Overall decent conditions mid-morning today. Trails are fast and icy due to recent warmer temps followed by temps in the 20s. Only saw a couple of hints of grass poking through in the fields. Scattered debris throughout the wooded trails but nothing too problematic.

(David Sas)

The trail is in excellent condition, thanks to the work of the grooming team. The snow is fast and with good texture for edging on more than 95% of the trail sections that I skied. In a few places, the snow is harder, bordering on icy, but I was able to ski these sections without difficulty by using a little extra caution. The amount of debris on the trail is minimal. I used one of my best pairs of freestyle skis and had no damage to my bases. Most of the trail also had an excellent classic track.

(James Martenson)

Good classic ski on the wooded loops out of the wind with minimal drifting. Track was firm in the woods.

(Tim Block)

Essex was rolled, combed and track set this morning. Skating deck is a bit soft but great skiing. Track is set on most trails. Enjoy!

(Andy Wood)

Really fun skate skiing at Essex for a Christmas outing. Mix of solid corduroy and an inch of loose snow and a few deeper wind blown areas. Classic track throughout to the left. Pretty good glide despite the cold snow. Thanks groomers!

Photos:

(Bill Oyler)

Wow! Fantastic! If you can handle the cold, get out and ski Essex. Set tracks are outstanding. Stake deck firm and combed. Classic skied the system twice it was so fun! Ski it now before the drifting starts.

Photos:

(Andy Wood)

Freshly groomed trails on this beautiful, icy Sunday. We spent an hour out and it was perfect. Definitely bundle up though, the wind cuts right through.

(Allison Danckwart)

Essex was rolled and combed this morning. All the trails are open and great for skating. Some folks were striding however. Trail is not firm enough to set track. Hopefully with our next snow we'll get track set. Best skiing of the year so far!

(Andy Wood)

I stopped by at 1:30 today. None of the trails had been groomed yet. Looks like it should be enough snow to have some descent trails.

(Kyle Dammen)

Our first time at this trail, it is a wonderful system. Snow is thin and soft but the groomers did a great job rolling everything. Not enough for tracks. So nice to get on snow in early December. Many small holes in the snow coverage that expose ground but they were easily avoided and all trails were skiable.

(Jim Holmes)