A qualifier first, trails are open but skiing only signs are not visible. They just need to be turned around which should happen soon. Rock skis recommended. No track. I classic skied the Purple just to the bench and out. Some gravel is exposed on the hill entry from the road. You might want to walk that. Other areas showed gravel. I drove up to the 300 camp and skied in from the entrance. No issues there. I turned right and out to the Blue Trail. Good so far. I kind of pooched it on the Blue downhill turn until I could see the main hill, then cut it loose. There is some dark material which I avoided. A friend came the wrong way with another skier so the three of us, all on classic gear, went back up into the 300. The 300 is decent, even under the pines. I did not see a skate mark that went through the base anywhere I skied. Okay, there are not many skiing or hiking marks at all out there. It was a cold trip with the car thermometer showing -5 degrees. I may be out later this week in daylight for some learning with the cabbed Gator and the roller. The 300 camp road is such a good learning or repeats area for skiing because it holds snow well. I might roll it out full width.

(Jeff Bolte)

All trails have now been rolled. The snow is thin but the trails are covered. It is currently not possible to set track.

(Rita Thofern)

I had time to roll the Red (both loops) and Orange trails. They both got multiple passes due to operator error. I forgot to put the comb down... No track. There are a lot of grass stick ups and some twigs around. I saw very little evidence of hiking. I chose to not cross the road to roll the Yellow so this rolling is somewhat out of sight; the hidden in plain view thing. Both trails have the typical early season variations from flat to lumpy. Both trails carry a blue difficulty rating; not the place to start learning. Rock skis or B skis suggested since it is turf beneath the snow. The down tree is easy to get around. No further rolling is planned. Trails are still "closed." Ski whatever direction works for you. Access from the Group Camp or the Gravel lot near the office. I will classic ski it tomorrow and report.

(Jeff Bolte)

Discussion among the groomers centered on rolling the turf trails only. Concern on the gravel trails is churning up gravel with the tow vehicle. I threw some golf ball size rocks off the Blue outbound hill on a walk this morning. Turf limits the choices to the Red, Orange, and parts of the Yellow. This does not line up into a circle route without skiing over covered gravel. Red and Orange are not heavily used hiking routes in snow season. I know there is a tree down on the Orange which will take some time to clear. I should hit the trail with the roller around 2:00pm.

(Jeff Bolte)

300 Campground Loop. Enough snow to cover the pavement. Walkers and a few skiers have been through the camp. Found enough snow and a few classic tracks to make the loop enjoyable. Really hoping for a decent snowfall.

Photos:

(Ginny Ballantine)

Skated the purple and (Green?) campground loops to the waterfall. Nothing was groomed but it was "Goldilocks skiing". The ungroomed base was thick enough to cover most all the dirt/rocks (I only felt one rock) but not too thick (ungroomed) so you could skate with catching your tips in the snow. About 9 degrees out so not terrible! If these trails were groomed (i.e., rolled/packed) the skating deck would be fabulous! The extra 1" or so of new snow really added that extra layer needed. I used rock skis but could have used B skis. Let's hope the rollers get out asap to protect and form the base! If so the skating would be great and would last with no melting! Might be a little light to set tracks. Go groomers!

(John Widdifield)

Since the last snowfall was a direct miss, I walked the 300 camp road with an eye towards another buckthorn cut soon. Random pocket knife pokes into the vehicle packed snow revealed a solid, but shallow base of one inch or less. The hard pack appears to be well bonded to the asphalt. Some footprints have burned through to asphalt. There is more fluff outside the hardpack. If you wanted to call the walked areas a soft pack, that also appears well bonded. If you are just looking for some laps, and not a trip to the Falls, the 300 entrance and road will support skiing at an easy touring pace. Bring the rock skis, classic or skate, go easy, and avoid the burn throughs. Pole baskets will not be much help. Sharpen the tips or bring the roller ski poles. No other trails checked. Less than one week left on the 2017 annual sticker.

(Jeff Bolte)

Trail to the Falls has been heavily traveled by walkers. Skate tracks and self-cut classic trail barely visible. Not worth skiing yet.

(Kris Miller)

I went for a run on the Purple main stem after the snow stopped this afternoon. Not much snow fell, maybe 3/4 inch in open areas, less in the woods. Talk among the grooming team is to do nothing until we see inches of new snow. The majority of visitors presentley are hikers. Even a rolling would be sending the wrong message now. Closing trails to hiking now would put the park staff in a difficult situation. Rolling and not closing just postpones the headaches. Been there, dealt with it. Skiable areas for classic exist in the park. Regarding the 100 camp: Think turf without gravel and you probably find skiable areas on trails. You might have to walk in. Ski trail brushing work has ended for the season. The combined efforts of volunteers and park staff over two seasons have added a needed four to eight feet of trail width in a lot of the system. It may take the grooming team longer to prep this wider tread when we finally get the word to go. I hope its worth all the work, and now, the wait.

(Jeff Bolte)

Skied on the 100 upper campground loop. No footprints from walkers. There was a classic track in place. Not bad. Snow is a bit thin under one or two trees, but enjoyable enough. This would be an excellent skating loop with more snow.

Photos:

(Ginny Ballantine)