We skied from 00 South to Gravel Pit and it was very technical skiing. Heavy traffic which turned some spots really icy and a lot of debris from the high winds on the trail made skiing treacherous on some downhills. Reports on the Birkie website report its been a full week since the was last groomed. Stick to the north side of the trail or to the lighted loops.

(Ashley Martinson)

Very good skiing with a few caveats. I skied from the Birkie Start to Timber Trail and back. There is some fresh grooming at the Start and beyond including the Birkie Rollers and the Classic Trail out to the Power Lines. On the skate trail the grooming is a few days old but skier traffic has been light so there is still visible corduroy in lots of places. After a few sub zero nights I was expecting boiler plate but while the surface is definitely hard, I used my stiffest skis and was fine. The B skis recommendation is due to all the twigs blown onto parts of the trail due to high winds. I did not come home with any new scratches but my skis are definitely scuffed which will require some work to remove.

(Andy Schwartz)

We skied north of OO on the classic trail and from OO to Boedecker Road was hard packed and had not been groomed in a few days. From Boedecker north on classic trail, it was much better and so was the return trip on the skate trail. The biggest problem with high wind and lots of twigs all over the trail. I hope they groom soon as the skate deck is hard packed. We had one classic skier and the track was drifted in spots (especially in the new clear cut area north of OO) plus lots of twigs and leaves in the track). She skied most of the way back to OO out of the track. A few inches of snow would be wonderful.

(David Gorringe)

Skied from OO north on the classic trail and back south on the skate trail. Also skied south of OO a couple kilometers and back. Grooming north of OO was recent, but wind blown hardpack and lots of debris in the tracks. Classic skiing was not easy, would have been better for skating. Very cold in the wind blown clear cut. South of OO the trail has not been groomed recently so there is an inch of skied in powder/icy snow on the trail. Conditions are good for building character!

(David Nelson)

I skied north from Boedecker Rd on the skate trail. The snow was in good shape and skiing was easy but recent wind has blown tree litter onto the trail. In the pine forest north of Boedecker there is a lot of needles, twigs, bark, and cones on the trail. I also went a ways south of Boedecker where the forest is mostly hardwood, and the only litter is a few oak leaves.

(Don Quick)

Classic skied the North End Birkie trail and classic trail and then back on the Birkie skate trail conditions were fabulous. There was some wind blown twigs and sticks here and there easily avoidable. First time trying out my new Fisher twin skins, loved them.

Photos:

(Mark Sproul)

Almost as good as it gets. High winds have caused a fair bit of tree litter to fall otherwise it's close to perfect. We skied the classic trail from Birkie TH to Timber Trail and back. The skate deck is freshly groomed with just a skiff of fine wind blown snow over the top. Classic tracks are like rails. The winds have been high which has caused an annoying number of little twigs to come down on the trail but the skiing is still great.

(Andy Schwartz)

I skied north from Hwy OO on the Classic trail. It was in remarkably good condition, considering meager snow so far this season. There are very few dirty spots on the skate deck or in the classic tracks. I also skied the loops south of OO where grooming was in progress and conditions were excellent.

(Don Quick)

We skied south from OO to Gravel Pit and back and conditions were very good. Not icy anywhere. New grooming on Sunday morning left the skate lane a bit soft but we classic skied and the track was excellent. A few dirt spots but very few in the track. Quite a few skaters out there and all smiling. Worth the trip to the Birkie Trail. Nice job groomers.

(David Gorringe)

Skied from OO to power line and back on skate trail. Slow wet conditions on Saturday, fast and firm on Sunday. On Sunday it was pretty hard packed and icy from OO to Bodecker but get's better and better the farther north you go. At the highpoint and further north the trees were lovely with snow covered branches.

Photos:

(Rick Budde)