First spring ski of the year enjoying the trails and sun in a t-shirt! Skate skied the entire trail system around 1pm and the snow was a mix of packed and soft (with a whole bunch of squeak). Full coverage everywhere but I gave it a B ski rating because of one big exposed rock on a climb on Razorback. Easily avoidable but the rock was warming in the sun and starting to melt that area. Hopefully some more skiers hit the trails to help pack it down and the groomers do one more pass to smooth/even out the trails.

(Sam Janicki)

Murphy was fully groomed last night, but was still pretty soft for skating Saturday around noon. Very tranquil with all the new snow. Classic tracks were firm except for any steep, narrow uphills (plenty of those!). Nice to finally get to try Murphy on skis. The outer loop was exhausting without any momentum to take you up the hills. Leave your skate skis at home and go classic for the time being. The downhills were still intense even with the slower snow. The inner blue loop is rated appropriately (fine for intermediates).

(John Holtan)

Skied the entire system at Murphy-Hanrehan on Saturday evening. Definitely get out there before any more melt occurs. The trails are in decent shape - better than I expected. I skated but there were tracks set. There is one segment on Razorback where you have to take off your skis to climb the hill (or maybe you can hop it if you are in better shape and/or more coordinated than I am). Kettle and Knob were definitely in better shape, but you just don't get the same sense of fearing for your life that you get on those outer loops when the trails are a little thin and icy. Worth a try with B skis and a little courage.

(Claire Wilson)

Very great skating. Recently groomed, snow is good except for a few spots on the steep uphill after the wooden bridge. Saw nobody there. Nice on a windy day. Deer and woodpeckers abound.

(Scott Engstrom)

Hard-packed and fast Sunday very late afternoon. Similar to Terrace Oaks or the natural trails at Hyland in the evening. No ice anywhere, but they downhills were scary fast. Razorback is definitely experts only. Amazingly, I stayed upright both loops. Rocks visible on usual spot at mile 5.5, but I felt confident enough to switch from rock skis to racing skis for my 2nd loop.

(Andor Langski)

Overall the conditions are surprisingly good. There are some rocks as you climb the hill just after the bridge on Razorback. But if you need to get some hill work in Murphy-Hanrehan is very skiable. Thanks to the groomers!

(Chad Murphy)

Don't let the fair/poor rating by Three Rivers scare you away--the conditions at Murphy are the best they've been in four years. A bit of leaves and a rocky patch on the uphill after the boardwalk on Razorback, but excellent otherwise. Murphy's hills are unbeatable in the metro. Get out there!

(Mitchell Miller)

Use Caution! I have waited quite a few seasons for this much snow at Murphy, and was quite disappointed. It has taken a week to open this, and the grooming is not good. Yet there is more snow there than any park I have seen. Lots of uneven skate deck on both uphills and downhills, and snow is often left in pebble condition. I feel it needs another rilling pass. The downhills on the Razorback Trail are fast and dangerous; the snow is so uneven it is hard to know what you will encounter, and by then it is too late. The steep uphill after the wooden bridge is full of rocks, so I had to take the skis off. Until it is regroomed, I would stay away. (I wish I could get the Woodland Hills groomers down there!).

(Scott Engstrom)

Trails are packed but rutted, icy and bare/rocky in a few spots. Skied the outer 10k loop. Earlier post pretty well sums it up. Bring your rock skis. Hopefully we will get some more snow soon!

(Jason Dreier)

I encountered one hill with exposed rocks otherwise snow coverage was good. It appears the trail was packed just prior to or during the warm up which made the base pretty firm. The trail is very uneven partially due to the ground underneath and partially due to many ruts and edges left by the grooming. It seems like whatever they were pulling around wasn't able to cover up the rut left from the snowmobile ski. Be careful as its easy to get caught in these ruts.

Photos:

(Charles Wolf)