On the far western end of the Norpine system, we skied from Caribou Trail west to Ski Hill Road. I'd been wondering why the Norpine Association on their current trail report described this trail as in poor condition. The snow closer to Lake Superior just isn't deep enough for this trail. While 70% of the trail was in decent shape, with fresh grooming, the grooming all but disappears in the frequent cedar swamps the trail passes through. Also, anytime there's a natural ditch in the trail, the ski trail also dips sharply down. Would recommend waiting to ski this trail until there is more snow. It's a beautiful forest and very few people.

(Andrew Slade)

From Hwy 61 snowmobile lot west of Cascade skied up the connector past Cascade, up West Pioneer, across the upper connector to Deeryard, around all Deeryard loops, back across the connector and back down to Lake Superior via West Pioneer and Ridge Run. Grooming was great, completed yesterday and today. Tracks at lower elevations are shallow but workable and Pioneer and Deeryard grooming was great. Solid deep tracks, firm deck, no pole plunging and great to see the double tracks back on Deeryard for those of you who like to ski side by side and converse! A little tree debris in the pine sections to look out for, and the logging road crossings are spots to suggest B skis but with caution good skis are fine.

(Tim Nelson)

Skied the Deeryard loop with the wifey at 2 pm. Everything was freshly groomed. Occasional debris and sticks popping up but mostly easy to avoid. Overall outstanding conditions.

(Mike Peters)

From Deeryard trailhead skied around the loop including the short loop. High winds of the last few days have caused the tracks to be drifted in in many places and tree debris was bad on the east side making glide harder than the cold snow would otherwise make it. But it was still a nice ski outing at minus 10 degrees.

(Tim Nelson)

From the Deeryard Trailhead skied clockwise including a trip up Fire Tower. Grooming after the 3 inches of snow was fresh and perfect. Tracks were straight and true but the wind had filled them in a bit in many places. Wind also created tree debris on the east side but given the cold temps, they were not a problem. Good ski in the cold.

(Tim Nelson)

Snow drought ended, 3-4" good powder fell today on top of packed base. Base quality adequate at lowest elevations, better to good at middle and higher elevations, massie/hall loops. Grooming had not been done yet.

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(Elger Lorenzsonn)

Deeryard Trails were a little snowed in, but conditions were great. The Short Loop was a little bumpy and there were a few sticks. The tracks were firm and a little snowed from the snow today. The Firetower was good too. A little Way down the connector the conditions became terrible. Only a few trails were groomed and some were rolled. Bad tracks below the deeryard loops.

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(Paavo Rova)

Skied from Deeryard trailhead clockwise around the loop. Stopped to do 3 intervals up to top of Firetower hill from the lean to corner. Good coverage, firm tracks, good pole plants all the way. Only complaint was the squiggly / wavy nature of the track which is not a problem skiing up but on the long 2k fast descent from Fire Tower, it would have been nice if the tracks were a little straighter.

(Tim Nelson)

Skied across Deeryard Lake and then around the large loop on the Deeryard section of Norpine today. The fresh snow was perfect and fluffy and several others had skiied before us making it easier to glide a bit in the woods. No sign of grooming yet today, but still a wonderful ski and plenty of snow for later in the week too. The lake was not slushy at all but it was very windy with drifts forming and changing.

(Sarah Waddle)

From the Deeryard trailhead skied 1.5 laps including Fire Tower. Light snow dusting covered some of the debris and it was a nice ski. Did occasionally get pine cones stuck in my wax but they came out easily. But I used B skis for that reason.

(Tim Nelson)