Hard to believe, but we have been open for 2 months now, with only 2 days of closure due to a blizzard and the rain event! All 14K were skate groomed today, and the decks are in fine shape. The 6K classic track is showing some wear on the sharper turns and climbs, but is 90% solid. Given the forecast, we are not going to mess with it until after Sunday. The 8K classic track is very nice, solid, and has seen less use. In order to preserve our trails, no dogs are permitted at Snowflake on Sunday. This is an all-day restriction and will be enforced. As we go into milder weather, member dog owners are reminded to call the chalet before bringing dogs up, and use common sense, if the temperature is above 32 degrees. Dog-tracks melt in 3 dimensions and become craters that ruin the skating deck. Snowflake KidSki session 5 will happen on Sunday from 1:30-3:30. We remain open for other skiing, but youth-sized rental equipment will not be available between noon and 3:30. Go Chiefs!

(John Graham)

The trails were covered with about a half inch of fluff and heavily used. The classic tracks were very solid, just a few corners wiped out, and the tracks were slightly misshapen from use. The skate deck was used a lot but in great shape too. Snow was fast, not a bit of ice, and fun!

(Eve Graves)

My first time skiing at Snowflake Nordic Center. This nice couple who coach a high school nordic ski team gave me some tips on the different trails and where to start on the trails. Snow conditions were very good and I skied classic.

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(John Crellin)

23 F and cloudy at 10 AM. There is 2 to 3 feet of snow in the woods at Snowflake. I know this from walking between trail segments watching the race last Friday. Last week's nearly continuous light snow has transformed and is much faster today. Fast wax red paste gave great glide and swix extra blue plenty of kick. This was my 51st time on skis this year, and probably at least the 40th time of "near-perfect" conditions. The cord on the skate lane was untouched and the classic tracks great nearly everywhere on both 6 K and 8 K. I stepped on to the skate lane on some downhills and it was just slightly soft, but quite fast (I'll be 69 soon and the uphills have not changed, but somehow the downhills have gotten steeper in the last couple of years!). John and company were just finishing when I arrived and they have done a great job this year! Picture is from the 8 K out by the power lines on the north end.

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(Tim Holst)

Wow! You gotta give it to John and his dedicated crew at Snowflake. Absolutely fabulous conditions for skate this morning on a pristinely groomed skate deck. While not the fastest conditions we have enjoyed out there during this epic ski season, they are certainly some of the best. The race yesterday helped compact the newer snow and even the parts that did not see race action were great (a tad softer-- Special K and parts of the 8K). Thank you! Happy Winter.

(Tom Heinitz)

Congratulations to the 450 participants in today’s East H.S. Invitational races. We had 650 starts during the event, and our trails benefitted from the high-energy skiing. Once racing ended, we began to restore the trails. All trails have been re-groomed and new classic tracks set. Lows in the mid 20’s tonight should set-up the classic tracks, and a light snowfall should yield a beautiful skate deck on Saturday. Members who ski with dogs should check our phone message before coming up: with exactly 4 weeks until the Birkie and Kortie, we will be trying to provide the best trails possible for our many Birkie participants, which may require dog restrictions as temperature and snow conditions require. Snowflake KidSki and AdultSki, session 4, on Sunday 1:30-3:30. Youth rental equipment will be unavailable between Noon-3:30.

(John Graham)

Warmer temps and high humidity have really transformed the snow, so the skate decks are firmer, and the tracks are are glazed by the overnight freeze. We have about 1" of fresh snow from last night's precip, but will not be grooming until this evening, when we do course preparation for the East HS Invitational Ski Race, which is Friday. In preparation for the race, Snowflake will close at 6:00 pm tonight so that we can groom the race courses, and we will be closed to all non-race skiing on Friday 1/24 until the completion of the last race, around 4:30 pm. The courses include bothe the 5K and 8K trails, there is no way to access the more distant trail segments without skiing on the race course, so "Closed" means closed. Immediately after the last race, we will begin regrooming the trails, starting with the 8K to remove the "best line" classic track and restore it for skating, then the 6K trail. We will be open 8-8 on Saturday and Sunday. KidSki session #4 is on Sunday 1:30-3:30: the chalet will be crowded during that time and kids' rental equipment will not be available between Noon and 3:30.

(John Graham)

28 F and snowing lightly when I arrived at 9:00 AM. About 2 inches of new snow in the tracks (I was striding) so the first lap on the 6 K loop was a bit slow but nice and fast after that. I had my Fischer Zeros and they were great, no clumping at all. Tracks washed out in a few places, but all-in-all in good shape. Fred Sproat came flying by me skating when I was slogging the first lap and he said the skating was "beautiful". Roads were dirty and sloppy but silent, white and beautiful in the woods!

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(Tim Holst)

This morning we regroomed skate decks on all trails with some “knives-down” on the Ginzu. Beautiful result, much firmer than yesterday, but still somewhT soft since the snow has not transformed yet. The classic tracks, set Sunday on all trails, have improved with being skied-in. I classic skied all trails this afternoon: the 6K, seeing more use from beginners is 90% very good, with some washouts and body-divits; the 8k track was lovely, well-laid, and I only left the track on the sharp turn into the Pulse loop.
Note: Wwe will be hosting the Duluth East HS Invitational on Friday. Trails will be closed for course prep at 6:00 pm on Thursday, and remain closed until the end of racing on Friday (4:30 pm).

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(John Graham)

Definitely still soft for skating despite the groomers thoroughly hitting the entire system after the snow and the wind. Needs a few more days to really firm up I think. That was a lot of snow. It's certainly skate-able but you'll end up doing a lot more V1 than normal with "light and quick" motions to accommodate the trail softness. There was a classic track throughout, very smooth on the nice long downhills, but it is going to take a beating with ski/dog/wildlife traffic until things harden up. Especially on the uphills, it's still a bit soft as well. Nothing (twigs, bark, leaves) is on the trail but snow!

(Sara Zimmer)