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

Photos:

(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.

Photos:

(Tyler Gilbert)

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

(Eric Haugee)