Good coverage throughout the middle sections between Trailhead and Bog (except pretty icy on trail under 55). Thanks to the brilliant person who came up with the new trail to overflow parking!.

(R.T. Rybak)

I had an exhilarating ski at Eloise Butler, Erickson, Oakvig and the Bog trails this afternoon. The groomers did a good job grooming for classic and skate. There are some icy spots and leaf debris to avoid in the tracks. It's always an amazing ski with so many hills to negotiate! It was easier for me back in my younger days!

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(Bill Lundberg)

Came for the Judy, stayed for South Wirth! Jar Hill and the section of Wirth Lake leading to it are now groomed. Tracks on the lake are icy and windblown in places (see pic), but really not bad. I also skied Anwatin, Eloise Butler, Wedding Hill, JD Rivers, and Tornado Alley, Coverage is excellent! Beautiful conditions. Tracks are getting beat up in places, and there's the occasional spot of twiggy leafy material - and a partially exposed curb, I think, where the Wirth Lake Beach trail crosses the canoe launch - but nothing you can't avoid. I didn't hop over to Thee Quaking Bogge/Erickson/Oakvik today. Thank you groomers for these fun wooded hill-fests! Viva natural snow!

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(Amy Myrbo)

Skied from the trailhead down tornado alley, Wirth Lake and Eloise Bulter. Some slush on the lake. Everywhere else had good coverage and was well packed. Some leaves in Eloise Butler, but avoidable. Under the Hwy 55 bridge is thin and full of sticks but that was the only spot that suggested B or rock skis.

(Peter Swenson)

All of South Wirth (north and south of Glenwood Ave.) was in great shape. Eloise Butler and Quaking Bog were beautiful and in great shape. All trails had a great skate deck and good tracks. I followed up my grooming with a good ski to check our work. Excellent coverage and conditions with just a few, easily avoidable thin spots and some areas with a few oak leaves. We have now groomed across the 394 bridge and down to Brownie Lake. While the ice is fine, snow coverage varies from 1-3". The lake is actually excellent for a nice ski. Grooming plans: The slush beneath the snow has frozen on nearly the entire lake, so grooming will happen when more show shows up.

(John Daniels)

Skated everything south of Glenwood Ave at first light this morning. The trails firmed up very well after yesterday's grooming, coverage remains excellent. There was just occasional leaf litter. A little bit of underlying ice exposed on the downhill east of the pavilion (right next to Glenwood Ave). Light snow was falling, perfect way to start the day!

(Nick Minderman)

Skied from Wirth lake over to tornado alley and along the golf course toward the trailhead and back. Overall good coverage with some avoidable spots of iciness, especially near access points to the lake. A couple bits of concrete in some spots near some of the bridges and parking lots. Very icy under the bridge but fully covered. Hoping new snow will smooth things over.

(Chance Davis)

Great conditions after the new snowfall - winter is back! A few leaves but roots and rocks are covered. Lakes aren't groomed. We skied all of Eloise Butler and it was beautiful.

(Burke Minahan)

Fresh snow, fresh corduroy, fresh Classic tracks, sunshine - about as good as it gets in Eloise Butler and the Quaking Bog! Zero rocks or sticks - safe to use good skis. Nice gentle grooming made for perfect conditions.

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(Bill Oyler)

Merry Christmas everybody! We were out on the bog and Butler trails this morning, and as reported yesterday they are just really good skating. Thanks Loppet grooming team. What a great Christmas treat. It's not the prettiest snow you've ever seen. Lots of leaves, sticks, and Pineneedles in the snow. But it's fast and hard enough that you barely notice them. Nice grooming and good edge everywhere. Not icy in our opinion, although definitely quite fast now. If you like fast skating, this was our funnest skate of the year so far! There's a shallow classic track set as well.

(Ryan Atwell)