Excellent conditions for skate and stride on the manmade loops this morning. Firm, flat base with a variable amount of loose snow , depending on the wind. Solid, snowy tracks. Fresh snow falling and blowing.

(John McCarthy)

The Piston Bully was out Thursday night touching up the man made loop. The skate deck was tilled and is in great shape. A new classic track was set on the lower loops of the man made loop. The classic track around the outside loop was left as is and is in good shape as well. There still isn't enough snow for grooming to occur off the man made loop. Hopefully that will change soon.

(Mark Janis)

Manmade snow loop had a firm base underneath some fresh snow. Tracks looked firm but I did not go in them due to the number of people and I was on skate skis. I could not see many thin areas either. Off man made loop does not appear to be packed and chains are up to prevent damage to the trails. Overall good conditions, Peak Nordic team was out training this evening too.

(Jonathan Tomko)

Good conditions for skate and stride on the manmade snow loops. A bit slow due to the fresh, natural snow. A comfortable layer of soft snow on a firm, smooth base. Downhills are especially slow in the skate lane but much faster in the tracks. No evidence of grooming off the manmade loops.

(John McCarthy)

Finally Mother Nature has given us enough snow to make a difference to our trails. What little snow we got was tilled and a new classic track was set. I expect skiing tomorrow should be much improved. A smooth skate deck and full depth classic tracks will be waiting for you.

(Mark Janis)

Slow going on the manmade snow loops this morning in the falling snow. A bit more than an inch of wet snow, squeaky, and compressible, is generally making for a tough skate workout. The new, wet snow in the tracks is the stuff of nightmares for waxable classic skis. I saw one such skier walking off the trail with over an inch of snow packed onto his kick zone.

(John McCarthy)

I had the Pisten Bully out tonight. The whole man-made snow trail system, including Beatles Loop and Marks Park were groomed tonight. I tilled and reset tracks on the entire trail system. We need mother nature to give us some of her fresh snow so that the sugar snow that we are dealing with can be covered up. We have had so many snow systems track just to the north, let's hope tomorrow's snow doesn't track to the south. We will all be able to race tomorrow night, the trails won't be great, but they are very skiable. Happy skiing!

(Beattle Adelmeyer)

Entire trail was tilled and groomed last night. Great conditions this morning. Corduroy will break down and soften as the day goes on but there is plenty of snow. Some newly made snow is a little chunky but plenty to ski on.

Photos:

(Jim Marschalek)

The Piston Bully was out at night grooming the man made snow loops. The snowmaking crew had the guns going in the early morning hours and was able to cover some of the thin spots. The skate deck was tilled and is in great condition. Classic tracks were reset and are in fair condition. Mark's park and Beattle's loop were also groomed.

(Mark Janis)

Variable conditions around the manmade snow loops today, due to overnight snowmaking and ongoing spreading. Parts of the trail are closed for spreading, which will proceed through the day and maybe beyond. Open segments are a mix of older granular snow that is softening in the sun and newly made snow that has not been spread. Be prepared for skiers going both directions and making frequent turns.

(John McCarthy)