Conditions: Last day for skiing!
With deteriorating conditions and more warm weather on the way we have decided to close the trails for the season. We will begin pushing out piles of snow Wednesday, March 8th, to get ready for the golf season. Thanks for all of the great comments throughout the season. Thanks again from the grooming crew!

(Troy Tschida, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation)

Conditions: Super fast. Great snow coverage.
Wow! What a trail! This was my first time skiing on the man-made loop. The course was busy with lots of athletes and coaches testing the conditions, plus... plenty of kids participating in a youth ski club. They were really pushing themselves. The trail was hard packed and fast, but with ample snow coverage. I can't get over how many hills and corners they've jammed into such a small area, but it doesn't feel crowded. I felt like I was skiing on a formula one race course. Although the descents are fast and the corners sharp, it wasn't too icy; there was enough soft snow to set and edge or step turn around a corner. The racers should love it.

(Michael Jorgensen)

Conditions: Freshly groomed in morning. Powered, but not (yet) icy.
I was pleasantly surprised to park near the Chalet and find the Piston Bully at work. I waited a bit to give it a head start, and was surprised at how nice the conditions were. There were a few skaters as well as a couple of classic skiers out. The snow did get a bit powdery, and I had to pay attention on the hills lest my skis get caught in some of the ruts. But compared to icy, slippery conditions, this was a great surprise for March 1!

(Paul Larson)

Trail conditions look great! With lower temps in play, the grooming allowed fresh tracks and clean corduroy. I just walked around the man-made loop, but it's a firm deck and looks super fast. The course is still very deep in most places, so weekend racing should be set. Enjoy the grooming while it's here!

Photos:

(Allie Rykken)

There will be plenty of snow on the trails for the MN State Pursuit. Groomers are not sure at this time if or how much they will be able to groom, it will depend on if the temps drop and when.

(Denny Green)

Excellent conditions this morning on the 3k man-made loop for both skating and classic. Thanks groomers!

(Bill Oyler)

Conditions: Excellent at 10 am, getting pretty soft by noon in the sunny areas.
Another great morning at Wirth thanks to a great job by the groomers! The skate lane had a nice clean layer of snow on top and the tracks were still very good but they seem to be getting less deep with repeated grooming, warm days, and no new snow.

(Dan Zenk)

Conditions: Excellent at 10 a.m., getting mushy at noon.
Freshly groomed, firm and fast when I got there at 10 a.m., but starting to get soft on the south facing slopes at 11 a.m. By the time I left at 12:30 the south facing slopes were mashed potatoes, and even some of the exposed flats were getting soft. I felt bad that I was leaving deep ruts in the skate lane, but so was everyone else out there. I'm perplexed because according to the National Weather Service it didn't go above freezing until about then. I suppose it was the sunshine that did it. (But I'm not complaining because I think it was the first time I've skied in sunshine all season.) If you want a good workout, get to Wirth before it freezes tonight! But after it freezes until it is groomed again it will be treacherous because of all the frozen ruts, downhills especially because of ridges formed by snowplowing. It should be great again tomorrow morning! I didn't think the snow was dirty enough to be concerned.

(Lois Braun)

Conditions: Excellent at 10 am.
Track was in great shape and perfect for waxless skis from 10 to Noon today. My fastest ski of the year. Was almost scary fast when I started but softened up gradually even with the sun out and was still good at noon. Skaters said it was good also. If they groom tonight should be good Friday morning. I think the freeze last night made it much better then the reports from yesterday when it was above freezing all night.

(Dan Zenk)

Conditions: Plenty of snow but getting dirty.
Skied Wirth after work and was a little surprised at how dirty the man made loop has become. The overall snow is getting quite dirty and there is an increasing amount of debris in the snow. Also by late afternoon the loop is all mash potatoes, not just the hills. I think I will use B skis if I come back. Nearing the beginning of the end I think.

(Jim Carlen)