Classic track is firmly set and largely clear of debris, though some leaves under the occasional oak. Skate deck firm and well skied in. Conditions were very icy Saturday evening but enjoyable all the same.

(Christopher Wellman)

The groomer went around this morning. All trails now have been groomed. New classic tracks were set where they weren't set on Tuesday. The existing tracks are glazed and fast. The new tracks compress when kicking down but are good. The skating lane is in fair to good condition. In many places the tracks of the grooming machine are deeper than the corduroy and make for an uneven skating deck.

(Mark Blaskey)

No new grooming has been done. Basically the same conditions as Tuesday. Not all the trails have been groomed and only 3-4K of tracks have been set. In most areas the skate lane has a skied-in firm middle section about three feet wide flanked on both side by soft conditions where ski tips sink in 2-4". The classic tracks are firm and quick but the pole track is soft and deep. Oak leaves are falling again.

(Mark Blaskey)

Very good snow cover. Very soft snow conditions. Beautiful. First time at Tower Ridge. I look forward to going back.

Photos:

(Michael Johnson)

Celebrated New Years Day skiing Tower Ridge after about 8” new snow on Monday. Portions of most trails had some grooming and track was set on many of the lighted trails, but much more grooming is needed to bring the trail system up its usual standards. Skate deck looked a little soft, but quite skiable. Classic tracks were full depth and reasonably firm, but pole plants were quite soft.

Photos:

(Rich Dirks)

The County groomed today. Most of the trails have been groomed for skating but the deck is mostly moderately soft: skis sink in an inch or more and pole plants sink down into the old snow. Some of the trails near the chalet are somewhat firmer than the trails farther out. About 20% of the trails have had tracks set. The tracks are deep and clean.

(Mark Blaskey)

Groomed today, very pretty out! The lit loop is tracked and a few other closer trails. No classic tracks on "I" or any other farther loops. Soft skate track most other places and only about 90% rolled and a single pass so rather narrow with ungroomed corners. Watch the powder corners! Easy to break through the deck, most of "I" was shredded. Still beats what they have in Madison though.

(Aaron Walczak)

While there still is plenty of snow (the pack is about 8"), the trails are littered with oak leaves, twigs, and acorns, so probably don't use use your best skis. The skating was good this morning even though it did not get below freezing last night. The deck is firmly packed and varies from mushy to squeaky to icy and edge control is iffy in many stretches. A classic skier with skins reported good skiing even with the plethora of oak leaves in the tracks.

(Mark Blaskey)

No new grooming as of this morning. The skating deck is getting hard and crusty in many places, though fast. The edges of the deck still have some corduroy leftover from last Friday's grooming. The classic tracks have intermittent stretches of oak leaves.

(Mark Blaskey)

It looks like the County combed the skating deck yesterday but did not set new classic tracks. With temps in the mid-20s this morning, skating was quite good and fast with edge control but lots of oak leaves and other debris throughout the trails. The classic tracks have oak leaves in most spots: the Donut Loop is especially full, but parts of Flyway are mostly clear.

(Mark Blaskey)