+3F, sunny! Instead of Hayward, I groomed today. Finished renovating Blue Trails. Yesterday we did the Yellow and Red. All segments now have a refreshed skate lane with good corduroy on level surface. We probably cannot set tracks until we get new snow.

(Burgess Eberhardt)

With sun and 25F we started renovating the Tilson Creek trails today. There's about 6 to 8" of hard base in most places. We made several passes to cut the icy crust and set corduroy for the skate lane on the Green, "new" Blue, old Blue from new back to Orange, and one pass on the rest of the Orange back to first shelter. We saw one skater who reported fast skiing, and whose tracks looked good. There are a couple of bare spots on the Orange, but easily avoided. No tracks yet. Back in action!

Photos:

(Burgess Eberhardt)

We will close the trails when snow is too soft. Please be careful not to make deep ruts. Ski in the morning only.

(Burgess Eberhardt)

Trail was groomed and fast. I skied 30 KM with the temperature around 20 above. The tracks were deep and firm. They were not glazed or ice. There are some leaves and sticks from the wind. There is still close to 24 inches of snow on the ground.

Photos:

(David Kettula)

We groomed all but the cut overs on Monday, trying to finish before the snow got too warm. We were able to get great tracks set on all but a K of trails (wet snow prevented deep tracks at the end). The corduroy looked super. I skated all trails Tuesday. Tracks are fine if you like them super hard. Skate surface is icy in most places, a bit softer in some. Edging was east though, making for fast and fun skating. The base is deep and very firm so that trails should come through the warm weather ahead without any problems.

(Burgess Eberhardt)

Snow, snow, and then even more snow all day Tuesday. We packed and rolled everything last night. Today all 3 groomers were out. While 2 set tracks and did the skate lanes, the 3rd packed, dragged, and then rolled the Blue Hill #2 trail - the Terror. All trails are groomed. It was sunny but cold - below zero for sure (NOAA said -17F this morning). Lovely day to be outside.

(Burgess Eberhardt)

Classic ski with 4 inches of new snow in track 23 KM. The temperature was 9 above and sunny. A lot of wolf tracks on the trail. I saw the groomer rolling the skate lane when I was skiing. I didn't see anyone else on the trail.

Photos:

(David Kettula)

After 4" of nice puffy snow yesterday, I rolled all the skates lanes at Tilson today. Left the tracks alone - they are skied in and look fine. About +1 F when I started, maybe +10 at 2PM. Snow in the forecast.

Photos:

(Burgess Eberhardt)

We groomed the Blue Trail Wednesday morning. Below zero temp, bright sun made a great day. It looks fine and should be very firm.

(Burgess Eberhardt)

We received maybe 1 to 2" of moist snow all day Monday. Steve groomed all but old Blue trails for both skate and classic this morning. I Skated all segments he groomed including both ways on the NewBlue. The tracks are good almost everywhere with an occasional shallow place where the old crust was too hard. The skating was wonderful, finally, with great corduroy and no ice. So, yes, it was slower than the recent days of speedy skating but difficult edging and breakneck downhills. But oh so pleasant to be able to V2 or V2 alt. on a level deck. About 30 above F. and the groomed snow had already set up pretty well. I did not find any places where the new snow gave way to ice below.

(Burgess Eberhardt)