First time at Snowflake. Really want to come back under better conditions. As it was, groomed track was solid ice, so I decided to try skating for the first time with mild success. Did the 5K loop and was grateful when I reached the end with some of my pride intact. Experienced skate skiers looked like they were having a blast. I, on the other hand, found it too slippery and took a couple of hard spills. One involving a face plant that I'm surprised didn't turn into a black eye. This probably says more about me than the trails, but if you enjoy fast skating, this may have been a good day for you.

(Dawn Mikkelson)

Snowflake has full coverage even on the typical areas that would have some grass peeking through by now. We classic skied the 6k at Snowflake. The skate deck was great, fast, and fresh. The classic tracks were a double pole derby for 90 % of it. I'd say 98% of the tracks were debris free and intact too...when double poling on ice and hitting debris it tends to make more of an impact than when skiing on soft snow and hitting them.

(Eve Graves)

Awesome skiing at Snowflake today! 6K is good for skating and classic. Classic track is a bit icy so maybe used sister or your skins. 8K is really good for skating. Thanks so much to the groomers!

(Bruce Busta)

Still 100% coverage and a deep base! This morning we groomed the 6K skate deck, three passes with a little knife, and it is pretty nice. The 6K classic track is rock-solid and the icy glaze should soften by mid morning. After that I used the Perimeter Loop cut-thru at the 2K marker to get on the 8K and skate groomed about 4 km of the 8K trail. Follow the grooming and you'll finish-up on the 8K return segment to the trailhead! We are open til 9pm. No dogs, please.

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(John Graham)

I skated the 6km loop late afternoon and found it in excellent condition. It is chopped up enough on the surface to give glide stability but the base remained firm enough to keep your ski/pole from sinking. A few south facing slopes are softening but the one bare patch by the exit of the 6k is the only one on the entire trail. Thanks for keeping the trail in spectacular shape! Snowflake seems to always be the best trail to ski in Duluth this time of year.

(Chandra Shoberg)

Groomed! It was great skiing this morning and afternoon. Conditions should be very nice again Sunday when the sun gets out. Thanks so much for keeping the season going as long as there is good snow!

(Bruce Bauer)

All trails open, but only 6 k is groomed. John and Jim got out late Friday night as it froze and groomed and set classic track on the 6 k loop. It froze hard after they groomed and the classic tracks were rock hard, but not glazed ice. Swix green gave plenty of kick, and the tracks were rocket fast, except where blown over in a very few spots, mostly on the last half of Special K, and after the first time around, those areas were reasonably fast as well. I got out of the tracks on some downhills and corners, especially the first time around, to make sure I had control, and the skate lane was very fast, but had sufficient surface from the grooming to let you feel in control. Only problem for me was that in my excitement to get out there, I did not dress warmly enough for the 16 F (at 8:30 AM), and quite strong north wind. After about 10 km, I was sufficiently warm to take a couple of pics out on Special K. So great to be striding on hard wax this late in the season!

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(Tim Holst)

As soon as the temp dropped to 32F we commenced compacting the 6K trail. Very soft base despite the three day hiatus, but six passes with the compactor and three passes with the Ginzu, yielded a decent, if soft, skate deck. We then set a classic track, not beautiful but decent. Softening on the trail-sides required moving the track about a foot to the center, so skaters, please be mindful of your strider friends. With only one sled in operation, grooming the 6K took 6 hours so we did not get on to the 8K, but it is open to skiers, and a classic track skied into the right side would be welcomed! We are open to skiers, but closed to dogs due to soft conditions. Trails and chalet are open 8am-9pm this weekend.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Snowflake is closed to all activity, again, on Friday. Today's temps and forecast precip and temps tomorrow will keep us off the trails until the temps drop tomorrow night. We'll begin restoring the 6K once temps drop to 32. Our plan is to have a classic track set and a groomed skate deck by Saturday morning. I'll post weekend hours and restrictions as soon as we see how it turns out.

(John Graham)

Snowflake will be closed to all activity, again, on Thursday. Today we took a sled onto the hill and the tracks immediately went dark as the water in the base percolated up; if we compact now, we will wind-up with wet compacted snow which will go to a sheet of ice when temps go sub-32. So, we continue to drain and dry. The Friday forecast is warm, so we anticipate being closed again, grooming Friday night, and being open all day on the weekend. Trail opening will be complicated because we have only one operating sled; our priority is to groom and open the 6K, then groom and open some of the loops on the 8K around Fisketti (Spaghetti) Junction. The photo shows moisture rising in a bootprint, the dark areas being saturated from below.

Photos:

(John Graham)