Skied the Summit (good, combed condition), Bronze (newly combed but radical undulation in parts and about a dozen rock heads showing) as well as Gold (good condition but ungroomed after new 1.5" snow Saturday). There is not a ton of snow at the inlaws just down the road from the Ridge but the trails were in surprisingly good, snow-covered condition. Although it was slow snow with the fresh cover, based on deer track impressions it appears a 2-4" base exists. I skied a B pair of skis one day and a warm good pair the next. No damage that I could feel.

(John Witzmann)

Tough out there today. I thought there would be more grooming. Silver trail would have been perfect but it had 1-2" of ungroomed snow. Good ski conditions on Silver. I had an unfortunate mishap coming up to the Silver trail along the fairway as I hit a bare spot over the cart path and scratched up my ski base pretty badly. Bronze was groomed but it needs to be evened out and the skate deck was very soft.

(Nick Ongaro)

Thrilled to have machine set tracks! Freshly set track and corduroy on the Cedar and the super Summit highway. The Gold had a recent skate deck regroom, while the track was still decently intact. Great grooming, a bright moon and trees wrapped in lights, was pure early ski season enjoyment!

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(Cheri Johnson)

Thanks to the Giants Ridge crew for the early season efforts! The 10km Silver trail was groomed today (skate only) and is in great shape for December. Currently around 25km of groomed skating (northern lights, silver, summit, Cedar and portions of gold) and around 15k tracked for classic (northern lights, summit, cedar). Bring your B skis and enjoy the warmer weather ahead.

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(Shawn Callahan)

Fresh grooming today after yesterday's snow. I kicked up the 6km Summit trail, which had some dark spots and a few rocks visible in the classic tracks,l- all easily avoidable if you're careful. Skate deck appears to be smoothing out from the new snow, with full coverage. Most of Gold Trail had one pass with the groomer but no classic tracks yet. Returned on Bronze, ungroomed.

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(Shawn Callahan)

Skated the Bronze, Summit and parts of Gold and Cedar over the 3" of new snow Tuesday. Coverage is nearly 100% throughout the inner trails (Bronze, Summit, Gold, Cedar). Quite a bit of grooming activity the past few days on these trails, and a beautiful 5km loop around lower gold/summit was set before the snow. Classic tracks set on Gold/Cedar and lower Summit, and skate deck on Bronze, Summit, Gold, Cedar...fantastic early season conditions!

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(Shawn Callahan)

XC conditions for this opening day at Giants Ridge was better than anticipated. Skated Northern lights, Cedar, and part of Gold, all of which had at least one pass of Ginzu grooming overnight. Summit and Bronze trail appear to have been rolled/groomed a few days ago. 3" base with a few easily avoidable rocks visible. No classic tracks yet. A bumpy ride on the downhills so be very cautious if you go into the woods! Stadium area and golf course portions of Northern lights trail are groomed to full width and much more smooth.

Photos:

(Shawn Callahan)