ALERT: While not what we had planned, Mother Nature is forcing our hand with the rain and lack of freezing temps at night - so we need to close the ski trails up at Birkie Trailhead until the rain stops / freezing temps return - effective immediately. Our hope is we can save enough snow to salvage some of the 4km of ski trail come Tuesday/Wednesday, but stay tuned to this channel for updates. Looks like snowmaking guns will be able to start running as well by Wednesday to repair the damage and get us back up and running. Sorry for the sad news on Christmas, but with any luck we will be back skiing early next week.

(Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner)

A new loop was opened today that follows the Birkie trail and then loops back around on the rollerski loop. The total snowmaking loop is now almost 4km! Lots of people were out skiing and enjoying the great skiing. The snow was soft and some spots were getting thin by the end of the day. Unfortunately, due to the warm and rainy forecast, the trails will be closed until it gets below freezing again.

(David Nelson)

Trails are in phenomenal shape thank you. Groomers exceptional work with what snow you've made. Plenty of hills to climb including World Cup and the additional trail to elevator shaft. Overall great skiing. Plenty of happy skiers.

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(Jeff Sorenson)

My first time on the Birkie trails (snowmaking area), and I really didn't expect that to be in a no snow year. They've done what they could. Tracks were set, but kind of crusty. I found the trail layout confusing - and the skiers I spoke to also didn't know which way to go. I saw one guy setting out on a rutted, corrugated maintenance road. A couple of very steep hills (Elevator shaft and World Cup) had the thrill-seekers whooping. There were cut-throughs for people like me to avoid them, but those were icy. Lots of folks out on the trail.

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(Laurie Ford)

100% perfection for what we're all dealing with. Classic skied for an hour and a half late this morning. Put a good amount of km on! Conditions are great for the weather we've been having. Hill climbs were awesome and easy to complex, snow on hill climbs was firm with alittle sluff snow to soften the impact from the man made snow. Downhill sections were well groomed so you could snow plow or bee line. Tracks are set solid with great kick and ample glide. The skate deck is solid with some give for controllable edging. There was a good amount of people so passing was a must if you're putting on speed. Overall phenomenal session of hill training and true Birkie feeling! Thank you groomers and Birkie team. Can't wait to come back.

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(Kevin Grand)

Snowmaking area: Grooming crew has done a phenomenal job! Tracks are fast, but skins kicked great. Skate deck is a little loose after a full day's use, but just fine. Plenty of people, but also plenty of trail to spread out on.

(Brandon Guenther)

Gitchee Gumi racers report good skiing on the man made loops despite the warm temps. Klister and Zeros were kicking.

(Joel Harrison, New Moon Ski Shop)

Classic skied for about an hour twenty minutes this afternoon. Beautiful conditions for man made snow. Hill climbs were firm with some give, downhills were well groomed, and the skate deck and tracks were solid. Thank you Birkie guys and gals for giving us all this opportunity to ski before any natural snow has accumulated. I'll be back a couple times a week hopefully!

(Kevin Grand)

We have been able to open an additional 500M or so of out and back green trail - the trail headed towards the old Telemark lodge. There is about 1" of fresh natural snow on top this morning as well - Enjoy!

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(Redgy Jorstad)

Pristine conditions at the Birkie trailhead once again with more sections of trail opening every day. Skate conditions were fantastic on a solid deck with fresh corduroy. Groomers have done a great job making snow for some enjoyable early season skiing.

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(Paul Ziegler)