Trails were ungroomed, but 10x better than not skiing. I did a few loops of the fake snow loop. Looked like several dozen people classic skied before me. It took some agility to stay off the pavement near the donut, and to stay upright over some rough sections. Overall it felt much like the first ski of the season.

Photos:

(Andor Langski)

All ski trails are closed Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday morning, March 8th, groomers will re-evaluate.

(Julie Matzek)

Classic track was firm and fast with just a couple of wobbles near the chalet. Skate deck was also firm. Could've used just a touch more klister on top of the old stuff I had on since the last klister ski. Today and tomorrow morning could be as good as it gets until next winter around here with the upcoming warmth.

(Mark Lahtinen)

Classic skiied the Valley Trail. The groomers have done a great job of keeping our well used old snow very skiiable (we haven't worn it out yet). The tracks were fast. I have been using waxless skis and they work well on this type of snow. There is only one dirty spot where the base is thin at the top of the donut near the chalet parking. You can easily go around it. With temperatures at 18 degrees with light wind it was perfect morning to be out.

(Mark Basiletti)

The snow was variable with a little glide-grab-glide with the little bit of new snow mixed in. It was not groomed after the new snow this morning. It was getting pretty soft and mushy as well and really not much fun skiing around noon. The classic track varied from slow with some new snow to glazed and fast to wet, mushy and slow. It should be better tomorrow morning after they groom and it will be colder tonight. Staff said they were planning on grooming until Sunday March 12th.

(Mark Lahtinen)

I skied around 7-8am this morning, Valley was in great condition for skating. Firm deck with good edge. Very soft were snowcat drove the loop from the practice area to the tubing hill, but other than that it was very good conditions. Just a few areas with debris, which is very surprising given the time of year and lack of new snow this month. The tracks appeared to be well-formed and looked to be pretty fast.

(Brad Johnson)

I skated the Valley Trail from 8:00-9:30 this morning. Surprisingly, I was the first one on the fresh corduroy, and most of that time I was the only skier on the trail. The skate deck was in excellent condition, nearly perfect for my "intermediate" skating skills. The base was quite hard, topped with firm, but "softish" corduroy that provided nice speed and glide with confident edging. The only downside was the extra grooming done by the PistenBully on an out-and-back from the maintenance area to the top of the tubing hill. Those extra trips over-groomed that stretch in both directions, producing instant deep sugar for about 250 meters, in stark contrast to the excellent grooming elsewhere. The classic tracks were freshly set, but the walls and bases looked pretty chunky and probably hard to wax for. The tracks were quite fast where I used them to double-pole around the over-groomed area.

(Ron Refsnider)

Valley was in pretty good shape this morning given the recent 60s. It is getting that ICU gray look. Deck was mostly firm with good edge on the frozen but not crazy fast grooming.

(Brad Johnson)

I classic skiied the Valley Trail at 9:30 a.m. The tracks were icy and fast. A good double poling workout day. The skate deck was hard. There a few dirty areas that you can easily go around.

(Mark Basiletti)

Classic skied at 8:00am this morning. Valley Trail is packed and tracked and in good condition. The track was "icy" and "fast". Almost too icy and fast. It should "soften" as the day warms up.

Photos:

(Mark Skinner)