I decided to try grooming one last time for the season this morning to see how it would turn out. Made several passes to try to break up the icy hard pack and reset the track but the track turned out very shallow and ragged. In some places it is not to bad but in other places it is almost nonexistent. I would rate it fair to poor and with the warm temps forecast for the next week the track will just keep getting shallower. It will be very icy and fast skiing in the mornings (be very careful) and soft and slow skiing in the afternoons. It has been a great ski season and there is still a lot of snow out there but grooming is done for this season.

(Paul Klinger)

Skied Hiram this morning. It was below zero but the trail was awesome! A few leaves were scattered in the tracks but hardly noticeable. Today and tomorrow should be perfect late-season skiing.

Photos:

(Michelle Holden)

Groomed this afternoon to try to bury the oak and ironwood leaves, repair the deer damage and break up the icy hard pack. The track turned out a little ragged but it is plenty good to hold the skis and the icy hard pack is pretty well broken up. There are a lot of leaves mixed into the snow in places and more were coming down as I was grooming so expect to have some drag on the skis in certain places. The track and pole deck should firm up well. Hopefully the deer won't damage it to much before the snow firms up. Should be some good late season skiing for a while.

(Paul Klinger)

The track and pole deck were very firm with some icy spots this afternoon. The deer had already done some damage in places and a few more oak leaves in the track but not enough to be a problem today. Conditions were fast with very good glide. The deck was just soft enough to get some edge control but be careful on the downhill sections because conditions are fast. The parking lot is also very icy so be careful there as well.

(Paul Klinger)

Groomed and reset track today since it had been a week since last done. No new snow to work with so had to renovate the existing snow. Was able to repair most of the deer damage and bury most of the oak and ironwood leaves but those things are on going problems. The icy glaze from the past two days of above freezing temps is broken up and mixed into the soft snow. The track is ragged and not well formed in some places but over all good late season skiing. Track and pole deck should firm up.

(Paul Klinger)

Groomed today after all the new snow Monday and Tuesday. The track formed up well and all the forest litter is covered up again. The track and pole deck are a little soft but it should firm up with sub zero temps. There is a lot of deer activity on the trail in places so I expect some deer damage in those places before it firms up. The parking lot had not been plowed yet as of the end of the day.

(Paul Klinger)

Skied Hiram today in the late afternoon. Wind was picking up so more oak leaves were blowing into the track in some areas but over all not enough to slow the glide down much. Some of the hills were getting washed out from folks herring boning. Still a fun ski today.

(Paul Klinger)

Groomed early this morning to try to bury most of the leaves and sticks that came down in yesterday's very strong winds and reset the track that had been drifted over in some places. Much of the leaves and sticks did get buried but the track did not form up well because of the very cold temps this morning. The track is fairly shallow and ragged but it's not filled with leaves anymore. Ski-able but not as good as I would like it.

(Paul Klinger)

Groomed this morning after the couple inches of snow this past Sunday and all the skier and deer traffic since the last grooming. Track formed up well but it is fairly soft with the mild temps today so it will probably get some what torn up from the skier and deer traffic today. It should firm up over night with the sub zero temps forecast. The gusty wind was bringing down more Red Oak and Ironwood leaves as I was grooming so expect some accumulation in the track. Very good skiing conditions overall though.

(Paul Klinger)

Groomed the trail this morning after around 4 inches of new snow yesterday afternoon and early evening. Made several passes to pack the new snow and reset the track. Very strong winds today are bringing down more leaves and sticks plus causing a little drifting in the open areas. The track and pole deck are a little soft but it should firm up with subzero temps.

(Paul Klinger)