I skied the Cedar Lake Park loop, the Cedar Loop, and the Brownie loop. The tracks on the lakes were really in pretty good shape as well as the skate deck. The skate deck was in a little rougher shape on the Cedar Lake Park loop. Thanks to the Theo groomers for making for a fun ski around the lakes!

(Bill Lundberg)

Pretty good considering the grooming looked old. The snow was quick, base ice hard and classic tracks were visable.

(Lars Hansen)

I checked out the South Wirth trails south of Highway 55 today for an easy ski, and they were all in really good shape despite no new snow for a while - thanks to the groomers! Skating was very good, and there were also pretty decent classic tracks throughout most of the trails. There was a little forest debris in the Quaking Bog and Eloise Butler trails, so "B" skis are probably best to be safe. If you are deciding between the Chain of Lakes and the South Wirth trails, I definitely recommend the South Wirth trails, especially for skating. Brownie, Cedar, and Lake of the Isles were also really fun but definitely felt more uneven and a bit rutted for skating. All in all, some really fun skiing on natural snow in the city in great weather!

(Bill Oyler)

I skied all the Eloise Butler, Anwatinn and Bog loops, all were quite good on this nice sunny afternoon. Very good snow coverage throughout, tracks looked OK, fun skiing in the South Wirth hills! Just a few hiker footprints and those never-ending pesky oak leaves to make it slightly less than great.

(Dave Carlson)

I skied all the trails at Eloise Butler and the Bog this morning. They were freshly groomed for both skate and classic. The classic tracks were in really good shape. With all the new snow, the skate deck was a little soft, and somewhat hairy on a few of the downhills. Overall, a great hilly ski workout! Thanks to the Theo groomers for setting some nice classic tracks!

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(Bill Lundberg)

South Wirth was rolled this morning, then groomed tonight. Tracks are set. Skate deck is still a bit soft, but will make for a nice ride. Eloise Butler and the Quaking Bog are in excellent condition along with JD Rivers, Wirth Lake, and connecting trails.

(John Daniels)

Several inches of fluffy freshies on top of a gently rolled base, with sunshine and warm temps made for some fun in the sun today on the Wirth South trails! Skating was better than I expected, and there were lots of man-made classic tracks with plenty of classic skiers enjoying the Eloise Butler and Quaking Bog loops. The snow was incredibly clean and fresh throughout (even the 394 bridge crossing down to Brownie Lake) so it's a great time to get out and enjoy the natural snow! Parking lot at Wirth Beach was completely full when I arrived - lots of folks enjoying the awesome South Wirth trails.

Photos:

(Bill Oyler)

Skate deck was generally pretty good. Hard snow and ruts in some places, overall better than I expected. From what I saw, classic tracks were highly variable, good in places to non-existent others. Glad for some snow to give the groomers more to work with!

(Dan Hutjens)

Hats off to the groomers for doing amazing work with what we have! Golf course and tornado alley were fast, fun, and found plenty of purchase in the reworked snow. South of hwy 55 was comparable. I’d recommend enjoying the perfect off-trail crust on the south side of Wirth lake - super fun. The north (particularly nw corner of the lake) should be avoided due to open water. (Don’t add to the Wirth lake body count!) South of Glenwood, Eloise butler is groomed and generally great fun, though some downhills are treacherous and some uphills are munched. Avoided the bog due to a report of extreme iciness from a friendly skier. Great outing - B or rock skis recommended due to rubber fragments north of 55 and occasional bare spots/dirt south of 55.

(Alan Chapman)

With all the north trails still closed for racing I thought the trails at Butler and the Bog might be Ok. They were not, pure ice. With the warm temps during the Loppette and all the hikers the trails are a mess. I hope we get some snow and grooming.

(Lars Hansen)