Snow is holding up well at the Arb. Skate lanes have been getting daily grooming in the morning and that should continue as temperatures allow. Fast skating today on the transformed snow. Short patch at the high point of Big Ben has no snow for about 10 meters. One bend on Potlatch is ice/slush. South Acorn on the paved bike trail will have bare spots with one more warm/sunny day, but the rest of the trails are in great shape with just a few small isolated slush/ice patches. Classic track was set several days ago and isn't too icy, yet.

(Owen Baird)

About 2 inches of snow Monday night through Tuesday was then groomed Tuesday afternoon. Good conditions but the skating in the fine cold snow was quite slow Wednesday evening. Classic track are down into older snow so were a bit faster.

(Owen Baird)

About 2 inches of snow on Monday-Tuesday packed down to about 1 inch on the trails. Skate trail were groomed again Wednesday, classic tracks were set on Tuesday. A little more new snow fell after tracks were set but they are all skied-in well. As of Tuesday Northstar had not been groomed, but folks had skied-in the powder over the remnant tracks and they looked pretty good. Skate lane very good. The ice and old snow is now all well covered.

(Owen Baird)

Some classic tracks groomed in the morning. Light snow dusting over. Several people had problems with slush adhering to waxless and skin skis. I had little trouble, Potlatch and Big Ben were good, acorn and pioneer had slush adhesion. Overall slow for skating and classic. But skiable.

(Renee dufresne)

After grooming, shoveling by the Brainerd High School Team, and a bunch of high school kids skiing around and racing today the current race loop trails are terrific. Loose granular snow over a hard base with just a few short icy spots. The good trails/race course include the Pioneer trails, Ojiwe, Acorn, Little Ben, and Rudy's. The non-race course trails: Big Ben, Potlatch, Northstar, South Acorn, have had limited grooming and are hard and icy, skiing these is not recommended. Grooming and maintenance will continue daily in preparation for the Lumberjack Jaunt on Sunday. The only poor aspect is an icy old track that was set before the meltdown. Probably will not be able to set a new track until we get more snow.

(Owen Baird)

Trails are still holding up ok. Top of the Big Ben hill, one corner of Potlach, and some of South Acorn on the bike trail down to base ice, otherwise good coverage with a few inches of well packed transformed snow. Some areas a little icy but still very skiable. Once temperatures drop below freezing groomers will try to break up the snow to prepare for the Lumberjack Jaunt.

(Owen Baird)

As of Friday afternoon the Arb trails were still in good condition. A few slightly icy-glazed areas and a very few thin areas but overall still good coverage and firm. Classic tracks mostly icy and fast. Hopefully they continue to hold up well through the rest of the warm spell.

(Owen Baird)

Excellent trail conditions at the Arb for both skate and classic. Of course some oak leaves in the tracks in some sections, but with recent light winds the leaves are not as bad as they can be. Even with some warm weather the trails should be in great shape for the Lumberjack Jaunt on January 29.

Photos:

(Owen Baird)

Excellent skate and good classic tracks. Skate deck was groomed again today making it fairly fast given the cold temperatures. Classic tracks were last set a couple of days ago so there are some oak leaves in some areas and some open sections are drifted in, but very good overall.

(Owen Baird)

After about 5 inches of snow Monday all Arb trails were groomed and track set. Good solid classic track as it is set on a bullet-proof ice base, but no ice in the track. Nice powdery skate deck. Expect some drifting in open areas.

(Owen Baird)