Only for thrill seekers and daredevils! I started out just after sundown, lights were on. Temperature was 34 degrees. Slushy snow was hardening, someone had skated a few laps before me and had been sinking in an inch or so. For me, it was hard and very fast, but soft enough to get a strong edge. I felt like Superman. Snow was good on the upper lighted trail, but the few soggy bottoms were icing over by the time I wrapped up. Downhills were sketchy, so bring a strong hockey stop. I had more fun tonight than I did Monday night. Hit it at the right time in the morning and you should get a few good kilometers in. Thanks to the grooming crew for a great (if short) season at BC!

(Gary Roach)

One last ski! Pretty decent classic conditions. Of course somewhat icy in places, but mostly OK for grip tape. Big descents had loose snow for snowplowing (a little too icy for bombing on classic gear). Very nice evening ski, including a gorgeous magenta sunset over the Ski Games trail).

Photos:

(Pete Thurmes)

Battle Creek has been groomed - skate deck and classic tracks for the full trail - Gold, Silver, Bronze and Ski Games. Track in open areas were blowing in quickly. On the Ski Games side there are 2 depressions in the trail that collected water and slush and grooming created deep ruts on each side of the single pass through. Be careful! We did not lay classic track in those short stretches - watch for that as a warning. Both depressions are on the south end, 0.3 to 0.75 k from the end of the circuit, traveling counter clock-wise. There is a 0.5-0.75 stretch on the east side of the prairie that was rolled but not groomed - there is slush at the lowest point across the trail. Has been skied, but recommend skipping that section and follow the grooming that joins the first large climb half way up.

(Karl Dewahl)

Spent the morning rolling all trails in the system. Handed the baton over to the next grooming grew who will continue to work the system, laying down the skate deck and classic tracks throughout the afternoon. Be aware the rain before the snow created some mushy spots. We will not be grooming the A climb today. Enjoy the snow!

(Becca Egbert)

Spectacular skiing at Battle Creek early this afternoon. Perfect grooming and weather. The best I've seen in years. Way to go groomers! We mostly stayed on the Silver trail but the parts of the Gold we skied were great too.

(Lou Chouinard)

Skated bronze, silver, gold, and wc and all were awesome. Nicely groomed all over and good deck. Downhills were fun and fast!

(Tyler Kallevang)

Groomed and set tracks on Ski Games and Ball fields. The entire system was groomed yesterday or today. Trails are in great shape.

(Jim Reckinger)

The Silver, Bronze, Gold and World Cup trails were all re-groomed today and classic tracks were set as well. With the high winds the deck and the tracks in the open areas were drifting in as I left. The trails in the woods were great and largely unaffected. Very good conditions for both classic and skate once you get out of the wind blown areas. Trails will be re-groomed tomorrow.

(Doug Schumacher)

Polished the Gold skate trail (classic tracks are holding up well). Widened the Ski Games trails where possible, and reset classic tracks. Edges are likely to be soft. A little snow was trying to drift in, in exposed spots during grooming.

(Karl Dewahl)

Very nice grooming everywhere in the park. Classic tracks were nice although a little slow - faster on the ski games trail. But skate lane looked a little soft there vs. very firm on the main trails. Many thanks to the groomers for excellent work - Pisten Bully quality.
We really are in mid-winter ski conditions; don't let the cold keep you from enjoying it!

(Pete Thurmes)