Good hard-wax classic skiing today. Blue was kicking fine until about 20k when wax loss started taking its toll. But the trails were getting crowded by 4:30 anyway; when I saw a group of 30+ skiers heading out together in less than 20m group length (without a single mask in sight), I knew it was time to play it safe and bail instead of getting in a skate session as planned.

(Pete Thurmes)

Elm Creek now has 2K of cross-country ski trails open. Thank you everyone for your patience during these warm periods.

(Bruce Bolduan, Three Rivers Park District)

The next part of the manmade loop is open. About 2Ks now.

Photos:

(Mark Lahtinen)

Able to blow snow all day. Looks like next section ready to be groomed.

Photos:

(Mark Lahtinen)

Good sunrise ski at Elm Creek. About 12 cars in the parking lot at 6:40am. Still just the first section open, but groomers were working the second section hard and it should open soon. Blowing snow on the third section of the man-made loop.

(Jeff Blodgett)

Just the same loop, but the guns were blazing on everything else except the bagel. Some of the existing loop seemed like new snow. Things were breaking down a bit, but less sugary than Wirth was Saturday. Took one hot lap before the crowds started showing up, logged 3:17 using my warm flex/grind Rossi's with what might be illegal wax on them from Wednesday.

(Benjamin Mullin)

Snow was in great condition this morning. Was glad to see the guns blazing out new snow. Elm looks really close to being able to open the remaining part of the man made trail.
Plenty of people getting their ski on this morning.

(Scott Greymont)

Conditions were very good. Classic track was firm, not washed out, and not icy. The skate lane looked "sugary", but not deep. My attempt at an early season, old man "hot lap" resulted in 5:16, using traditional classic technique, i.e., did not double-pole the entire loop. Not wanting to mess with kick wax at 30 degrees on old artificial snow, I used Atomic Redster C9 skins with Swix CH7 glide. Challenging the rest of Team Eat Bowl Relax!

(Mark Waldoch)

The trail this evening was way better than yesterday's icy 1k loop; new man made snow was made and groomed at some point since last night. Around 10-20 people were there around 8:50 pm, only one person was skiing when I left around 9:30. Still only the 1k man made loop was open.

(Zachary Pierson)

Skied the 1k loop around 9:00pm, most of the trail was pretty icy! Only option is the man made 1k loop.

(Zachary Pierson)