For 80% I'd say the trails are in great shape. The hills are a different story. Very much corn snow. There isn't anything binding the snow together. Up hills were already mush by 6:30 am.

Photos:

(Scott Greymont)

I skied classic at Elm Creek this morning. The wind was unpleasant on the section down to the Bottenoue house and from the top of the hill to the bridge. This was mostly due to drifting snow from the guns. The tracks were a little bit shallower, mainly due to the drifting snow. Watch the corners, some of the outside track has been skied out. I had good grip and glide, almost too good of glide on the donut downhill. The skate deck looked firm with little sugar on the hill. There were two guns on the hill bypass and one on the whale tail.

(Tom Harris)

Great ski this morning. Skate deck was great and it looked like the tracks were providing good kick. Hills getting a little loose. A few high school teams practicing.

(Bob Maki)

I classic skied at Elm Creek this morning, the tracks were in good condition. There was blown in snow from the guns in some spots. I didn't get as much kick as I hoped for but that was probably my technique. The skate deck looked good, the hill is starting to get a layer of sugar that's maybe an inch thick.

(Tom Harris)

They have opened up the shorter loop on Valley trail for 1.7k total. Great day - lots of sun. Tracks were good and firm. The steeper uphills were getting sugary by 1 pm, but most of the rest of the deck was good. There were 7 snow guns going on the downhill area, so a fair amount of blowing snow near the chalet. Was a fantastic day to be out.

Photos:

(Laurie Ford)

Gorgeous morning at Elm Creek. The 1.2 mile skate deck was relatively fast and the snow guns were blazing. Newly-made snow was blown over the trail in a few spots, which slowed things down. But I'm very happy to get in such great skis with the unseasonal weather we've experienced. Thank you, Elm Creek groomers and snow-makers!

(Matt Frantzen)

The tracks were a bit more shallow today but still very good, I had good kick (skins) and glide. The deck looked like it was good and people seemed to be getting an edge, For some reason the breeze didn't seem bad today.

(Tom Harris)

2k of Valley Trail is open and in good condition. Yesterday was not closed but we did have a gate malfunction at the entrance to the park.

(Dominic Ray, Three Rivers Park District)

As of 6:30am gates were still closed. You can see the snow guns blowing.

(Scott Greymont)

Would have been a great morning for skate as the deck is firm with just enough snow on to for edge. The classic tracks are nice and deep and many areas with two sets of tracks. Greasy is a good way to describe them. Very little kick with the skin skis may have been a klister sort of day.

Photos:

(Scott Greymont)