Some classic tracks groomed in the morning. Light snow dusting over. Several people had problems with slush adhering to waxless and skin skis. I had little trouble, Potlatch and Big Ben were good, acorn and pioneer had slush adhesion. Overall slow for skating and classic. But skiable.

(Renee dufresne)

After grooming, shoveling by the Brainerd High School Team, and a bunch of high school kids skiing around and racing today the current race loop trails are terrific. Loose granular snow over a hard base with just a few short icy spots. The good trails/race course include the Pioneer trails, Ojiwe, Acorn, Little Ben, and Rudy's. The non-race course trails: Big Ben, Potlatch, Northstar, South Acorn, have had limited grooming and are hard and icy, skiing these is not recommended. Grooming and maintenance will continue daily in preparation for the Lumberjack Jaunt on Sunday. The only poor aspect is an icy old track that was set before the meltdown. Probably will not be able to set a new track until we get more snow.

(Owen Baird)

Trails are still holding up ok. Top of the Big Ben hill, one corner of Potlach, and some of South Acorn on the bike trail down to base ice, otherwise good coverage with a few inches of well packed transformed snow. Some areas a little icy but still very skiable. Once temperatures drop below freezing groomers will try to break up the snow to prepare for the Lumberjack Jaunt.

(Owen Baird)

As of Friday afternoon the Arb trails were still in good condition. A few slightly icy-glazed areas and a very few thin areas but overall still good coverage and firm. Classic tracks mostly icy and fast. Hopefully they continue to hold up well through the rest of the warm spell.

(Owen Baird)

Excellent trail conditions at the Arb for both skate and classic. Of course some oak leaves in the tracks in some sections, but with recent light winds the leaves are not as bad as they can be. Even with some warm weather the trails should be in great shape for the Lumberjack Jaunt on January 29.

Photos:

(Owen Baird)

Excellent skate and good classic tracks. Skate deck was groomed again today making it fairly fast given the cold temperatures. Classic tracks were last set a couple of days ago so there are some oak leaves in some areas and some open sections are drifted in, but very good overall.

(Owen Baird)

After about 5 inches of snow Monday all Arb trails were groomed and track set. Good solid classic track as it is set on a bullet-proof ice base, but no ice in the track. Nice powdery skate deck. Expect some drifting in open areas.

(Owen Baird)

A little powder over a hard crust. A few minor snowfalls have helped to cover the hard crust base, but still some icy spots, especially in little depressions (frozen puddles) and windswept areas. No grooming planned until more snow, letting the powder sit on top of the crust.

(Owen Baird)

Ice-crust covered with a little powder in some areas. Grooming was attempted today, but there were too many unfrozen puddles under the crust. Groomers will try again Tuesday. Trails in the trees generally had a powder layer that made them fairly good. Trails in the open were hard ice and crust. Trail from Arb trailhead out through field is one of the worst for ice. Many sticks and pine branches down.

(Owen Baird)

Fair to good conditions, 1 inch base, rock skis advised is some areas, skating deck firm, but thin, no tracks set until more snow. No grooming until more snow.

(Owen Baird)