The classic skiing conditions at Tower today are as good as they get. Firm, fast tracks with good kick. Leaves only here and there. There has been some brushing done on the "Donut" trail and 200m of the track is filled with sticks and leaves. Skating deck has been getting some heavy use but is not hard.

(Mark Blaskey)

The groomer was just finishing up at 3:30 pm. All the trails have been groomed for skating. The skating deck is nice, firm corduroy but a few degrees of warmth sure would help speed up the snow. The classic tracks on almost all the trails were reset.

(Mark Blaskey)

Trails were packed and tracked; groomed early in the week for sure, but it didn't appear to be groomed since. Fresh snow was falling as it was anyway, and it's been bitterly cold, but despite that, quite a few skiers out! Snow was squeaky and slow, and with the fresh snow even a little slower, but you definitely keep warm trying to move out there. Overall decent skiing for the weather we have.

(Tiffany Miller)

The groomer was out this morning. By 11:00 he had groomed most of the trails for skating. The skating deck is firm and controllable and actually his some speed considering the snow temperature of -5F. No new classic tracks had been set. The existing tracks have 1/2" of new, very dry snow in them, covering the leaves but not giving much glide.

(Mark Blaskey)

Fresh corduroy on all the trails this morning. The classic tracks were not touched. The dusting of snow we got overnight mostly covered the oak leaves and the tracks are firm.

(Mark Blaskey)

Trails were groomed Friday, and packed and tracked. Classic tracks also set. Cold temps led to me being the only skier out there when I started, but there were a couple cars when I got back to the chalet area. Snow was cold and felt like skiing on sandpaper, so it was a slow ski and felt like a resistance workout. A lot of Tempo and part of East Wing were choppy from a lot of ski tracks, probably snow drifted in those areas so tracks cut deep and created some ruts, but other than that, for this weather, trails seemed ok. Dress for the temps and don't stay out too long for safety reasons; I did about an hour and 20 minutes, which was about half the skiing time I wanted to get in, but better safe than sorry. Unfortunately, a pair of black and gray sunglasses fell out of my pocket somewhere out there, so if anyone comes across them on the trail out there, please reach out! millertiffrae@gmail. com.

Photos:

(Tiffany Miller)

The classic tracks are firm but slow due to the cold temperatures and the winds have blown oak leaves into sections of the trails (skin skis work ok). The skating deck is very firm and not very much used as of noon today.

(Mark Blaskey)

All trails were groomed today after our 5" snowfall. Good classic tracks were set throughout the system except for hills of any steepness, where the groomer picks up the track setter. With the wind some leaves were in the tracks and drifts obliterated the tracks in some stretches. The skating deck looked firm and barely used as of 3:00 today.

(Mark Blaskey)

No new grooming today but the skating deck is firm but not hard, and fast. The center of the trails are packed from skaters while the sides still have some softer snow and corduroy. No classic tracks set.

(Mark Blaskey)

The groomer was out today. The skating deck is in good condition: firm and fairly fast throughout the system. No classic tracks.

(Mark Blaskey)