on ungroomed.
Hit Phalen tonight about 8PM. Much better than I expected. Yes, there are bare spots but easily skied around. Temp must have been around 30 degrees. I could get a good skate off. The classic track for the 7 K loop is maybe 70% intact. Not a bad ski if you can't get to Hyland or Elm Creek. Plenty of snow on the fairways to make your own track.

(Bill Stuber)

Conditions: Nope! Best to stay away.
Call it gone for the time being. Numerous open spots. Lots of little paw prints seemed to hasten its demise.

(Michael Jorgensen)

It's a great new 5k course. People from Endurance United and the City of Saint Paul spent hours today shoveling and moving snow to the thinner locations. It is being left to set for tomorrows King Boreas races. The new 5k course will be marked in the morning and known thin spots will be marked with spray paint and cones tomorrow morning.

Photos:

(Chris Sachs)

Conditions: Mostly well covered, just a few thin spots. Newly groomed sections were a bit soft.
Skied around 10 am this morning. Did the original layout first lap, then did the new race course layout for the remaining laps. The race course layout measured out very close to 5K, and has better snow coverage than the original course. It cuts off about one third of Phalen, the SE section. The old (very old) start area, to the south of the clubhouse, was being groomed out like a possible stadium. The new cut sections were a bit soft, but skied better with each lap (groomer has out packing it too). A couple of very thin areas, mainly at the top of hills and usually just golf course grass underneath. Could feel asphalt/gravel paths with the pole tips in a few places, but in general it seems like at least B ski conditions (maybe even better if they shovel).

Photos:

(Bruce Adelsman)

Conditions: Good. New course is enjoyable.
The new course at Phalen Golf Course is up and running! People have tested the course and reports are good that they enjoy the new 5k loop. It is looking good for the King Boreas races this Saturday. Shoveling party Friday morning at 9 am - please come join us!

Photos:

(Chris Sachs)

Conditions: Good conditions. Pleasantly surprised.
Trail conditions are good throughout much of the course. The SE region of the course has the thinnest conditions. A new 5k course for King Boreas race has been designed that avoids the SE region. It adds in more vertical and it should be installed tomorrow.

Photos:

(Chris Sachs)

Conditions: Fair to poor. Groomed, but rutted and bare in spots.
The trail was groomed after the most recent snow. As of Sunday morning, the skate deck was still very soft and was deeply rutted in a few places from the first skiers out. The course is also windblown and has bare spots poking through at the tops of many of the small hills. The classic tracks show more bare spots, with grass showing through on maybe 30% of the trail. If you are careful, skating should be okay with B skis. I'm delighted to see Phalen groomed. I hope it gets groomed again and given a chance to firm up a bit more.

(Jonathan Poppele)

Just tracked around noon. The classic tracks struck grass in a few places, but overall the snow is dry and good. Off-trail skiing less good due to small packed wind drifts that slow you down.

(Peter Borden)