I skied the Dry Creek Trail and a portion of the Pioneer Trail. These trails were clearly tracked prior to Tuesday night's light snowfall, so that provided a silky surface in the tracks. Didn't care for double tracks on the steepest hill on this trail, which also has a curve at the bottom. Tracks were more sketchy on the open section of the Pioneer Loop, but better in the woods. Fair to good conditions overall.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

I headed out on the freshly groomed Amador Prairie trail today. I took the east side of the loop which is typically better than the west. The single track along this stretch was mainly fair, and the base of the track had a crushed snow/ice mix. As I headed east toward the river on the Nevers Dam Link, I found double tracks that were in better condition. I finished my ski on the Old Logging Trail. With a little bit of overnight snow in the tracks, it was like skiing on silk. Good conditions here, and a nice ski.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

I encountered a combination of skied-in tracks and freshly groomed track on a cold, quick ski Sunday afternoon. A couple inches or so of fresh snow improved conditions noticeably. I would rate the trails fair or better in the woods. Snow is thin in places along the river, and I kept my pole plants at an angle on the paved base portion so they weren't hitting quite as hard. Found a large group of swans by the Nevers Dam site overlook.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

I skied both Tuesday and Wednesday, and the trails clearly were impacted negatively by the very warm weather last Friday. But the tracks on the trail portions with a paved base (Mitigwaki and Old Logging) were at least skiable. Elsewhere the tracks were really icy Tuesday, as were other parts of the trail. However, by the time I skied yesterday, other trails (south side of Mitigwaki, River etc.) had been worked on so there was a much more skiable ground snow surface. There weren't any tracks other than on the paved base trails, but it was a definite improvement. Even the light dusting of snow Tuesday night added more grip to the existing tracks. I would say the trails I skied were getting closer to fair. I'm sure trails in the open are in poor condition.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

Tracks were still pretty well formed, but on the slick side. I stayed on the summer bike trail portions (Mitigwaki, Old Logging) and skied a couple miles. With temps reaching well into the 40s, conditions are not what they were earlier in the week, but at least the wooded trails are still skiable with adequate coverage. The wind has brought some leaves into the tracks, which I could mostly step over. Hoping for more snow!

(Kris Backlund)

Wild River didn't get nearly as much snow as the Twin Cities area, but a fresh few inches and freshly groomed trails made for a nice ski outing. The base of the tracks was definitely firm, and a bit icy in places with more sun exposure due to last week's warm weather. I skied the Mitigwaki Loop, boat landing hill, and River Trail south of the boat landing, encountering mostly good conditions, with a few thin or icy spots.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

With temperatures around 40 Thursday and Friday, I wasn't sure how trails would be, but a warm, late afternoon ski Friday was beautiful, and trails were still in decent condition. I skied the River and Old Logging trails. Conditions were better up top along the Old Logging Trail, and wooded areas were better than trail sections somewhat in the open. I found about 15-20 trumpeter swans across from the Nevers Overlook on the Wisconsin side of the river where there was open water. Unfortunately, there were at least a couple hikers who used the River Trail going north for walking, with footprints between the two sets of ski tracks.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

Today I skied the Dry Creek Trail. Tracks seemed to have formed well despite the dry snow and cold conditions. Widely scattered areas where the base of the track is a bit icy, or leaves, pine needles etc. have worked their way to the surface. Pleasant skiing in the warmer weather. Fair to good overall.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

I skied the Mitigwaki Loop, boat landing road, and River Trail south of the boat landing. Mostly nice conditions throughout, but a few thin areas, and limited spots where the base of the track was slightly icy. Overall I would say fair to good skiing, with the best conditions of the season so far.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)

I skied the portions of the Mitigwaki Loop with the paved base, and down the boat landing hill to the St. Croix River. The short section I skied south of the boat landing was not tracked. Even with new snow, that area was icy in places due to wind and sun exposure. The upper sections had a nicely set single track, but the base of the track was somewhat icy. I was using my waxless skis, so skiers able to wax for the conditions will have a better experience. Conditions ranged from fair to poor, but it's always nice to be out, and nice to have some new snow after the thawing that occurred earlier in the week.

Photos:

(Kris Backlund)