Rolled, packed, set tracks on areas that I didn't get to groom the previous morning. The entire trail system is now groomed, and tracks are set most places. The areas that had gotten bare before the snowfall won't take long to lose their snow because the sun is strong, and those areas are south-facing. The first to lose snow is Exit Ramp, and that may only last one more day, but at least it's groomed now.

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)

Packed and tracked a little better than half the system after 6+" new snow. Did stadium and man-made snow parts of system. Also groomed service road and Bittersweet Loop at the top of the hill. Snow was a bit difficult to pack so the skate deck is likely a bit soft. Grooming plans: Will need to get the rest with the snowmobile groomer this evening as some sections of trail had developed bare spots during the warm weather last week, making them unsuitable for Pistenbully grooming.

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)

A skate lane was groomed on Main Street up to Bittersweet then left to the hilltop and over to the biathlon trails. Picked some sticks and branches that had been recently blown down. It was evident that the groomer had removed much already. The rest of the grant-in-aid trail was crusty underneath a thin loose cover in most places, so wasn't too bad skiing. Descended Otter Slide once, but it was a little more tenuous than Widowmaker as an exit route, as it had some hardened ruts.

(Brad Bensen)

Snowmobile, groomer and chain saw needed to clear trails of branches and trees after the strong winds on Friday. Skate deck re-surfaced, old tracks left intact.

(Catherine McLynn)

Groomer flat packed the 6 inches of new soft, slippery, smooth white natural snow so classic skiing at 27 degrees was glorious even without tracks. Especially fun down Rollercoaster with just the right snow texture. Later the groomer packed and tracked the entire system.

Photos:

(Catherine McLynn)

I skied almost all the trails (except for Otter Slide). The trail conditions are quite variable. Shaded, north-facing trail segments have a nice, firm base that has essentially been unaffected by the warm weather, and the corduroy from the most recent Pistenbully grooming looks almost fresh. Other segments are icy due to freeze/thaw cycles, and the spots with the most sun exposure are corn snow. The end of Exit Ramp is almost melted, but you can still get through. In other places, there are some spots looking thin due to the sun catching debris in the snow and melting those spots. Overall, the base on natural snow areas is thinner than average for this time of year but really not too bad, considering our season snowfall total to this point is only 19" or maybe 20". Weather during my ski was warm (near 37 degrees). Daytime temperatures have been in the 40s, but refreezing at night has kept the base in good condition.

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)

Snow on the trails is holding up well. Getting below freezing at night helps things melt more slowly during the day, and the lack of wind has also been helping. I skied around 1:00 PM as the trails were transforming from icy to sticky. The base remained firm, and in most places, the surface looked almost exactly the same as when it was last groomed three days beforehand.

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)

PB groomed and tracked man-made snow on lower trails tonight when temps dropped from 45 to below freezing. Upper trails were not groomed so natural snow skate deck and tracks are icy fast after today's melt down and refreeze. Good base, no bare spots yet.

(Catherine McLynn)

Groomed all trails and set classic track. Very good conditions until next warm-up and freeze. Get out and ski!

(Darren Neuman)

1.5" new snow and about 10-11" on the ground. Probably about a 6" base on the natural snow trails. Groomed both the Grant-In-Aid Trails and the biathlon trails with snowmobile/Ginzu. Set tracks on natural snow areas where the base was a bit softer. In other areas, tracks were still okay from the recent grooming last week. Get out and enjoy the trails!

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)