Gorgeous conditions! Skate deck still a bit soft in places but was firming up. I skated but the classic tracks looked excellent. Lots of people out skiing but you'd never know it from how good the tracks looked. Thanks groomers!

(Dena Coffman)

Fresh skate deck and classic tracks on all 1k, 2k and 4k loops. Looking good out there! We added a few random cutoffs to accommodate a kids'ski race coming up on Sunday afternoon. As always humans on skis only on the right of the stakes and all others on the left of the stakes.

(Mike Guild)

Shuffled around Hiawatha a few times on some skier made tracks in the multi-use path. Pole plants were pretty good given our volume of snow - so nice work groomers! The skate deck was partially groomed and certainly functional. Should be great once completed! Worth getting out there!

Photos:

(Sara Brokaw)

Grooming crew was able to get out this afternoon and knock down all this new beautiful snow. Right now we rolled out the ski trail and the multi use trails, along with the 1k and 2k cutoff loops. Grooming plans: The grooming crew will be going out Thursday night and Friday morning to set the skate deck and set classic tracks.

(Mike Guild)

In case you're headed out for a post-work pre-blizzard skate ski: there is no sign of the trail or grooming that was done last night. We got down the hill and turned around. Can't wait when it's ready for us!

(Jane Tigan)

Hiawatha is rolled. The recent snow is packed down to a few inches of snow on top of the icy surface. Hoping that the new snow adheres to the crust, but it may not matter if we get as much snow as we are expecting. Grooming plan is to be rolling as much as possible while it's snowing.

(John Saunders)

Skate skied tonight after most of the snow had come down. Nice powdery conditions - slower but fun and peaceful. Felt ice below in sections and found a few spots where wind had blown snow into mini drifts...or where I had strayed off where the deck would have been. Speaking of decks, I spotted a dedicated groomer (bright light in pic) as I was wrapping up my ski. Didn't ski on the new deck but it looked like it will be nice for those who get out tomorrow. Thanks groomers!

Photos:

(Kip Kirkpatrick)

Skied the 4K, conditions were varied. Some windblown and effectively bare ice, some with good snow coverage. No bare ground. Classic tracks are in pretty rough shape. Groomers have made an attempt but the wind has worked against them. Where there is snow it's nice, not fast, but good skiing. I definitely used some classic style pseudo-skate technique on the bare ice sections. Was able to ski up all the hills without problems.

(Erik Jerde)

38 degrees, just before it started to rain - and conditions were absolutely fantastic for skate skiing. No ice whatsoever, easy to get an edge, no suction from the wet snow, fast and fun. Not sure how it worked out but I give a lot of credit to the groomers at Hiawatha who have kept this course going all season. It was still safe for good skis this morning, before the rain. Good coverage throughout the course for both skate and classic skiing. Such a fun little course.

(Bill Oyler)

I wasn't sure what to expect today at Hiawatha - but found the skate deck to be firm and reasonably pliable. Some shaded parts of the course are in great shape - others with a few ruts but very skiable overall!

Photos:

(Sara Brokaw)