Left the classic track alone due to it being overall still in good shape. Groomed a new skate deck which is in great shape. Trimmed a few tree branches that were getting in the way. With warmer temps coming get out and enjoy?

Photos:

(James Bezanson)

Classic ski this morning on some very firm classic tracks. There are a few sections that have been drifted in but skied in so they are no problem. A few oak leaves are showing up here and there but again no problem. Skate deck looks good too.

(Bill Stuber)

Well the second attempt to groom the trail went much much better this afternoon with colder temps. Groomed a new skate deck and redid the classic track from this morning due to being beat up and blowing snow. Trail is in excellent condition but is experiencing some drifting as the day goes on. Come on out and enjoy before the mercury drops to the negative range.

Photos:

(James Bezanson)

When I arrived around 10 AM I was delighted to find that tracks had been set this morning. Given the wind, they had started to fill up already. About halfway through my 5 laps, I came by the PistenBully. It looked like it was smoothing out the ridge between the two passes from earlier this morning. During my last lap, The groomer was resetting the track. I chatted for a moment with the groomer, he told me there had been some issues with icing when he got out early this morning. Tracks and skate deck were beautiful by the time I left but due to the wind, there may be some blown over section this afternoon.

Photos:

(Christian Franken)

Skied over lunch, groomer was running and gave me a friendly wave as we passed near each other. Firm west by NW wind was attempting to undo the groomers good work. Met a guy skiing classic with a Sisu vest and an accent I couldn't identify. He was on his fourth lap and told me "you can't always expect perfect conditions" and "get your Ks in before it gets cold." I thought about that as I skied and concluded he was wise. Maybe he was a shaman of some sort.

(Jamal Love)

It was surprising to ski the freshly groomed trails this morning. A single wide pass with fresh classics was made (they have a wide groomer!) for the entire course as well as double wide pass which was seemingly abandoned after 75% of the course. Regardless, it was nice skiing but the fresh groom was already getting windblown with each loop skied. (If they could just figure out how to take out the "ridges" from subsequent grooming passes... It's all good!).

(John Witzmann)

Got on on Phalen early this morning to find a freshly groomed skate deck and classic track. It was just one pass but wide enough. It was still soft so I skied in the 1 1/2" of new snow on the ungroomed deck. It was super smooth! Phalen groomer must be using a new machine and is really doing a nice job.

(Bill Stuber)

I skied around 4:30pm in that beautiful late light. The trail at Phalen is in really good shape. The classic tracks looked excellent, and the skate deck had been groomed recently (I would guess this morning), and not many skiers had been there before me. That's so nice about Phalen, you pretty much have the place all to yourself. The skate deck was wide, much more even than it was a couple of weeks ago, and much easier to ski. There were still some rough spots here and there, but most of the trail was flat and smooth. Kudos to the groomers.

Photos:

(Jenneke Oosterhoff)

Skate deck and classic track were both redone, and we're trying out a different implement for grooming. Let us know how you like it!

(James Bezanson)

Set a new classic track and moved it farther in on the trail. Added back the small loop that was missed last groom. Skate deck has set up well and been groomed. A few spots on the far left side of skate deck may still be a little uneven but overall in great shape!! Enjoy the nice forecast for this week!

Photos:

(James Bezanson)