The couple of light snowfalls over the past week have skied in nicely and made for a fast, hardpack skate deck that while somewhat lumpy, is very skiable and never sketchy with ice or debris. Onion River Road remains the most reliable, with the upper 2km or so having the best conditions. Groomer was heading out (skate deck only) as I was returning this morning, so with the favorable temps I'd expect things to smooth out even more.

Photos:

(Tim Lupfer)

I have classic skied the Onion River Road many times over the last three days. Track conditions are better on the upper elevations but vary from shallow tracks and ice to nice snow and deeper tracks. A few days ago we got about an inch of powder over 2 nights and that helped cover the ice nicely on the last 3 K of the road. While I did not try it, the skate deck looks pretty good and the skaters were all flying by me. The deck looks firm and fast by not too icy. Since temps have been below freezing for several days, I did not want to try klister and have the new snow stick to it. My skins work OK, except where the track is nothing but ice, but my fish scale no wax skis are able to allow me to kick even in the icy spots, although I double pole over most of the worst parts. There are about three areas on the east side going up where you have to get out of the track for 20 feet or so to avoid dirt and rocks, but they are on a hill so easy to get in and out.

(Tim Nelson)

Classic skied the Onion River Road up and back twice. Tracks on the east side are very shallow but new snow dusting hid the ice underneath. Skate deck looked firm and fast and recently scratched up. But my skins would not work outside the tracks. On the west side on the way down, I was the first and the new snow was nice. Tracks were deeper and were only a problem when under the new dusting, the tracks were rutted during the meltdown and grabbed my boots and due the new snow I couldn't see it coming. On the second time up and back, I switched skis to crown fish scales and they worked better than skins and the grabby spots were now visible.

(Tim Nelson)

Pleasantly surprised! And I'd guess some of the best natural snow in the Midwest right now. Started at Onion River road TH and skied thru M, N and most of the way to P. Skied the afternoon, mid 30s with cloud cover all day til the late afternoon when it got a bit sunnier. Skate deck was firm but not icy, though quite fast and loud on the downhills. Near total coverage, with some bits of dirt and the occasional rock easily avoided, some small sticks poking through. Even some remnants of corduroy on parts that haven't been groomed in over a week. From what I heard from other folks we talked to, we likely skied some of the best parts of the system, but everything we saw was very skiable! Classic tracks were in decent shape IMO, though quite fast and probably hard and slippery in many spots.

Photos:

(Dan Petters)

Skate deck on Onion River Road was in great shape this morning. Somewhat icy/rutted from the parking lot to the Oberg loop intersection, but from the intersection to the top was nice skiing with a flat deck, increasing amounts of corduroy, and very few slick spots. Almost felt like winter. Thanks to the groomers for getting out on Wednesday, it improved things considerably. Hopped in the classic tracks a couple times and they felt unreasonably fast, but might be fine as things warm up.

Photos:

(Tim Lupfer)

Skated Maple and Upland Loops from Moose Fence. Northern half of Maple Loop (S-Q, Q-P), as well as out/back connector from TH (P-S), were much better than trails out of Britton Peak TH. Much more level of skate deck and not near as undulating. Also great coverage. Upland Loop and southern half of Maple Loop (P-S) had more twigs poking through and were more undulating.

Photos:

(Grant Schoen)

Skated from Britton Peak TH and looped counter clockwise, out on Wood Duck -> Bridge to Onion TH, back on Picnic -> Hog Back. The descents on Bridge, a couple on Picnic, and Hog Back were a bit harrowing, but more than manageable. Great coverage throughout, but as others have mentioned, a soft deck that is quite undulating at times with small brush poking through. All exposed rocks or dirt are avoidable and few and far between. Cool temps overnight and overcast has seemed to help maintain conditions, despite above freezing day temps.

Photos:

(Gran Schoen)

We skied up the Onion River road and conditions were very good. We classic skied with waxless. We took the easy loop back down and it was very fast but tracks in very good condition. A skate skier said she found good conditions too but said it was slower than the classic. Overall, a very nice day.

(Alice Tibbetts)

Classic skied from Oberg trailhead around Picnic, Hogback, Bridge, and Homestead back to Oberg. Best conditions on Picnic and higher elevation trails. Lower elevation trails were softer and slicker. Downhills on Hogback and Homestead were very fast and skate deck undulating. But very fun, fast day. Not too many bare spots or dirt but divets from fallen skiers need avoiding.

(Tim Nelson)

Trails were much better than expected! Some icy, chopped up portions, but otherwise there were no bare spots. Didn't classic, but looked like the tracks were ok throughout most of trail system. Not many people out either.

Photos:

(Cassie Pratt)