Trails were packed and groomed this evening. With 8-9” of cold light new snow, skiing should be great.

Photos:

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

We got about 5” of light new snow yesterday. However, we have not yet packed or groomed - though we hope to get it done before weekend, and hopefully sooner. We will post as soon as we do. In the meantime, this new snow has adequately covered all bare spots and needle/leafy litter on the trail, so you can break out the good skis. Only recommendation is to still avoid snowplowing on the few marked short, steep trails since the snow is so powdery and you may get down to base and litter if snowplowing. It should be lovely skiing with all the frosted trees and calm wind.

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

We groomed Friday. I skied just the East trails. Overall, there is fine skiing, considering the thin base and yesterday’s above freezing temps. The snow is hard-packed and slightly icy in parts. There are scattered stretches with pine or twig litter - for the most part easily avoided by lifting ski or placing a ski in the base between the double tracks. The only real issue are the steeper hills. Snow thin, hard to icy and quite difficult to safely snowplow on. I happily took off my skis to walk down those short hills. Until more snowfall, you can still very much enjoy a measured ski on these trails.

Photos:

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

There is adequate snow throughout the trail system. The trails have not been groomed with the new snow or tracks set but there has been plenty of use on most trails to break trail. 3-4" of new snow with no base. The only place with some rocks/gravel was at the very northern end of the Tower trail (North trailhead). This was the first 1/4 mile.

(Aaron Kania)

Trails are skiable! We groomed about two weeks ago - and then the thunder and lightning and rain came. But the good news is that it made a firm base. And over the last week we have had up to about 4” of new light and cold snow that is great if you don’t mind making your own tracks or skiing in someone else’s. Very little brush, debris or ground to impede skiing. Trees are snow-frosted and there is beautiful skiing to be had. Grooming plans: We expect to groom again in the next couple days.

(Mary Shedd, Howard Wagoner Trails Club)

Another good day at Wagoner. Basically same conditions as yesterday, but I added an out and back on the Prospector trail located east of 135. This section is new to me and had been dragged, but no tracks set. It was fun, maybe a mile or so long one way, with a nice long downhill on the return. Quiet, serene, classic big pine forest, with a touch of back woods skiing.

Photos:

(Michael Wilke)

Howard Wagoner is looking good. Entire system is tracked well with very sporadic pine needles showing through the tracks. A few sections were covered with a fine dusting of powder making for late season magic early in this season. B skis are probably best just because the the woodsy wonder is so distracting.

Photos:

(Michael Wilke)