The overnight dip below freezing froze the well-used deck, so it took 5 ginzu passes to level it out and create a surface of granular frozen snow. The 6K skied-in classic track was looking pretty sad, so we ripped it out , then set a new track. Bad conditions for track-setting, and sections were immediately skied into by skaters, or walked-on by dogs, but it is a continuous 5 1/2 K (we bypassed the Bi Loop), and has a very nice line. After grooming, I skied the new track and while it is soft, I never had to step-out. It skied well. Since we are closed after noon, mid-day abuse should be minimal and low temps tonight should yield a solid track tomorrow. The 8K has not been cleared or groomed since the weekend storm. We are putting all time and effort into the 6K. We’ll be skate grooming tomorrow morning, then, we see what the weather brings.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Great spring morning conditions. The groomers were out first thing this morning after temps dropped below freezing last night. By the time I arrived at 8am to skate they had already made at least 2 passes which resulted in cut up frozen snow that was fast and good for control. We are now seeing payback from the November blizzard that dumped all that heavy wet snow. I skied in my B skis but should have used my A pair. There is still a think solid base and I didn't see any signs of water running across the trail anywhere. As I started my second lap John and company were starting another grooming lap and laying down classic tracks. Thanks a ton to both these guys as they have done an awesome job this season.

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(Nic Bacigalupo)

6K nicely groomed. Downed trees from recent wet snow and wind were removed. Only twigs on the trail (i.e. no dirt showing) and used good skis with confidence. 8K had not been groomed, but had firmed up overnight, and pock marks from snow falling from trees made a good surface for skating. New snow had healed up a small burnout on Shovel Hill. I removed a few trees that I could lift, and freed up some that were bowed over and they sprung back up straight. Things began to soften somewhat by late morning, but it was a picture perfect day with excellent Spring skiing. Thank you groomers!

(Gordon Mesedahl)

Skied over the noon hour; 41 F sunny; thanks to John's grooming this morning of Saturday nights 3 inch wet snow (plus clearing the trail of several down trees from the storm and many branches) the 5 K loop was great. Good skate deck (getting a little soft with the temps, but still very good), and classic trail was mostly skied in. I skated and classic skied (with skins). Thank you John for providing us with a great place to keep skiing/exercising with social distancing built in.

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(Dave Arvold)

Saturday’s wind caused more problems than the rain. 5” of wet snow gave us a hard crust over softened base, after this mornings brief freeze. Lots of downed branches and debris. Starting at sunrise, we removed 3 downed trees, policed the larger debris, re-hung a downed wire, and groomed the skate deck of the 6K. Nice results, but I’m recommending B-skis due to some remaining debris. Someone skied-in a classic track yesterday, and it froze up pretty decent. It warmed-up before we could hit the 8K, but two returning skiers told me we have 4 downed trees on the 8K trail, and debris. We will concentrate our work on the 6K going forward. We are only open 7:30-Noon now. Open to all skiers, day-pass fee waived for non-members, but only members may bring their dog. We will be grooming the 6K again, at sunrise tomorrow.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Shout out to John, Jim and any other groomers at Snowflake. Had a fun ski yesterday after trail was groomed in the morning. Thanks again fellas for a great winter of skiing!

(Joseph Medlin)

Thanks John! Excellent spring skiing (I was skating) at Snowflake. 33 F when I got then about 9:30 and just 34 when I left about 11. The pictures tell the story. I put my pole in just trailside at Tim's Turn (I convinced George and Dave Johnson we could add an extra loop to the trail there some 20 + years ago.). It went in just about 44 cm!

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(Tim Holst)

Today, we have had groomed trails for exactly 4 months! Everything was skate-groomed this morning. The 6K is 100% covered, and 4 Ginzu passes yielded a soft, flat deck. The 8K got 2 passes and is beautiful, except for some south-facing hills ( Geno’s Jump, Shovel Hill) which are showing some dirt. I closed Hovland Hill because of exposed ground and sheet ice on the downhill. We are open til sunset today, and begin Spring hours, 7:30-Noon, this Friday. We will keep grooming as temps, and snow condition allow. Stay well and be positive!

Photos:

(John Graham)

Thanks to favorable overnight temps, will be re-grooming the skate decks on the 6K and 8K trails, early tomorrow morning. However, forecast weather means a change from Winter, to Spring hours. On Thursday we will remain open from 7:30 am - sunset. Beginning on Friday trails will be open from 7:30 am to noon for the remainder of this season. We want everyone off the trails from noon onward. A word for member dog-owners: we groomed on Tuesday morning, and by 3 o’clock there were at least 3 piles of dog feces on the 6K. Pick-up after your dog, or we will close the trail to dogs. The extended forecast looks favorable for continued early morning grooming and morning skiing into April. We will do the grooming, if skiers and dog-owners continue to cooperate and do your part to preserve the ski trails. Stay well!

(John Graham)

The 6K and 8K trails were groomed for skating this morning. Both trails groomed up nicely, and we have a hard base under groomed icy corduroy. The 6K Classic track is >90% intact, hard, and icy; I tried to kick snow into the track, but it probably need klister skis. No track on the 8K. 100% cover on all trails, but a patch of dirt developing on Shovel Hill, and dark snow developing on the SouthEast facing hills. If we get rain tonight, we will be closed on Wednesday and will groom once the trails dry. Chalet is closed, no rental gear available, but trails are open to everyone. Be well!

Photos:

(John Graham)