We used both Tidd and Ginzu to groom all trails except the two Blue sections that still need more snow (the Blue Hill Terror, #2, and the newest Blue return) on Thursday. About 2" of new snow from Wednesday packed and tracked nicely. There may be a rock or two on sharp ridges but most of the trail is in very good condition. The swamp trail is also open but somewhat narrow for skating.

Photos:

(Burgess Eberhardt)

Groomers out with roller and Ginzu on Tuesday following about 6" of snow on top of a bit of ice. Groomed and tracked all but the Blue which was rolled only. Skating was great Wednesday on the Ginzu areas, softer on Blue. No rocks visible even on Red trail. Snow fell continually on Wednesday so that by the time of my afternoon ski there was perhaps 1-1/2 to 2" of puffy new snow on the skate lane. Moguls are beginning to be leveled out, and the track is clean. We will groom the Blue trail today.

(Burgess Eberhardt)

Lots of snow. Great conditions. I was disappointed to miss the grooming, but the storm was still active. I anticipate the groomer will be out there tomorrow.

Photos:

(Louise Levy)

6-8" new snow Tuesday-Wednesday. Packed and rolled Tuesday, groomed all trails today. Early in the season the Red always has thin cover on ridges especially in pines. The 2 Blue Hill trails and the newest Blue return need more snow before we can run groomers on them. But everything else looked really nice, and one more cold night will help firm up the skate lanes. Tracks are good.

Photos:

(Burgess Eberhardt)

Finally warm enough to enjoy skating. Had to be +25F by the time I left. There is enough new snow to make good glide where we have rolled, and not so deep that you cannot ski where we have only packed. I skied Green, Orange, Yellow, and Red today. Red has been packed but not rolled and thus is slower than the rest but quite enjoyable. Had to watch for rocks using good skis. Blue has been mostly packed but is irregular - I followed tracks on classic skis yesterday and made the second pass over the newest Blue trail. It's just OK.

(Burgess Eberhardt)

Cold this morning helped freeze mud again. There were only 2 places where the sled brought up water. We rolled Green, Orange, and Yellow trails and set tracks on the Green - from parking lot to shelter. You can skate those trails but as always early in the season, be careful on ridges where cover is thin. The flats look great.

Photos:

(Burgess Eberhardt)

After packing with sleds all but the Blue on Thursday, the below-zero temps have done the job - water holes and mud have mostly frozen. We skied classic on the snowmobile tracks today, shoveling snow onto the frozen mud as much as we could.
First attempt at grooming planned for tomorrow. Winter is here!

Photos:

(Burgess Eberhardt)