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)

Conditions: Wind blown and drifts, but relatively good snow cover.
Recent winds covered the newly groomed trails. The windblown snow and drifts make it a bit difficult to follow the trail if you are not aware of where they go. Overall a pretty good snow cover with only a few light grass exposed exceptions, but expect to lift your skis to get through or over the drifts if skating.

(Gary Simon)

Conditions: Hey hey, Phalen was rolled and tracked.
The golf course was rolled and tracked today. What a surprise. The skate deck is nice, looks like just two passes so it is narrow. Tracks were set, snow depth is really variable so in a few spots down to the grass. Problem: the wind; most of the tracks are blown in. This is the start of a great foundation for the small snow storms that might be coming our way.

(Bill Stuber)

Conditions: Absolutely ungroomed.
I skated/double poled the whole way only because I wanted to tell myself I did it. A few classic skied and that can work if you just strolled along. Some snow is soft, the rest is crusted, drifting that breaks through. I ain't goin' back 'til it snows AND they groom.

(Stanley Sledz)

Conditions: No grooming but plenty of snow.
Checked out Phalen tonight and found lots of snow and a lot of skied in tracks. The snow was soft and easy to ski where you wanted. I think skate or classic will work since the snow has settled and will support your ski.

(Bill Stuber)

Conditions: Lots of snow, could ski just about anywhere.
Tuesday night I checked out Phalen. There is plenty of snow on all the fairways. Crusty but you could ski in tracks or skate in a path. It was very nice.

(Bill Stuber)

Conditions: Good crust skiing.
Lots of skate and classic tracks at Phalen. Easy to see the bare spots but definitely B or rock skis. Evening skiing is great with the light exhibit going on. Be sure to park on the side streets across from Arcade as the park area is closed off at night for the light show and there is a $10 charge to get in.

(Jeremy Sartain)