Significant improvement from Thursday - conditions were pretty great all around. A little softer on the clubhouse loop but generally great (and seemingly well used by 4pm).

Photos:

(Chance Davis)

Groomed late tonight. Set new classic tracks where it needed it. Made a few passes on the skate deck too which is firming up great. With the cooler temps it should set up nicely for the weekend. Get out and ski Columbia! Conditions don't get much better. There will be a MYSL (MyXC) club for kids ages 5-14 starting up at Columbia this Sunday at 2pm. They will meet every Sunday from 2-3:30pm for the next 8 weeks. The current plan is to meet near the Clubhouse and likely spend most of the practice on that smaller loop.

(Blaine Gudbjartsson)

Deep, clean, intact classic tracks on 99% of the trail! (Skipped the driving range area). Slower soft snow but a beautiful sunny day. Can't wait to ski it again.

Photos:

(Cory Quirk)

Groomed and set tracks at Columbia tonight. It is looking great out there and should set up for some beautiful skiing. Enjoy!

(Jim Daggett)

Snuck away from the home office for a lunchtime ski today and glad I did. Skate deck ranges from a little soft to quite deep across the course (so it was a bit of a slog), but once this snow settles in some more it'll be awesome. Thanks to the grooming team for getting it usable so quick! Classic tracks looked good but wandered around a bit in places and faded out in others.

Photos:

(Chance Davis)

Groomed out the skate deck and set classic tracks this morning. The snow is deep and soft right now, but once it sets up it is going to be great! There is a rough patch on the uphill on the west side of the bridge where the groomer got stuck, we'll be smoothing that out soon. Otherwise the trail is in excellent shape.

(Mike Keyes)

Thank you groomers! Skied with the sun rise and the groomer was making his second pass. It's slow as expected and no classic tracks set yet but a delight to ski fresh snow. Get out and enjoy it!

(Darielle Dannen)

Not groomed yet as of 1:00pm but still a fun sludge through the snow. Skied in tracks most of the time but we got a little turned around in the SE corner near St. Anthony Pkwy.

(Mark Bushinski)

I classic skied Columbia early this afternoon and found a number of other skiers out enjoying the great New Years Day temps. Only a few skaters had started to check out the newly tilled skate deck which looked fantastic. The classic tracks were relatively shallow and glazed with the typical spots where you might shoot out of the track on a tight curve. Still, they were pretty solid throughout, and I was able to get good grip from my waxless Optis.

Photos:

(Margaret Adelsman)

Groomed the skate deck this afternoon. It's in great condition. Left the track alone because they looked good, but will get refreshed soon.
Happy new year! Enjoy!

Photos:

(Jim Daggett)