Walked the first 200 yards. Technically skiable but many bare patches, rocks, and sticks. I turned around and left without skiing.

(Ken Abrams)

Part of the Lower Arb was rolled earlier today, and the whole trail has skier-made tracks. Coverage is good except for a few thin places where there are rocks or dirt (clearly visible).

Photos:

(Anna Meyer)

Upper Arb was groomed this evening. The system is holding snow well. Coverage is a little thin at the Field House but the rest of the 3.5k loop is very good. Could be some of the best natural snow close to the Twin Cities.

(Tom Bisel)

Upper Arb was groomed this evening. The system is holding snow well. Coverage is a little thin at the Field House but the rest of the 3.5k loop is very good. Could be some of the best natural snow close to the Twin Cities.

(Tom Bisel)

Trails are icy but skiable. Classic tracks are washed out/nonexistent throughout most of the arb, but less traveled areas and woods are better. No bare ground, but patches of ice and wind-blown trails in the prairie sections. Still an enjoyable ski, but definitely subprime conditions.

(Bonnie Keeler)

Upper Arb is groomed for skate. We were able to groom all the trails this morning. The trails are in excellent condition. We currently have a skiable 5k loop. A classic track was set around the Fieldhouse for classic and double pole drills.

Photos:

(Tom Bisel)

Very ski-able, and good coverage from the recent snow. The upper section had not been rolled, but the Northfield XC ski team was arriving as I finished, so the organic grooming began in earnest. Good skis were practical; there were no bare spots or much debris. The northern section near 19 was a little windblown and some icy spots beneath the coverage. Given the subzero windchills froma stiff North breeze, I avoided that section after one pass. The wooded areas had excellent coverage, and the base good enough to keep it relatively fast. It was nice to be back out again.

Photos:

(Richard Bailey)

Skied the Upper Arb this morning after yesterday's snow event. The skating conditions were very good. A nice coating of fresh powder that came down after grooming last evening, kept the trail a little slow, but skied quite well on Fast Wax HS-10. We currently have a nice 3.5k loop, the open prairie trail has been left alone as the snow wasn't staying on the trail with the high winds yesterday afternoon. Base is quite firm and we were able to really get a nice smooth deck with the amount of snow we recieved yesterday. We will be letting the HS ski team ski in the fresh powder today and will groom again tonight or tomorrow morning. Should be great conditions for the weekend for those looking to get out of the big city and ski on some real snow.

Photos:

(Tom Bisel)

After todays snow, the coverage is good. I was out on rock skis but probably would have been fine on my nice skis. The lower arb has been corduroyed, but only once it appears, so it's not completely packed down. No tracks have been set, but along the river there were some decent once made from other skiers.

(Melissa Bain)

The southern half of the upper arb was groomed for skate (no tracks) last Monday or Tuesday, but it is still very icy with many sticks and twigs. The northern half was not groomed, but it is still skiable. No bare ground though!

(Mitchell Miller)