4-5" of powdery snow today. Tonight we compacted and groomed all trails, and set new classic tracks on the 6K, 8K, Ice Oval, Soccer Field, and Kiddie Loop. The untransformed powder will be softer than last week's firm base, and the classic track will be vulnerable until it is skied-in. Member dog-owners are asked to keep your dog on the left side of the trails, and away from our new tracks. KidSki session 4 will happen from 1:45-3:30 on Sunday. The lighted 1.6 K loop on til 9, every night.

(John Graham)

Sub-zero temps really hardened-up the deck, so this morning we groomed the 6K and 8K trails with knives down a bit. Cleaned-up the ruts, dog-tracks, and the left side. Classic track on both trails is rock-solid, and only washed-out on the usual sharp turns. Very nice! Our plan is to begin grooming Saturday evening and have all trails ready to go on Sunday morning. KidSki session #4 is Sunday, 1:45-3:30. Chalet area will be very busy, parking lot congested during that time.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Trails were freshly groomed the evening before with a flat deck, deep tracks and good corduroy. Skijoring med Henrik var rask. Mange glade skiløpere og høflige hunder. (Skijoring with Henrik was fast. Many happy skiers and polite dogs ).

(Bruce Derauf)

Lots of skiers, plus the KidSki session #3, this weekend, so tonight we cleaned and groomed the 6K skate deck, then set a new 6K classic track (photo). Should be nice and solid in the morning. The 8K classic track, set Friday night, has firmed-up and the 8K skate deck saw some use, but remains flat and fast. Many positive comments about it this weekend. If you haven't skied the lighted 1.6K loop, you should.

Photos:

(John Graham)

An exciting day of racing today, as over 400 high school and middle school skiers competed in the Duluth East Invitational. The Pursuit format, using both trails, provided non-stop action. Well done, to all participants!
Thank you to Snowflake members for giving-up a day of skiing to the racers and organizers.
Immediately following the last race, we re-groomed the 6K skate deck, which is in beautiful shape. The existing 6K classic track if rock-solid. We then ripped-out the 5K "best-line" classic track that was set on the 8K trail for today's race, groomed the skate deck, and (drum-roll) set a lovely classic track on the 8K. It should be solid in the morning. The chalet is open 8-8 daily, the 1.6K lighted loop is now lit until 9 pm every night. Snowflake KidSki Session 3 will happen on Sunday, 2:00-3:30. Parking and the areas around the chalet will be crowded from 1:30-3:45, but the 8K and Perimeter Loop won't be busy.

Photos:

(John Graham)

The 6K has a firm base and the classic track is well-formed and hard. The 8K has a firm base and no set classic track. Trails are open until 6 pm Thursday, at which time trails will be closed for pre-race preparation, marking, and grooming of both trails. Trails will be closed all day on Friday for the East High School Invitational Ski Race. We expect about 300 skiers to participate; parking will be very limited. At the conclusion of racing, estimated around 5 pm, we will begin to remove caution tape and markers, and re-groom the 6K. During that time, skiers are welcome to ski the classic 5K classic race course on the 8K trail; it's a best line track and a fun course. Bring a headlamp. Once the 6K is restored, groomers will clean-up and re-groom the 8k. Trails and the chalet will re-open on Saturday and resume regular hours, trails open 8-9, Chalet open 8-8, lighted loop on 5-9. Happy to say that we have three operating sleds again.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Snowflake was swarming with about 70 KidSki students, braving the chill for an abbreviated session #2 this afternoon. Thanks Coaches! Once the kids cleared-out, I cleaned-up and re-groomed the 6K skate deck, which skiers reported as "flat, firm, and fast". The classic track, set yesterday, firmed-up nicely overnight and is well formed and 100% intact. The 8K is only groomed for skate, and saw little use today. Classic skiers are welcome to ski the right side. Two important notes: (1) We will host the Duluth East H. S. Invitational this Friday. It's a large race, with multiple formats. Snowflake will be closed to all skiers at 6 pm on Thursday so that we can set-up and groom the courses. We'll be closed all day Friday, until the conclusion of racing, about 5 pm. (2) We are down to one sled, with the other two being repaired. Grooming will be limited for the next 2-3 days, so please respect the classic track.

Photos:

(John Graham)

2-3” of fresh, dry snow overnight, but winds had built some drifts over 2’ high, and mostly in the classic track. Compacted and groomed the 6K skate, then had to compact the classic track twice before setting a new track. Soft snow structure, but it immediately saw a lot of use. We then compacted the 8K (which seemed to have 3-4” of snow) and skate-groomed it. At that point the groomers were pretty cold and tired, so we abandoned the plan to set an 8K track today. Too cold and dry to set a lasting track. The stadium, Ice Oval, and Kiddie Loop were groomed and new tracks set. A reminder that Snowflake KidSki will happen between 1:45-3:15 on Sunday, abbreviated due to forecast temps.

(John Graham)

Today we cleaned-up and re-groomed the skate decks on both the 6 and 8K trails. The 6K is in the best condition so far this season, firm, flat, fast. The 8K a little bit softer but beautiful. Some wind-blown debris, and the remains of two critters that were eaten (mostly) on the trails. None of it should bother good skis. The classic track on the 6K is hard and 98% intact, with just two short segments that got drifted in with snow. We compacted those, and skiers can ski-in the missing track. We did not set the promised track on the 8K yesterday (sorry, both groomers were under the weather, but not covid). We will set it mid-morning on Saturday. Three important notes: 1) Masks are required inside the chalet; 2) our KidSki program is 1:45-3:30 on Sunday, temperature permitting. The chalet area and 6K will be very busy; 3) We will host the East HS Invitational ski races next Friday, Jan 28th. Trails will close for race grooming at 5:30 on Thursday, and remain closed until the end of racing, around 5:00 pm on Friday.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Wonderful start to Snowflake KidSki today, with 85 future Olympians and 24 coach/instructors taking over the place (photos)! Our base is finally transforming, and tonight we regroomed the skate decks on all trails, then set a new, deep classic track on the 6K. Overnight temps should freeze it up nicely. The 8K classic track, set yesterday, is pristine, so we left it alone. Two night skiers reported that the 8K skate was very fast and beautiful after we groomed. We are open 8-8 every day, honor system if the desk isn’t manned, and the 1.6K lighted loop is lit til 8 pm. Masks now required in the chalet.

Photos:

(John Graham)