Cassian had its tracks tore up today, and new tracks were set. The snow was not in the best condition, but the new tracks are very skiable.

(Dennis Zielinski)

Tracks were reset this morning. Coverage is good, but there are some oak leaves falling into the track on the north end.

(Dennis Zielisnki)

As of this morning the trail got approximately an inch of snow. A portion of the tracks especially on the North loop were icy as of Sunday. Once the new snow is skied into the tracks they should improve.

(Dennis Zielinski)

The Cassian Trail was near perfect this afternoon. I skied the northern two thirds of the trail (six of its nine miles length) from the North End Parking Lot down to Timber Lake Road and then back. This stretch has been very lightly skied (myself and one other skier--no other tracks). The tracks were virtually fresh but had a very slight hoar frost cover which made them very slightly icy crisp and fast. My skies both kicked well and had good glide. There were several (3 or four) places in the entire length of six miles where the track setter had bit down to dirt or (possibly) a rock. Avoid these and you can easily use your very best skis. This is only moderately rolling and generally easy trail and is very pleasant to ski. Enjoy it. I say three other skiers on the south end of this segment between Timber Lake Road and the Sheep Ranch Road road crossing.

Photos:

(Mark Nienstaedt)

This trail has been groomed since first snow in December. Wow! I had a short Friday ski just after the snowfall and they were already tracked and set in the very cold temps. Thanks RASTA for getting this system in shape and groomed!

Photos:

(Sue Lietz)

We received 3 inches of snow yesterday. The tracks were reset this afternoon. With the cold temperatures, the tracks will be solid, and primed for good skiing conditions.

(Dennis Zielinski)

The entire two way trail segment skiing north from County "K" to the Sheep Ranch Road crossing is groomed with set tracks and skis well. Parts of the trail are "dirty" with wind blown pine needle and cone debris and some scattered oak leaves. There are scattered grassy/skinned down spots at intervals where the track setter has dug a bit deep. That said, long stretches are clean and fresh. The trail has only been lightly skied. The segment between the Goodyear Lake and the Timber Lake Road crossings is a bit "rough" in several stretches where it crosses swamp. This is a typical early season condition at Cassian. I was using wood skis for the pleasure of them and the one other skied met on the trail was using good carbon fiber Rossi skis. Skiing from the North end parking lot south to Sheep Ranch might well be best. It has a better mix of upland deciduous forest and would be cleaner.

Photos:

(Mark Nienstaedt)

Skied "middle Cassian" from Sheepranch to Timber Lake in the afternoon. Great grooming and trail set. Minor amount of leaf litter closer to Sheepranch. Few sticks. No issues with skis catching. Good glide. Perfect early season ski.

Photos:

(Carole Wakefield)