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)

3" of new fluff on the trails. We are presently compacting and grooming the 5K Skate deck, and will then set a classic track. That should be done by noon. Then, we will compact and groom a skate deck on the 10K. We don't plan to put a classic track on the 10K, due to the snow forecast tonight and tomorrow. If time and groomer availability allow, we will set track on the 10K sections of the Perimeter Loop, to open that loop.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Fantasyland skiing today through trees covered in hoarfrost. Classic skied the 5k and the Perimeter trails. The tracks were solid structure and fast, laid very nicely around the sharper turns. Talked with several skaters, who reported excellent conditions. KidSki was underway and the chalet area busy with young skiers, but the trails were wide open and serene. A magical day to ski Snowflake.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Both loops well groomed and in good condition for classic and skate. Some debris (leaves and small sticks) on the trail from the cold, windy days, but nothing to worry about.

(Gordon Mesedahl)

All trails were groomed for skating today. The 5K classic track was tilled and a new track set. The 10K classic track, set on Monday and scarcely used during the "big freeze", is still in good condition and was not reset. Winds of the past few days had put a lot of debris on the trails; we removed the larger stuff, the grooming cleaned-up the skate decks and new track, some small debris remains on the 10K track. All-in-all, our trails are in great shape. KidSki will be from 1:30-3:30 on Sunday, but no restrictions on other skiers. A reminder that Day-Pass skiers may not bring dogs on our trails.

(John Graham)