We're open for business again after yesterday's race! Classic tracks are in and all skate decks on the main 1k loop have been groomed. The outer loops are open to ski, but are not tracked. There is still some final leveling work to do but it is fully skiable! Please take caution as there are some ice patches on the outer loop to lookout for.

Photos:

(Erik Blow)

Our upper loops have been pushed out and groomed, and are in fair to good condition. Some more fine tuning is needed and there is some ice showing, so please take caution if you are venturing up there. We are having our inaugural race today, with many high schools from all over the state coming to christen the system! Trails will be closed for most of the morning and afternoon, so if you are planning on coming to ski you should consider visiting some of the other fine trails in the city that are open now!

(Erik Blow)

About 2K of perfect skate skiing today at the nordic center. The whole field (stadium?) is also groomed. There was fresh corduroy at 11 am, they added about 1K since yesterday, and the trail is much more firmly packed. No classic tracks. There are a few large piles of snowmaking snow in the middle of the upper loop but it's not hard to ski over them.

(Nathan Knapp)

At least 5" of fresh snow this morning and counting! We were out this morning doing pack laps on the trails and some passes. In the stadium, its hard to keep the snow on the base and out of the air with these wind gusts. No classic track is set, but once the snow subsided we'll be out putting them in. Snow is very soft, but with some more passes and a sharp drop in temps tonight it should set up quite well.

Photos:

(Erik Blow)

Went out the Grand Avenue to inventory equipment and clean things up after the Marshall Holiday Ski Camp. I was just going to clean up things but I looked at the beautiful trail conditions and decided to take a loop. It was a great decision, the skiing was just perfect. Two classic tracks are set on the right hand side and the skate lane in most places is wide enough for two skiers to skate side by side. I had the thought that we have our own bit of a Birkie Trail right here in Duluth. Even though it is generous in width it feels intimate due to the big pine trees, sweeping corners and views of the St Louis River through the breaks in the trees. As of this morning, 1.5k of trail is completely snowed in with snowmaking and it looks like another .5k will be open soon. One gun was running and making large piles of snow. I am really looking forward to seeing how Grand Avenue will work as a race venue for the Proctor meet this coming Wednesday.

Photos:

(Dave Johnson)

The whole Approx. 1 k loop has been freshly groomed with double classic tracks and is skiing well! Temps should be warmer today so the conditions should be perfect for a ski.

Photos:

(Erik Blow)

Beautiful conditions this morning, below zero temps over night and single digits in the morning mean the snow is set up firm, but has just enough give for that perfect ski! Snowmaking continues on the upper loop and is moving quickly!

Photos:

(Erik Blow)

The last two days have been a blessing with almost a foot of natural snow falling and our expansion into the next loop! Periodic packing efforts through the storm and some reallocation of man made material have the whole system looking awesome. Snow set up well overnight, and proved to be firm this morning. There are no classic tracks set in the system, hopes are to have some in by early afternoon. Be cautious on the downhill turn on the outer loop; it is not pushed out to its full width at this time.

(Erik Blow)

The course at Grand Ave Nordic is getting better by the day. Today we were able to ski about a 1KM loop. The trail is nice and wide, and the base is deep and firm. The classic tracks were good.

(Joe Gerard)

The trails have groomed up beautifully just in time for Christmas! A drop in temps has helped a great deal with conditions and our classic tracks are deep and skate decks firm! Come on out and enjoy a holiday ski.

Photos:

(Erik Blow)