What a glorious day in the dunes. A little debris on some of the trails but overall enough snow cover. Blue skies --Sunny--"Future so Bright, gotta wear shades" (Timbuk3). Very little wind, 12 degrees didn't feel cold at all. As usual could use a little more snow but the groomer made the best of it.

(Annette Kaminsky)

Groomed today, set tracks on all trails open for classical skiing. Overall good depth on tracks with some thin spots on Lakeside Red Loop. Tilled snow on all tracked trails with very little icy conditions. Could use more snow but is good to very good conditions.

(Richard Weidman)

Lots of skiers out on Saturday and with trails still soft they were in need of regrooming by the end of the day. All trails were groomed and track set late Saturday, but with gale force winds and minimal dry snow, trail conditions are fair with some poor areas under hemlocks and cedars and good in many other areas. Tracks are marginal with soft sidewalls and occasional woods debris at the bottom. The Red trail along the lake is generally in poor condition. Rock skis are recommended. Skiers are reminded that there are a few selected areas where the trail is being shared with snowshoers and hikers.

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(Rich Dirks)

Best snowfall of the winter so far. 8” of very dry fluffy snow. Ski trails were packed and groomed. In areas under trees and meadow, tracks are shallow over a very icy base. Track walls are very soft. Conditions are fair to good. All trails are open. Hikers and skiers now share the Red Trail to the first beach access, the Green Access Trail, and the Yellow/Green Trail from the WD trail crossing back to the Nature Center. We ask all hikers, snowshoers, and dog walkers to please stay off the groomed ski trails.

Photos:

(John Swanson)

Trail Conditions: Fair - poor in some areas, good in others. Less than 2” new snow over crusty snow was packed and combed early Sunday morning before temps began to rise above freezing. A marginal track was set in all areas except the Red Trail which has minimal snow. Many areas have considerably leaf and twig debris from past gale force winds. Rock skis are recommended. Primary purpose of grooming was to pack down and preserve as much snow as possible before warmer weather. Average base is 3-4” with considerably less under evergreens. Skiers are urged to refrain from skiing when temps are way above freezing.

Photos:

(Rich Dirks)

Trail conditions are fair in many areas. Grooming for the season has begun after about 5-6” of new snow on Sunday. With the exception of the Red Trail, the other trails have been rolled, packed and track set. There are some occasional thin areas and woods litter here and there, but generally there is a 2-3” base. Trail will be somewhat soft til it firms up. Skiers are encouraged to enter from the Red Pine lot since the Red Trail beginning at the Nature Center doesn’t have enough snow to groom at this time. Also, skiers will see some changes this year, namely in selected areas snowshoers and hikers are allowed to use one side of the trail. This is to accommodate the increase in snowshoeing and hiking in recent years.

Photos:

(Rich Dirks)