Conditions: 2-3" fresh snow yesterday, excellent conditions!
The groomers have been working hard at Giants Ridge this week, preparing the course for the upcoming race as well as opening up the outer loops of the Nordic trails. We skied several times over the past few days, covering just about everything. The main trails are in great shape other than a few thin/icy spots on the Bronze (although the fresh snow yesterday has topped it off nicely). The Larentian/Wynne Creek, Biwabik spur and Oslo were groomed during the week and are already skiing well (other than a few dark spots at the edges of the bog crossings, the coverage is great). We were skating, but the classic tracks on the inner trails looked sharp. Bring your best skis for the Silver, Gold and Summit trails, or strap on the B-teamers and tackle all 50km at the Ridge.

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(Shawn Callahan)

2" of fresh today really sweetened up the courses for the Mesabi East XC Invitational. We are running the MSHSL State Meet courses and have a field over 1000. 4" of base, with another inch or two expected tomorrow will make for excellent racing. Giants Ridge has overe 50Km open so there is plenty of skiing for racers and recreational skiers alike this weekend.

(John Filander)

An inch of fresh yesterday on top of a 4" base. 50+Km open. Happy New Year!

(John Filander)

Conditions: Good for both skate and classic. I classic skied 25k, and aside from a few patches, snow coverage and track conditions were good. Could use a new track set in a few places, but it was quite skiable.
Very good trail conditions on most trails. The Biwabik Spur trail did have a few boulders peeking out of the snow and a small sizeable rocks I moved out of the track, along with low-hanging branches. Scattered ice flows across the trail (not bad if going uphill, but I would not want to see those on my way down). The Bronze trail, paralleling the road had a few asphalt patches, particularly under the evergreens, which others in my party mistook for ice. Whoops....

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(Matthew Daly)

Conditions: Beautiful trails, great grooming, few spots to watch for.
The trails were in great shape when we got here with the Stillwater Nordic team yesterday. With another couple inches overnight, they were superb today. There remain a few icy patches and thin spots to watch for, but we are skiing on good skis without any trouble. The trails have never been more beautiful. A lot of the snow which came down was heavy and is hanging in the trees. The only trails not groomed are Wynn Creek, Biwabik Spur, and Oslo. After mostly skiing on manmade 1k loops so far this year, we are in winter wonderland.

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(Torry Kraftson)

2" of fresh snow Wednesday has helped freshin up the 40Km trails. 40Km were groomed Thursday for classic and skate, and snowy frosty trees will greet skiers for Christmas. Only 17" has fallen this season, but our groomers have made the best of it. Merry Christmas!

(John Filander)

Conditions: Good for both skate and classic with some ice patches.
Hopkins Nordic completed their eleventh annual trip to Giant's Ridge for ski camp and enjoyed the natural snow that has been very carefully groomed. Most trails open and very skiable with B skis.

(Mindy Benton)

Conditions: Trails have good snow coverage. A few small sections of ice are present but easily avoided.
Skied silver and bronze trails. Nice classic tracks and good skating. Awesome snow covering the trees on top.

(Craig Stolen)

Conditions: Amazingly nice! Good coverage almost everywhere for both skate and classic. Good skis OK.
Skied the Ridge today with the Irondale Nordic team. Wonderful conditions and great grooming. Solid classic tracks. Silver, Cedar, Gold, all grade A. Bronze pretty nice too, though there are some spots where water has run across the trail and frozen. A few thin spots here and there, but nothing that can't be avoided. The snow in the trees makes it look like a winter wonderland. Great to be back on real snow!

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(Keith Gilbert)

Good for Skate and classic. Solid skate deck and good classic tracks. A few spots with ice patches that you have to avoid but nothing that causes huge issues. Couple of spots that you have to hop out of the tracks to avoid a patchy spot but overall fantastic skiing! Used race skis all day and wasn't worried about scratching them. Just avoid dark snow. Grooming did an amazing job taking what they had to make great skiing. As a plus the trees look amazing with all the snow covering all the trees. Well worth the trip to get on natural snow!

(Stephen Palkert)