Three new inches rolled. We had a busy weekend at Woodlands. Might have something to do with snow? I must have done ok on my last grooming run, because Ancient One sent me out on today's training/grooming run with another new rookie, M&M. He was almost as good as The Natural was on his first run. Rolling three inches is fun and easy. We have the last leaf crop covered up, for now, but a few of their buddies were already starting to mess up the fresh white. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Great skate ski, midseason conditions. Leaves sometimes annoying, but an even deck that will take us a long way this winter. VO2 MAX was more like V02 min on the hills. Love bullsnake run. Thanks to Dave and all the volunteer groomers. I would wait for some snow for classic. Still the premier place all-around in Metro.

(Scott Engstrom)

Babe just reported in that he and The Natural had finished their Friday evening grooming run with the medium screens, for our weekend skiing pleasure. The Old Coach was out yesterday as well to finish track setting on the grade. The old tracks were too stubborn to reset so we will use them until it snows. There will be some pesky oak leaves to dance around. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

What fabulous Mid-winter conditions. Had great outing and no worries about thin coverage. Great job by grooming team.

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(Dean Kleinhans)

Skied the woodlands at dusk. Trails now fast and firm after last week's multiple snows. Tracks set east of the grade, on the grade and on washpond. Probably ok to use race skis. Fun to get into some longer climbs and descents.

(Dave Kallemeyn)

A couple more new inches on top of yesterday's three, rolled curb to curb. Shear-Pin made a single pass roller run and handed off to me leading a training run with a rookie, Big Bopper, to roll the rest. Expect good, but soft conditions for your Monday ski. We plan to re-roll Monday evening to firm the base for your Tuesday ski. Tuesday evening we will run the light screens. Mark Wednesday on your calendar if you want a "plenty good" early December ski at Woodlands.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Three new inches of white stuff and too warm to roll. Grooming plans: At this point it looks like it will be cool enough for the next run with the rollers late tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, it will be slogging at its finest.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Greeted by freshly rolled trails and was fortunate to make first tracks on most of outer loop. Still a little soft, lumpy and some leaf litter but nothing that overshadowed being in the silent woods on natural snow - on turkey day! Used B skis but no big risks for better boards. Watch the return to parking lot, there is some wind blown trail where you need to avoid some pavement.

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(Mark Rathbun)

Six new inches rolled. If you are a desperate skier, with rock skis, looking for a bumpy, leaf littered trail with a little dirt mixed in here and there, we may have just what your looking for. The rolled base has thinned some due to bottom up melting on the not totally frozen ground/pavement and there are a few short sections where most of the snow has blown away. Ancient One and Chainsaw took the early shift this morning and found the 6 or so inches of heavy, wet snow to be a tough go on the steeper hills. Skiers were already heading out before they finished. The Electrician came in on the second shift to roll the paved sections. Shear Pin and PE just finished a re-roll of the outer loop. No additional grooming is planned until we get more snow. Enjoy with very low expectations.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)