We started reverting the trails back to their traditional grooming with the skate loops converted back to skating today and tomorrow, Will will be grooming and setting track on the classic loops. Today we had a number of snow squalls pass through followed by sunshine. In total we may have gotten 1-2" which mixed up well with the granular snow we've been regurgitating the last few weeks. Skate deck looks great.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)

It’s still opposite week so I came back today to classic ski the trails that are usually skate only. There are several pretty good hills on the Long Rider which give me trouble most of the time. Long Rider was freshly groomed and mine were the first pole plants since grooming. Bruce’s Roundabout was not freshly groomed but it was still in reasonable shape. Unfortunately, the classic tracks on Long Rider were shallow for the most part and non-existent in several spots. For that reason, I would rate the classic trails overall as good. I switched to my skate skis and skated Oak Ridge. Conditions on the skate loops were very good to excellent. I found a nice level and firm skate deck.

Photos:

(Jim Gantz)

Buffed out the skate loops this afternoon and they look to be in great shape for the weekend. Earlier in the day, Alison gave me a hand doing some brushing along the snowshoe trail. The main 1.9 mile snowshoe loop from the chalet is now in really good shape, fully stomped in with almost no overhanging brush.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)

Just finished grooming and tracking all loops that are normally groomed skate only, as our Opposites Week continues through the weekend. For the most part tracks are really good, though there are short bits here and there that are rather shallow. Robert is grooming all the usual classic only trails for skating as we speak. Feedback has been so good this week that, depending on snow conditions, we'll try to do opposite grooming again for a few days in March.

(Will Maines)

This week is opposite week which means the trails that are normally groomed for skating are groomed for classic skiing and the trails that are normally groomed for classic skiing are groomed for skating. This was my first experience with opposite week and I was able to skate Lion’s Pride, Hair Raiser, and Wild Thing. I skated on one or two inches of fresh fallen snow. Conditions were very good. The groomer showed up about an hour and a half into my outing so I was able to skate on fresh corduroy for the last few kilometers. His dog Sprocket found me on Wild Thing and accompanied me for several kilometers.

Photos:

(Jim Gantz)

We picked up a solid inch of snow Wednesday afternoon and groomed the 'skate' loops after the snow passed through (it's opposite week so the traditional classic only trails are groomed for skating and the traditional skate loops are now tracked for classic). With Lou's help we also did some brushing along Lions' Pride but there's still some face-slappers to watch out for - skate down the center of the trails to avoid them. After grooming, we did our Wednesday Night ski and took advantage of skating the classic trails and though they're slightly narrower than the skate loops, the width was never an issue and was an absolute blast with Wild Thing particularly fun on skate skis. Get out an enjoy Opposite Week while you can - Monday the trails return back to normal.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)

Skied both Long Rider and Bruce's Roundabout twice around this morning. First circuit was lightning fast. Second circuit started that way, but a quick burst of snow halfway through made the last 5k a slower push through an inch of light powder in the tracks. We're hearing nothing but great comments about our Opposites Week grooming. Until next Monday, all loops normally groomed classic only are groomed for skate only. Loops normally groomed for skate only are groomed classic only. Skiers really like the opportunity to ski "the other side" for a change. As of 2 p.m. it is snowing fairly heavily again. Once it stops, Robert plans on regrooming skate side for a weekly group night ski tonight. I plan on grooming some classic loops tomorrow, and finish them up on Friday.

(Will Maines)

Overall the trails are in great condition. Except for a very few spots, tracks are deep and firm. Control is good on downhills with curves at the bottom. I skied Lions Pride, Oak Ridge, Short Cut and Hair Raiser. If you ski classic today, as has been the case all week, a base of either orange binder or green klister is invaluable. Just making sharp turns out of the tracks tends to wipe off regular kick wax fairly rapidly. A note for the coming week: On Monday, Robert and I will begin grooming for our Opposites Week. All trails normally groomed classic only will be groomed skate only. All skate loops will be groomed classic only through next Sunday. Signs will be posted at the trailhead and at the intersection where skate and classic trails split. We urge all skiers to be respectful of the change and enjoy seeing and skiing "the other side" of the system for a week.

(Will Maines)

All the skate loops where touched up this morning and are in great shape. William had groomed all the classic tracks on Thursday. We changed the direction of Bruce's Roundabout on the skate loop - it now skis counter-clockwise. This flows a lot better - no longer needing to come to almost a complete stop to make the tight off-camber turn. The sign has been moved to reflect the change, online map will be updated shortly.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)

Trails were hard-packed and crusty this morning after the below zero overnight. All the skate loops got tilled up and regroomed today. Doug's Folly on the classic side was also groomed and trackset. Report from skate skiers today is the trails are phenomenal with just enough ice to make them fast and fun but still controllable - I'm about to head out to see if that's true. Thanks to Lou for riding along today and helping with some lopping on Long Rider.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)