New tracks not yet set. Trails were dragged yesterday - then a couple more inches fell on top of that firm base. This is soft, dry and airy snow so skiing was stable, soft and quiet and beautiful. Most of trails have been skied after dragging yesterday and today so are there are quite good user-tracks.

Photos:

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

Had a good ski this afternoon, I went on the west side of 135. Parked in the main parking lot. I am not sure if the trails have been skied yet on the east side of the highway since the storm this past weekend. I skied Howard’s Loop and some of the Northern lights and inner Loop trails. They have been groomed but maybe not tracked yet. The skiing is good and there were a few other people out enjoying the trails.

Photos:

(Ida Rukavina)

Trails have been dragged in preparation for setting track. Seems like a very good 10 inches or so have fallen. Magical.

(Michael Wilke)

Beautiful afternoon to ski - trees are still snow-frosted and glittering. We got about 3” of light feathery snow last night on top of older tracks. About 75% of the trails have been skied today so we have fairly nice tracks to ski in - even thought the trails have not been tracked since Dec 31st. We had great glide on our waxless skis. Where no one had skied yet on the fresh snow it was a little slower, but the silence of the skiing soft new snow more than made up for that minor slowdown. We hope to groom again after next snowfall.

Photos:

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

Packed trail throughout with a significant coating of 2 inches of dry powder. Primary 35 minute circle route near parking lot has skied in tracks. The rest is waiting for more skiers. Highly recommend this under the radar gem of big pine classical skiing.

Photos:

(Michael Wilke)

Just in time for a beautiful night ski on New Year’s Eve, trails groomed this afternoon over fresh 6-8” of good snow. It was cold enough up here in Tower over the last blizzardy weather, that we just missed any sleet or rain so snow conditions are very good. Groomer is trying out our new drag and track setter. The trade off is that he has to set just one set of tracks instead of two side by side which we usually have on about 7 of the 12 km of trail.

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

Fresh 2 inches of snow so I had to pack all the way but still a great 4 hour ski. Enjoyed the deep woods, well maintained easy trails with short steep hills and the rough grouse exploding out of the snows. Loved the trail maps at each junction as I get lost easily. Enjoyed as much as Big Aspen Trails. Puzzled as to why no one else showed up to ski. Thanks to everyone who took these trails over again!

(Mark Peil)

Trails last groomed on Dec 15th, but with good weather and light use, the conditions are still excellent. Pines, spruce and fir are still snow-frosted so it couldn't be more beautiful out there. Though temps rose slightly above freezing yesterday, the woods setting ensured no melting.

Photos:

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

Trails are all open - with great soft snow on top of firm, more-than-adequate base. Tracks are being maintained (skied on) by users only - since last grooming on Dec 2nd - So the tracks are a little shallow.

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

First grooming was Sunday. Trails open, snow beautiful - over a foot! Both parking lots plowed.

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)