I put in 15km this morning on still a solid ice base with some crust and snow mix on top. Found a nice 3/4km loop on Green with only one bare spot to ski. Other areas had wide variety of no cover to good solid stretches. The loop was good skating with just a few icy spots. Overall, a great ski considering its April 25th! Was softening up when I left at 9am.

(Dan Dudley)

Started skiing at 7:30 Phil was just coming in from taking the pb around the entire trail system. It was perfect conditions for 1 1/2. There were a few water hazards that can easily be avoided, there was one area in the field that was starting to burn through, with temps and sun I'm sure that will be bigger by tomorrow. Thanks again Phil for all you do to make Iola a destination place and exceptional grooming when so few others would with this last snowfall. Till next season, my skis have officially been put away for the third and final time. If temps get cold again tonight Iola should be skiable Sunday.

(Tracy Piontkowski)

I am so fortunate to live 15 minutes from this great trail system that is so well cared for. Arrived at 7:45 am to find that Phil had completed grooming the skate deck of the green and blue trails. He was finishing up on the black. Skate conditions were very good with firm pole plants and firm snow underfoot. Fairly level skate deck so balance was easy to maintain. By 8:45 the snow was already softening in the sun drenched areas. Classic tracks had been set and appeared in good condition. Full coverage, no dirty spots yet. When I left at 9:15, the portion of the parking lot that had been plowed was full.

(Tim Corcoran)

Classic skied tracks were great. Spoke with skaters said it was a little soft. Plenty of base. Even with warm temps skiing should last through weekend. Best to get out early for window on coming warm days.

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(Tracy Piontkowski)

Iola received 28 inches this past weekend according to WBAY. I had communication with Phil, he took out PB Sunday afternoon and did green and blue skate deck. He has plans to set track and do the black today. Parking lot had yet to be plowed so he was looking for some help with that.

(Tracy Piontkowski)

Who would have thought we could drive up from bare Mt. Horeb this morning and find such snow. It was after noon and temps pushing upper thirties. Buddy skated and I did classic with waxless. Great grip but low glide. Didn't matter... A fine day. Bet morning will be fun and faster. Bare trails avoidable.

(Joe Mirenna)

This was my first time skiing at Iola and I loved the trails! They were groomed nicely when I went out at 9am. Portions were a bit crusty, but others were perfection. I did black, blue, and green, and all were great. I say B-skis because there were a few spots with ground exposed (could be avoided) and a few icy sections. I didn't know what to expect, so I had my B/rock skis on. I was so pleased that they took the time to groom this, and the whole system! The most exposed portions were on black out in the open fields. By the time I was wrapping up my skiing after 11am, things were getting a bit slower, despite temps in the 20s. (Maybe my skis wore off their wax too). A fantastic day, and I would think that those close to the trails could get more days of skiing out of these trails.

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(Holly LaVesser)

Trails set up nicely. Parking lot was full. They had to get tractor out to plow another lane. Skated blue to black to field short cut very nice. Skied from 10-noon even though temps were cool sun was hard at work. Phil and crew were shoveling and hauling snow to patch a few trouble areas. Green was only trail that had tracks. Phil plans to groom and try to set more tracks for what will likely be last hurrah tomorrow. Get out early especially.

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(Tracy Piontkowski)

Iola has good snow coverage with only minor trouble areas on south facing slopes. I was striding on fat wax less skis, trails were rolled but not tracked (Phil was hoping to set track as temperatures dropped Thursday night). Temps were in high 30's Thursday afternoon and snow varied between packed powder in the shade and soft in the sun. They got 10-12" in last Tuesday's storm and skiing should hold up through the weekend.

(Eric Hansen)

Green and Blue loops are well groomed and open! Phil reports that he expects to groom the whole works. Possible party on Saturday!

(George Kraft)