Hey, it's a 2-fer Friday. Bunkie wanted to preview the big hills on the Korte course as we most often ski the North End of the trail. So this afternoon, we skied from Mosquito Brook to highway 77 and back. This section of the trail is not groomed to it's full race width yet but is otherwise in very good shape. There must be some regular hikers at Hatchery Creek as the little loop into the aid station is is kind of post-holed. But there's no real reason to ski that until race day anyway. Lots more skiers out this afternoon. This morning, I had the trail all to myself.

(Andy Schwartz)

Squeaky cold Styrofoam snow but flat and firm so good skating. Full depth classic track everywhere I skied. I skied South from OO to Gravel Pitt and back while Bunkie did the Ski & Tea workout. Snow coverage is very good and the skate deck is as smooth as it gets. The snow is super dry and a well fed male like me can still feel it crumble underfoot. So it's not race ready yet but getting there.

(Andy Schwartz)

Skied from around the new hills by Hatchery as well as to the Brook and back. Skate deck is groomed nicely, the skate deck is a bit soft on the edges. The middle is more skied in and a bit more firm. Great skiing, beautiful day. I used my best skis. Classic track looked good too.

(Gunnar Fontaine)

Perfect classic skiing on a windy and cold afternoon on the Birkie Ridge ski trail. The skate track looked equally perfect. The south loop section also got the perfect treatment. Is there anything better than the downhill finish from the Dave Nelson memorial overlook? Thank you Ned for this picturesque gem of a trail.

(Tom Dunaway)

The route was OO south to Gravel Pit and back on classic skis. I found fresh grooming from overnight including new classic track. A skis suggested. I skied Atomic Skin Tecs, the citizen racer "Pro" model. Glide wax is Fast Wax HSF Tan as the top layer. All the time on the heavy wood skis should make this 18 k route a cake walk. Wrong. The Xcellerator bindings kick totally differently than standard bindings. It looked like I was the third skier in the track headed south. Knowing nothing about how the bindings and skis behaved, it was deliberately slow going south. There are some pieces of branches left in the track from clean up. Track was generally very good. More set up time and traffic will help it. I messed up and crashed once on a fast downhill turn. Three classic skiers passed me. Four of us on classic skis headed north from Gravel Pit. I was quickly out distanced. The track was much better following the three skiers. Kick became more predictable and glide seemed within the expected range for the skis and wax; call it average. The trip north, with all the elevation gain, was faster than the learning experience south. Headed south, track swithes sides on the picnic table hill. Switch left for track before the action starts or run right out of track. Time will help the skate deck also. Both styles of skiing are very good now with great to come.

(Jeff Bolte)

Skied from North End cabin to the power lines and then to the high point on the Classic Trail. Pristine grooming on both Birkie and Classic trails. Only one skater and two striders ahead of us on the fresh grooming. Checked Birkie trail at the high point and no one had skied on the freshly groomed and tracked trail as of noon. Thanks grooming crew for your big effort last night!
Photo is at new Timber Trail cabin.

Photos:

(Carolyn Senty)

Early morning ski from Fish Hatchery trailhead to Mosquito Brook was fantastic. The groomers had been out the night before so it was fresh corduroy. Approx. 6" of fresh clipper snow was a little slow, but great coverage. Classic track looked to be full depth and in good shape too.

Photos:

(Ben Popp, American Birkebeiner)

Started at OO, went north, and grooming stopped about 4k up Bodoeker Rd. Turned around and went south and grooming stopped in about 2k. A bust, but about 6" of new snow.

(Tony Pellegrini)

Groomers were able to groom and set tracks on the 10K Boedecker loop from OO and the loops at OO last night after the 6+ inches of snow that fell. Another inch or so has fallen since then. Classic tracks have been skied-in and are fast, not glazed and not washed out yet, but not completely firmed up. Skate deck looks soft and smooth, a bit chewed up on uphills, but skaters were skiing easily. Grooming crew is at the clinic at ABR so were not able to groom the whole trail length yet.

(Carolyn Senty)

Skated with Joe Leschisin out of the new Birke start area located at Telemark. We were the first ones out at 9 a.m. The temp was about 15 degrees, with an inch of new snow and a gusty Northwest wind. The new warming house was a welcome sight as it had the gas fireplace going. The warm cabin felt good on such a blustery morning. We skated down to Bodecker on the Birkie trail and back. The trail was level, the new snow, with the cold wind, was slow at times but offered pretty good control. Fresh corduroy could be found on the North End Ski Trails that crisscrossed the Birkie Trail. All in all a good ski and plenty of hills for a good workout... we regrouped back at the finish area, the temperature still read about 15 degrees...we refueled at Anglers in downtown Hayward with their special of the day...A meatloaf sandwich and hot chicken dumpling soup.

(David Martin)