Lake Elmo ski trails were packed today. Trails are very slushy and wet due to the rain and warmer temperatures. There is also debris is present. Conditions are considered poor.

(Carolyn Friedrich, Washington County Parks)

The old perimeter trail on the east side other than the northern loop (14E to 18E - Savanna?) was in good to fair condition. It was 32 degrees according to my smart phone, 28 per my car's thermometer. I used SmartWax Yellow LF. When I arrived at about 4:00 pm, the parking lot was 55 to 60% full, yet when I skied I ran into only one group of 5 or 6 high schoolers at 9e and one other young couple that I passed on the way in on Yellow. A bus was loading when I came in at 4:40. The parking lot emptied out at the same time. It was my first time on my newly ground and waxed skis. Salmon might have been better because I was disappointed with my speed even though it was my fastest skate of the season to date. The ridge from 3E to 4E was thin, there was one bare spot on the climb to 5E and there was the usual stretch of bare spots under the trees at 17E. With my newly ground good skis, I won't risk skiing thru the extensive thin spot/snert at the first downhill after 10E and side stepped down the first third of the hill. Would have skied it on rock skis.

(Keith Carlson)

Skied Lake Elmo Saturday afternoon. Did not ski the new Flats, Savannah, or North trails as those were already in bad shape last weekend with quite a few bare spots. Hills, Browns Pond, and Meadow were in overall very good shape, especially considering the lack of snow this season. The first and second downhill after 10E where you go along the south shore of Lake Elmo were the only places where I was concerned for my skis, with the second downhill having considerable exposed dirt and small rocks. Stop and walk it or pick your way very very carefully around the debris. Everyone needs to do a snow dance because the coverage is getting extremely thin. Quite a few areas where, despite the snow being good, you could see the dark of debris/dirt just below the surface. A warm sunny day could be pretty devastating to conditions.

(Hank Carbone)

The old perimeter trail on the east side was mostly in good to very good condition, just had to dodge a few bare spots - on the hill beyond 10E and coming up to the top of the hill under the trees at 17E. The former northern loop, 18E to 20E to 14E, was in poor condition with lots of bare spots to dodge on its western edge. It was in the low teens, overcast with a brief snow burst at the end of my ski. I used FastWax Blue LF. My fastest skate of the season. Surprising considering it was at the bottom of my wax's temperature range and I have not skated since last Monday. ( Did a couple of classic skis in between.) Despite my and others' reports of the bare spots, the trail is generally holding on to its base well. It would still be great if we got some more snow.

(Keith Carlson)

Lots of tree debris and some bare spots on trails. I skied all the trails on the Nordic Center side. Had to take my skis off and walk down some hills because of too much debris. Lots of people out enjoying the little bit of snow there is though!

Photos:

(Jill Adrian)

I skated the outer loop including all the new trails. Thank you to the park personnel for creating new trails! Now we just need more snow! The main trails were in surprisingly good condition, I would say B skis for those. Anytime the trails were in open field though it was pretty bad, definitely rock skis. The "Flats" new trail had three bare spots I had to shuffle across. Savannah and North I would also say bring your rock skis. It was still really great to be out on new trails!

(Beth Hedlund)

I skied pretty much every trail on both sides of the road. The trails in general have more bare spots and upturned ground than when I skied a week ago. Most debris spots are obvious but watch out for the rocks scattered about and just under the surface. The new pink loop around the corn field is in pretty bad shape. The loop around the campground has a very thin covering over the paved trails; you might want to double pole this loop. Lots of debris just after the bridge heading North from the chalet (yellow loop or orange loop?). Not enough snow for classic tracks.

(Bonnie Weiskopf)

Perimeter trails varied from good to poor condition. It was low 20's and overcast. I used blue FastWax LF. Trails need snow. Although much of the perimeter trails were fine for skate, the first downhill on the formerly named Lake Elmo trail is now treacherous. A quick hop from one ski to another saved me from a fall on the dirt. The northern loops, 14e to 18e, had several bare spots you could ski around and their northern edge and the trail surface was so uneven and broken up by the vegetation sticking through it that it was difficult to discern that it had been groomed at all or where the trail even was. It was not apparent that I was actually following the trail until it connected with the portion running along the lake, which overlaid the summertime paved trail.

(Keith Carlson)

I skated and it was fun but many spots with dirt showing through (90% coverage). Use your B skis. Skate lane and classic tracks well worn and so thin of a base that I don't think the groomers can do much with it. Need some more snow. I made a mistake and skied the new 'North Loop' which was super thin and I met at least 12 walkers right down the middle of the trail. I had to ask one of them not to walk directly on the classic track! Only experienced 2 walkers on the 'regular' ski trails, so no problem.

(David Gorringe)

As reported by others, the conditions are decent but there are lots of thin spots. Classic tracks not set yet. Skate ski deck is rolled but has seen lots of use since last grooming. Best skiing today was out on the lake. 2-3" of powder on top of the ice makes for long, easy, effortless skate strides.

Photos:

(Dana Smith)