Three new inches of fluffy clipper snow. Ancient One and Babe (as in Blue Ox, legendary trail builder) could not resist the urge to go out and play in it. They went for a late evening run with the rollers around the outer loop for your Sunday skiing pleasure. Grooming plan: The morning crew will re-roll that and the rest of the system. It will be another busy Sunday with nearly a 100 little league skiers starting at 1 and a novice biathlon event starting at noon (future Olympian maybe? it has happened before). There is plenty of room for all on the trails, but parking will be a little tight midday and should be clearing about 3. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

A+ rated. The grooming at Woodland is superb. No bare or icy patches; got a good edge all the way around. They sure know how to prep and groom in a drought/freeze/thaw year. The new maps and strategic placement of a few snow fences are great. The redesigned last downhill in wash pond flats is appreciated at the end of the outer loop when I am on my last legs. Send the whole volunteer grooming crew and equipment to the World Cup races! No tracks yet.

(Scott Engstrom)

This evenings little clipper came through early and fast, leaving us with a whopping 1/2" of new snow. In a drought winter, we are happy with anything we get. Both Shear-Pin and Crash just reported in (got to love a well trained crew) that they had just finished rolling it out to help with bonding the new to our bullet proof base. Earlier in the day, Ancient One and Lumberjack pulled the Godzilla screens around to put in as much profile in the base as they could before the new snow. Those skiing between grooming runs today said it was improved over the last couple of days. For your Saturday ski, expect the trail to be bright white, a little slow, a bit noisy with each pole plant and likely somewhere near the middle of the fun-o-meter. Use a little caution on the first lap. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Not good news from the trail testers. The testers are die hard skiers who will ski on just about anything. They went 2 1/2 laps, and said while skiable for them, they needed to be on their toes all of the time to stay upright. They reported the trail is about 1/4 hard pack/ice, with a lot of the slick surfaces located where you want traction. If you ski, do so with caution. The next challenge will be to get the ice scratched up enough so the next snow will bond. That project will start Friday when it warms a bit.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

We could have done without 42 degrees for sure! I took new rookie groomer Basketball Guy out Tuesday evening for a two plus hour training run with the tandem screens. We wanted to get on the trail after temps dropped below 32 and before it got too hard due to rapidly dropping temps. It was 29 when we started and 18 when we finished. Some areas scratched up good, others not so good. The New Coach will be out trail testing this morning, so we will wait for a trail quality report from him. If you like a fast and very hard trail... Enjoy with caution on your first lap.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Buckthorn Bob and Baseball Guy just finished their evening run with the medium screens for your Martin Luther King Day ski should you choose to spend it at Woodlands. Robs note below covers everything else that needs to be said. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

The conditions at Woodlands today at noon were fantastic. Firm base with enough give to get an edge in the turns, very little leaf litter. The trail has full coverage so if you need to get some hot laps on those Birkie skis and have MLK Day off tomorrow should be another fantastic day of skiing at Woodlands. When I finished there had to be close to a 100 kids out learning to ski, who knows maybe another Olympic champion in the bunch.

(Rob Bullis)

Doc and The Sailor just finished their moonlit ride on the Skandics, pulling the medium screens, for our Sunday skiing pleasure. The tree felling crew will be out until 10:30 tomorrow morning. They are a rather grumpy lot, so a smile or maybe even a hug on your way by might cheer them up a bit. Another heads up, starting at 1 tomorrow afternoon, 103 MYSL skiers(our future) will be joining us mostly on the flatter trails. There is plenty of room for everyone, but the parking will be a little tight. With warm temps and good trails, it will be another hopping day at Woodlands for sure! Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Shear-Pin just reported in that he and EIEIO(think farmer) had just finished their evening roll of our latest two new inches. This new snow, like the last, arrived just in time. The Saturday ski at Woodlands should be another good one and will be on a much cleaner trail with all of the tree litter covered up. Grooming plans: Evolution will be out in the morning to lay down some new track on the beginner and intermediate trail sections. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Surprised to be making first tracks at 8 am, an advantage of living "up north" I guess. Last night's groomers left a great smooth trail and things will only get better if we receive more snow. All skate trails in excellent shape and classic tracks are hanging on, best on the grade.

(Mark Rathbun)