As expected, it was very icy this morning. I skied from 10 am to noon doing some skating exercises. Some people were out there skate skiing too. It was not groomed yet, nice tracks are set though. A thin layer of ice present everywhere. Hopefully, it will snow this weekend!

(Raphael Delhaye)

Groomers made the manmade good for skate skiing chipping enough for 2" sugar snow over the whole 1.7k loop with no ice patches. Classic tracks were also made. The skate lanes were lumpy from the heavy use from skiers but still enjoyable skiing.

(Don Howell)

The manmade loops have been groomed this morning, mixing in the sleet from last night with the ground ice base, and making for a nice, firm, and fast surface on the skate deck. Nicer in the woods than on the core loop. A track was set, but I can't comment on it.

(John McCarthy)

The manmade-snow loop at Lapham was good this afternoon. When I started skiing at 12:45 today, it was only fair: enough of the base had been scarified up into snow to get an edge, but quite uneven. Then the DNR groomer came out about 1:00 pm, went over and over it, leveling it out and scratching up the places where it was icy, mainly on straight, flat, east-west section. This is old, dirty snow, but it was good skiing.

(Charlie Dee)

The manmade snow loops, with their firm base of manmade snow, survived the recent meltdown. Grooming by the DNR team has broken up the icy top layer and created a wonderful skiing surface - hero snow - on the entire manmade snow system. No track has been set. The surface is corn snow over an icy base - but actually the most fun skating conditions of the season (sorry, striders). Who knows what's next, but for now, the skiing is great.

Photos:

(John McCarthy)

The skating conditions were good on the 1.7 k manmade loop. The manmade loop was groomed when the temperature got cold last night. Groomer were able to chip about 2" of sugar snow to provide good edging for skating and cover the ice base. The only patch of ice was on the right side of magic carpet at the bottom and easy to avoid. Groomer came around again 4 times which provide a corduroy smooth skate lane with even faster glide. Their were no tracks for classic skiers and tracks can't be made until warmer temperatures, according to the groomers.

Photos:

(Don Howell)

Trails are all freshly groomed as of this morning. '
NOTICE: Governor Evers has declared a State of Emergency for WI due to extremely cold temperatures. DNR Secretary Cole has asked that state employees refrain from any outside work until conditions are safe. Grooming operations at the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit and Lapham Peak will be suspended for the next 2 days (thru Thursday). We will update this page when we are able to resume our work. Please stay safe if you choose to venture outside the next few days!

(Anne Korman, Wisconsin DNR)

Lots of new snow, and the DNR grooming team is working hard to keep up with it. Late afternoon into this evening saw hundreds of skiers on the trails - middle school and high school team practices, and Peak Nordic Kids this evening. Trails are soft and loose for skate, and tracks for striding are a work in progress - new tracks being set as I finished. It was a lot of work skiing today, but soon, it's going to be fantastic. Be sure to dress warm.

(John McCarthy)

Good striding conditions on the manmade snow loops this afternoon, but the track is getting a bit worn and needs to be reset. Skate lanes looked great but may ski a little slow.

(John McCarthy)

The lighted loop was ok for skating but on the non manmade sections it had ground areas to avoid especially on the climbs. The newly extended 1.7 Manmade trail was very good for skating considering the cold temperatures. The new 4" of snow was groomed so it was firm with still enough for good edging. Very enjoyable skiing into the woods protected from the wind on the new extended manmade section.

(Don Howell)