Conditions: Good to fair. Shallow machine-set track that washes out on curves, intersection, off camber portions of the trail and under some trees. Usual amount of leaf and needle litter. I used Polar Swix for kick and CH4 for glide on my combis. It was around zero degrees. Thankfully the trees and terrain generally blocked the wind and I was ok for warmth with a balaclava and downhill ski gloves with wool liners.
Groomers have done the best they can with shallow base. Don't know why but I struggled to maintain a consistent kick and glide. If I had extended my kick wax a little further forward on my ski and not put on base binder so thick that some leaf residue stuck to my ski, it probably would have helped. Took me 1:50 to do 7.3 miles.

(Keith Carlson)

Conditions: Fair to good, with pretty even snow coverage.
The classic trails on the east side are pretty good in the open areas except most corners are washed out, and it is thin and a good number of pine cones in the east pines. But it was fun to be out today and green kick wax actually held out for the full loop. With the barely adequate snow cover, the grooming is probably as good as it will be until the next snowfall. Thanks to Dakota Parks for having the Visitor Center open and even clean heated bathrooms at the Holland Lake trailhead.

(Dave Carlson)

Conditions: Traditional trails in mostly good with some fair condition. Recently tracked which is in mostly good condition. Trails remain fast and icy.
Tracks recently put down by snowmobile and mostly in good shape but getting worn close to visitor center. Some dirt showing thru and some leaf debris. Trails remain fast due to ice. Still a good ski but we need snow.

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(John Gamlin)

Conditions: Good to fair. Firm tracks in most areas.
Tracks were a little thin in the busy areas and a little tree debris in the pines. However, the trails in the grassy areas and between lake holland and the Visitor's Center were firmly tracked with plenty of snow for classic.

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(Tad Dolphay)

Conditions: Classic are in fair condition, skate in good, tracks set in most areas.
Groomers re-packed and groomed today, setting machine tracks where they could. Tracks are thin, but should set up nice in the cold temps tonight.

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(Katie Pata, Dakota County Parks)

Conditions: Classic ski trails recently packed and in good condition.
Groomer packed and corduroy classic trails yesterday afternoon. Tracks not set yet due to lack of snow. Trails fast since overnight freeze. Few skiers out so very few tracks to follow. Most footprints filled in with new grooming. No bare spots but a few areas (in pines) showing through. Overall a good ski.

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(John Gamlin)

Conditions: Good, to fair, full coverage.
All of Lebanon Hills Regional Park was rolled and corduroyed today. No machine tracks could be set. Good coverage, but watch for trails wearing down especially in trailhead and other high use areas. The snow that fell last night wasn't the best for ski trails, it's a little slow in places, fast in others.

Photos:

(Katie Pata, Dakota County Parks)

Conditions: Decent snow depth with ski trails packed and rolled.
Skied this afternoon from Visitor center South to marker 7 and back. Trails were almost completely snow covered except a couple of well worn spots in woods. Trails had been packed and rolled but not tracked but with many skiers out found plenty of tracks to ski in. Unfortunately encountered many walkers and snowshoes in ski trails. But still a good ski.

(John Gamlin)

Conditions: Solid coverage, no tracks set.
The traiss aren't tracked and coverage is getting thin in several spots. Lots of walkers on the trails. Classic skied several trails; the advanced loop is the best.

(Tasha Holmes)

Conditions: Solid coverage, no tracks set.
Classic skied the full outer loop. Hard packed rolled trail with no machine set tracks. Despite that it skied very nicely. Saw a few rocks but only hit one. B ski conditions. Lots of walkers on the trail. Some people skating as well.

(Zach Handler)