Freshly groomed skate lane, classic trails icy and not freshly groomed. Skiing this morning was wonderful! There are a few icy patches early in the loop and the far part of the lighted loop is closed, but the rest of the trail is in great condition. Thank the groomers if you see them! I'm hoping for a few more good days of skiing on this trail.

(David Nelson, Skinnyski.com Race Team)

Skied around 10 am today. Entire trail beautifully groomed. Only two other skiers out when we arrived so we had the place to ourselves. Excellent conditions. Hats off the the groomers for a job well done. Enjoy it while you can!

(Hugh Hanson)

Grooming was in progress this morning and the skate deck was smooth and soft. Classic tracks had not been set when I left but I suspect they would be the last thing the groomer sets. Enjoy the trails this week!

(David Nelson, Skinnyski.com Race Team)

Lakeview-Challenge-Meadow-Skyline trails: Skate deck in surprisingly good shape. Plenty of snow. Only a few soft spots due to sun and high temps. Worst soft spots were at southeast corner of Meadow Trail. Some puddling areas where steep hills dump onto the trail, especially southbound stretch of Skyline Trail where it runs along base of Challenge hill; no risk to skis though and easy to ski around. Classic tracks looked good everywhere except for a few hundred feet at the southeast corner of Meadow Trail and maybe a meter or so at the Southeast corner of the isthmus.

(Mark Chatterton)

Everything is open and still has good snow throughout but the warmth is about to take its toll. I think it is all pretty sticky at this point. There were two locations along Skyline that have begun to slush and one location on the Lakeview downhill classic track at the very bottom which has melted through to the ground. Enjoy the natural stuff while its there. The warmth has come quickly.

(Luke Malm)

Plenty of snow but the sun and warm temps make it erratically slow. Be especially careful on the downhill of the Lakeview Trail heading north just passed the lesson loop. The alternate sun and shade causes skis to go fast then suddenly brake. Exercise caution also at the bottom of the steep northbound downhilll of the Challenge Hill Trail at the south-facing lip where it joins the two-way segment.

(Mark Chatterton)

Skied classic and the trails were soft and slow, but still good. The classic tracks were gone towards the lakeview trail. Skaters I talked to liked the conditions.

Photos:

(Mitzi Flores)

Skated at French starting mid-morning. Skate deck was soft but, honestly, not nearly as soft as I expected given two 6" dumps in the last 3 days. Early traffic was chewing it up but it became better and better packed down as the laps passed. Classic tracks had been set everywhere but, with the soft snow, they were rapidly getting washed out from all the activity from people getting out to ski on such a beautiful day. The only place the wind was noticeable was out on the north Meadow loop around Rockford and Northwest Avenue but, even out that way, there were no signs of drifting. Elsewhere, the trails are well protected and the wind was not noticeable. The Challenge trail off of the Meadow loop is still marked closed with a barricade blocking the entrance off Meadow and the exit where it crosses the Skyline Trail. I did notice few issues with foot traffic on the trails and one group out on snow shoes who apparently got lost but at least were courteous and stayed to the far edge of the Skyline trail.

(Leif Irgens)

Skated at French starting at 8:00 am. Groomers were out and there was fresh corduroy everywhere. Skate deck was understandably soft and a little slow but nonetheless beautiful. The groomers laid down classic tracks while I was there. I didn't sample them but they looked good everywhere with only one bare spot out on the Skyline Trail. The only trail that is not open is the Challenge Hill off of the Meadow Trail.

(Leif Irgens)

The Park is rating trails as "fair". I found the Skyline trail excellent (that was all I skied on). Yesterdays snow and last nights grooming has set up nicely. Skate deck was great. Classic tracks looked good.

Photos:

(Jim Mullin)