I pulled into the parking lot around 4 pm and was surprised to see so many cars in the lot, especially at about 1º. The snow was amazing, super firm and fast. Classic tracks were deep and consistent. I couldn't quite manage my own temperature - hands freezing and body overheating. Other than that, the skiing was tremendous. Groomers were moving about, and it was a great afternoon to be skiing.

(Glenn Hansen)

Then entire 5k man made trail is open and in perfect condition! Thanks groomers - snow was abrasive but firm in classic track and on the skate deck.

(Charles Barden)

Groomed machine-made snow was excellent. Firm skate deck, good condition classic tracks. Very few skiers today, wonderful afternoon. Temps dropped a lot by 4 pm.

(Glenda Marsh)

With the cool temps and lack of skiers, the grooming was perfect. There is nothing better than skiing alone in the morning.
They are still working on the Foothills loop but it looks very close to opening.

(Kenneth Kooistra)

I did classic at Hyland this morning, I expected it to be deserted with the low temp and wind, but it was fairly busy. The tracks were in excellent shape except where a snowgun was drifting at the practice area down to the upper parking lot. I tried stepping out of the tracks onto the skate deck and it was nice and quick. The skate deck looked good except for a few of the smaller hills which had maybe an inch and a half of sugar. There were a couple of groomers working on the next section out from Frog town so maybe that will open up soon!

(Tom Harris)

Beautiful conditions this morning. Lots of smiling faces even in a chilly breeze that made me happy to be a Minnesotan. Firm skate trail with only the tiniest bit of powder in the first Star climb. Everything else is fast! I used the coldest swix wax and felt great. There's grass exposed on the inside of the star downhill and some debris so i marked it B skis but i felt fine on my good skis. Lots of snowmaking and moving seemed to be going on in foothills.

(Tim Bontrager)

Invigorating to say the least with the cold temps. Most of the track was great the only real issue was the downhill on Willow as it was wind blown with new man made snow. Hopped onto the skate deck and was able to glide down that hill. Lots of people getting after it.

Photos:

(Scott Greymont)

After the afternoon snow at my 4:30 pm start, the trail was reasonably fast although the accumulating sugar on the climbs while still shallow slowed me. On the positive side, the downhill from the top of Frog Town, with no significant sugar on it, remained fast and unlike yesterday I had no trouble getting bite with my skis.

(Keith Carlson)

Conditions at Hyland were perfect this morning at 6am. The skate skiers appeared to be flying around the loop. The classic tracks were firm with no sugar leading to great kick getting up the hills. Plenty of snow cannons making snow out on the foothills as well as more snowmaking on the start area. The right classic track near the chalet was still groomed a bit wide.

(Scott Greymont)

With the temps - around 14 degrees - and grooming, the trail was fast. With my rush to get out before I lost the daylight, I grabbed my rock skis with the base all the way worn off in a few spots and waxed with CH3 last season. Despite my fears, they moved okay but I struggled to get bite on some of the harder packed sections. Despite that and being unable to skate the last Willow climb on both my laps and the Frog Town climbs on my second lap, it was still my fastest ski of the year. That was assisted by the fact that the Star west-east climb bypass next to the chalet parking lot is now open. Thanks groomers.

(Keith Carlson)