Excellent trail coverage. Skating groomed and a bit soft yet. Classic tracks just being laid this afternoon. Fun Christmas Day outing, a few leaves on trail from past high winds.

Photos:

(Dean Kleinhans)

Shear-Pin just reported in that he and WABAC had just finished rolling the trails for your Christmas Eve skiing pleasure. Shear-Pin was a last minute sub for Basketball Guy because neither BG or WABAC knew how to change a shear-pin in the rollers, so we called in the expert. Expect a soft skate deck, that is getting a bit less slow each day. You will find a few twigs to flick along the way if you are so inclined. The plan for Christmas to pull the screens and set tracks. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Lumberjack and Bart took the afternoon shift to roll the first three new inches. DPR and Basketball Guy took the late rolling shift evening to widen the outer loop. Grooming plans: Electrician and the Natural are heading out Thursday morning to roll out new snow. Expect soft trail conditions for a few days. We will get back after it after the big blow. Good to have snow! Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

The predicted 1.5" turned into 3" to 4" in Elk River Monday afternoon and evening, we live for forecast errors in this direction. Babe and Shearpin rolled entire system just as the flurries wrapped up. Stay tuned for a plan to reset classic tracks.

(Mark Rathbun)

I skied this afternoon and I would like to thank Dean K and everyone else who flicked sticks from the trail. I know there was a bunch out there when we rolled, and I saw none of them today. The trail is a little rolly polly right now. If you have yet to try skiing Woodlands, Christmas week should be great, so why wait any longer?

(Robert Bullis)

Skated full 10K loop a few times with my good skis. Coverage was very good and deck was not icy at all. Deck is hard packed with ability to get a great edge on the ski. Only minor issues with some lumps and ridges that test your ski balance a bit. Glide was good enough for making the faster downhills a fun thrill ride too!

(Dan Inderieden)

Crash and GROAT were out early this morning and rolled the system curb to curb. Trail Crew Grandpa (formerly the Old Coach) was out midmorning laying down some tracks for us. Trapper just reported in that he and new rookie groomer, WABAC (if you are younger than 60 you may have to search "mr peabody wabac machine", to connect this one) had just finished pulling the light screens on the skate trails. Expect decent conditions for your Sunday ski. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Well, we have a White Christmas ensured. And the trails finally have enough snow to talk about. But boy oh boy was it slow today. Spent over two hours skating from downed tree branch to tree branch, clearing trail and knocking snow off the low overhanging branches. The grooming was good, but it is still so soft it is hard to ski. But hard to have more fun on skis all things considered!

Photos:

(Dean Kleinhans)

Six new inches rolled. Lumberjack and Buckthorn Bob ran the rollers in a single (double pass) around the outer loop this morning.(no grooming of connector trails yet) With the snow being not yet completely frozen all the way to ground, we wanted to minimize over packing. The skate deck will be very soft with plenty of sticks to flick. We posted a conservative "rock ski" recommendation, but most folks will be out with their B skis. Mind the erosion control trenches (affectionately known as tank traps), which will need a bit more snow and a few screenings to fill. We have been rolling off and on for a month, so it is good to finally be back in business. Stay tuned. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Four new inches on top of mostly bare ground. Shear Pin and GROAT (greatest rookie of all time) were out styling on the new Skandics on Tuesday evening pulling the rollers on the green trails. Crash was out earlier with the ATV pulling the roller on the paved portions. This was a base building project that we hope will last until we get more snow this time. The trails are snow covered, but very rugged for the most part. The trail testers will be out today to see if any portions are skiable. Enjoy soon?

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)