After getting the morning blessing from the Reverend Zimmerman and Pastor Roytek at the trailhead, I ventured out on the freshly groomed skate deck as they headed for the fat bike single track. I pioneered the north loop, but skipped the Tram and other trails as I had time constraints today. Glad I got my ski in before the wind picked up. The sprinkles of snow yesterday made the skate deck a slight notch slower than yesterday but still fast. I did dabble a bit in the tracks on my skate skis yesterday and today, and the glide today seems a notch quicker than yesterday. Great trails thanks for the timely grooming!

Photos:

(Brady Zwiefelhofer)

Had a great skate today next to Billy who was striding. Skate deck is very firm and must be pretty cold. Made for a fast and easy glide day. It was safe on the downhills, just on the brink of being icy but didn't quite hit icy. With any luck we'll get these conditions for Birkie Saturday.

(Brady Zwiefelhofer)

Ski Trail Skate lane and classic tracks were great today. The skate lane will be touched up tonight. Tracks will be left alone. Fatbike Trail Report was that the trail was in very nice shape. As I crossed the trail in a few places it looked like lots of traffic today. We will not be grooming the Fatbike trail. Looks like another nice day tomorrow so hope you can get out and enjoy our trail system by ski, Fatbike or snowshoe.

(Kevin Roytek)

First off, thank you for staying off the trails this week during our warm up. Our trails held up great. Ski Trail Skate lane and new tracks are being groomed in tonight. The trail should be really nice tomorrow. Fatbike Trail The trail was in great shape, may not have needed grooming but I was able scratch up some of south facing slopes that had more sun hit them. North loop had just a couple short spots that had ice. The base right now is firm. Riding should be top notch.

(Kevin Roytek)

Wow! Lunch time ski with a buddy, and it was what ski dreams are meant to be... Arrived at 11 a.m., skied until 1 p.m., and hit the perfect temps and trail conditions. Groomed to perfection on the skate deck (what we were doing), solid and fast where the sun wasn't hitting hard yet (which was most of it). Classic was very solid but leaves in the track prevented it from being perfect. I've skied a lot of trails, and the flow of this trail along with the scenery makes it an easy choice for my favorite trail - though it's fairly remote, there's lot's of trail, and plenty of terrain and corners to keep things interesting. I don't think a day or two of warm temps will affect it much, as plenty of shade and packed hard. 21k today without doing laps, with only several k on connectors, and even skipped a 5k loop extension. Should be great until a major meltdown.

(Ted Theyerl)

Ski trail Skate lane will be freshened up tonight. I classic skied today and the tracks are set like they were formed in concrete. Skiing was great today and I expect it will be again tomorrow. Fatbike Trail Trail is in great shape. No need to groom. I'm heading up tomorrow to have some fun on the bike. Enjoy.

(Kevin Roytek)

On Thursday night the track was re-set and the skate lane was groomed. An inch or so of new snow fell prior to this so conditions have only improved! The trail will be monitored through the weekend and will be re-groomed as needed. The fat bike trails were also groomed and should have set up nicely over night.

(Mike Dahlby)

Ski Trail The guys are out grooming tonight. They are laying down a new skate lane and resetting the track. Sorry, no pics of the ski trail yet. Maybe tomorrow. Fatbike Trail All trails were groomed tonight. North loop got 2 passes. Burnt Wagon and Trappers / Short Loop got 3 passes. Trails looked good and with the cold temps should set up nicely. Hope you can get out and enjoy all the trails at Hickory this weekend. Enjoy.

Photos:

(Kevin Roytek)

Fresh snow today made for a great ski today. The trails at Hickory are really looking nice. Ski Trail: Skate lane will be groomed and the plan is to set new tracks set tonight if all goes well. Fatbike Trail: Several riders were out today packing in the snow as it fell. We will not be grooming tonight. Enjoy.

(Kevin Roytek)

Ski Trail: Everything has been freshly groomed and new tracks have been set. It looked very nice and a few people were out skiing it tonight. Fatbike Trail: Everything was groomed tonight. There were a couple drifted areas since I rode on Wednesday so I'm glad we groomed everything tonight. Should be a great weekend to enjoy the all the trails at Hickory Ridge. Enjoy!

Photos:

(Kevin Roytek)