I skied south from Mosquito Brook, using fishscale waxless. The trail was groomed yesterday and lightly travelled since, so conditions were excellent. Only one side was tracked. A few leaves and twigs in the tracks and on the skate deck were no problem. Last year there was a satellite toilet at the trailhead but I didn't see one today.

(Don Quick)

The trail from Birkie Ridge was groomed well for both skate and classic. We skied classic and found the tracks were well set. There were a few areas of some bare ground or leaves. Took our dog around the skijoring loop first which was good for this time of year. A really nice sunny day and was surprised to see this groomed.

(Elaine Adams)

Bluebird day in Birkie Land. Skated south from Boedecker cabin. East half of trail was groomed. Skate deck was firmer on the edge and quite soft and broken in the middle in many sections. Track was firm and only rare bare spots. Switched to classic and skied a bit north and south from Boedecker. Excellent tracks. Groomer came by about 11:30 heading south and laying corduroy and fresh tracks on the west side. Still need to set up! Thanks for grooming OO to Firetower or beyond today!

Photos:

(Carolyn Senty)

I skated the loops at OO early this morning. All loops were newly groomed and in excellent condition. Leaves showed through the corduroy in some places, but those spots were few and small. Classic tracks were excellent. I talked with the groomer. He said he'd already worked to the north of OO and was heading south on the main trail.

(Don Quick)

Three inches of new snow yesterday morning covered the grooming from Dec 8th. We classic skied-in the tracks at OO loops yesterday. The added snow did help the thin spots. Today we skied from Boedecker cabin. Despite the Birkie trail graphic and report seeming to indicate that the Classic trail from OO to Firetower had been groomed last night it has not been. Classic track has been skied-in. Skaters are skiing in the fluff. Snow is fairly slick.

(Carolyn Senty)

I went to the trailhead at Cable to ski classic, but I was disappointed that only one loop was tracked although it appeared that all the loops were groomed nicely for skating.

(Don Quick)

Skated the groomed trails at OO. Nice that the crew groomed the 6 inches of fluffy snow so that skiers could get out this weekend as Birkie trailhead is closed for Gitchi Gammi games this weekend. Classic track has quite a bit of grass showing and skate lanes are very good. B skis to be safe since base is thin but very skiable.

(David Gorringe)

I skated south of the OO trailhead. The loops were groomed yesterday on 7 inches of snow. There is a little grass showing here and there on the skate deck. The tracks have a lot of leaves in some places. I stayed on the open section because another skier told me that conditions are worse in the woods where the base was thinner. The main room of the shelter is closed, but you can go in to the restrooms.

(Don Quick)

2.3K open. Good shape overall. Some debris here and there but overall very solid loop and worth the drive if you’re tired of rollerskiing. Skate deck excellent and only a bit icy on the S turn. Classic tracks were a little more hit and miss.

(Jim Carlen)

The snow was deteroriting a bit with the warm day, but is mostly good still. It got fast as the evening got colder and iced up. The same trail as last Sunday, about 2.5k total. A few loops and an out and back trail are ready with some more that looked like they may be ready soon.

(Anna DeMers)