Busy for NYE with many out enjoying the rentals. Fun to see so many out learning. I covered most of the E sector from Schulze and Holland and it was a mixed bag. Snow conditions were fast when tracks were intact and not badly covered with leaves, pine needles, twigs, and of course some animal droppings. A few pairs of skiers going the wrong way on long 1-way sections - not sure what the solution is, as there's ample signage (same for boots on the tracks). Favorite parts with clean deep tracks: 1. Between 59-38 in the SE where I got probably my longest downhill glide of the season so far. 2. Advanced area hills. 3. Area around 26-7 by Holland (photo).

Photos:

(Cory Quirk)

Beautiful day and not too crowded. Trails a mix of good/decent (much of the south side) to icy/hard. No powder left in many areas; tracks obliterated at times: packed down at all intersections and some entire sections, especially near the visitor center and the downhills. A few downhills quite difficult to control: packed down, uneven, icy. Flat sections where tracks still exist were mostly lovely. Some litter and pine cones, as well as ice/ruts, hence the B skis.

(Janet Folina)

Skied at dawn. Snow surface froze and hardened over night, so the skin skis lost a little purchase. Area under the pines were still a challenge. Hard packed with lots of pine needles. Some enterprising skiers trod a track in the snow bank along side the trail that was much more skiable. The newish beginner practice loop is a delight and a great way to top off your ski before packing it in at Schultz Lake.

(Rick Vatsaas)

Great Day for skin skis at Lebanon Hills. Trails were groomed and tracked yesterday, which help a lot with leaf litter in the tracks. Still a lot of leaves so skin skis were great for coast of them. Skied The outer loop, which is most pristine on the south side of the park. Good skis are ok but watch for the occasional dirty spot.

(Rick Vatsaas)

Skied outer trails, found plenty of snow but also plenty of leaves and pines needles. Not recently groomed.

(Dan Sheehan)

Skied the classic trails west of Pilot Knob. These are less used than the eastern trails and more challenging climbs and downhills.. Trail was in much better shape than the east side. Many fewer leaves or drifts. Some sections were pristine.

Photos:

(Rick Vatsaas)

Skied 8 mile loop from visitor center to pilot knob road and back. Beautiful day to be out skiing. Plenty of snow but track is shallow about 1/3rd of trail and lots of pine needles and leafs in spots. Still great to be out skiing.

(David Baumgardner)

Conditions improved from when I skied on Friday. While still lots of leaf litter, skiers have carved decent paths through the drifts. The leaves slow down the glide, but no real risk of damage. Be aware that various predators have been disemboweling lesser mammals along the trail.

(Rick Vatsaas)

Skied a loop from visitors center. Although great snow coverage of trail, there is a lot of wind blown tree debris (twigs, leaves, and pine needle stuff) in the tracks/trail, so I selected B skis for possible scratches. Ended up at end just skiing the short practice loop NW of the visitors center several times as it is mostly free of tree debris.

Photos:

(Ken Kuznia)

Considerable drifting and leaf litter throughout, the park was as expected. Area under the pines looks like a Christmas Tree lot on December 26th. In sheltered areas, tracks were great. There was a family of turkeys chilling in a tree, cheering me on.

Photos:

(Rick Vatsaas)