Surprisingly good skiing with regular grooming for skate. A bit thin on the climbs in the heavily wooded sections but pass-able. Be careful of sticks frozen into the deck. Got a boot caught in one and did a less than graceful body plant. Freshly groomed corduroy isn’t a bad place to skid on though, so no harm done!

(Cliff Macleod)

Thin out there but beautiful. I would use hard wax, multiple layers, as the snow is very sharp and hungry for all your skis wax! Sticks on the trail covered with a little snow and when climbing on paved paths pretty thin be careful. Kind of hopping around to avoid ski damage but good for balance and makes you pay attention. Pray for snow.

Photos:

(Josh Bloom)

Trails were packed and are in poor condition. The base is very thin, but we are open! Chalet will be open from 9 AM - 5 PM, as trail conditions allow.

(Bri Koch, Three Rivers Park District)

Classic skied all the trails from 8 - 10 am. Good conditions and still complete coverage with minor trail debris. Snow still looked like new especially on the edges where it was just soft enough to make a track as no tracks were set. Center was pretty firm and no ice showing anywhere.

(Dan Zenk)

Good snow and grooming thruout. Three Rivers website says poor, but only occasional avoidable dirt showing. Used 30 year old rock skis (still my fastest), but will use B skis next time. No tracks. Clubhouse not open except for bathrooms.

(Scott Engstrom)

Great to be back out at one of my favorite trails, especially on such a beautiful sunny windless day! A little bumpy and some shallow ruts, but snow coverage very good and mostly very clean with only some scattered oak leaves. I did flick a few dozen small branches off the trail as I went by. No classic tracks set. And the clubhouse was closed. It was getting a bit soft in the sunny spots by 1pm. Thanks, groomers, you've done it again!

(Dave Carlson)

Snow diamond morning! So beautiful with the sun and blue sky. Skied all trails except Island. Fresh grooming. Most trails in good condition. The grass and sticks showing through are mostly easy to avoid. No classic tracks set, not enough snow (west metro received about 6" of snow). A little bumpy and uneven as expected with low snow. Get out and enjoy!

(Kathleen Miller)

First skate of the year. Started around 11 am. Most people were leaving when I got there. Groomer was out making another sweep. Good conditions overall. Just a few spots with grass poking through and patches of dirt. The highly sun exposed areas were starting to get very sticky by 12. The sections in the woods stayed cold and not as melty.

(Caitlin Anderson)