Wonderful ski this morning at Woodlands. This is why people come from Golden Valley and beyond come to ski these awesome trails. Thanks for the great grooming job. Get out there before the sun does its melt job.

(John Lyrenmann)

Silk purse. That is what the screens turned that sow's ear of ski I had yesterday into. Similar to Gary, today's lap was the best of at least the last three years for me. Ancient One and Babe were out on the trails tonight to clear a small tree crossing the trail just above the biathlon range. Several Night Riders were out with their magnum headlamps this evening, making full use of the good snow while we have it. Snow conditions and the weather look right for great skiing through the weekend. The Trail Crew will be out with the screens again Friday night. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Skating conditions great, no tracks set for diagonal. Doesn't get much better than this. Get it before the next big melt!

Photos:

(Dean Kleinhans)

Fantastic sunny spring skiing on perfect snow. Best snow conditions I've been on for a couple years! Thanks Dave and company!

(Gary Lindberg)

The trail system was beautifully groomed by the great Woodlands grooming crew this morning leaving a firm base with soft top layer for excellent edging and glide. If I could order up a trail condition this would be it. It was a "ski yourself down to a nub day" and very difficult to stop skiing. I think our ski days are numbered so get out there and enjoy!

(Artie Huber)

I headed out for a late afternoon ski and found the trails not quite to my liking. This was mostly due to the depressions left by the snowmobile skis when grooming fresn snow over a not yet frozen base on Tuesday morning. On my way home I stopped by the complaint window at the Grooming Cave. Ancient One took my complaint, then handed me the keys to the Skandic and suggested a couple laps pulling the heavy screens would improve both the trails and my disposition. The trails were much improved. The shortcut around the puddle is open and groomed. You will find a few more small wet areas that have since frozen that you will need skip around. Chainsaw and Taxi will be making another lap with the tandem screens in the morning. This should make for a decent Thursday ski. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

All trails are rolled except for the Prairie Loop. Babe reported that conditions after grooming looked quite good. We do have a 'trail blocking' puddle on the outer loop on the hairpin shortly before "The Pin". It is not a ski around, but a walk around. They did cut(mostly) a bypass of the puddle just as the trail turns from heading east to heading north at the beginning of the hairpin. Good luck finding it with that description(The trail is not blocked yet). There is currently a snowmobile track through the bypass. Tomorrow we will widen it and the next grooming pass will be through it. We will keep you posted. Please do the same. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Reverse can't spring Babe from the Old Groomers Home until after he has had his breakfast. The trails will be rolled out by noon. We will report on conditions after that.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

AO and S-P finished their morning wrestle with the Godzilla screens just as the sun was rising. 1st Lady(formerly Wrong Way who is apparently no longer directionally challenged) and one other skier were the only ones who took the groomers hint and arrived at first light. They were later joined by her husband Hockey Dad and a couple of they typically desperate late season skiers. I ran into Hockey Dad at a puck tournament this afternoon where his sons team was taking it to my grandsons Tigers. He reported the morning ski conditions were quite good. The biathletes were arriving just as todays big meltdown started. There will be no grooming tonight or in the morning due to warm temps. The Woodchopping crew will wrap up two months of Sundays of winter trail work in the morning. Sounds like there may be a little March madness heading our way Monday. Stay tuned.

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)

Continuous coverage was reported on the outer loop by skiers this afternoon. The Prairie Loop has bare spots. Shear-Pin and Ancient One have postponed their evening grooming run due to warm temps. They will hit the slopes at 6 in the morning, pulling the heavy screens to scratch up the trail surface for our morning ski. If the forecast holds and their plan works, there should be some fast and fun skiing until the trail warms again. Come early if your Saturday skiing plan includes Woodlands. Enjoy!

(Dave Anderson, Elk River Nordic Ski Club)