All skate lanes groomed as of this morning. No tracks can be re-set until we receive more snow. Some icy patches on trail, but overall it should be good skating for the weekend.

(Kurt Janko)

Half of the skate lanes were groomed Wednesday, the rest will be groomed Thursday. Conditions are very icy near the trailhead, but much better farther out. Base is still about 4 inches with about 8" in the woods. Classic tracks were not reset and are in fair condition (icy). We may not be able to reset until we receive more snow.

(Dan Kephart, Wisconsin DNR)

Skated one loop from Maple to Oak to White Pine, right on Oak to entire River Loop, and left on Spruce, short crossing along Oak to Aspen, and finally Easy Return. At least one skater was in front of me and three more cars in the lot when we left. Soft conditions with a fair amount of tree debris, therefore slower, but a great morning in the woods. One dead tree down in the trail on Oak as you approach the River Loop, but you can get around on the right.

(Bill Barthen)

Firm and fast base. Holding up well under light rain. Should at least be good for the weekend.

(Peter Nordgren)

Just about perfect conditions at After Hours. Temperature in the high teens and sunny. Skate lane was good on all trails, with a rare soft spot. Classic tracks deep and firm. A few (rare) patches with some oak or maple leaves in the track, easily avoided by lifting a ski or a quick step out of the track for a meter or two. Where the sun does not reach the trail, snow was slower, but much faster than the last few days; tomorrow should be a bit faster! The Brule River was gorgeous as usual.

Photos:

(Tim Holst)

After the 6+ inches of new snow earlier this week, the trails are groomed and tracks set. Skiing conditions are excellent!

(Diane Gobin)

I was pleasantly surprised with the conditions of the trails. Apparently the small doses of fresh snow the Brule area has received this week gave the grooming crew enough with which to work. The ice layer is covered. The trails were groomed and track was set on most of the trails I skied, late morning on Saturday, including Maple, Oak, the Classical trail and Aspen trail. With an extra layer on, I was comfortable with the air temperature slightly above zero. Where the forest has been left intact, the trees do the important job of sheltering the trail user from the wind chill. Thank you!

(Debbie Mikkola)

The skate lanes were groomed this morning, we hope to set track later today. There is a base of about 3.5 inches and 8 to 10 inches of the snow in the woods. Ski conditions are very good.

(Diane Gobin)

After the Christmas sleet/snow storm a thick crust formed on the ski trail. Since Monday about a half inch of snow has fallen on the trail. I just skated for about an hour and a half on the trail and I would rate the skate conditions 'good'. The trail is now firm with some twigs and debris in the snow from the high winds. Control is not a problem and I skated down Little Joe to see how that would go.
There are no classic tracks. The storm covered them. More snow and regrooming will be needed to put back the tracks.

(Linda Hobbs)

Trail has not been groomed since the Christmas Day ice storm. There is a hard crust over about 3.5" of base. The wind also brought down a good number of small branches and sticks. The larger trees that fell on the trail have been cleared. Grooming will resume with the next snowfall or as soon as the crust softens enough to allow.

(Dan Kephart, Wisconsin DNR)