Groomed all three trail systems today - ski, snowshoe and fat bike. Conditions are pretty decent considering how thin our base is. Ski trail is still lumpy, has a few dirty sections and a couple wet spots but has been a blast to ski with a solid base and great glide - still recommending rocks skis though. The 8 miles of fat bike trail is in really good shape also with a solid base and looking pretty nice for tomorrow's Global Fat Bike Day.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)

We lost quite a bit of snow on Friday due to mid-40s and sun and lost more on Saturday due to rain. We've been getting some light snow since but not near enough to make up for what we lost. I groomed/packed the entire system this afternoon including first time-passes on the east end of the 10K loop. Conditions are pretty variable with some decent sections but lots of rough, bumpy, stubbly sections (especially the new stuff opened up today) - overall pretty mediocre. Until we get inches of fresh snow, you're best off looking towards the UP.

(Robert Polic)

We've been getting some nice lake effect snow the last couple days that's added up to a good 3-4". I groomed all the snowshoe trails (including the creek crossing on the Highland Passage) and all the ski trails (including Out-n-Back) except the 10K loop (still seeing vehicle tracks) today. On the last lap tonight, I dropped the knives to see if I can start smoothing out the trail without pulling up dirt and looks like we can. I plan on grooming the fat bike trail tomorrow and then take another pass on the ski trails smoothing and (hopefully) setting track.
We're in the middle of rifle season so wear bright colors.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)

We haven't picked up much new snow since last weekend - maybe a couple inches of fluff - but went ahead and cleaned up all the ski trails but the 10K loop this morning. Overall, the base is in decent shape - firm, dry with good coverage and just a couple dirty spots - but still really lumpy. After grooming, I went for a skijor over most of the trails with Sprocket and other than the lumpiness had a really fast, fun ski. We need more base before I can start setting track (tried last week and hit grass immediately) and leveling out the trail. Bright colors (rifle season is on through next weekend) and rock skis are still the recommendation.

(Robert Polic)

Winman Trails have received about 4-6 inches of new snow which has been rolled flat and rilled. No classic tracks are set. Rocks, some dirt, and water saturation are a regular trail feature but the trails work well for recreational touring. Perhaps as many as a dozen skiers were testing the early season conditions today. Really good skiing awaits more snow. The woods are dressed up and beautiful.

Photos:

(Mark Nienstaedt)

We ended up getting only 4-6" of snow from the storm last night - too bad, it looked so promising. Still, I switched from the roller to the groomer today and over the course of the day hit the 2.5, 6 and 7K loops. Took a break mid-grooming to skate a few of the trails and overall a mixed bag of conditions with some pretty decent sections, some really wet sections and some really thin sections. If you have pretty low expectations, you will have a good time. Holding off opening the gates and unchaining the trails on the 10K loop until I'm sure vehicles are no longer coming through.
Bike trail has not been groomed yet - hope to try grooming them on Sunday...stay tuned.
Snowshoe trails are also not groomed and at this point aren't in need of grooming.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)

Ready or not, it's here...the first heavy snowfall of the season. After receiving a couple inches overnight, we've been getting significant snow since late this afternoon. With the rain we received earlier this week and the cold temperatures the last couple days, the ground has set up really hard making a solid base for this snow. I rolled the 2.5, 6 and 7.5K loops this afternoon/evening and other than some lumpy sections and about a half-dozen damp spots they are looking pretty good without any debris poking through. We will be rolling again tomorrow. Rock skis recommended.

Photos:

(Robert Polic)