HS race going on, so I skied the golf course. Conditions were the best I’ve experienced on the golf course. Great pack, tracks were solid. Great grip and glide. Delightful day! Hope the warm weather doesn’t ruin the snow too much.

(Jean Storlie)

There were high school races at Wirth today but they didn't interfere with my planned route, nor I with theirs. I started at 11 with one loop on the snowmaking loop, and the Judy Loop, then across the bridge (via trail 18, which was no problem) to the natural trails all the way to 394 and back. All trails were good to excellent, albeit getting a little slow in the warmth--or was it just me? By the time I got back the high school races were winding down, so I did another loop on the snowmaking trails, which I was surprised to find were just as good at the end of the day as they had been when I left them four hours earlier, in spite of the warmth--and faster than the natural trails. That place is amazing! I wish I had signed up for the virtual Birkie, because I figure that with the trails I doubled I put in enough K's to have done it.

(Lois Braun)

Pretty much perfect conditions this morning on the natural trails. Groomed after the snow ended yesterday evening; great coverage and depth throughout. Some road gunk on the north side of the highway 55 overpass, but that was about the only imperfection I could see (skied most of snowmaking loop, bridge, skyline, tornado alley, bassett creek, jd rivers, and wirth lake). Trail 18 still mostly closed, but you can access it from the golf course (it routes you down the tubing hill to the trailhead - that part is great but I couldn't see how to get back to the natural trails without removing skis and crossing the street).

(Sam Knuth)

Just skied across the road with the kids. The bridge trail and Skyline had plenty of snow, though the under the railroad bridge was thinner and icy. The tracks heading towards Tornado alley disappeared in spots, but overall things were in pretty great shape. Amazing the natural snow has lasted so long with so little snowfall.

(Dan Boody)

Man made loop is closed tomorrow but skied the loppet course today and everything is in great shape. Ski the lakes, the bog, butler, and skyline tomorrow and enjoy good snow and grooming while it lasts. Classic tracks in a lot of places but not everywhere.

(Eric Sumner)

Excellent conditions on the west side of the parkway, snow is finally warming up. The Judy loop has been groomed wide for races this weekend, and there is very little debris. Best conditions this year. Trails past the upper stadium and behind the machine sheds are still closed.

Photos:

(Adrian Swanson)

Great ski this morning on the natural trails north of Glenwood. Trails had been groomed, but there was a thin layer of powder on top that slowed things down a bit. Otherwise amazing conditions all around. One note - the official trail report is seems not to be updated. Trail 18 has been closed since Tuesday. If you come up from the natural trails, there is no indication of closure, but getting up the hill I found Trail 18 to be mountains of snow ungroomed (a really impressive amount of snow!). Assume it has something to do with the race this weekend.

(Sam Knuth)

Perfection at Theo this afternoon on the snow making trails! The classic tracks were in excellent shape! It's funny how 8 degrees can feel like a heat wave with sunshine and no wind. Thanks to the Theo groomers for all their hard work on the trails.

Photos:

(Bill Lundberg)

Skate skied the snowmaking loop, bridge trail, tornado alley, basset creek, jd rivers, and wirth lake/jar hill. All the natural trails except wirth/jar had been very thoroughly groomed with nice corduroy on the skate deck, and it looked like new tracks. Wirth/Jar Hill had not been groomed and were pretty hard and bumpy. Overall the trail is in great shape. It was slow due to the cold but better than I imagined. Looking forward to warmer temps.

(Sam Knuth)

Skated the made-snow loop today, starting a little after 11. I just went with the blue I already had on them- it was surprisingly decent given the very cold snow. The deck was firm enough with very little loose snow, so that my skis were moderately fast. They did slow dramatically on any leftover coruduroy, and on a few uphills. At the top of the North Finger hill, it was like skiing across goo or sandpaper- I almost fell every time. There was not a trace of ice anywhere on the deck or in the tracks. The usually snow-plowed turns (such as coming out of Twin Lakes and heading into Trail 18) were nearly uniform across the width of the width of the deck- likely things are just firm and cold enough to prevent too much scraping and buildup. The sunshine made it fairly enjoyable and there were a few classes and groups out.

(Dan Boody)