Swedetown - With just a little bit of new snow and colder temperatures, the trails at Swedetown are looking pretty good! All trails were dragged, including the Multiuse (Dog) Loops and Snow Bike Trails. The classic tracks and skate lanes have set up well following the higher temperatures at the end of last week, and skiers can expect to find conditions firm and fast! Grooming completed at 8:30 am. .

(Tom Wright)

Due to unusually warm mid-winter temperatures as well as a deficit of snow this season, grooming has been suspended temporarily at Swedetown. The classic tracks were reset on Friday night; the skate lanes were left untouched due to warm, wet snow. However, the skate lanes are in overall good condition. All skiers are asked to be aware of inadvertent damage to the trails: if you are leaving large gouges and ruts, please wait until temperatures drop and the trails will not be damaged. Best skiing will be early in the morning when the snow is cold: skate deck should be fast, and the tracks will be firm and fast as well.

(Tom Wright)

Due to warm temperatures, minimal grooming was done. Len’s, Tiger Loop, Valley, Pine Ridge, Greenstone and the Tree Loops (Cedar, Birch, Tamarack) were dragged. Skiers can expect to find soft conditions but the trails are still in good shape. Please exercise caution–there are some thin spots, especially on Powderhouse and Papa Bear, and if the snowpack is too soft leading to large ruts and gouges, please wait until conditions improve. Grooming completed at 8:30 am.

(Brad Barnett)

All trails were dragged and new classic tracks set. Trails are in good shape, but expect to find a few thin spots, especially on Papa Bear. The Snow Bike Trails are holding up well, but be cautious of soft conditions when the temperature rises. Grooming completed at 9:30 am.

(Brad Barnett)

The skate lanes were dragged and the classic tracks are holding up well. The Multi-use (Dog) Loops were dragged as well. The Snow Bike Trails are firming up nicely and are very good, but please remember to drop your tire pressure if you’re sinking in too much. Grooming completed at 10:30 am.

(Brad Barnett)

All trails tracked and dragged, expect to find good to very good conditions throughout the system. The Multi-use (Dog) Loops are open for all to enjoy. The Snow Bike Trails are rideable, firming up nicely but may be a bit soft or fragile in places. Please ride at low pressure (5 psi or less) to help protect the trails. Grooming completed at 11:00 am.

(Brad Barnett)

We skated all of the trails 1-2 times except the Bears. I love the new layout of the Powderhouse (photo) And Pine Ridge. Swedetown trails and grooming just keeping getting better. Signage so clear throughout the system too. Skate deck was firmer on the main arteries than the outer loops but groomers did an awesome job. It’s a great problem to get so much snow :).

Photos:

(Kevin Ousdigian)

Drove up to Calumet to ski and was not disappointed. The classic trails were groomed and tracked as snow was continuing to fall. I thought the classic skiing conditions were very good to excellent and the abundance of skiers on the trails were helping to firm up the tracks. What a great day and conditions to get out for the first time this year!

(Kevin Odgers)

All trails were dragged, and everything except for Powderhouse was tracked, with mixed results. There are a fair amount of thin spots in the wooded areas, where the pine trees tend to block the snow from the trail. Papa Bear is also somewhat thin. The best snow–and best tracks–will be found on Valley, Cedar, Birch, Tamarack, Ed’s Loop, and for most of Greenstone (thin on Greenstone Road). It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Grooming completed at 11:30 am. 

(Brad Barnett)

Skiers should expect early season conditions. Trails are in fair condition, but improving rapidly as we continue to get more snow. Grooming completed at 10:30 am.

(Brad Barnett)