Conditions were good on Saturday but by Monday a group of hikers/snowshoers tramped all over the trails rendering them virtually unskiiable. Everything close to the parking lot had been hiked on. I suspect if you get far enough out you will find trails that are not hiked on with the track still visible but we gave up before getting that far.

(Erik Lacksonen)

Expanded the ski today for the entire East outer loop including the blue #6 loop. It was 23F at 10 am. Tracks were in great shape and decent for glide. The # 6 loop I have never seen the tracks as well as the sides just look like glitter was spilled all over. Just magical. And by the time we finished at noon it was 38F and getting sticky. Most everyone on the trails were coming out at the same time. I sure hope this isn't the last good ski of the season!

Photos:

(Ron Kutsi)

2 PM Sunny and 28 degrees. I was told grooming was in process at noon by a friend. What a wonderful job of grooming! I did the east side part of the trail where the shade allowed for great glide. I tried the sunny parts and it was starting to stick in the kick zone (wrong kick wax).

Photos:

(Ron Kutsi)

Perfect tracks! Grooming was even better now that they set a track down the long hill from #8 to #7. Ski was cut short with a fellow skier suffering an injury. So I did a short loop on the east trails to finish up. 20 degrees and sunny.

Photos:

(Ron Kutsi)

The trail has been groomed since the big wind on Sunday. Excellent conditions. 20 degrees and sunny.

(Joe Strlekar)

All sections were groomed and track set on Tuesday and are in excellent condition. The trail should be set up nicely for the rest of the week and weekend.

(Tim Engrav)

All the trails are groomed and in great shape. Over the three days I have skied nearly all the trails.

Photos:

(Robin Raplinger)

Snow falling. About 1" of snow in tracks set yesterday. Firm base, solid pole plants, decent glide and great kick.
Skiing here is free, but if you can afford it donate a few dollars to defray grooming costs. Thank you U. S. Forest Service
employees.

(Joe Strlekar)

The entire Big Aspen Trail system was groomed and track set today. The track should set up nicely tonight and the skiing should be excellent.

(Tim Engrav)

I showed up to a gunfight with a pocket knife. I was happy to see an earlier report from Ron Kutsi stating that the trails had been groomed and a track set. So I headed to the old stomping grounds. Unfortunately there must have been a pretty good snowfall since that report. I was breaking trail with my race skis most of the time. A wider waxless ski with some bigger baskets on my poles would have made the day a little more enjoyable. But as it was it was pretty great! The woods were quiet and the scenery was awesome. Who needs perfect tracks? Not me. Rex Mantyranta was gripping like a bulldog biting a bus tire! But there was really no glide to speak of. Just a slow, enjoyable slog through a winter wonderland.

(Mick Dodds, Ski Hut)