Classic skied Friday, skate skied Saturday from Birkie start area both days. Classic tracks very good on snow making loops near start but debris interruptions once past power lines requiring frequent step outs, so I stayed closer to Telemark on Friday. Saturday chose to skate and skied from start to OO. Lots of friendly people of all ages and abilities out skiing the recently groomed Birkie skate trail all the way. Recommend B skis after power lines due to debris and thin snow. Was glad we were skating due to the low snow tracks and had a very enjoyable ski.

(Paul Wagener)

Skied south from OO today. The classic track is very thin with grass/leaves showing through every 20-50 feet or so, so you have to constantly hop in and out of the track. The skating lane looked better. Still a few brown spots but easier to avoid those. Thursday I skied the section from the trailhead in Telemark to the power line - that has better classic tracks and very little leaves or ground showing through.

(Michael O'Connor, Rochester Active Sports Club)

Birkie Ridge: Wonderful skate skiing this early afternoon. Inch or more of fresh fluff covering the Birkie's new corduroy and periods of heavy snow while we skied. Some dirt and leaf caution still required but better all the time.

(Tom Dunaway)

What a treat to ski on natural snow! Seeley/Cable got 2-4 inches of beautiful powder, making conditions quite good. It's certainly thin, but I was not hitting the ground. Classic track were set on the skate trail but they were marginal with occasional dirt and grass showing through. Skied the classic trail from Timberline to OO. It hadn't been groomed and it was slow but how nice to have the Birkie trail to yourself in a snowstorm! So nice to not be skiing in circles!

Photos:

(Michael Gotzsche)

I skied the section from Mosquito Brook to Gravel Pit. I see some people are saying to use your good skis, but my experience was quite a bit of exposed grass/leaves and roots and sticks. The sections with no overhead coverage did have good snow though. Its definitely worth getting out to ski, just don't bring your best skis.

(Micah Hanson)

Skated from OO to Gravel Pit. Snow was good, almost good ski worthy, near OO. Got thinner farther south. Was pretty much rock ski conditions by Gravel Pit. No tracks on this section at the moment.

(Mike Keyes)

Skied from mosquito brook to hatchery and back. Snow is thin, but fine for rock skis. A few patches of dirt and plenty of leaves. No tracks. Skate deck was surprisingly smooth. Do not regret driving up from the cities to ski it!

Photos:

(Mike Keyes)

Skied every trail from the village segments to the wooded trails to the power lines. No need for B skis. Trails are firm, fast and ready for all comers! Skated, but nice tracks set for classic also. Treat yourself.

(Dave Swanson)

Skied north and south of Boedecker Road. The groomers have done a good job but there is quite a bit of leaves showing through the snow that is quite avoidable. When you go down a hill you pick the whitest path to avoid the leaves / debris showing through. We used our best skis and it was no problem. We really need more snow. I can see why the Saturday Ski de She races are held on the artificial snow at Telemark Village 5 km loop.

(David Gorringe)

Skate skied from OO to Fire Tower this morning. Skied out on the classic and back on the skate trail. Snow is still soft and slow but with the minimal snow cover so far, it skied very well with most debris easily avoided. No classic tracks on the classic trail but one was set on the skate trail. As expected, it is shallow but looks very skiable. Thanks to all the effort this summer to clean the trails to allow skiing on such thin base. I also notice very few oak leaves in the canopy and a lot of evidence of selective harvesting of oaks. (I love trees but the oaks can make a mess of the trail). Groomer was sighted leaving OO heading south. Thanks groomers!

(Keith Holmquist)