Excellent skiing on the manmade loops this morning. The hundreds of skiers, of all ages and abilities, found a soft powdery surface on a firm base for skate, and solid, straight, and deep tracks for stride. Yes, it was crowded on the trails and the parking lot was full, but the trail is wide, there are multiple sets of tracks, and where else can you meet up with all your friends doing what you love outside on a beautiful day?

(John McCarthy)

The Piston Bully was out again last night. Everything on the man made loop was groomed. The skate deck should be in excellent condition. New track was set and is in excellent condition as well. Beattle's loop and mark's park were also tilled and tracked. It looks like the dnr groomed off the man made loop. I couldn't tell how the conditions are off the man made loop but I would expect it to be good rock ski conditions.

(Mark Janis)

Excellent conditions for skate and stride this morning on the manmade loops. The new snow was groomed with the Pisten Bully and resulted in a soft corduroy layer and firm, snowy tracks. The trails off the manmade loops were not groomed last night.

Photos:

(John McCarthy)

I tilled, groomed, and reset tracks on the entire man-made snow loops with the Pisten Bully. I also tilled, groomed, and reset tracks on Mark's Park and Beatles Loop. Grooming the 2+ inches of new powder that we received late this afternoon and early evening today was magical. It was a groomer's dream to finally groom up some mother nature snow. I believe the man-made trail system is probably in the best shape of the season right now. The trails off the man-made were not groomed as of late tonight.

(Beattle Adelmeyer)

Picture perfect conditions on the manmade loops this morning. A layer of fine powder on a firm flat base makes for excellent skating. Solid tracks holding up well. But - caution - the was a snowgun running this morning for filming by Channel 58 news. This left a ridge of new snow across the northeast corner of the Field Loop. The ridge and a small segment of trail beyond it have hardened and are rutted; and could throw you for a loop if you are not ready for it. Note that you can bypass this spot by taking a playground trail past Pete-s Palace (newly improved).

(John McCarthy)

World Cup conditions for the Southern Division HS and MS meet tonight on the manmade loops. Firm corduroy, flat, solid skate deck. Probably better than what the skiers will see at the Olympics. Also deep and solid tracks on one side.

(John McCarthy)

The Piston Bully was out Wednesday night in preparation for the high school race that is set for Thursday night. The skate deck was tilled and is in excellent condition. The classic tracks on the right side of the trail were left as is. The classic tracks on the left side of trail were scrubbed. The classic tracks that are normally down the center near the pond were also scrubbed. All of this was done in prep for the race which is set to be a skate race. The trail will return to its normal grooming pattern for this weekend. Thanks for your understanding.

(Mark Janis)

Very good conditions for skate and stride on the manmade loops this morning. Stiff corduroy breaking down into a shallow layer of fine powder on a very firm base. Newly set tracks looked good, not icy, and felt fast. Check out the tracks that were left in the Interior Field loops if you'd like to see what they would all be like if they had not been reset. Thank you, Mark, for another great grooming job. Days like today, following the warm up yesterday, are one of the reasons we got the Pisten Bully. Also note - comments I heard from other skiers this morning were that the trails off the manmade loop were problematic.

(John McCarthy)

The Piston Bully was out ar night after the temperature dropped below freezing. The skate deck was tilled and is in great shape. A new classic track was set and is in great shape as well. The brief warm up did little damage to the man made loop. I suspect the other trails didn't fair as well. Please note there will be a high school race on Thursday and the classic track will likely be set in areas that differ from the usual.

(Mark Janis)

Slow conditions, especially in the sunny areas, for skate and stride on the manmade loops this morning. A soft, sticky layer of mushy powder on a firm base for skate - generally pretty clean except for places with little pine cones. Much better in the shady areas of the Woods Loop. Tracks, set on early Sunday morning, are still solid. BTW, the base on the manmade loop is a one to two-foot thick glacier; it is in no danger of melting anytime soon.

(John McCarthy)