Update from yesterday. Trails now have about 1-3 inches of new snow. No grooming as the venue is closed during the week. We skated and although work at times there were sections that skied well. Bonus - Kayo Aslagson was "attacked" by a Great Horned Owl! (That's a bit of an exaggeration, but it did swoop down and follow him for 30 seconds or so...).

(Keith Brugger)

Continuing from yesterday's post: an additional 2 km was groomed, the main trail from lower shortcut to Deep Woods trail head and back to the main trail; the latter has some of the best skiing of the entire season. Sections of the trail groomed previously apparently suffered from Saturday's afternoon high and sun. A bit rutted in places but troublesome spots are minimal. Likewise cancer spots in classical tracks have "metastasized." But all-in-all very good conditions. As we finished late morning it was snowing.

(Keith Brugger)

Trails were groomed after the last snowfall and are in very good shape. Unlike last weekend, the skate deck was firm and fast, especially where glazed earlier this morning. Classic tracks are set and got rave reviews from friends kicking and gliding. I double poled a bit and certainly that was my impression. As I was finishing my day the snow was getting a little moist, but not yet problematic. A few "cancer" spots in the classical tracks, but minimally. In several stretches the classical tracks are set so that that the skate lane narrows, but this too isn't too much of a problem. Groomed: up to warming hut, down the Birkie Hill and over to trail junction with upper shortcut and Finland, Haug's Cutoff, and both shortcuts. Probably could use A skis? Interestingly, there were more people skiing today than most days during the normal season!

(Keith Brugger)

April fool? Jury is still out on that one! Was contacted by Andes yesterday that they had groomed some of the trails after getting 5" or so in the recent snowstorm. Went out today in hopes finding that the trail had set up... it had not. Although I found virgin corduroy, it was soft and slow - for me, and not having skied for a while, it was tough going. Coverage was good however. Rock skis recommended because there's no base under the new snow, so given the softness my skis 2-3 times were bottoming out on the gravel underneath. Honestly, the only thing that kept me out there was the novelty of skiing in April, a first for me in the Midwest. About a third of the main trail (over to Isaac Lake), and the shortcuts were groomed.

(Keith Brugger)

The countdown continues as the trails degrade. Thoughts of skiing are soon due to fade. Trails have turned into mud and slop, less suitable for skis and more for a mop. If you must ski, what is there you must take. The best of of all was on Isaac Lake. (Really, pretty good out there.) (Mud skis??).

(Keith Brugger)

The season's clock is ticking. Cause in the sun we'd be sticking. In the shade it was dicey. Cause the trail was icy. Sections of slush and we'd have to mush. Water and puddles galore, the remains of snow days before. Lots of sticks, innocently up to dirty tricks. Still we pressed on, finding some skiing hither and yon.

(Keith Brugger)

We're back to skiing after the meltdown. A few inches of new snow earlier in the week allowed grooming yesterday. Half-to-one inch (or a little more) over an icy base for the skate deck. No classical tracks. Sections are melting out, some either mostly gone or solid ice. However we were able to get good skiing in, especially where there was well-defined corduroy, and apart from the aforementioned trails were fast and very skiable. Finland is closed - too icy.

(Keith Brugger)

Skied earlier today (10-11) to avoid the Goldilocks problem of yesterday. No such luck. Glazed and icy or wet and soggy with little "just right." Definitely skiable but in places with some effort, at least for me. Temperatures were nearing 32 as I left. Groomed trails as per yesterdays post.

(Keith Brugger)

As we started today's late morning ski, it was sun/shade schizophrenia. Toward the end of the ski the snow was becoming increasingly more wet and slow. Frankly, the skiing today put the "work" in workout! Trails groomed with the exception of the back half of the main trail (behind the ski hill). Classical tracks in some, but not all the groomed trail sections.

(Keith Brugger)

Sections of the trails were groomed yesterday, and more extensive grooming was in progress this morning when I skied. The newly groomed trails were soft, not too bad though. I refrained from skiing these sections or used the classical tracks until they set up. Saturdays snowfall was about 8 inches so there's plenty of snow with which to work. Combination of sun and higher temperatures (hi 20s) late this morning meant snow was getting somewhat moist. Noticed the decrease in speed over the span of 15 minutes. Good skis can be used. Classical tracks set on some trails.

(Keith Brugger)