Gary returned at 2 PM from grooming all the trails, he said it went well other than lots of debris and fallen trees due to the wind we had over the past couple of days. He saw a pair of swans on Flathorn Lake. I went out and skied over the freshly groomed trails expecting it to be much more challenging than it was. Yes there was debris but it didn't bring the skis to a gripping halt, nor did I have to put more wax on to maintain some sort of kick. It was inconsistent glide, but not as bad as a couple of weeks ago when I struggled to keep the snow off the bottom of my skis. In the softer areas, I did sink a bit, but not bad. There was one spot where low and behold there actually was bare ground due to its southern exposure on a small hill. All and all I am so happy I was able to enjoy the beautiful day outdoors on skis!

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Started off with icy and hard-packed trails. A group of daring souls skied to the shelter and had a campfire lunch, skied back on softer snow but manageable with waxless skis or skis with really soft wax applied several times during the trip. Sunny solace ski, returning with smiles on their faces.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Today was an exercise in getting the wax right. Half of my 2 hour ski was brutal, with more sticking than I have had for many years. Almost decided to take the skis off and walk. But engineering the wax produced a reasonable ski during the last half. I used a combination of special purple and red. Trails were good, the skiing on them the day before made for smooth glides when I got the wax right. It was reminiscent of skiing the slopes of Colorado on a sunny spring day only without a nice Adirondack chair at the bottom of the hills.

(Nancy Schultz)

Seven enthusiastic skiers hit the trails for the afternoon, we were the trail groomers after about an inch or more of snow-covered. The snow was fluffy and easy to ski through until we hit the sunny sections where the sticking of snow to the skis started to happen. The trails were again a beautiful experience and enjoyable to be able to get one last quality experience to occur before spring weather starts up.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

We received another 1/2" of snow last night, and the trails are in very good condition except in the wind-blown areas where the trails disappear as fast as you ski over them due to the strong wind. Regardless of these difficult areas, it was another very good day on the trails. It has been an overall fabulous winter on the Flathorn-Geoka ski trails this year.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Classical skiing on the Flathorn-Gegoka trail system is still considered to be very good as of Thursday afternoon. Because early in the week mid-day temperatures had reached freezing, the tracked snow is now quite hard. But, since then the temperatures have cooled to highs in the mid-teens and we had two ½" snowfalls so the grip for waxed or waxless skies is excellent.

(Nancy Schultz)

Perfectly groomed trails, thanks to Gary and Bert for persevering, it took two days to put them in such great shape. I am admiring how our intersection and warning signs are disappearing. Early in the season, we had to look up at them, now we are looking down. We skied 2>3>17>15>5>13>21>20>19>18>1>2. Even the "not so demonstrative" husband I was skiing with couldn't quit saying how beautiful it was.

Photos:

(Nancy G Schultz)

To be the first one to ski on a freshly groomed trail is a gift like no other! After two days of steady snow with about 8 inches total accumulation, the sun came out in more ways than one. I didn't go far and the groomers were still out on the trail. For all you Birkie die hards there is a Kortelopet length of trail system here to train on. Knock yourself out and enjoy every minute of it.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

John and I skied the 19 to 23 stretch today, so, so fun. Roller coaster fast. The snow started just as we left around 9:30 AM and is still snowing as I post this, another winter wallop. Trails were in great shape today due to Gary and Bert's grooming yesterday. Presidents Day weekend brought out skiers that told Gary and me how they were enjoying the trails. And, they joined the Friends of Flathorn-Geogka Trails nonprofit, we want to thank them for their participation!

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Today was a much calmer day of skiing, we benefited from the winds dying down and others that had skied on the trail before we went out. The trails were a bit undefined but didn't phase us in the least. my good friend Sue Mason, John, and I had another fantastic day out in the wilderness. Grooming plans: Tomorrow morning Gary indicated he will be grooming the trails, so more delight is yet to come.

Photos:

(Nancy G Schultz)