Drove up early enough from southern Wisconsin to have time to ski the outer loop. Just a bit crunchy, it was a great blue wax day with fantastic glide. Hats off to the dedicated groomer (and all of the DNR groomers who have kept the trails in the best possible conditions all season).

(Joe Mirenna)

Escanaba Trail is in very good condition. Two inches of fresh snow this Am was mixed with some existing snow for a really good track. We had high winds yesterday so there is some debris in the trail, but minimal. Firm base, good pole plant, snow over your knees to fall into are good things to have this time of year. Cold weather and low use keep the tracks in good shape for a longer time. We expect to touch up this Friday unless other tasks become a higher priority or the tracks are still in good shape. If we have to recondition, do not expect tracks until closer to midday on Friday. I may finish earlier, so I will send my ski trail report as soon as I am finished grooming. I measured 22 inches of snow on an undisturbed picnic table near the research station this morning.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)

3 inches of new snow this morning. Cut and tracked all loops. All loops in very good to excellent condition.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)

Excellent conditions after the second 6 plus inch snowfall this week. Over 24 inches of snow in the woods and in some places close to 30". Leveled packed and tracked all loops.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)

7 inches of new snow over night. Leveled and tracked all loops. Very good to excellent condition. 20 inches of snow in the woods, very scenic after fresh snow.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)

The grooming from yesterday was all but wiped out by the 3 - 4 inches of snow with a crust of ice on top. Therefore, I had to break trail on both the blue and green trails. Another couple was skiing the yellow trail so they skied that trail in so I didn't have to. With the new snow, conditions were marginal. However, after I groomed the tracks with my skis, I would guess conditions were good. Conditions were good to very good on the yellow trail after that couple skied it two or three times. This is such a fun trail to ski. You will not waste your time skiing it since I skied the track in.

Photos:

(Jim Gantz)

Good conditions with firm track and pole plant. Cut off all ice and mixed with new light snow. some debris from high winds.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)

Cut ice on yellow short loop and green Pallette Loop this morning. Required 4 times around cutting but was able to turn ice back into snow. A dusting of snow came down while grooming so was able to mix that in for some nice track. Good conditions overall. 14 inches of snow in undisturbed areas. Will return early am on Monday to cut up blue and red outer loop around Escanaba Lake and lay track. There is track there now but will have an icy base.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)

Expect good conditions overall. Needed grooming after no new snow and washed out tracks. Setting track difficult in short 10 foot stretches due to very low moisture in snow as still formed well, but not full track. 95% of those two loops tracked very well. Yellow, short loop and green, Pallette loop groomed today with remainder, outer loop possibly tomorrow if work schedule allows. Snow almost to knees in undisturbed woods and about 14-16 inches on canoe site tables.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)

4-5 inches new snow yesterday so was able to level cut and track resulting in excellent conditions. Around 12 - 16 inches of snow in the woods. Very scenic after new snow.

(Dan Jacoby, Wisconsin DNR)