Terrific mid-winter conditions. Classic tracks are deep and firm. Skied Sommer and Bambas loops. At 4F degrees, glide was a bit slow. Side trails like Hannah Jo and the Pine Park are ungroomed.

(Andrew Slade)

Lovely bluebird afternoon. We skied Bambas and Sommer loops. The skate deck looked freshly groomed but the classic tracks were shallow and often worn out, could definitely use a touch-up.

(Andrew Slade)

Hidden Valley is in great condition for both skate and classic. The 10 miles of professionally built groomed fat bike trails are also in great shape!

(Bria Schurke)

Skied Birch Highlands, first third of Sommers and second half of Bambas. Trail was freshly groomed. Groomers had set the classic track too far to the side, so the pole plants on the outside were soft, tracks went through some standing shrubs and I had to dodge around a lot of overhanging tree branches. Time to get out the loppers and do a mid-winter edge trim.

(Andrew Slade)

Beautiful sunny day at Hidden Valley. I classic skied, my wife skated. The classic tracks were mostly good, washed out on a few corners, I'd rate it about a 7 or 8. The skate deck was skied in and hard packed, could stand a grooming in my opinion. All in all, we had a good day.

Photos:

(Rob Weum)

Ely received about a foot of heavy snow, so we finally have the base in the woods for good trail grooming. Trails were freshly groomed and the classic tracks were firm. Looks like most of the side trail have also been groomed. Took the spruce swamp route on the Sommers Loops and it was lovely, no need to take the long way around.

(Andrew Slade)

Skied all the trails over the past few days. The grooming has been excellent (rolled and groomed for skate, no classic tracks). The two trails I'll comment on here are the Hannah Joe and Pine Park Connector. These are skier groomed and have had little use (Hannah Joe fore country) or no use (Hannah Joe backcountry and Pine Park Connector). The Hannah Joe fore country was a joy! The backcountry section needs a lot more snow. We had backcountry skis and needed them. It's mostly clear with only one tree that blocked the trail. This trail will be nice once snow covers the hummocks of the beaver pond area better. The Pine Park is not great; numerous blow downs some of which can be stepped over, skied under or around. There are more than a few spot where you need to take your skis off and bushwhack.

(David Whitman)

Skied Bombas this morning, after the groomers had rolled. No tracks yet, but it was gorgeous skiing. Saw wolf tracks, and stopped several times to listen to a wolf pack calling in the distance. Saw a few blades of grass on side trails, but great coverage for skating on Bombas.

(Jon Swenson Tellekson)

Ely got a few inches of light snow earlier this week but it appears that was not enough snow to groom a classic track at Hidden Valley. Skate skiing looked pretty good, with some grass sticking out and bare patches here and there. Skied the Bambas and Sommers loops. Where the Sommers loop crosses a large spruce swamp, skiers have to go the long way around. Side trails like Deer Trail and Hannah Trail have not been groomed at all. Need some more snow!

(Andrew Slade)

Firm but shallow base for skating but no classic track set. Skier-groomed track is shallow to non-existant. Only skied the Bambas loop, from what I could see there were no tracks set on the other intersecting trails.

(Andrew Slade)