Shear-Pin just reported in that he and New Coach just finished their evening run with the medium screens for our Sunday skiing pleasure. In his words, "she's a beauty"! If we can dodge the new snow for another day, ski conditions should be fantastic. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

More fun than an old fellow should be allowed to have. I finished my afternoon lap about 4:30. For late in the day the trail was still in great shape and the ski was fast and fun. Woodlands was full of the sounds of happy skiers, just like the good old days. We would like to thank both our old and new ski friends for coming out today to join in the fun. As long as the weather cooperates there should be more great skis in our future.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Lumberjack and Blooming Onion just finished their evening run with the medium screens. Lumberjack reported that once again the screens worked their magic on the skate trails. This groomng pass was on top another pass with rollers last evening to further firm the base, compliments of Babe and Captain Ken. A ski at Woodlands tomorrow will not disappoint. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

As expected, the trails were a wee bit soft for my afternoon skate (partial) lap. Uphill's were tough for this old man, but the downhill's were a blast. Eagle 17 and Rookie Ken, rolled Wednesday evening to continue the firming up process. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Six plus new inches of heavier snow, rolled and ready for a nice soft ski. Ancient One and The Natural finished the toughest roll of the season about 1 this afternoon. While Ancient One's single shear pin break and five hard bumps didn't come close to breaking Shear-Pin's single run record of four sheared pins, he is hoping that getting stuck six times is at least good enough for Honorable Mention on the Grooming Cave Wall of Shame. He also gets bonus points for running the fuel tank dry this week. The outer loop is rolled with a double roller pass and everything else is rolled curb to curb. Chainsaw is out now setting some tracks for us for the first time in his 28 years of grooming. Positive comments on them only please, as we don't want to hurt his feelings. The rest of the track setters are up at the State Meet. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Excellent freshly rolled trails. Kudos again to the groomers. Hardly time to firm up the skate deck between snows, haven't had that "problem" for a long time. More fun tomorrow?

(Mike Flynn)

After I got done helping with tree trimming at Woodlands today I went home and traded chainsaw pants for ski pants. The ride was soft and a little slow but the views were fantastic. It has been a long time since we have had snow this good at Woodlands. Last nights pass with the screens leveled everything perfectly. As I type this we have between 3-4 inches of new snow and it is still falling. So more grooming tonight.

(Robert Bullis)

Surf's up! Refuge Guy just reported in that he and the Engineer had just finished their run with the medium screens for our Sunday skiing pleasure. The trail crew has worked very hard the past few day to lay the new snow down, get the air our and now level and scratch. We expect conditions tomorrow to be just about as good as they get at Woodlands, once the temps warm to give us our glide back. You will find a few pesky leaves sprinkled here and there. The dead tree cutters will be out in the morning, but plan to stay on the winter walking trail so we don't spoil the rare of late good trail conditions. Enjoy with reckless abandon.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Lori and I had a wonderful cold weather ski at Woodland. We hadn't been there in years. All trails were groomed for skate with about 10 k for classic. We ventured back to the hilly skate trails and enjoyed the beautiful snow covered trees. It was the best day to ski the gravity chute. Slower and soft snow. Very few people there.

Photos:

(Diane Pattridge)

Shear-Pin just reported in that he and Chainsaw had just finished their roll in the darkness. They also reported that the tracks laid down by the Old Coach looked plenty good. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)