Manufactured snow loop (minus the cutoff) was well groomed with excellent classic tracks and a good skate deck. I didn't ski Northern Lights but talked to a skier who did - apparently NL has some grass sticking through and potential rocks at the far turn that can be skies around. No classic tracks yet on NL. By the time I finished around 9:30 the snowfall had slowed the tracks and they were starting to wash out in a couple of spots. All in all, excellent skiing.

(Greg Loper)

Classic skied on the trails around the Nature Center. The snow cover was good, very little sign of ground, and the snow consistency was perfect. None of the outer trails were groomed, but there was some tracks from other skiers. People had walked a lot over the trails which didn't help. But, all in all, still a nice ski and worth going out to for classic sling. Wouldn't even try skate skiing.

(Dan Persons)

I skied the man-made loop today and was pleasantly surprised to find they have extended the loop to 2.5km! A lot of people out there at 2pm, but plenty of room with the extended loop. I did not try and ski the natural trails because I only had my A set. Conditions were great!

(Beth Hedlund)

Northern lights is beautiful. Not groomed, but very skiable for both skate and classic. Note that there are some sticks and rocks, so be careful. There's also a patch where it's best to just take them off and walk. Snow on both main loop and northern lights is very good.

(Laura Hansen)

The manufactured snow loop (minus the cutoff) was freshly groomed and in fantastic shape. All of the icy spots that were present on Christmas Day were no longer icy. Props to the groomers for their excellent work.

(Greg Loper)

Tried skiing from the nature center and nothing was even rolled. Some tracks from previous skier and a lot of runners on the trails. Drove to the chalet afterwards. Manmade was fine and Northern Lights was open. I would suggest rock skis for Northern Lights since they dragged up a lot of rocks and dirt on the large downhill and for a little afterwards. Actually had one spot where skis had to be taken off and go around the rocks/dirt.

(Ben Dubay)

Went to Elm Creek late this afternoon, hoping for some peace and quiet for my first day on snow this year and I wasn't disappointed. Maybe two dozen cars in the lot around sunset and probably less than 50 people scattered around the loop. I never got close to anyone except when occasionally passing or being passed. Stuck to the man-made loop, skiing two laps of classic and two more skate. The classic tracks were quite shallow and worn from what appeared to be a day of heavy use; to the point where I had some trouble staying in them. I was on skins so kick was fine (at least for a first day of the year, I'm pretty sure the slipping was mostly me...). The skate deck was much more to my liking. Firm...ish with a light coating of powdered sugar on the surface all around the loop to provide some purchase. The two climbs were still in good shape, no heavy sugar or mashed potatoes. Glide seemed to be fine with Fastwax 10 (-10 to 15 F). Even with the coldish conditions, I didn't have any trouble getting my skis to move when skating and I had no trouble holding an edge.

(Leif Irgens)

The manufactured snow loop is well covered with classic tracks set (except for the cutoff.) Classic tracks were washed out near the chalet and around the instruction area but in good to great shape over the rest of the course. The skate deck was icy at the chalet and on the wall. All in all, good skiing.

(Greg Loper)

Pretty good snow, extended main loop is now open. One set of classic trails with a groomed skate deck.

(Laura Hansen)

2.5k loop was in great condition, very firm with no break up in the cold weather. Today you could get kick with just about anything, but glide is slightly harder to come by. The natural snow trails weren't groomed, except Northern Lights which I didn't go very far down because the coverage was inconsistent and sub par in many places -- rock skis for Northern Lights. Shout out to the grooming crew for so far a great season on grooming!

(Jack Nightingale)