Skied the virtual Korte today from Hatchery to Gravel Pit (and a tiny bit of Birkie Ridge). Great conditions in the Northwoods today. Skate deck was firm and groomed in the last few days. Some areas were a smidge bald, but nothing couldn't be handled. Overall great snow coverage. Great to see so many folks with Birkie race bibs on course, especially Ernie St. Germain.

(Betsy Van Cleve Stiegler)

Classic skied north from mosquito brook to gravel pit. Going north the right side of the classic track had been reset and was in great condition. Coming south it had not been reset, but was still in good condition. Some leaves here and there. A peaceful ski, with the bonus of a beautiful sunset!

(Kathleen Miller)

I skied between Boedecker Rd and Hwy OO. I was going to use the "classic" trail but it was not recently groomed and the skate deck was packed hard. The "skate" trail, however, was newly groomed and skiing was excellent even if the skier wasn't. The classic track was freshly groomed on one side. On the other side, the track was well formed although not recently groomed, and it had more oak leaves.

(Don Quick)

Excellent conditions for skate and classic. Plenty of corduroy visible under a skiff of fine, wind blown powder. Surprisingly little leaf litter in evidence given the number of days since our last snow. Some leaves in the tracks but otherwise remarkably clean snow. This afternoon I skate skied from Birkie Ridge up to the skate trail, then south to OO. The return trip was North on the classic trail to the Fire Tower water stop and then back on the skate trail to Birkie Ridge. The trail is in great shape everywhere I skied. The snow is still cold and slow but it is flat and firm and very good skiing.

(Andy Schwartz)

This morning, I skied from the Mosquito Brook Trailhead north about 11 kilometers and back. The trails were very good, with plenty of snow. The skate lane was level with about an inch of new snow. The classic tracks were deep and firm and offered a very good kick. The classic tracks had a few oak leaves in the tracks now and then that would slow you up a bit.

Photos:

(David Martin)

Classic skied an hour between OO and Boedecker this afternoon. Slow conditions at -5 degrees but the grooming was very good. Very good tracks everywhere except in the windy clear cut area, it seemed someone had filled the tracks with course white sand. Other than that section, the skiing was very good, it was a beautiful blue sky, sunny day, and I had the trail to myself.

Photos:

(Tom Detzner)

Skied from OO to the start. Enough snow (about an inch?) to cover the corduroy. Tracks were good - not used much since groomed. Not much traffic. Cold snow made for slow progress. Hard to know the right way at intersections in the last 2 km. Beautiful, fun place to be in spite of the cold.

(Roy Brohaugh)

Great ski this afternoon on OO north, at -2 deg. Expected sand paper but the recent corduroy afforded us unexpected glide. Thanks to the groomers. Great to see all the young kids coming out as we were leaving. If you can keep the ears, face and toes warm it’s worth getting outside.

(Irene Olson)

Groomed to perfection! Piston bully was out re-grooming the skate lane and one classic lane south of OO. We skied about 7km south of OO. I completely overdressed and had to stop and take off layers part way through the ski. Don't be scared to get out and ski in the cold temperatures, conditions are excellent right now!

(David Nelson)

At some point in today's ski I crossed the Birkie classic trail which was freshly groomed earlier today. And since my fingers were not numb yet I chose to follow the unblemished corduroy. The Classic trail is freshly groomed and beautiful from at least Timber Trail back to the Start. Also freshly groomed are most of the in and outbound segments and various connectors. The Birkie skate trail proper was groomed recently but long enough ago that the corduroy was mostly full of fine wind blown snow. Which, at this temperature might as well have been sand. Still well worth it. Green wax, the finest grind you have and bundle up.

(Andy Schwartz)