Fast yet comfortable ski conditions at Grand Avenue Nordic Center. The high temps and faster snow made it actually possible to maintain heart rate in lower ranges when desired - even on the way up the hill. Lower half of the loop looks like it had been groomed that morning, upper half not as recently but didn't yet need it. Great looking classic tracks (one or two) throughout as well. Hard base...the Nordic North Stars kiddos didn't put a dent in it.

(Sara Zimmer)

GANC is in perfect condition. Deep, firm classic tracks freshly groomed. The skate deck looked pristine as well. Only 3K, but it does not get any better.

(Steve Squillace)

All the trails are in good shape. The classic track was laid around the entire system and the skate lane was wide and firm.

(Joe Gerard)

Well, we’re back from a little radio silence, and we’ve got good news! The fresh snow has done wonders to the center and the trails are looking some of the best they have all year. The upper loops which have been plagued by ice and water are groomed again with a classic track and full skate deck and look in good shape, but there are still some wet spots to look out for. Tracks are deep and the deck is firm, so bundle up and come out for a ski!

Photos:

(Erik Blow)

It's a tale of two trails. The lower 1K of trails are groomed wide, firm and are great. The classic track was very shallow on one of the climbs, but good enough on the rest of the 1K. The upper trails, however, seem to have been abandoned. Some ice grew up there a few weeks ago and it hasn't been groomed since. It's very hard, but it is still skiable. There aren't any classic tracks up there, either.

(Joe Gerard)

The lower trails are groomed for skate only (about 1K). There are no classic tracks, they haven't had any here for over a week. Got to the upper half of the loop and found that to be completely ungroomed. Some icy spots, but it's easy to navigate around them.

(Joe Gerard)

Grand Ave Nordic Center was fast and firm Monday and definitely a good workout as it always is. When the wind picked up, the stadium was void of any soft snow cover, so was pretty darn icy. I observed a few novice, waxless classical skiers and looked a bit frustrating due to the lack of tracks and icy conditions. Admittedly, the downhills were pretty fast and a little dicey as it seems it was groomed early morning and then set up pretty firm when the temps dropped a bit.

(Jena Ogston)

Warm day, wet snow. Silver klister was kicking but with all the moisture in the snow there wasn't much for glide. The classic tracks and skate deck were good. It was a good day to be a nordic skier. The whole hour and a half I was skiing, the chairlift on the Alpine hill was stuck. I kept going around the tracks, and every time I returned to the trail next to the Alpine runs I could see the same people stuck on the chairlift. Ski patrol was rigging up ropes and lowering people down, one at a time. As I left, I noticed about half were still awaiting rescue.

(Joe Gerard)

We are back to our normal operations after a very exciting and successful weekend of racing! All 2.5k are groomed and tracked and in great shape for the most part, there are a few patches of ice -- the very far reaches of the upper loops with a little water soaking through. This is outside of our snowmaking reach, and the natural cover is pretty good, but is also insulating the water keeping it from freezing at the moment. I'd still say you can ski with your good skis, just something to keep an eye out for.

(Erik Blow)

Wide, firm corduroy. No classic tracks. All trails were open. I really wish they had laid at least one classic track (I was classic skiing).

(Joe Gerard)