Tracks firmed up nicely over night making for great glide today. Lebanon Hills provides many options so today I skied the center trails East from the visitor center and back. A nice alternative from yesterday when I skied the Southern and Northern trails. I also took a break at the A frame in the heart of the park which has a porta potty, picnic tables and a fireplace, great place to take a break.

Photos:

(John Gamlin)

Fresh snow groomed just this morning and mild temps, perfect day for a ski. I skied from the Lebanon Hills visitor center East thru the pines and around Marsh Lake then South past the equestrian trail head and across the Southern field then West thru the Birch and Aspens then on into the woods thru the Oaks past camp Butwin and around the lakes crossing the canoe Portage turning back East by Jensen Lake then skiing past Holland lake with the ice fishermen busy and back to the visitor center. What a wonderful afternoon for a ski. Just the East section, which is the largest area, was groomed due to repairs being made to the grooming equipment.

Photos:

(John Gamlin)

I skied the entire East section of Lebanon Hills park this afternoon. Very pleased to report that trails are all still in excellent shape, save for a few oak leaves. Tracks are firm and pleasantly fast. Some animal tracks but nothing impacting grooming. Today I saw a bald eagle, red tail hawk and woodpecker. Last week I had a herd of 8 deer run across the trail in front if me, very exciting.

Photos:

(John Gamlin)

These are the conditions we dream of. Freshly tracked and really good snow conditions. Recent grooming cleared oak leaves from tracks. Lebanon Hills in all its glory!

(Paul Kraus)

These are the days you wait for all winter! Beautiful sunny blue sky day with not too much wind. Starting at noon, I skied the outer loop of East Lebanon plus the West side loop and it was really fun. Tracks are in mostly good shape, only complaints are the pesky oak leaves, which are in fair abundance and always settling in the tracks in different sections, and occasional soft pole plants, but minor inconveniences compared to very nice runs in the open meadow areas and it being such a nice day.

(Dave Carlson)

Skied West Side. Groomed a few days ago. Tracks are holding up well. Where the wind had blown snow in the tracks our fellow skiers did a good job of laying down skied in tracks.

(John Couch)

Grooming/tracks/snow excellent! Best conditions I have experienced in years at Lebanon Hills. Skied classic trails both east and west of Pilot Knob. Some leaf debris in tracks, but didn't detract from wonderful skiing.

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(Ken Kuznia)

All of Lebanon Hills was groomed today with tracks set. The groomer reports great conditions will full coverage even through the pine groves and the oak leaves are behaving themselves. It's been while since it's been this good!

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(Katie Pata, Dakota County Parks)

It doesn't get any better than this, for traditional kick and glide skiing! I skied most of the Lebanon Hills trails (North Traditional and Between the Ponds). All trails groomed this morning - dual tracks (skiing and passing). No bare spots, easy to kick and glide through beautiful forest and ponds. I brought my tourist dollars from North Carolina, for great skiing. I skied Como Park yesterday. Good recent snow, but former set tracks were lost. Good for skaters. Boring loops on a golf course. For a modest day pass at Lebanon Hills ($6) I got good maps and recent track grooming, plus working restrooms. Como had frozen pipes, so they supplied portajohns and the cafe/draft beer were shutdown. What more do you want! Ok, Lebanon Hills had sightings of raptors and a weasel, ski rentals, nature educator spreading infectious enthusiasm to cherubic kids out in the woods. Lebanon Hills beats any X-Country skiing I've done in North Carolina! That isn't saying much. Lebanon Hills rivals the best skiing I've done in the Adirondack Mountains, at Mt. Van Hoevenburg Olympic Cross-country skiing center.

(Greg Nye Smith)

Great day for a ski. Skied from the visitor center East thru the pines then South thru the horse pasture then West to Jensen Lake. Trails were in such great shape I continued on under Pilot Knob road then West to the camp ground and finally returned to the visitor center. New snow, freshly groomed trails and great temps made for a great ski.

Photos:

(John Gamlin)