The trail was freshly groomed from OO to Fish Hatchery. I met the groomer on his return trip. He smiled when I gave him 2 thumbs up. It was fast and fun for skating and the tracks were beautiful. From the Hatchery to the lake was ungroomed but skiable.

Photos:

(Tom Detzner)

Strided from OO to Fire Tower and back on Birkie skate side. Tracks were drifted/snowed in a bit but after I skied them they are now clear. Great kick, good glide, sunny, beautiful morning ski. I give it 9 out of 10 for striding. Downhills fun going.

(Audun Mikkelson)

Today we took another pass grooming and tracking the Birkie Skate trail from American Birkebeiner TH to OO. Birkie Ridge and the loops at OO were also groomed and tracked. Great skiing on the loops at OO and north of OO! Enjoy!

(Kurt Proctor, American Birkebeiner)

Yesterday we received 2-3" of new snow on the north end of the Birkie Trail! This morning we have groomed and tracked one pass of the Birkie Skate trail from American Birkebeiner TH (start area) to OO. We have not done Birkie Ridge yet. We will do the other side of the Birkie Skate trail and Birkie Ridge later today and will post again when that is complete. Enjoy!

(Kurt Proctor, American Birkebeiner)

Much of the Birkie trail is currently hard and icy in places. We will not be tilling the hard base to soften it up in the best interest of the Birkie events in 4 weeks. Softening the trail would also likely lead to losing more snow than if we keep the base as it is. With the uncertainty of temps and snow in the coming weeks, we would rather err on the side of maintaining what we have. As you are deciding where to ski, the best skiing right now is north of Boedecker. Take a look at our trail map and choose a trailhead north of Boedecker and get out there and ski! Enjoy!

(Kurt Proctor, American Birkebeiner)

Skied Saturday morning at 11am. Friday was in high 40s, and cold at hight. Well groomed trail, tracks are great, but hard icy. Should have used klister to keep binder. Rocket fast. Started at OO and went south, turned around after about 3Km, ice scrapped my wax off, and was not ready for the steep downhill speed. Course is very well kept, hope for some new snow before the Birkie weekend.

(Tim Nesley)

We skied the lighted loops at Double O late Saturday night. At first we thought it was too icy but we jumped on and started to free skate the East side open slabs by the start area and it was rocket fast with just enough corduroy to give an edge. This was not for beginner skiers but we had a lot of fun going really fast.

(Dan Murphy)

I agree with previous reports: Birkie Trail icy and dangerous from Hatchery Creek northward. After skiing north a short ways, turned around and skied out and back south of Hatchery Creek in the less groomed, deeper but more skiable hilly area near "Rosie's field" and the future development. I hope Birkie Trail is groomed again soon!

(Michael Stiegler)

I skied classic for 3.5 hours from Bodecker to the start and back on the classic trail. At Bodecker, I skated on the skate trail south to Double 0. We had 40 degree temps on Friday that froze overnight and it was not groomed since Thursday so it was icy, like the other reports say. Will try North End tomorrow where there is grooming.

(Jennifer Huelsmann)

We came up from Madison to ski on the Birkie Trail. There was plenty of snow and perfect temperatures! but we were disappointed because the trail was very icy due to the warm temperatures and overnight freeze... it had not been groomed last night or this morning, which would have made all the difference in the world. It makes me reluctant to depend on grooming on the birkie trail, even on a perfect weather Saturday!

(Kay Lum)