As the groomer reported, skating conditions were good. After an hour, the start hill was groomed. The magic carpet was ok but a little patch of ice at the flat section of the bottom of the magic carpet. Wind gusts were 36 mph which blew off my cap and had to stop to retrieve it a few times.

(Don Howell)

The snow that was made was leveled and groomed on most of the trail. The start hill still has snow piles that will be pushed Saturday afternoon. The rest of the trail is open.

(Mark Janis)

Excellent conditions for skate and stride on the out-and-back segment of the Woods Loop that is todays route due to snowmaking operations. About a 2.2 km (1.4 mi) circuit from the trailhead around to the top of Tail End Hill and back. Thin, but dense layer of powdery snow on a firm base provides a fast, easy, and fun ski. Newly set tracks are well formed and solid, with an ice/snow base.

(John McCarthy)

The Piston Bully was out at night grooming the man made loops. The skate deck was tilled and is in great condition. New classic track was set and is in mostly good condition although there are some areas where the track is shallow. Snow making has started and will continue until Saturday morning. Please be aware that some of the trail system will be closed and you will be directed to ski down tail end instead of down magic carpet.

(Mark Janis)

Conditions are changing as the day progresses The very wet layer of new snow on the surface was very slow early, but has dried out a bit and gotten much faster, but it's also getting rutted and freezing from below. The Field Loop is by far the worst, while the climb up to the high point on the Woods Loop is by far the best. The descent down Magic Carpet is manageable. I would rate conditions as Low on the Fun scale.

(John McCarthy)

I attempted to groom this morning, but the trail was too soft with the slushy mix we got overnight. I would expect the trail to remain fairly soft for the rest of the day. Grooming plans: The good news is, we are planning on making snow tonight and Friday night! With that said, there will be a few sections of the man-made loop closed as we make snow and before it can get spread. Please keep your distance if you see the snowmaking equipment of piston bully out pushing snow. We will have alternate routes to get around the closed sections. The main closed section will be the bottom half of magic carpet. Skiers will have the option to either turn around or ski down tail-end. Most of the closed sections will be on the lower loop around the field.

(Collin Bergholz)

I started skating at 9:30 am, conditions were excellent. Clean skate deck and very little ice. When I left at 11:00 am it was getting soft.

(Mike Wiegel)

After enjoying the natural snow in the Madison area over the past 6 weeks I finally made the 50-minute drive east to Lapham Peak to prep for the manmade stuff awaiting me in Cable next weekend. Had a great time at Lapham enjoying super fast ball bearing skate conditions. The classic track was icy and so fast you could double pole uphill if that was your thing. I offer up an "excellent" rating not so much for the conditions but for the super fun loop and the chatty social setting. I ran into several friends from the Milwaukee area that cut into my "moving time " but I could get used to these artificial snow venues. If that is the future of Midwest Nordic so be it — although hard to top the single track classic trails at ABR!

(Mike Ivey)

Moved from the Playground to the northeast segment of the Field Loop, including the run-out from Magic Carpet, and to the bare spot in the center of the finishing straightaway, improving those trail segments. Harvested snow has also been placed in some of the worst sections of the classic tracks, but not yet groomed in - thank you to whoever did this. Downhills are in great condition.

(John McCarthy)

Great skate conditions this morning. Tracks are old and getting thin. Mark pushed and pulled a little more snow around so the entire loop is skiable. There are still a few creeping dirt areas on the sides. Most notably at the bottom of magic carpet in the tracks. Was the trip there worth it? Absolutely!

Photos:

(Jim Marschalek)