Groomed this morning. Trails are firm and in good shape for tomorrow's race. Some new track was set.

(Frank Lowry)

Set expectations a bit high today. Upper part was nicely groomed by 2pm, but I had the wrong wax on my skate skis. Lower part not recently groomed. Reminds me of a downhill ski trip out West. Going up a chair lift with this obviously good skier who said, "I wish they would stop dumbing down all these runs. I like natural snow." If you're one of those snobs, you'll love the lower part!

(Bob Swanson)

The usual hills were not tracked. A little soft and punchy in the tracks. That's what I get for being first to ski them. It was pretty close to Nirvana.

Photos:

(Karen Possley)

Most of the trails are groomed for skating. No tracks have been set. The skating deck ranges in firmness from medium to soft. In many stretches, especially uphill, skis have cut ruts in the deck from 1" to 3" deep.

(Mark Blaskey)

A few sections had not been touched by the groomer. No tracks set yet. Some of the skate deck had set up but most of it was soft. It should be tremendous tomorrow.

(Karen Possley)

As of 8 pm Tuesday, the groomer had packed only a few Ks of trails for skating. And then another 4" of snow fell. The skating was soft and deep. No tracks were visible.

(Mark Blaskey)

As of noon today, no new grooming had been done. The skating deck has 3" of new snow on top of an already unfirm base. Poles poke through to the ground, 6" down. Tracks were set yesterday on some of the trails but this morning they were buried under the new snow, but some tracks had been skied in but remain soft underfoot.

(Mark Blaskey)

All Trails Groomed with full coverage. Soft and slow, as expected. But, collapsing classic tracks were mighty frustrating. IMO, after a good grooming and a warmer day the trails will be perfect.

(John Ericsson)

All the trails have been groomed today after our new 6" of snow. The skating deck is fairly firm with some sections that are not packed densely. Not much glide in the cold, dry snow. Skating conditions would be rated good. A single classic track was set on most of the trails and not at all on any hills. The tracks need compaction: when you kick down the bottom of the track compresses. Late this afternoon snow was drifting into the tracks, and oak leaves, too. I would rate the classic tracks as good.

(Mark Blaskey)

Tracks were set on most of the trails. The "I Loop" track was human tracked. Skate deck was being finished as I skied. It was firming up nicely. Being able to ski down all the big hills was great fun.

(Karen Possley)