After grooming for two days, it was really good to get out and ski almost 30k today. Tracks were mostly deep and firm, although on the loops where short stretches are also groomed for skating there was some thin, worn track. As usual, Lions Pride had a section about 1-1/2k in length where there were lots of oak leaves, although with some creativeness I never had to get out of the track. Skate skiers I met said the skate deck was the best they've ever seen. Our high today was 27F, so everything is still in excellent condition.

(Will Maines)

Between yesterday and today I got all classic loops groomed and tracked and all skate loops freshly groomed. Conditions are excellent for the most part. Deer are using some trails as private paved highways, but nothing I saw would cause much of a nuisance. Most of oak leaf litter is covered up, but that is always day to day. My advice is to ski early tomorrow, and take advantage of the conditions while they last.

(Will Maines)

Finished grooming all skate and classic loops. Should be firming up well with these temperatures. Except for 1-1/2k stretch on Lions Pride classic, even the oak leaves are of a minor hinderance. I'd rate pretty much everything very good to excellent, with the skate deck really good. It's cold, but the wind has died down quite a bit, so come on out and ski.

(Will Maines)

Snow just keeps falling up here! Groomed for classic and skate. Groomer still out with all the new snow. Soft in spots, but setting up nice. Excellent trail system!

Photos:

(Finn Ryan)

I'm not one to use the words excellent or fantastic lightly, but after grooming the 4 inches of fluffy snow we got last night I have to say both skate and classic loops are, at least 95 percent, in excellent condition. I groomed all but Long Rider and Bruce's Roundabout on the skate side this morning, along with all but Pine Hollow and Lions Pride on the classic side. I intend to redo today's work tomorrow morning to touch up the additional inch of powder we got today, and to do a complete new grooming on the loops I mentioned. Skiing should be great this weekend, but bundle up because, as the song says, "Baby, it's cold out there.".

(Will Maines)

Razorback was good today, with the groomer working all but Long Ride between 9 am and noon. Full coverage, no bare spots, some debris, many wolf tracks along the way.

(Jim Sheibley)

Groomed all skate loops today except for short section of Will's Crossing which was still in good shape. Skate deck was getting pretty hard and scraped off icy. Tilled it a little but don't dare go too deep because of thin snow cover over icy base. I would rate it very good right now, but I'm guessing any kind of heavy usage will require another go-round with the groomer. Tested out setting new track on Doug's Folly. Some was good, some pretty poor. Again, can't make good track on trail sections that are gone over with the groomer more than others. Still debating about tracking more trails tomorrow. Do not want to do more harm than good, but would like to soften up some sharp corners at the bottom of steep hills. Bottom line: For the amount of snow we have conditions are pretty good. Oak leaves and pine litter still a nuisance here and there, but overall not too bad.

(Will Maines)

Congrats to Lions on a great ski trail and warming shelter/chalet. Met one of them, Rudy, out skiing. Terrain is rolling, but not too extreme. Need a little more snow to get full depth tracks. Check out these trails if you get a chance, and be sure to donate.

(Randy Beck)

Instead of grooming today I got to ski. Did Lions Pride, Oak Ridge, Hair Raiser and Shortcut, all classic. Fast conditions with both good kick and glide. Tracks are very good for some stretches, thin and washing out here and there from heavy usage on stretches where repeated grooming has used up most of the snow down to an icy base. Ice, however, is no problem at all. Starting to gather more pine needles and oak leaves here and there, but nothing that really affected my using No. 1 pair of skis. Fun day to be out.

(Will Maines)

Got our new Ginzu drag out for its maiden voyage yesterday afternoon. Out again this morning until 2 p.m. All skate trails are groomed and for the first time this winter I would grade them all very good or excellent--most on the excellent side. All classic loops groomed today except Oak Ridge. Will do that tomorrow. A few places where oak leaves won't leave us alone, but virtually no stubble left on entire system. Can't say enough about the new Ginzu. Night and day difference between our retired 18-year-old Ginzu and our even older Tidd Tech. Leaves a beautiful skate lane with excellent corduroy, and sets wonderful tracks. Good to go for everyone's best skis.

(Will Maines)