The 10K trail was opened, compacted, and groomed for both skate and classic skiing today. The 5K trail - less Special K - was opened and groomed for skate and classic on Tuesday, and the skate deck was regroomed this morning. The classic track set-up nicely overnight. Special K has not been groomed yet because of an enormous, crotch-high snowdrift covering about 30 yards of the trail! We're working on it. In the meantime, the Special K is ungroomed, but open and skiable if you are comfortable traversing the big drift, as a number of skiers have done.

Photos:

(John Graham)

The groomers were no match for the winds of the past two days. Tracks were obliterated in most areas by snowdrifts. Snow was exceptionally slow -- I did the 5K in the time it normally takes me to do the 10K. Drifts were compacted so at least you didn't sink down very far. Few skiers had been out on the 10K, from the glimpses I got of it. Skating on the 5K will be decent once a few more skiers pack it down and the temperatures rise, but classic, even without tracks, was the way to go tonight. The very end of Special K contained some pretty impressive sculpted drifts.

(Sara Zimmer)

Skied both loops on Saturday and Monday. Grooming and trail conditions excellent. Met two men on snowmobiles on the 5K near the power line and biathlon loop asking for directions to the snowmobile trail. They seemed to realize they were on a ski trail, but hadn't thought to go back or get off. I told them to turn around and exit where they came in, which they did. Skied over the classic track a couple of times to fix where they turned around, and there seemed to be minimal damage to the skate deck. Otherwise the day was beautiful, sunny and cool, and there were lots of smiling faces out on the trails.

(Gordon Mesedahl)

Clear, sunny, and cold: perfect! We refreshed the skate grooming on all trails this morning. Firm base, little soft on top, smooth. Classic tracks on all trails are firm and 99% intact. The 5K track has seen a lot more use and is hard. The 10k track a bit softer, but skis well.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Skated at noon, just after they finished grooming the 5 k. Deck slightly soft but otherwise excellent.

(Jim Brych)

They're keeping up with the snow at Snowflake...rolling the trails at least. Skied the 10K, parts of it 2X and just a bit of the 5K, and didn't see classic tracks. Rolled snow was soft, but it was still smoother, faster skate skiing than in those cold temperatures we've been having. I was happy with it.

(Sara Zimmer)

The snow keeps coming! We got 8" of dry fluff since Sunday noon. This morning we compacted, and compacted, and groomed the 5K skate deck, then set a new 5K classic track. The deck is still soft, but will firm-up when the snow transforms and the trail gets some more use. After noon we compacted the entire 10K trail then groomed it all for skating: it makes no sense to set a 10K classic track with more snow in the forecast. An interesting consequence of being so "snow-rich" is that the snow pushed to the trailsides by the groomers is now a wall about a foot high, and is forcing our classic track a bit inboard. We will do our best to minimize encroaching on the skate lane, and ask our skaters to do their best to avoid the track. You've been very thoughtful, and skillful, thus far this season!

Photos:

(John Graham)

Beautiful, snow covered trees on the trails. The 5K was groomed skate and classic this morning. A beautiful track. The skate deck still soft despite many compacting runs. The Perimeter Loop "Plus" is also groomed skate and classic. "Plus" means that we continued the grooming past the 5K cut-thru, through all the Fisketti Jct sections, to the normal 10K finish. The normal first 3K of the 10K have been rolled repeatedly, and can be skied, but are not finish groomed or tracked: the groomers are frozen and tired. Grooming plans: We plan to refresh the 5K skate and ungroomed sections of the 10K tomorrow. Open 8-8 all weekend. KidSki on Sunday 1:30-3:30.

Photos:

(John Graham)

We added 7"-9" of dry fluff to the trails, since yesterday. This afternoon we took the roller/compactor on to the 5K and Special K, ran them 6 times, and now have a compact, though soft base. Tomorrow morning we will run the Ginzus on the 5K, skate-groom, and set a classic track. The 10K will be more difficult, due to the quantity of snow, and terrain. We will first open the 10K sections of the Perimeter Loop, and open that 4K loop. Then we will get on the remainder of the 10K. So, the 5K should be groomed for skate and classic by noon Friday; the entire Perimeter Loop by 3 p.m.; the 10 open for skating by 6 p.m. We would like to have the 10K classic track set by Saturday morning. We are open 8-8 every day this weekend. Snowflake KidSki is 1:30-3:30 on Sunday. The chalet will be bustling, but there is plenty of space on the trails. A reminder: Only Snowflake season passholders may bring dogs on our trails, and all skiers must sign-in before skiing.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Best ski ever! Skied freshly groomed snow for about 20km. It was a bit soft but that is to be expected with all the new snow we got last night. The groomers are doing a great job as they started grooming around 10:00 this morning.

Photos:

(Jack Olson)