I skied all of the Anvil ski trails today including East, West, Devils Run, Ninemile, and the Lake Loop. There was about 1.5 inches of new snow on the Devil Run which tamed these screaming hills a little. However, I still managed to fall three times. Overall conditions were good to very good. I just wish the groomer would only track one side and create a skating deck on the balance. The trails are wide enough for it.

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(Jim Gantz)

Overall, conditions were firm and very fast. The fluctuating temps lately have probably made for somewhat difficult grooming. Classic skiing should be great, tracks were like mini-luge runs, but - in places - on the shallow side. The skate deck is fast and firm, but is very rough and hard to ski. In many places the classic tracks are set almost in the center of the trail. Classic is phenomenal, skating not so much.

(Dan Mckissack)

Entire groomed surface is exceptionally hard-packed, including rock solid, very fast tracks. Controlling speed downhill was difficult due to the hard, frozen, granular surface adjacent to the tracks. Edge control of skis was minimal. Surface is also quite abrasive, tending to scrub the kickwax. Still the level sections and moderate slopes provided easy gliding and fast double poling.

Photos:

(Tom Rulseh)

5" base best condition of this season. All trails groomed and tracked, still a few holes on the longest section of Devils Run. Should set well for Friday with this cold weather today.

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(Jeff Higley)

5" base good condition all trails groomed and tracked, still a few holes on the longest section of Devils Run. Should set well for Friday with this cold weather today.

(Jeff Higley, US Forest Service)

4" base good condition with Devils Run and Lake Loop fair to poor due to major foot travel during warmer weather, tried to smooth areas out but still some holes. All trails groomed and tracked, enjoy the weekend.

(Jeff Higley, US Forest Service)

5" base, good condition, groomed not tracked. This morning we got things groomed before the temp. hit 36F. Please be patient with warmer temps we might not be grooming until we get below freezing weather. Warm weather is hard on equipment.

(Jeff Higley, US Forest Service)

5" base all packed, good condition. We have broken down equipment but will still be grooming weekly with different groomer and machinery, we had to just groom and pack due to 12" of new snow.

(Jeff Higley, US Forest Service)

By early afternoon, about four inches of new, ungroomed snow on the existing base. The falling snow was on the sleety side. The snow is forecasted to continue until evening. We used the parking lot on Hwy 70; the lot was unplowed when we left at 2:30. We used waxless backcountry skis but skinny skis could work if there are skied in tracks. A fun outing though harder going compared to fully groomed trails.

Photos:

(Jan Axelson)

Good with 3" base all trails are groomed with military and east tracked, not enough snow to track other trails. Still lots of debris from recent wind storm mostly under hemlock canopy.

(Jeff Higley, US Forest Service)