The 6K has a firm base and the classic track is well-formed and hard. The 8K has a firm base and no set classic track. Trails are open until 6 pm Thursday, at which time trails will be closed for pre-race preparation, marking, and grooming of both trails. Trails will be closed all day on Friday for the East High School Invitational Ski Race. We expect about 300 skiers to participate; parking will be very limited. At the conclusion of racing, estimated around 5 pm, we will begin to remove caution tape and markers, and re-groom the 6K. During that time, skiers are welcome to ski the classic 5K classic race course on the 8K trail; it's a best line track and a fun course. Bring a headlamp. Once the 6K is restored, groomers will clean-up and re-groom the 8k. Trails and the chalet will re-open on Saturday and resume regular hours, trails open 8-9, Chalet open 8-8, lighted loop on 5-9. Happy to say that we have three operating sleds again.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Snowflake was swarming with about 70 KidSki students, braving the chill for an abbreviated session #2 this afternoon. Thanks Coaches! Once the kids cleared-out, I cleaned-up and re-groomed the 6K skate deck, which skiers reported as "flat, firm, and fast". The classic track, set yesterday, firmed-up nicely overnight and is well formed and 100% intact. The 8K is only groomed for skate, and saw little use today. Classic skiers are welcome to ski the right side. Two important notes: (1) We will host the Duluth East H. S. Invitational this Friday. It's a large race, with multiple formats. Snowflake will be closed to all skiers at 6 pm on Thursday so that we can set-up and groom the courses. We'll be closed all day Friday, until the conclusion of racing, about 5 pm. (2) We are down to one sled, with the other two being repaired. Grooming will be limited for the next 2-3 days, so please respect the classic track.

Photos:

(John Graham)

2-3” of fresh, dry snow overnight, but winds had built some drifts over 2’ high, and mostly in the classic track. Compacted and groomed the 6K skate, then had to compact the classic track twice before setting a new track. Soft snow structure, but it immediately saw a lot of use. We then compacted the 8K (which seemed to have 3-4” of snow) and skate-groomed it. At that point the groomers were pretty cold and tired, so we abandoned the plan to set an 8K track today. Too cold and dry to set a lasting track. The stadium, Ice Oval, and Kiddie Loop were groomed and new tracks set. A reminder that Snowflake KidSki will happen between 1:45-3:15 on Sunday, abbreviated due to forecast temps.

(John Graham)

Today we cleaned-up and re-groomed the skate decks on both the 6 and 8K trails. The 6K is in the best condition so far this season, firm, flat, fast. The 8K a little bit softer but beautiful. Some wind-blown debris, and the remains of two critters that were eaten (mostly) on the trails. None of it should bother good skis. The classic track on the 6K is hard and 98% intact, with just two short segments that got drifted in with snow. We compacted those, and skiers can ski-in the missing track. We did not set the promised track on the 8K yesterday (sorry, both groomers were under the weather, but not covid). We will set it mid-morning on Saturday. Three important notes: 1) Masks are required inside the chalet; 2) our KidSki program is 1:45-3:30 on Sunday, temperature permitting. The chalet area and 6K will be very busy; 3) We will host the East HS Invitational ski races next Friday, Jan 28th. Trails will close for race grooming at 5:30 on Thursday, and remain closed until the end of racing, around 5:00 pm on Friday.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Wonderful start to Snowflake KidSki today, with 85 future Olympians and 24 coach/instructors taking over the place (photos)! Our base is finally transforming, and tonight we regroomed the skate decks on all trails, then set a new, deep classic track on the 6K. Overnight temps should freeze it up nicely. The 8K classic track, set yesterday, is pristine, so we left it alone. Two night skiers reported that the 8K skate was very fast and beautiful after we groomed. We are open 8-8 every day, honor system if the desk isn’t manned, and the 1.6K lighted loop is lit til 8 pm. Masks now required in the chalet.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Total snowfall thru this morning, about 8” of powder. This morning we compacted and groomed the 6K for skating, and set a new classic track. Trails are predictably soft, and the track needs to be skied-in. We then hit the 8K, multiple runs with the roller compactor, which yielded a nice skate deck. Not as pretty as the Ginzu corduroy, but compacted as much as possible. We then set a new classic track on the 8K, which just needs to be skied. Two important notes: (1) Masks are now required in the chalet. (2) our KidSki program begins tomorrow. 100+ kids/coaches around the chalet between 1:3-3:30. Rentals will be limited during that time.

Photos:

(John Graham)

This Alberta Clipper surprised us with snow all day. At 4 pm we began running 2 Ginzus over the trails, to compact the 4” new snow. Snow continued as we worked; when we stopped at 7 pm, 2-3” more had fallen. Grooming plan: we will begin compacting/grooming the 6K at 9 am, and likely set a new classic track. We’ll then compact/groom a skate deck on the 8K. In the meantime, both trails are open.
Two important notes: (1) In compliance with our mayor’s edict, masks are now required for all persons entering the chalet, even if you’re just signing-in. (2) Our KidSki program begins this Sunday. The chalet and areas around it will be congested with 100+ young skiers and coaches between 1:30-3.30. The 8K will see no KidSki activity, but best to plan your Sunday skiing, for the next 6 weeks, around those times.

Photos:

(John Graham)

We groomed the 6K and 8K skate decks this morning, adding last night’s 1/2” of powder to our base. The 6K is excellent, the 8K a bit softer as it’s seen less use and grooming. Very nice, though. The 6K classic track is well skied-in, has firmed-up, and in very good shape. The 8K track, set Tuesday, has seen little use; it has a 1/2” cover of fresh powder, but underneath it is solid and well-formed. The Ice Oval is now safe for equipment, so we compacted and groomed it yesterday, and set track today. Grooming plans: Our next skate grooming will be Saturday morning. Snowflake KidSki will happen at 1:30 on Sunday. 100+ students and coaches will be active on the Sledding Hill, soccer field, Ice Oval, Kiddie Loop, and 5K. Rentals will be limited and slow between 1:30-3:30. We’re open and lights-on until 8 pm every day.

Photos:

(John Graham)

Today we regroomed the 6K skate deck, with Ginzu knives a bit down: resulting deck is smoother, and the dips are filling-in. Due to higher use and more frequent grooming the 6K base is more transformed, thus firmer. We then groomed the 8K deck, which groomed beautifully, but is less transformed snow, thus softer. Warmer temps and sunshine will accelerate the trails firming-up. We ripped out the well-used track on the 6K and set a new classic track. Nice look, but needs to be skied-in, and kept dog-free til it firms-up. We then set a lovely classic track on the 8K; softer snow out there, so it needs to be skied-in and allowed to firm-up. I did note several segments of both trails that had a lot of small leaves. They are unattractive, but won’t damage good skis. Finally, we packed the Ice Oval (finally safe for our sleds and Ginzus) then skate groomed it. A good day of/for grooming! Everything is open and freshly groomed. Too busy to take pics. Member dog-owners, please ski the left or center of the trails to allow our classic skiers to enjoy a good track.

(John Graham)

The 6K skate deck was got three Ginzu passes this morning and is firming-up faster than expected. Nice. The 6K classic track firmed-up overnight and looks good. Our focus today was compacting and grooming the 8K. Slow-going due deep, soft snow. A few “opportunities” to winch ourselves out, but the 8K is now skate groomed, and looking good (photo). Grooming plans: We will set a classic track as the trailsides transform and firm-up, but classic skiers are welcome to ski either side. KidSki begins Sunday, 1:30-3:30. Limited rentals and masks required in the chalet during that time.

Photos:

(John Graham)