Skied a couple laps on the lake trail this morning. Fresh grooming coming off the lake trail on the the northern lights loop. Lake trail was very hard and could use some freshening up since it hasn't been groomed in a few days. After the bridge by the swim pond on the lake trail, there are some large patches of bare ground. We'll either need a snowfall or some shoveling to cover those up.

(Ben Dubay)

Skied the manmade at 11:00 and conditions were great. Went on ski the northern lights and only one very slight thin area that was easy to avoid. The bottom of the large hill had some dirt.

(Jon Schaumann)

Skied the manmade and conditions were great as they should be with a 3' base. Went to ski the northern lights and had to turn around due to so many rocks and I didn't have my B skis on.

(Ben Dubay)

I skied on the trails near the Eastman Nature Center. There are no tracks set and walkers have pretty much pocked the whole thing. There is a big sign at the entrance that says the trail is for XC Skiing not walking, but I saw more walkers on the trail than other skiers. Too bad they didn't set tracks as it seemed there was plenty of snow and the scenery on the Monarch and Creek trails is gorgeous in the morning.
[ Note: Elm Creek staff has responded that due to holiday hours and snowmaking priorities, they've not had time to classic groom the trails near Eastman Nature Center. They hope to get to them in the next few days. -- Ed. ]

(Joshua Smith)

Trails from Eastman Nature Center have yet to be groomed and are severely pockmarked from walkers. Hard to get kick on the trails near there. Eagle Trail has been groomed about a week ago, before the last snowfall. Tracks are present, but not great.

(Ben Dubay)

Outer loop trails were alright, few dirty spots but nothing too bad. No tracks yet but the snow was still okay for classic. Lots of footprints all over the trails once you get towards the nature center and I saw five people walking on the trail in the course of an hour - more than I've seen in three seasons combined.

(Walter Foch)

The snow was good, a little icy but no bare patches. Hot lap elm classic double pole only/No kick wax 7:50 2.5 k.

(Sage Durdle)

Only the man made loop had been groomed but was in excellent condition. Tracks appeared to be in excellent shape as well. My guess is that the Big Hill bypass will be groomed in the very near future.

(Don Callander)

Skied from Eastman Nature Center, which is still not groomed and trail obliterated by walkers. The outer loop was OK, no tracks in most places, but decent conditions with a few dirty spots. Eagle trail (classic only) had tracks, but they need to be regroomed. I did talk with a park ranger as I was leaving and he said they have other priorities than keeping walkers off the ski trails.

(Ben Dubay)

Arrived at Elm around 8 am to find the trails mostly deserted, however, traffic had picked up noticeably by the time I left around 10 am. The man made loop had been recently groomed and was fresh corduroy and solid classic tracks. One grump about the classic tracks - they seemed to have been set somewhat off-camber and I had some trouble coming out of them in places I wasn't expecting; otherwise they were perfect. Snow guns were running on the tubing hill and blowing over the man made loop just past the top of the wall. I saw a groomer head out on Northern lights while I was skiing classic on the man-made loop so, when I switched to skate, I ventured out that way, taking the upper two-way trail route rather than the lower entrance. Glad I did. The attached photo shows what is waiting for you at the bottom of that big hill on the lower route [very dirty conditions]. However, this area was the only place I saw that was not totally snow covered and completely skiable. Everywhere else was smooth and beautiful. I can't really comment on glide today. I paid the price for choosing to not re-wax my skate B-skis and, as a consequence, my skate ski was slower than my classic ski. :-(.

Photos:

(Leif Irgens)