First the snow, its great and lots of it, best in a long time. The park groomers have been working the trails the last few days and classic skiing away from the parking lot was immaculate, deep tracks next to a skate lane of untouched, but soft corduroy. In a half K the skating lane was half freshly groomed while the other half had a few inches of fluff left from the storm (see picture). Just past the tunnel the groomed tracks made a left, returning across the tracks and continued back to the parking lot. There had been no final grooming on any of the other trails, the deck was fairly firm and there was a skied in classic track but several inches of fresh cold snow challenged skaters. If you skied only on the groomed classic tracks and partially completed skate deck it came to about 5K. Not sure what happened and do not know what the plans are for finishing the grooming- it's a mystery.

Photos:

(Jim Smith)

This is the first time in almost 11 months and 18 ski trips at this park where there has been a classic track set! Grooming continues and by late afternoon the trails were groomed to the left turn just past the tunnel and back to the start, so about 5 kilometers. Other sections varied from what appears to have been rolled during the snow yesterday to being rolled only after Wednesdays snow. The newer farm loop and South America had about 3 classic skiers user tracks in about 5-6" of new snow. Skating was not yet an option on these loops. There is plenty of snow and if they get it all groomed up it should be a fabulous week end of skiing on these awesome trails.

(Paul Schaaf)

Arrived about 10 this morning and could hear the groomer out and about. The trails were being pack, widened and combed while the snow continued to fly. The base was much firmer and leveled from yesterday and was easy to classic even without the track. No attempt was made to track the trails, it just would have filled in quickly with the new snow. If you like classic without track it was a good but slow surface to ski. The one other person I saw was skating in the soft and slow conditions, but the snow itself was silky and magical. Absolutely beautiful, had to stop often and just take a panoramic look around to assure myself that I remember what winter looks like. Given the effort the park staff is putting into the trails this could be the best weekend of the year at O'Brien. Nice to ski without worrying about ruining my skis.

(Jim Smith)

I classic skied with good skis. No tracks set, or skied in track - just basically breaking trail on a rolled but soft surface. The snow compressed to a soft few inches over an icy base. I could hear the groomer at times and it looked like they were packing down a base as much as possible. This should help the snow adhere to the icy base and set the trails up for what comes in this next storm. Hoping for some good conditions here this weekend.

(Jim Smith)

Skate skied, or at least tried to. Very soft and deep. I think it was rolled on Monday and then untouched, it never set up even in the cold. There's still a lot of air in the snow. Planned on skipping South America and just as well as it had not been rolled. I would not recommend skating until you know it has been groomed again. Talked to an attendant and he said he'd mention our concerns to the groomers tomorrow. 40% skied in classic tracks. Coverage is decent.

(Steve Thatcher, Ride and Glide Bike & Ski Club)

Trails are open, most are rolled, none groomed or tracked. Pretty soft conditions and the coverage is good but thin. Used rock skis but did not hit anything. The snow compacted down to maybe two inches or less and the cold makes for a soft pack. Skating looked better than classic but in either case the snow was slow.

Photos:

(Jim Smith)

Well I tried. Wet warm and new snow on top of ground that was pretty warm in places meant lots of clumping on the skis. Walked back to the car and the snow was clumping on the bottom of my shoes. There are quite a few ruts in the dirt on the trail, especially on some of the hills. It's going to take quite a bit of snow to groom over these ruts. Might try again when it cools off but quite thin.

Photos:

(Jim Smith)