10+inches new snow. We packed all trails this morning with Pisten Bully and roller. Conditions are very soft as the snow is very dry and deep. A classic track was set on the 5K loop and several smaller loops. The wind is blowing very hard and the tracks most likely will drift over. We will not groom Wednesday or Thursday morning due to the extreme cold. The Winona High School Nordic team will host a ski meet Friday starting at 11 AM so we will groom for that race.

(Bruce Johnson)

Saint Mary's received 12" of snow. The main 5k loop was rolled and tracked today. The rest of the trails will get worked on tomorrow. Expect conditions will be very soft for a few days but should be great by the weekend!

(Steve Horeck)

The 2K manmade loop can be tilled and combed and should be very good for the weekend, it's also tracked for classic. The rest of the trails are very firm and compacted and very thin with some dirt showing, minimal tilling will be able to be done, perhaps comb pressed in but still very firm.

(Steve Horeck)

We received 1" of snow over a very thin base. I rolled and combed the lower loops and that helped a lot. I left the upper trails for those that want to ski some fluff. The only track set is on our manmade loop, too thin everywhere else.

(Steve Horeck)

Four inches of new snow over solid ice. We rolled all the trails several times. Cold temps tonight should solidify the groomed trails and improve the skate conditions. We have approx. 2K of man made snow loop and this loop is perfect. We have set a classic track on the man made snow and it's very good. Skiing anywhere off the man made loop can be rocky and icy. Please be cautious. We have now got a good base to build on.

(Bruce Johnson)

Really great condition for skate skiing from manmade snow. The deck is smooth and not much debris. I see that there are classic tracks as well, though not used personally. The grooming crew did a fantastic job covering this short trail with flat and hilly sections, making it an interesting work out. Very fortunate to have access to the trail since there's been no snow in southern Minnesota for a while. Thanks to the groomers! Worth the drive to Winona.

Photos:

(Ian Chang)

Our man made snow loop was groomed at 1:30 today. Overall the 1.4K loop is good. Very few ice areas and no bare ground on the groomed loop. Any area outside the groomed loop is ice and bare ground.

(Bruce Johnson)

As of Thursday afternoon, the man made loop as SMU is open. We have made snow in Yon's field and reestablished the loop from the parking lot. You can ski from the parking lot, around the field, up to the loop adjacent to the orchard and back. We've groomed the upper loop as best we can, it's skiing on very hardpack, with ice crystals, not "snow", but it is very skiable over 2K's. While snowmaking, we covered the ice near the parking area so it is safe to ski directly from that parking area.

(Bruce Johnson)

The trails are closed until Thursday. The Yon's field is pretty much ice. We will make snow Wednesday to cover the ice and make it safe to ski. We expect to have the 2K loop reopened by Thursday afternoon.

(Bruce Johnson)

We have opened a loop with man made snow. The Yons field is open and it is possible to ski from the lower parking lot up to the dike and to the man made loop adjacent to the orchard area. Simply stay on the trail that is obviously groomed. Anywhere off that trail is pure ice and rock. The open trail is firm and very safe. As temperatures permit, we will continue to make snow.

(Bruce Johnson)