Groomers continue to make something out of nothing. No new snow in over two weeks. Skate lanes were fast and firm this morning and getting an edge was not a problem. Skated up to 510 and the damaged final kilometer from yesterday was completely fixed!

(Ethan Kennedy)

I would not recommend skiing from 510 anymore. Got to the trailhead around 8 this morning and found the first kilometer to be completely destroyed by a vehicle. Deep tire marks all the way down to the Mead Hills Bypass junction. Skiing between 20 and 23k is very good. Skate lane was freshen up and classic tracks are still in good condition.

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(Ethan Kennedy)

Groomers freshened up the skate lanes on most trails inside 17k. Trailhead to powerlines is very thin and hardpacked. Chiwagi was skating very well and 19k to 510 was groomed yesterday and in the best condition. I would suggest parking at the Powerlines or making the drive up to 510 for the best conditions.

(Ethan Kennedy)

A quarter inch of heavy snow above the powerlines has revived the trails a bit. Much easier to get an edge in the skate lane and not as icy. Groomers were out and it sounds like they rolled the Mead Hills Bypass. Classic tracks are over a week old and in a range of conditions. Classic tracks are in the best shape from 12 to 17k on the flats and gradual hills. Pretty much non existent everywhere else.

(Ethan Kennedy)

Squirrely, icy, rutted, and plentiful dirt spots abound on the trails. Trails are in very poor condition for it being early January in Marquette. Skated Bagwaji, Chiwaji, Noque to 19k, and Animoosh. Bagwaji and Chiwagi are quite scary due to ice and ruts. There are also long sections with weeds sticking through. Main Noque to 17k is very firm and hard to get an edge. Noque 17k to 19k is still skiing like moguls with increasing bare sections. Animoosh is very fast and icy. Please do a snow dance because we are in dire need of new snow!

(Ethan Kennedy)

Skate lane much improved this morning. Firm and relatively flat, but still early season conditions. Snow has picked up in speed considerably. Lots of debris and some dirt spots on Animoosh. First 2km of Animoosh has 2-3 sets of footprints in the skate lane. I would avoid Animoosh until we get more snow.

(Ethan Kennedy)

Classic skied to 17k and back down. Entire trail system has been groomed from 510 all the way down to the ponds. Conditions vary greatly depending on what trail you're on. The main Noque seems to be in the best condition. Tracks are decently firm, but expect every other pole plant to fall through. Watch out for a random stick, twig, or leaf. Chiwagi and Migizi were still very soft and quite bumpy in places so I had to stride in the skate lane. Waxed with blue extra and had great kick. Used my B skis, but you could get away with good skis.

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(Ethan Kennedy)

Noque has been getting snow pretty much daily since Christmas and it has helped trail conditions steadily. It was fast in the tracks with good cover. Conditions were decent near Forestville and excellent above 15 km with more snow and less traffic. Avoid Animoosh between 13-14 km; it had lots of branches and some thinner spots on the hills. I didn’t ski the Wagi’s, though they’re groomed and tracked. Maybe tomorrow!

(Rich Cooley)

Tracks are set at Forestville! Grooming was going on while I was skiing this morning, but it sounds like all trails within 17k have been groomed and track set. Skate lane was soft and a little bumpy. Tracks looked soft as well with some grass and dirt here and there. The final 2 km of Animoosh has a lot of twigs and grass poking through the thin base. Expect early season conditions.

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(Ethan Kennedy)

The lower Noque from 10k up to 17k (the first bridge) is skiable. Expect a wavy, mogul type experience. The coverage does seem adequate. I never felt a ski scrape on a rock. But, did acquire a new light scratch or two. After skiing that trail for years, I'm pretty sure those come from the power line crossing in low snow conditions. I classic skied, which was really just a bunch of double poling up the center ridge of the trail and then some kind of half running/striding motion on the undulating uphills. No complaints, its skiing and the scenery on the Noque never disappoints.

(Rob Fox)