North Finger is now open, so I believe that all trails are now officially up and running. Very very hard conditions on both man-made and natural snow, but still able to get a good edge. I didn't find any ice during my ski.

(Tim Bontrager)

North Finger and Machinery Hill loops are open, along with the Bridge Trail - looks like everything is nearly ready for the races this weekend. The bridge by the Trailhead has some nice snow piles in place. Excellent grooming this morning with lots of kick on the skin skis!

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(Bill Oyler)

Wirth Lake was in the best shape of the year, with no ice. Parts were starting to get wind blown by 2pm, but great to ski the whole segment. JD Gardens was getting a little crusty and wind blown as well. Tornado Alley was in good shape; and the Skyline trail was similar to JD Gardens in that a few sections exposed to the wind were getting pretty hard/crusty, and then some places where the snow was building up a little bit All had been groomed, and was in pretty good condition given the wind. Classic tracks were similar to skate deck, all in all looked good from what I could see and several classic skiers were flying along.

(Carleton Johnson)

Firm, fast conditions. The only icy spot I discovered is at the very tail end of the 180 degree exit from the twin lake loop (right as you're rejoining the main trail). The inside corner has ice that is very difficult to see but is very slippery! It looked like it was regularly claiming some victims. Be careful!

(Tim Bontrager)

Firm and fast conditions. Found a little ice on the downhills but otherwise none. I jumped in the classic tracks a few times and they were nice and deep.

(Mark Bushinski)

Fast conditions with hard-packed corduroy but edging no problem on the snowmaking loops. Only icy spot I saw was on the sharp left turn on the upper part of the last Green Meadow downhill section, all other turns and curves were very negotiable. Snow guns were blasting away on the upper Judy loop and the Trailhead bridge and at the end of the southern spur trail.

(Dave Carlson)

Soft fresh snow on the golf course and the manmade was soft too. Interesting how different manmade snow vs natural is. My extra blue over a light layer blue klister base worked great manmade snow but stick on fresh snow south side. Nice day to ski.

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(Diane Pattridge)

Squeezed in a short ski during the lunch hour, with fresh snow falling the entire time I was out. There was about an inch of new snow covering the artificial snow, which slowed down the glide significantly. Fairly quiet with not that many skiers out. Skate deck was good -- not hard packed or rutted, maybe a little sugary on a few short climbs but generally very good. Classic tracks looked good as well. Only skied the snowmaking loop, good skis no problems.

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(Bruce Adelsman)

Skied the man made snow trails at Theo this morning while it was still sunny, which was a treat. Firm and fast skate deck and the classic tracks looked great as well. Even double tracked in a few places. I ventured out on the Judy Loop for the first time and I found it to be pretty icy. I slid out and crashed three times on various downhills there. Granted I'm more an intermediate skier rather than advanced. Made for an exciting ski! Overall a great time at Theo :).

(Erika Pond)

I skate skied all of the trails north of Glenwood Ave, and they are all in excellent shape. The snowmaking loop - plus the Judy loop! - are particularly spectacular, with some of the fastest and manageable conditions we've had all year, with very clean snow throughout, even under the Highway 55 bridge. Almost all of the snowmaking loop is open, and the Judy loop in particular is such a fun loop and in the best shape in 10 years or so. No ice to worry about, just nice fast transformed snow. About as good as it gets for skating, and solid classic tracks everywhere.

Photos:

(Bill Oyler)