It was prophetic - the voice calling, saying: the North End is near. Started around 11 am and 40F degrees. Snow had corned up nicely, the only icy section was the steep hill at the warming house. There was one portage due to a really dense area of pine needles! The big hills on the B and C loop were a little squirrely as it was a little soft and grabby - I'd recommend some caution going in. Still 4-6" of base with very few thin sections.

(Dan Murphy)

I thoroughly enjoyed skiing the freshly groomed North End Trail this morning. The skate deck was firm and glide was good with temperature hovering around 32 F. Classic tracks looked shallow, but consistent and not icy. Sticks, pine cones and needles were abundant in some places but were not a major nuisance. Thank you groomers for your efforts today and all season!

(Tom Wilton)

Half-inch of crusty snow over fairly even intact hard-packed base. Good edge, really fast. Minimal debris. Nice for skating. Classic tracks mostly filled with snow or absent.

(Bill Tremaine)

The NE received 4+ inches of new snow on Sunday. The main loops were groomed for skate and classic today and are in very good condition. The NE Classic trail and Tony Wise have not been groomed since the new snow but are still open. Portions of the NE Classic were skied in today by a few skiers.

(Irv Berlin)

The NE Trail main loops and Tony Wise skate lanes were combed out today and are in very good condition. The NE Classic trail is also in good condition. The Birkie has been grooming several kilometers of NE trails in preparation for the Fat Bike this Saturday and have taken out the classic tracks on large portions of both the main loops and the Tony Wise. The best bet for classic skiing would be on the NE Classic only. The race trails will be open to fat bikes Friday and for the race Saturday.

(Irv Berlin)

Skied the main loops. The skate lane is a little soft in places but otherwise very nice. Please note the Fat Bike Birkie is on several k's of the NE trails and will be open for fat bikes on Friday and Saturday. Only those trails used for the race are open to fat bikes. The Birkie has already been grooming for the race and the skate deck on those sections is excellent. The Birkie groomer was careful to avoid the classic tracks so classic skiing is still possible on those sections - thanks to the Birkie groomers for making that effort.

(Irv Berlin)

Skiers will find good skating and classic skiing at the North End Trails. The trails were recently groomed and tracked. There is plenty of snow for great coverage and good control. Bundle up and enjoy!

Photos:

(David Martin)

The main loops and the NE Classic were groomed today. The trails are quite soft except the few kilometers of our main loop the Birkie combed with their pisten bully in preparation for the Fat Bike race next weekend. The Tony Wise trail remains rolled only. Please remember Fat Bikes are not allowed on the NE trails except for the race course and then only starting next Friday.

(Irv Berlin)

This afternoon I skied the A and B loops of the North End trails. Trails are freshly groomed but super soft as the catch up with the 8+ inches of new snow they got since last Saturday. There were no classic tracks set while I was skiing but on my way back in I passed one of the groomers heading out and setting classic tracks.

(Andy Schwartz)

Skied several loops of the North End classic trail just before noon. Beautiful scenery and nice place, but pretty disappointed no classic tracks set.

(Lee Wilcox)