Greenbush trails are still remarkably good after the thaw on Tuesday. The skate deck is rock hard and fast but very manageable. The classic track is not deep but still even better than earlier in the week. Looks like dusting of lake effect snow is falling on the trails today.

(Mark Sharon)

As it has in the past, Greenbush surprises. I went out there with low expectations, fully prepared to immediately turn around and head back home. To my pleasant surprise the trails had just been groomed and were in very good condition. The groomers have done a masterful job breaking-up the hard crusty snow. I skied most of the trails and saw very good coverage. I went from the green to the purple trail and the cutoff gives you a good sense of what the groomers had to do. The cutoff was ungroomed, hard, and crusty. You wouldn't want to ski on it for any length of time. With the sun shinning it was hard to have a better day on skis.

Photos:

(Jim Van Akkeren)

The ski trails are closed at this time! I did a surveillance ski early this morning. Temps did not get below freezing overnight. By about 9:30 the trails were softening quickly. Jeff is working the snow catcher to bring snow onto the trails from the sides. As of 10 AM today there is good snow cover on all loops. Our base is very thin as it is and will be icy by tonight when the temperatures drop. Hopefully we'll have a base left to groom after today. Again, please stay off the trails and pass this on to all who may consider skiing or hiking on the ski trails at Greenbush.

(Mark Sharon)

Greenbush trails will be closed from 10 am to 5 pm on Tuesday, February 1st, to conserve the base through the expected 40 degree warm up.

(Debbie Werner)

Skate decks were groomed this morning. Only a light touch is possible with our thin base. I skated all loops after grooming and it was incredibly good. I don't know how long it will last with warm temps. The classic track was also much better than expected. The classic skiers did more by skiing in the half inch of new snow this weekend than I could have done with the track setter. We're doing the best we can with very little snow so far.

(Mark Sharon)

I skied the classic tracks on the purple and brown loops in the late afternoon. I used my old skis and was glad in the first 1-2 miles, due to debris in the tracks of purple loop. However, skiers could more easily avoid the debris on the skate deck. The tracks were not bad, but were showing wear and tear on some of the tighter curves and hills. Both tracks and deck were hard packed from use and fairly fast, but not icy. I was glad to have driven there, but hope the groomers get some new snow to work with. Photo is from brown loop.

Photos:

(Tom Benson)

Coverage is good with some debris here and there but not enough to be bothersome at all. Skate deck is nicely compacted although getting that slick/ rutted surface. Snow on the uphills was nice and soft textured. Tracks were fast and decently formed. Conditions holding up given the limited snowfall this season.

(Brian Schaning)

Started skiing late morning. Skied on the green, purple, and brown loops. Did the first lap with my B skis then switched to my good skis for the rest of the afternoon. Some scattered small debris like pinecones and bark pieces that can easily be avoided. Very glad I did the trip up there.

(Ross Lemke)

Greenbush trails received an unexpected 1/2" of snow this morning and for now appears to be a winter wonderland with temperatures in the mid teens. All of the debris is covered and the shallow classic track is much cleaner. The new snow has made skating and striding a bit slower today.

Photos:

(Mark Sharon)

All loops were groomed and tracked this morning. This process has cleared some debris from the trails and covered some of the bare spots. The skate deck looks great. The track was reset in most areas. It's not a deep track but it's free of sticks and leaves for now. Let's hope the snow!

Photos:

(Mark Sharon)