I arrived just after noon with temperatures around 14 degrees which held steady throughout the afternoon. I used my skin skis which worked well with today's conditions. My grip was good. I skied on freshly groomed and tracked trails. Speed was a bit slow with the cold snow and track depth was a bit shallow. However, I had good solid pole plants. There were a few spots where drifting filled the tracks but I was able to ski through them easily. I skied the Red, Blue, and Yellow loops all starting from the parking lot for a total of 19 kilometers. Speed in the track picked up with each subsequent loop as I was skiing in my tracks plus the tracks from several other skiers. Control on the steep downhills was as excellent as speed was reduced by the cold snow. It was another awesome day of skiing at Madeline Lake. Kudos to Lynn the groomer who does such an excellent job of grooming in all conditions.

Photos:

(Jim Gantz)

Winter is back big time! A few inches of snow overnight topped the rolled base from yesterday. All loops tracked this morning. Expect drifting and debris as winds were roaring this morning. Overall for March, conditions are great on all loops.

Photos:

(Lynn Wright, Wisconsin DNR)

Substantial snow fell overnight and during the day today. Started packing the trail with the UTV and eventually got all loops packed and rolled by 7pm, with intermission to fill gas cans. Grooming plans: Plan to set track in the morning depending on snow totals.

Photos:

(Lynn Wright, Wisconsin DNR)

All loops cut and tracked this morning, the snow set up nicely overnight. Great track depth and overall excellent conditions.

Photos:

(Lynn Wright, Wisconsin DNR)

Several inches of new snow today. Started packing the trail at 11am. Track broke on the UTV so needed to work through equipment removal off trail and quickly get a replacement UTV. Finished packing and rolling the trail at 9pm, no tracks set. Grooming plans: Plan to set track in the morning. Appreciate the patience of the Madeline skiers who saw me working through these issues today, but still went out and skied in the UTV packed tracks.

Photos:

(Lynn Wright, Wisconsin DNR)

I arrived in the Minocqua area Tuesday afternoon. I was surprised to see how much the snow had dissipated since the last time I was here two weeks ago. I had been watching the long range warm forecast and figured I could get in another week of XC skiing with the colder forecast starting Wednesday. I was not disappointed as it snowed 3-4 inches overnight Tuesday. I arrived at Madeline Lake trail around 9:45 am to a parking lot that had not been plowed. However, I could see the groomer's pick up truck in the parking lot. I was able to get into the parking lot and I could see Lynn the groomer had left with the groomer cutting and leveling the trail. I considered waiting until she was finished and had set a track but then figured I might as well just set set my own track and eventually catch up to the groomer. I did catch the groomer and Lynn told me her grooming plans and she informed me there was not enough snow depth to set a track. She suggested I ski the red loop to the shelter and then ski the green loop by which time she would have the rest of the red loop cut and leveled. I ended up classic skiing the red loop and the green loop for a total of 14 kilometers. As the groomer was making multiple passes, I was never able to use the tracks I had set as they were groomed over. Setting my own track took a little extra effort but other than that, I would rate overall conditions as good. It is definitely skiable and made for an enjoyable outing. It appears there are several inches of soft snow on a hard, probably icy, base. Pole plants were good. I would encourage you to get out and enjoy the trail while the trail system is skiable.

Photos:

(Jim Gantz)

A few inches of new snow overnight. All loops packed flat with the Yellowstone groomer. Just enough snow to cover up the icy base. Not enough snow to set tracks. Expect debris and varying base conditions as recent warmer temperatures have deteriorated the trail system.

Photos:

(Lynn Wright, Wisconsin DNR)

Groomed at 11am, the track is holding firm, the debris is not in the way, and the skiing is as good as it gets in these parts. Many thanks again, to the gang at the NHAL. Warm wax will work here.

(Robert Nussbaum)

Warm temperatures and wind last Friday then followed by freezing temperatures over the weekend made for challenging trail conditions. All loops cut, tracked and cleared of downed trees this morning. Varying track depths and scattered debris throughout. Fair conditions overall.

Photos:

(Lynn Wright, Wisconsin DNR)

Several inches of new snow fell during the day today. All loops cut and tracked late evening and should set up nicely. All loops are in excellent condition.

Photos:

(Lynn Wright, Wisconsin DNR)