I skied about 5 k at woodlands. Trails were not groomed. The asphalt trail sections were thin but skiable. You had to be very careful not to break through and hit tar. The outer trails were closed due to the deep puddles and thawed ground. The grade was plowed. Great to get out and ski in April!

Photos:

(John Kallemeyn)

Similar to the swallows coming back to Capistrano on March 19th every year, we know that when Wrong Way doesn't show up on Saturday and Sunday morning at 7, it is time to close the trails. So, until next we see you on snow, we will once again leave you with the Trail Crew motto: Woodlands, built by skiers, groomed by skiers, for skiers! Enjoy your summer!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Groom-ski-repeat! There were plenty of hot laps on our little loop today, so we will do it again in the morning. Grooming plan: The woodchoppers will be heading out at 8 am, so grooming will be done by then. Use caution on your first lap. Enjoy the speed after that.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

This just maybe the best 3.5k loop in the area. I have it on good authority that there is a grooming run scheduled for tomorrow morning before 8:00am. So if you have the time put on the green tights and enjoy a couple laps on St. Patty's Day.

(Robert Bullis)

The groomed loop is very good. Fast and icy, but able to get an edge. Just shy of 4k as per my watch. A little bit of everything, uphills, downhills, and flats. Get out there before it gets too warm, you won't regret it! As posted earlier, stay on the groomed trail. There are lots of puddles on other segments, and on my reconnaissance mission yesterday to see what we could groom, I put my skis in the middle of one that snuck up on me. Needless to say, wet feet in the cold is no fun.

(Zach Varty)

Neither bitter cold, nor deep snow or in today's case, a moat around the Grooming Cave, shall keep the trail crew from their appointed rounds. I stopped out to help Ancient One and Taxi start their grooming run. They used a tow strap to pull the screens to higher ground and off they went. They pulled the Godzilla screens around the Scouring Rush-North Mickey-Prairie Loop three times to scratch up a little traction on our 3k loop. B skis recommended so you don't tatter the edges of your good skis. Early skiers should expect lickety-split conditions which should improve (slow) as the day warms. Stay on the groomed trail. Ski with caution appropriate to the conditions.

Photos:

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

We sent out Biathlon Girl and the New Coach on a scouting ski this afternoon. The only portion of the outer loop east of the grade, not interrupted by water, is Scouring Rush. The west side trails (flatter trails) are all ok. Grooming plans: Taxi and AO will be out with the Godzilla screens to groom a few km. They will groom A-D-E-N-M-U-V-Y-K-J-H-I-A, about 3km. Skiing for the very desperate? Ski with caution on your first little lap.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

The good news is that we have plenty of snow left on the trails. The bad news is that the trail crew, who had always hoped to move the Grooming Cave to nearby waterfront property, now find themselves surrounded by a small lake with a few inches of water inside the cave. The city is out with pumps lowering the lake to the point where things aren't floating inside. The park is open, but the ski trails will remain closed for now. We are expecting to find many little lakes in the low areas on the trails, which if there, will make both skiing and grooming on the outer loop impossible. We will be out exploring this afternoon and will attempt to bring back any continuous skiing that we can. Stay tuned.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Woodland Trails Park, along with the ski and winter walking trails are closed, temporarily, we hope. I also want to give a little shout out to the Woodlands Trail Crew. I could not be prouder of their effort, not only for the nearly nonstop grooming the last several weeks, but for their efforts all year long. This all volunteer effort started 31 years ago when a small group of ski coaches, ski parents and skiers set out to build ski trails in cooperation with the City of Elk River and the Elk River Golf Course. While the members of the trail crew look like ordinary men and women, they are very extraordinary when it comes to the year-round commitment to winter grooming, trail building, tree cutting, mowing, trail edge nipping and stick picking. There are three of the original group still on the job and they have been joined by a host of others, many with more than 25 years, and others who joined us just when we needed help with the February snow. We have had 20 different groomers out in the past six weeks, grooming both day and night in temps down to minus 25, wind chills close to minus 50 and winds gusts over 40 mph, never complaining (except for Babe who is naturally grumpy) and always completing their appointed rounds. Thanks for what you do.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Beautiful morning to ski at Woodlands. One of the best days off the year for sure, if you were there before lunch. Fresh grooming, 20's, and pretty fast with tons of snow. Currently starting to rain in Elk River, which makes you realize how much conditions can change in a few hours. Hopefully we have a few more good skis here.

(Zach Varty)