After some discussion Sarturday between a few of us groomers, we decided that with such a tremendous snow base we'd try to keep it going as long as we can. I waited until mid-afternoon for it to warm up, and was able to use the cutters well enough to get through the crust and set a pretty good track over most of the course. A skier went through immediately afterwards and reported excellent conditions for most of the trail. I skied this morning after the lightest dusting of snow overnight and concur. Well over 95% is excellent track. Some of the drifted areas along the lake are so uneven that I raised the track-setter for some of it to avoid cracking the fiberglass rod (which occurred a couple weeks back though we really don't know what did it). We'll see what the future holds with the warm-up for how long we continue. At this time there are no plans to continue grooming the south trails. With the conditions as they are it is very time intensive and we just don't have the availability to do it.

(Paul VanderWaal)

Just finished skiing the north trail, fresh groomed, it was great. I had repaired the groomer to 100% this morning, finishing rewiring the knife motor, and replacing the fractured tracker spring. The three of us met another skier on the trail, and another vehicle was in the lot.

(John Elliott)

With the rain and now the freeze, the snow is very crusty. Unfortunately, the part of the groomer that can cut this up is not currenly working, so we are unable to groom. There is a slight chance of repair, but I cannot reach the person that would be making the repair to get a current status. The forecast had originally predicted snow for last night, but since we didn't receive any, we can only groom if we can cut up the surface. Next week and into the foreseeable future, daily highs in the's will not allow for much more trail use anyway. We may be done for the season. If that changes, we will post here again.

(Paul VanderWaal)

Fantastic morning ski! Trail was fast! Skied Central Corridor, Cut-thru, North Loop and East Leg. Thanks grooming the trails! It is much appreciated.

(Diana Olson)

Groomed all the North trails today. So whole trail is done. Trails are in excellent condition except on the Lake side where there was a lot of drifting. I got stuck twice but made it thru with the help of the winch. Snow depth is 28" track base is 8" so we should have good skiing for a couple weeks. Moved a wolf killed deer off the SE portion of the lake loop where the hill is.

(Gary Anderson)

Beautiful sunny day to be on the trails! Skied the Central Corridor - this corridor plus the entry point had been walked on; so very little of the track was there. The Cut-thru and the East leg were much much better without people tracks, in spots the track was pretty shallow. There were snowshoe tracks on the sides of the Cut-thru and the East Leg, fortunately not on the ski track! I did not ski the Lake loop or the North loop.

(Diana Olson)

Today all of the south trails have been groomed. We earlier thought that due to significant drifting in spots that we'd give up the south for the season. But I skied them earlier this week to see how bad the drifting was and found others had been out. Given there is demand, we decided to open it up. In the end - it wasn't so bad. A few passes with a couple of snowmobiles to pack it down and it was ready for grooming.

(Paul VanderWaal)

Skied the far north and east part of the trail. There was a little snow in the tracks but there was still good glide.
I would rate the ski conditions as good.

(Gary Anderson)

Returned this afternoon to try to open the lake loop trail on the North trails from the significant drifting. After four passes with just the sled to try and pack it down, I was able to hook up the groomer and lay a track. Because of the drifting, it will be fairly hillocky - there really isn't a way to smooth it all flat without spending entire days at it - and not sure even then it could get flat with the equipment we have. Then I went on to groom some of the South trails. I got partway along the cut-thru east and encountered more significant drifting. It was getting late and I had the groomer hooked up, so I maneuvered and turned around. Given the calendar, I hate to say it, but we may have to give up the South trails for the season. We don't have a lot of grooming resources, and those we have have difficult schedules this year, and opening it up takes a lot of time. But for sure the North will stay open as long as Mother Nature complies.

Photos:

(Paul VanderWaal)

First grooming tonight since it was very windy several days ago. All of the north is groomed and open except for the segment along Lake Washburn. I found a snowmobile had gone in on the trail and down to the lake but didn't come out the other end. At the north end of the trail that goes down to the lake someone had stuck a branch in the middle of the trail as to provide a warning about going on the trail. There was another branch near the south end of the trail that the groomer would go on. I interpreted that to mean that there is excessive drifting along the lake that the groomer might not get through. As it was, I encountered very deep drifts on the very north end of the trail, which I had to stomp down first with my feet hoping it would be enough to get me through - and it was. But if there is that or worse along the lake, it would be much more extensive and too much to do on foot. I'll ski in the morning and investigate. Similarly, concerned about access across the power line on the south trail, so no grooming yet on the south. I need to investigate that first.

(Paul VanderWaal)