It appears that the snow missed us to the south. Yesterday’s sun and heat hammered our trails, and cut-off all routes for the grooming equipment to the remaining trails. There is significant exposed ground on all trails, except for Special K, which is still 99% covered. Bold skiers, with rock-skis, can access Special K by skiing out the 6K return and taking the service cut-thru to the top of Takitez, cross the trail and take the cut-thru next to campsite #20; you’ll be on Special K. Exit and return on the same route. The trails remain open, ski at your own risk, but enjoy it while we have it! It was a great season! Stay well, Carpe Diem.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Morning snow was enough to add life to the trails, and partially cover some of the bare spots... enough to negotiate with "B" skis. Skied the open segments of the 6K and and several sections of the 8K which are easily accessible off the 6K loop. The "Marshall Moves" / "Dave's Doom" "Pulse" hill loop was still good this morning for those wanting some hill intervals. Thank you John and Jim for extending our season through your efforts. Much appreciated!

(Gordon Mesedahl)

This morning we groomed about 4K of the 6K trail, during a nice “snow squall”! About 1” of new snow! The modified course skips the Bee Hollow segment. Take the Biathlon cut-thru, turn left, and the rest is groomed to the finish. Special K is especially nice, but follow the detour at the bottom of TakItEZ hill to get there. Skiers report on the 8K are that all south-exposed hills are exposed/bare, and the Nikolai’s Narrows segment is flooded, so we did not venture into the 8K. I recommed rock or B skis, due to some thin snow on the groomed trail, but it should be nice April skating. There is no classic track. Stay healthy and positive: this too, shall pass!

Photos:

(John Graham)

I just returned from a walking recon of the trails. It is 55 degrees and the snow is wet and slushy, however as far as I could see, the ski trails are intact. Wednesday will be another warm day, but after midnight the temps will drop into the 20’s. We plan to groom at sunrise on Thursday. The wild-card limiting factor may be our ability to get the ginzus from the garage to the trails. We will survey the trails as we go, close-off trails that ahave gone bad, and groom a continuous trail with what we have left. I expect to offer decent Spring skiing Thursday-Sat mornings. Thanks, to Bruce Bauer and company for restoring and packing snow on the troublesome Bee Hollow hill, last night. Stay healthy, and don’t store your skis quite yet.

Photos:

(John Graham)

The above-freezing temps and forecast highs led us to not groom this morning. Tomorrow is forecast wet and warm then, a cool-down early Wednesday, followed by sub-32 nights through Saturday. That’s good! We will groom the surviving trails early Wednesday, re-route as required, and look forward to decent April trails from Wed-Friday. Stay well, carpe diem!

(John Graham)

The 6K and Fisketti Jct sections of the 8K were skate groomed this morning. 6K is 99.9% covered: only problem is the downhill before Bee Hollow; we filled it, but it is thin. 6K classic track is shallow and worn. Groomed sections of the 8K are very nice, the only open ground is at Geno’s Jump on the return trail. Use caution there. Forecast temps are not too exciting. Grooming the rest of the week will depend upon night low temps, and precip. Spring hours 7:30-noon. Stay well, carpe diem!

Photos:

(John Graham)

Wow, another amazing late-season day at Snowflake. Full coverage and excellent grooming. The skate lane was smooth and fast, and overall conditions were so good it was hard to believe the calendar. Thanks again Snowflake crew for giving us this great outlet to get outside and enjoy spring!

(Bruce Bauer)

We came thru Friday’s rain well, and added some snow! Groomed the 6K skate deck this morning. Sow/ice mix over a hard base. Very nice. 6K classic track is still intact and hard, snow in the track will improve it. 100% cover on 6K. Groomed thru the perimeter cut-thru at the powerlines, onto the 8K and skate groomed about 3K of the trails in and out of Fisketti Jct. very nice, and 100% cover where we groomed. 8K return trail is groomed, but use caution on Geno’s Jump. We also groomed the Pulse/Dave’s Doom loop, skate only. Enter and exit from the 8K start, across the soccer field. When in doubt, follow the grooming! Saturday hours extended til 1:00, thanks to low temp. On Sunday, we resume 7:30-noon Soring hours. Stay well!

Photos:

(John Graham)

Thanks, John and Jim! Excellent skiing at Snowflake this morning 8:30 - 10:30, I used my best skis no problem. And two firsts-- I don't think I have ever skied Tim's Turn in April, in past Aprils it was just the 6 K I think, and they groomed part of the 8 K this morning. The other first, in over 60 years of skiing, I don't believe I have ever heard and seen a robin while skiing, which I did this morning!

Photos:

(Tim Holst)

The 6K skate deck was groomed this morning, and came out very nice, smooth and firm. One exposed area on a downhill was filled, but be cautious on any blind downhill. The 6K classic track, set yesterday, firmed-up well overnight, and is a bit shallow but 100% continuous. We will not be grooming tomorrow if it rains tonight, and we’ll take the weekend weather as it comes. Chalet is closed, trails are open 0730-Noon.

Photos:

(John Graham)