Mother Nature is winning this battle for the trail. But we're not giving up yet! The 5K/SpecialK are groomed today, Skate only. Thin corduroy of shaved ice over a hard ice base, that gets thinner with each grooming. Melt water has surfaced in several low spots and frozen. There is some exposed ground and we have marked it with Orange paint. The best skiing is on the Northern half of the 10K trail, where we have about 4K of "Good" skiing. The South portion of the 10K trail is either not ski-able, or blocked by open ground. I recommend that skiers come into the chalet and look at the big Trail Map: I have high-lighted, in Red, the best, safest sections of trail, a composite of the 5K and 10K, where you can get 4 -6 km of skiing. For Out-of-Towners needing one last ski: I welcome you, but honestly do not think it is worth the trip North, right now. We're open 8 - 8 tomorrow.

(John Graham)

Surprisingly good! John did a fantastic job grooming the 5 K loop. It's hard and icy, but just enough thin cut corduroy on surface to get some purchase. Trail is 99 % covered, no rocks, and only one bare spot on top of south facing hill at 1 KM that you can ski around. Amazingly, there was no debris on the trail..... John did quite a job clearing branches/twigs. A few ice flows across trail, easy to get across. I used good skis.

(Dave Arvold)

The 5k/Special K have been cleared and groomed for skating only...There's not enough snow to set a classic track. We have a thin corduroy over a very hard base. There are a couple of patches of open ground, and they are marked with orange paint and can be skied around. Use caution in the low areas, because there is ice from the thaw. Debris continues to be blown-down, so exercise caution. The 10k is closed at this time, until we can determine a skiable route (Shovel Hill, Hovland Hill, Tim's Turn Geno's Jump are unsafe/unskiable) through the good sections, then groom and clean the route. Most of it will be in the spaghetti junction area. Temps look very good for the next week. We are open (5k) now, and will be open tomorrow from 8 - 8. B skis or rock skis recommended.

(John Graham)

I surveyed the 5K and 10K trails on the snowmobile this afternoon. The Good News is that we still have about 90% of a decent base, and 5% thin base to work with. The Bad News is that the strong winds have littered the trails with lots of debris. And the wind continues; as I cleared branches, they were replaced my new deadfall. It is pointless to clean and groom until the wind abates, forecast for tomorrow. Thus, Snowflake will remain closed tomorrow. Member/Season Passholders who must ski, may do so at their own risk, but be aware that the trail is pretty gnarly in some sections, and I advise extreme caution skiing Geno's Jump (8K marker on the 10K) due to a downed tree that I could only partially clear. We will begin restoration on the 5K, tomorrow.

(John Graham)

Snowflake is closed for the rest of today, tomorrow, and Tuesday, in order to preserve our base during this warm-up and forecast rain. We will resume grooming when temperatures drop and the trails dry out (hopefully Tuesday), and expect to re-open on Wednesday. Please, no traffic of any kind on the trails during this closure: by preserving the good base that we have, we plan to offer good skiing through next week. We will post on Skinnyski and our telephone when the trails are re-opened. Think cold - think snow

(John Graham)

A fantastic day of skiing today. I skied the 10K and 5K Classic trails and the tracks were solid and fast. They are getting shallow in the very exposed sections, but I only had to step out of the track once (the hairpin turn on "Tim's Turn"). Skate lanes (groomed last night) were firm and fast. There are four exposed rocks out on the trails, and they are marked in Orange Flourescent paint and easy to avoid. Snowflake will be open to Snowflake Members Only tomorrow, Sunday, and our hours are 8-11 a.m. No Dogs on the trails tomorrow, due to the thin base and softening conditions. Snowflake will close at 11 a.m. and remain Closed through Monday, until temps drop and we can restore the trails for skiing. We expect to reopen on Wednesday, and will update Skinnyski and our phone if we can open earlier.

(John Graham)

Both the 5K and 10K are nicely groomed for Skate and Classic skiing, and conditions are excellent today, thanks to yesterday's grooming and last night's deep cold. The Classic tracks on both are solid, well-formed, and fast. The Skate lanes are firm and fast. The 5K is getting a lot more use, and dog traffic, but all skiers report really good skiing. Tonight we will groom the Skate lanes on both trails and Saturday skiing will be beautiful. Unfortunately, the temperature climbs Saturday night and will go into the 50s on Sunday. With that in mind, and in anticipation of good temps next Tuesday-Friday, we will be open to Members Only on Sunday, Mar 5th, and hours will be from 8 am - 11 am. No Dogs, please, and we request members Sign-In in the Chalet before skiing. We will be closed for the rest of Sunday, and Monday due to high temps and rain. Temps are forecast to drop on Monday night so we will repair and groom and be open as soon as we can on Tuesday. Hours on Saturday will be 8 am - 8 pm and Member-owned dogs are permitted on the 5K trail. Think Snow!

(John Graham)

Fantastic conditions tonight at Snowflake.The deck was groomed to perfection. Yesterdays snowfall has freshened up a solid base. Classical skiers reported some of the best conditions of the season.

(Bruce Derauf)

10K Groomed Classic and Skate. A couple of patches of exposed ground near and on Hovland Hill, and a couple of exposed rocks, but they are marked with florescent orange paint. Otherwise it is absolutely gorgeous, and fast. The 5K, groomed early this a.m. , has seen a lot of skiers today, but is reported excellent, both Classic and Skate. Member Dog-owners may take their dogs on the 5K and the Oval. The 10K is for Skiers Only. Hours will be 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. through Friday. Saturday/Sunday temperature forecasts are annoying, and we will publish our hours as the real temps evolve. It's beautiful skiing!

(John Graham)

The 5K trail was groomed, Classic and Skate, this morning and it is really nice. Beautiful tracks all the way round, and still a lot of fresh corduroy on the skate lane. Due to a machine problem, the 10K was not groomed early as planned, but it has been repaired and the groomers will hit the 10K, Classic and Skate, within the hour. Forecast temps look very promising through Friday. Member Dog-owners, please keep dogs off the 10K trail - the 5K and Oval are available to you.

(John Graham)