Jim groomed, so I thought I'd add comments and pictures from after grooming. 9 AM, 30 F. As if perfectly blue skies and perfectly groomed corn snow (on the 6 K loop) weren't sufficient, Mother Nature added hoar frost on the trees with the hard freeze last night. The sparkle in my soul matched the sparkle in the tops of the birches as I enjoyed yet another "best skate ski of the year" at Snowflake. Made me feel young again to ski like that, like maybe 65 or something.

Photos:

(Tim Holst)

Temps in the high 20s at 7 AM, hit the 8K. Nice hard crust not much iciness. The main issue was that it had been skied by only a few skiers since grooming, and these skiers were out in warmer conditions. So there were some deep enough tracks that I skated off to the far left on the broad skate lane. That went OK. I chose to check my speed on downhillls so my ski wouldn't wind up in a rut, which is sort of disappointing considering that the point of spring skiing is fast fast fast. Around Shovel Hill, a snowshoer used the trail for a short distance. There are tracks from this, but at least it's off to the side and doesn't last too long. I checked out the 5 K before leaving and it has had much more skating use. Enough so that ruts are probably not an issue. I would have skied it had I had the time.

(Sara Zimmer)

My oh my, absolutely fabulously fantastic (insert your own adjectives) conditions for skate this morning at Snowflake. I ski this trail system a lot and this is the best I have seen in a great winter of skiing! Of course, timing your ski is everything with Spring skiing but so is the grooming. I love the nighttime grooming (especially for we early morning skiers) and so much appreciate the work John and his crew do this time of year to give us really great Spring conditions. Classic tracks are a little glazed but deep and solid in most places. As Tim indicated, the base is deep and our smiles will continue as we enjoy natures bounty of winter snow through the Spring. Best time of year!

(Tom Heinitz)

This is the time of year when groomers John and Jim really shine! The phone message said they were out until 1 AM last night, and early this morning it surely showed. Look at the pictures, I don't see how it could have been better. Fast, perfectly-groomed corn snow, just getting up to freezing and sunny sky. Most enjoyable skate ski of the year for me. On the picture by the "Tim's turn" sign, the left pole is poked into the snow, and the right pole basket is sitting on the snow. A good two feet of snow at the edge of the trail.

Photos:

(Tim Holst)

Last night we ran two Ginzus around the 6 and 8K trails, twice, to clean up the ruts, and dog-tracks that had already become "craters" over three warm, sunny days.
The skate decks groomed-up very nice (photos). We debated setting new classic tracks, but decided that any track we set tonight, would not be as firm tomorrow as the existing tracks, which are still fair/good. So everything is groomed skate and classic. Today we begin Spring Hours and trails will be closed from Noon-5:30pm. If temps are above 34 in the evening, we ask that you consider not skiing. From today, Snowflake is also "No Dogs" on the premises, due to the conditions and so that we can maintain decent trails while we have this base.

Photos:

(John Graham)

I classic skied both the 6 and 8K trails this afternoon, under sunny skies and 33 degree temp. Once clear of the trailhead, classic tracks on both trails were well-defined and very nice to ski in. There are a few washouts in the hard turns, and a few areas of the 8K had been blown-in, but I'd call the tracks 95% good. As the groomer, I am pretty critical. The skate decks had seen good use, the 6K much more than the 8, but on the whole, good conditions. Grooming Plans: On Tuesday Snowflake will go to Spring Hours. Trails will be open 0700-Noon, closed from Noon-5:30pm, then open from 5:30-9pm. The Chalet will be open by 8am and will close at 9pm. The lighted Loop will be lit from 7:15-9pm. Also, beginning Tuesday 3/15 we are closed to members'dogs. Under the forecast conditions dogs/dog-tracks will damage our base and trails, beyond what we can repair. We have a great base and will continue to groom so long as we can get our Ginzus around a skiable loop. Spring restrictions should extend our season into April.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Wind blown refresh of the classic tracks for good kick but 5F means not much glide on the hard packed trails. So nice, I did a second loop. I just skied Janes 5K.

(Mark Boyce)

Tonight we groomed all of our skate decks. They cleaned-up nicely, should be very nice for the rest of the week. We had planned to rip-out and reset all classic tracks but, as we examined them, decided that we can not improve on the hard, skied-in tracks, for the time being. I classic skied both trails the past two days, and they are very nice; the 8K a bit shallower than the 6K, but well-defined and fast. I'll update hours and restrictions this weekend. Enjoy this week and try the lighted loop!

Photos:

(John Graham)

The weekend storm passed south of us, and only dropped a little rain, ice, and snow on our trails. This morning we groomed the skate decks on both trails, and, thanks to yesterday's moisture, they are firm and smooth. The classic tracks are firm under about 1/2" of snow, and just need to be skied-in. Right now, the 6K is closed as we host a Biathlon meet, but it will be open to all at 2:00 pm. The trails are open 7 am - 9 pm every day, and the chalet is open 8-8. It will be nice skiing this week!

Photos:

(John Graham)

This morning we did a fresh grooming of the skate decks on both the 6K and 8K trails. Trails are firmand tracks are very good (photo). We're open til 9 pm tonight, and I hope the trails saw good use today. Grooming plans: Tonight a storm with mixed precip is forecast to bring snow, mix, and rain, continuing through Saturday until Sunday morning. In order to preserve our fabulous base, and expedite post-storm recover/grooming, Snowflake will be closed from Saturday morning until sometime on Sunday afternoon. To complicate the weather, we are hosting a Minnesota Biathlon meet on Sunday, scheduled to begin at 11 am. So, on Sunday morning we will be trying to open and groom the biathlon course on the 6K trail. The 6K will be closed to non-participants until the end of the event (@ 3 pm) once the course is groomed, we will try to open the 8K, or sections of it to skiers, but it all depends on what this storm delivers, and how wet the trails are. I'd suggest skiers not plan to ski Snowflake until Monday; if we let the base dry-out, we could have good trails thru next week.

Photos:

(John Graham)