The skate deck has firmed up and is mostly excellent and wide - great for cruising - one soft area at the far north end where the trail was widened recently, one bare / icy spot that is easy to see and avoid, and a few spots that show a little grass poking through (very minor). Classic tracks looked universally excellent.

(Karl Dewahl)

Soft new snow over a relatively soft base - very pretty. Course is a lot shorter than last year - 5.4k, down from 7.5. Classic tracks looked pretty good but also soft. Flows nice, but it is down to one significant climb.

(Karl Dewahl)

Nice surprise today at Phalen. Skied this afternoon on a nicely rolled trail. The layout is different but a fun ski. Plenty of snow!

(Bill Stuber)

Not quite enough snow to groom today, but hopefully tomorrow. There is a lot of ice under the fresh snow, so if you head out on course please be careful.

(Tyler McKean, St. Paul Parks and Recreation)

It is all grass or ice out there right now, and completely unskiable. Trails will remain closed until we get more snow.

(Tyler McKean, St. Paul Parks and Recreation)

We brought equipment over to Phalen today to attempt a groom. Unfortunately much of the trail is windblown and down to bare ground. Until we get another significant snowfall, we won't be able to put in a trail at Phalen.

(Tyler McKean, St. Paul Parks and Recreation)

Popped over to Phalen today to see if the trails had been groomed. No such luck today. I skied around the golf course, basically following the grooming route. The fluffy snow over hard frozen ground made it difficult to get good pole purchse, but it was lovely to be out on natural snow.

(Jonathan Poppele)

Well, I knew that it was probably not going to look pretty and I was right. The little bit of snow we received wasn't enough to cover the course. There is still quite a bit of bare ground. Hopefully we will get more snow but until then, Phalen isn't an option.

(Greg Loper)

Soft snow, people tracked but can ski nearly anywhere. Knolls show grass but 3-4 inches and even more in the "bowls". Had the place to myself, beautiful. Lots of small trees newly planted, some in what was the groomed trail in recent years. Likely changes for the route this season?

(Carrie Kostroski)

Phalen has plenty of snow. Skated this afternoon and found the snow to be about 3" deep. Ground is frozen under the snow, this allowed for some nice easy skating. There are thin wind blow spots and golf cart paths to watch out for. There are skied in tracks but seems like you can make your own just as easy.

(Bill Stuber)