Surprisingly good conditions at Fort Snelling Pike Island loop. New signage seems to be working to cut down on trampling.

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(Ann Cohen)

I skied Pile Island. The tracks aren’t deep but still great skiing. It has a double groomed track so you can go either direction (I prefer counter clockwise as you’re closer to the rivers). I saw 3 large coyotes walking on the MN river (north side of island) - cool! Plus of course deer, which are common to see on Pike Island.

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(Pam Medvec)

What a difference grooming makes! Yesterday the trails were mostly boot prints. Today there are nice parallel tracks. The north side is better than the south but the tracks on both sides are good and there was a lot of wildlife (deer, eagles and pileated woodpeckers - I didn’t see the beaver but the photo suggests s/he may want to stop the skiing). The only icy patch was at the far end of the island, but it was brief and not bad.

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(David Glaser)

Trails were being groomed while we were skiing this morning. Unfortunately, someone walked right on top of the classic trails post grooming. However the groomer went over the area again. So should be good skiing.

(Betty Coyle Schindler)

No grooming yet but was pleasantly surprised to find a very reasonable skied in classic track on Pike Island. There was no skied in track between the lot and Pike. Saw a lot of deer!

(Sara Brokaw)

Snowshoed on Pike Island today. Ft Snelling hasn't yet been groomed for skiing. Icy crust over minimal snow.

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(Betsy Hoium)

Skier-tracked Pike Island Trail was generally in very good condition. Double tracked for much of the way but one track washed out briefly at the tip of the island. Some of the more sun-exposed, slushy sections had brief sections of exposed dirt but posed no significant problem. Also skied a short section of the MInnehaha Trail from the base of the historic fort to maybe a 1/4 mile past the Hwy. 5 bridge above the trail. There was no track until a very shallow one showed at the very end of what we skied. After checking the hourly weather report and finding the forecast high was three degrees higher than forecast the previous evening, I had to hurriedly spread a coat of a wide-temperature-range violet klister over the layer of violet special klister I had put on the previous evening before my companion picked me up. Glad I did because except for the loose snow clumping on the bottom of my skis until I jerkily strided it off, skiing was near effortless. I was putting in half the effort of my companion who was skiing on fish scale bottoms.

(Keith Carlson)

Talked to the park staff and they will not be grooming this last snowfall. At 3 pm there was a pretty good naturally blazed classic track on Pike Island. A few spots where hikers and snowshoes had trampled. Beautiful nonetheless. Tons of snow!

(Erin Burton)

Ungroomed, but great conditions nonetheless. A decent skier made track around pike island, and excellent coverage. Only marked as B skis because a few of the trails snowshoers use had thin/worn spots that are easily avoidable. A very pretty day to be out.

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(Tyler Gilbert)

Spoke with park staff, and they are not going to groom the trails due to the high temps next week.

(Eric Haugee)