Skied OO to High Point on the Classic, back on the Skate. Relatively slow going with the melt, but the base is still in exceptional shape. Decent number of patches with leaf litter, twigs, and cones, but most are very easy to avoid as they've melted themselves down into the snow. Get out there and enjoy it while it lasts!

Photos:

(Mitchell Campbell)

At 9 this morning, the Birkie trail was very fast. Downhills were somewhere between thrilling and terrifying. As it got closer to 32 degrees, the conditions were much more comfortable. I think skiing will be good for a while if we hit the window when temps are close to freezing. Spring skiing! So much fun.

Photos:

(Tom Detzner)

Great skiing again today on the Birkie trail. Fresh corduroy and classic track running north from OO to the Firetower water stop. Skied north on the classic trail and returned on the skate trail. The warm weather has started to uncover some of the tree debris and pine cones that got buried 12 inches of snow ago. Particularly on the classic trail. But there is still a lot of great skiing to be had.

(Andy Schwartz)

Really great conditions yet on the Birkie trail south of OO. Plenty of base left and fresh grooming as of last night. It started to soften up as the day went on particularly the sections in full sun. Would have been a smart move to get out an hour or so earlier (mid-morning).

(Andy Schwartz)

Skied the loops at OO. Dusting of snow over frozen snow made for fast skiing. The groomer was heading south. Some debris on trail, but easy to go around.

(Deb Murphy)

This afternoon I checked out a short loop using both the skate and classic trails between OO and Boedecker. No one had skied while it was soft and slushy so there were no ruts. The skiing is good if you are comfortable with hardpack; ski poles did not punch through any soft spots yet there was enough new snow for control. I give it an FF rating; fast and fun. Spring skiing is the best!

(Tom Detzner)

This afternoon I skied South from the start area. Both the skate and classic trails are freshly groomed. There is a full depth double classic track on the skate trail as far south as Timber Trail and a similar single classic track on the classic trail. The snow is still super cold and there was no melting visible when I left even though the temps were in the upper 30's.

(Andy Schwartz)

The lighted loops south of OO were groomed last night for skate and classic and conditions were excellent this morning, you bet. I didn't ski the Birkie trails, so I'm not sure of conditions, but the groomers' report says the northbound classic trail was groomed yesterday.

(Donald Quick)

A small group took advantage of the fantastic grooming done for the Fat Bike Birkie by getting out before the race. Skied mostly untouched corduroy on the Classic trail to the Firetower water stop where we watched the lead bikers come through. As they continued south, we headed back north on the skate trail, again on untouched corduroy. Even at a leisurely pace we got almost back to the Start Area before the lead bikers came through. Spent the whole morning on perfect conditions and saw some fine fat bike racing. The bikers softened the trail up somewhat and some of the uphills are mashed potatoes where later bikers had to dismount and hike up the hill. But generally, the trail is still in outstanding condition.

(Andy Schwartz)

As good as it gets. Today is course preview day for the Fat Bike Birkie on the north half of the course so I skied south from OO instead. There is a dusting of fresh snow covering up plenty of corduroy. Also a full depth classic track on both sides of the trail all the way to Gravel Pit, which is as far south as I went. The trail started to soften up as the afternoon got warmer but still really great skiing.

(Andy Schwartz)