Excellent conditions, freshly groomed. Tracks are firm and fast. You'll probably want to snowplow going down hill. Thank you Phantom Tree Trimmer for cutting the low hanging branch on the 8th fairway.

(Bob Hartzler)

Save for some minor thin patches at the usual hill crests, and some deep-soft stuff about 2.5k in, Highland GC is in fine shape. Watch for two spots where stiff branches hang down to head-level!

(David Moore)

Track is starting to deteriorate due to use, but still good to very good overall. Skating deck was snowy but skaters were flying by.

(Bob Hartzler)

Skated Thursday night and although it hadn't been groomed post-Thursday snowfall it was great skiing. Great coverage... you could easily use your A-skis if you so desired. Frozen water spots were covered up with snow finally. Not sure why but someone decided to run down one of the long hills leaving deep boot marks, no issue skiing over them but still.

(Joseph Altendahl)

Hadn't been groomed as of noon, but the "user-defined" tracks were very good overall. Skating deck was firm, but slow because of the new snow. Should be excellent after the sled goes through.

(Bob Hartzler)

A few bare spots and some ice and popcorn snow in the usual areas, but 98% excellent over all. Recently groomed (thank you groomer). I think I might have been only the third person to use the track. Skating deck was similarly pristine. It's not too cold, and I much prefer the snow at this temperature to the slushy snow cone we had last week.

(Bob Hartzler)

They were out grooming while I skied. I had a great time. However, the drop in temperature and wind made the surface hard and up at the top that combined with grooming made the ice underneath visible. Most of the track is great and just that top part and the very end are ice and not even worth trying, just go around. If the wind keeps up, the track won't maintain well.

(Anna Henderson)

Followed the groomer around and after a couple of warm days spots of grass and ice are forming. The worst spots are about 1km in where the entire width of trail is solid ice for about 15 feet and right at the end where the trail is narrowed down to about 2 ft due to melting. These areas are easily avoided and 95% of the trail is great. We'll take a break during the weekend thaw and hope there is fresh snow to work with next week.

Photos:

(Tyler McKean, St. Paul Parks and Recreation)

Why did the turkeys cross the road? To be with the happy noontime skiers at Highland Golf Course of course. Was very pleasantly surprised at the condition of the classic tracks. There were some washed out patches and minor leaf debris but overall, I would give it a very solid B+. I would say 80% of the track looks like the photo below. My sister lives in Idaho and wants to winter in the Twin Cities because of the incredible number and variety of trails within a 20-minute drive. She has one option and it is a 45-minute drive. We are so fortunate. Thanks St. Paul city groomers!

Photos:

(Kathy Bjornson)

Arrived at 10:30 just when the groomers were finishing. Did two laps in the tracks. The groomers moved the classic tracks ever so slightly by some of trees where there were thin spots yesterday. Another great job by St. Paul Park & Rec. I was worried about the conditions after yesterday's high temp of 38, but it was better than yesterday.

(Peter Hindman)