Groom, ski, repeat! This morning was so much fun, we are going to try it again tomorrow. The sleds are heading out at 6 in morning to dress the trails up a bit. Feel free to join us after that if you have the desire to clock a few more laps before we give into spring. Only the outer loop and Biathlon range will be groomed. Again, no grooming is planned during the week and we will see what next weekend looks like as it gets closer. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

DPR and I made a two passes with the Godzilla screens around the outer loop this morning. Quite a few of the desperate were already in the lot as we finished up at 8. There is some "snirt"(windblown dirt mixed with snow) showing up on Stony Rollers that you may want to avoid. After a little test ski, DPR called and asked me to report that "Surfs Up" at Woodlands and should be for a few hours this morning. Enjoy!".

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Give me just one more good day of skiing! (If you listen to Greg Brown's "One More Goodnight Kiss", it kind of works) Anyway, DPR and Robin were out with the screens this evening to the work up the outer loop for a morning ski with their buddies. A couple more of the crew are heading out again in the morning at 6:30 to make another lap or two. There should be a few hours of fun available in the morning if you care to join them. Only the outer loop will be groomed, no tracks set. If you like it lickity split, come early. If you like it not quite so fast, let it warm a bit. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Trails in great condition. I was just a few hours late as the snow started to soften and a little sticky. Otherwise a great workout on the black trails. Lots of climbing. Thanks to groomer. First time skiing Woodland, I'll be back.

Photos:

(Matt Bergstrom)

Babe and The Natural just finished their evening grooming run with the Godzilla Screens. Babe reported that the trails will be in great shape again for your Monday ski. Woodlands was hopping today with many happy skiers and hikers (on the winter walking trail). We would like to thank all of our ski friends, both old and those who came out for the first time, to join us for a great ski on a beautiful day. You are the reason we do what we do. No grooming is currently planned during the week. We will see what next weekend brings? Enjoy it while we have it.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Get out to Woodland Trails while we still have winter! All of the trails are in amazing condition for skating. The trails look and ski like it's early February. The deck is firm with a wisp of silky feeling loose snow on top. Lots of leaves down from all the wind, but only a small twig here and there, and not at all an issue for skating; use your best/race skis and have a blast. I didn't notice any classic tracks until reaching the Wash Pond Flats and after that the tracks were intermittent until the return to the parking lot, depending on what route you take. The tracks did appear deep and firm, like they could last awhile, but there are a lot of leaves in them. The course here is so much fun and the grooming is so consistently superb that driving 45 min from Minneapolis is way more than worth it. Thank you Dave Anderson and crew for all you do! You make Winter feel way too short! Putting in a plug for people who may not know it's there (I didn't my first several skis here): You can donate money to the trail maintenance and grooming, so make an ATM stop on your way!

(Amy Swan)

All the trails were in great shape, very good skating conditions. Lots of leaves on the trail, but it wasn't a problem for skating. There are classic tracks on the easy trails, lots of leaves in those. Thank you groomers.

(Joe Gerard)

Pack up the babies and grab the old ladies! It is not very often you can have great fresh snow trail conditions in the middle of March. I made the screening run this evening with Mr. Fixit (formerly Buckthorn Bob), finishing just as the sun was setting (as it will be on our ski season soon as well). We made an extra pass around Stony Rollers to bust up the drifts. The trails will be in excellent shape for your Sunday ski with the only slight detraction being the leaf litter scattered about, especially in some of the tracks. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Trails in great shape, observed a very nice solid set of tracks laid Friday night and lightly used Saturday. Friday night's grooming team made the invasive ATV tracks nearly all disappear as well! Thank you!

(Kyle Henning)

Likely, just in the nick of time, the Engineer got tracks set for us late Friday evening. He reported that the tracks looked just fine. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)