Surprisingly good conditions but would definitely recommend skiing in the morning before it softens. Thank you to the groomers for keeping the trail open and in good shape!

Photos:

(Dave Bridges)

Watched the lights turn on this morning. Same areas open as yesterday (no stadium). Tracks were ice, with some crushed ice/chunks, here and there. Way down from back donut had a small section of ice that posed not no issues. Trail is getting really narrow, bypass to the stadium had no classic tracks, and no passing on the big hill up to the stadium. Deck was solid and donut was fast but skiable with no ice. After the sun rose, the amount of brown showing through was apparent. Talked to the crew and sounded like we may have a couple more days. Three other cars in the lots when I left.

(Marcel Derosier)

Skied Elm's full manmade loop at 11 am. Thought we would be too late to enjoy good skiing but found great groomed conditions for both classic (nice track) and skate despite temps in the upper 40s and rising. Still some relatively fast stretches in the shady parts at noon. A couple dirty areas were easily avoidable, though the one coming out of the donut might be bigger soon.

(Steven Law)

Skated full man-made loop starting around 9:30 am, low 40s. Surprisingly, in really good condition. Fast in the shade, starting to slow down in the sun. Deep slush did not form on the hills because there were only five of us skiing the entire time I was there. The end of the donut loop is getting very, very dirty. The rest of the loop is still pretty clean.

(Kathleen Miller)

The conditions were very good firm and fast between 11 AM and noon. There were about a dozen folks out skiing. The classic track was very fast when I jumped in it to double pole. Just a little dirt near the top of the Upper Donut climb. I figured I better ski today as I won't be able to for another 4 years. Looking back, I'm 50-50 for skiing on the last 6 leap year day. We are now 0.1 inch ahead of the lowest snow winter on record 1930-31 which had 14.2 inches...whoopee!

(Mark Lahtinen)

Classic skiied at 9 a.m. The entire Valley trail was open and the grooming was excellent. The tracks were in good shape for 95% of the trail with just a few icy places. Skin skis worked well. A few oak leaves in the usual places as there always is in the late season.

(Mark Basiletti)

Great conditions early, thanks to the groomers. There weren't many people out, which helped keep the integrity of the skate deck intact for a while. By 10ish am, the snow was getting slow, sticky, and slushy. There are more and more patches of dirty snow, which can't be helped given the lack of powder. The tracks looked okay at best. Overall, a surprisingly pleasant ski.

(Jason Goepfert)

An early morning ski today could be a reasonable farewell for the season. Before things started to warm up, the skate deck was firm, with a bit of loose stuff on top. The classic tracks varied from terrific to icy and shallow with some zig-zags, including on the turn at the bottom of the donut. But it was beginning to turn slushy when I left around 10:15 am. All in all, you couldn't ask for much more during a winter season like this one. I'll add my thanks to the Elm Creek crew for a job well done.

(Ken Tobacman)

Skied Valley Trail at 9:30 a.m. Excellent grooming. Tracks and skate lane firm and not icy. The switch back was closed but they were working on it and had it rolled before I was done skiing. Also saw a snow gun going as I was leaving. Snow was dirty at the top of the donut and near the road but otherwise much better conditions than I expected after the warm weather.

(Mark Basiletti)

Skied around 11 am which was probably about an hour too late. It was getting wet in the sunny spots and slow. The Universal klister I've had on for most of the last times skiing was working OK except on the icy and very wet spots. You Birkie skiers better get out and get one last over distance session in...just kidding. Good Luck.

(Mark Lahtinen)