After trying to ski around a mess of debris on my good skis yesterday on some natural trails - admonishing myself the whole time for not using the B skis - I reverted to the safety of the Hyland manmade track at 7am today. Pink and orange sunrise. Impeccable skate deck and classic tracks. By 8:30 traffic was starting to pick up but it was another glorious MN ski day. Thanks to the groomers for working their magic.

(Emil Pedersen)

Immaculate: Star, Willow Creek, Frog Town, Scenic Foothills and Boulder Ridge. Fair: Oak Knob (Icy along Lake just off of Star loop) and North (Icy in open areas and but good in woods; trail mostly uneven with high on one side and low on opposite). Skied with my Rossie 65OT and had fun.

Photos:

(Steve Tannen)

I went a little earlier today and found the snowmaking loops in very nice condition. There were still quite a few skiers out there before me, so not much corduroy left, but the skate deck is firm with a little soft snow to be able to set an edge to push and provide good control on the descents. The flats were smooth and quick, the climbs skiable, and the downhills just plain fun! The Hyland staff continues to give us a wonderful skiing experience.

(David Sonnenberg)

Heat Wave! Get out and XC Ski! 5 K of Manufactured Snow Trails: Star, Willow Creek, Scenic Foothills and Boulder Ridge is packed, tracked, nightly and is in Good Conditions. Natural Snow Trails: Oak Knob, North, Nature Center Spur, Lake, Hill, Oak Knob is Packed, Tracked and in Fair Conditions.

(Sonja Bercich, Three Rivers Park District)

I looped all the man made and natural trails and everything is in pretty good condition. The little bit of snow we had recently covered up any dirt and ground showing on the natural trails. There was a lot of debris scattered on the lake loop so be mindful with the good skis, but all in all a very nice ski today.

(Christian Oestreich)

I skated the snowmaking loops this afternoon and found the trail conditions to be good. I saw no evidence of grooming since I skied yesterday, so there must have been a lot of skiers out there ahead of me today. However, the coverage is very good, and the skate deck is firm, generally with enough soft snow on top to make it easy to set an edge for the push and comfortably manage the descents. I did note, however, that the big, sweeping, open curve coming off Willow Creek has been swept by today's wind and is pretty much down to hardpack - manageable, but the skis chatter a little. All in all, the Hyland staff provided me with a very nice ski today.

(David Sonnenberg)

Skate skied the man-made trails early morning and the conditions were excellent. Grooming was excellent and classic tracks were set well. Kudos to the grooming crew and staff at Hyland....always first class!

(John Nealon)

I skated the snowmaking loops with my good skis, and the trails were very good - a little soft snow over a nice, firm base. The flats were smooth, the climbs skiable, and the downhills fast but controllable, i.e. a very fun ski on a nice, warm (18F), sunny day. As a bonus, a very nice 8-point buck stopped by the trail to watch me go by. He must eat well in the park, hasn't yet shed his antlers.

(David Sonnenberg)

I skated at Hyland at 10am where about 1-2" of new snow had fallen overnight. The man-made snow trails had all been groomed and were quite fast - you'd never know there was new snow. The natural snow trails had not been groomed and were not nearly as fast, but very skiable! And at this time of year it's good to get off that 5k loop for something different. The Lake Trail was OK, but beware that there's ice under that new snow. Hill Trail and North Trail were great - no ice.

(Dan Steger)

Man made loops were fine. I skied in initially on snow shoe trail from West Beach lot. Hard packed. Icy.

Photos:

(Stephen Tannen)