1.65 km machine-made snow loop tilled, and a track was set on the trails. Track is actually pretty good in some places. There's a bit of ice in places after the rain and refreeze, but otherwise, it's a firm, fast base. Where there was no snowmaking, you can actually get by in a lot of places as there is a thin layer of ice and refrozen slush covered with 1/2" of snow, but I would not consider these segments open. About 4.7" liquid equivalent precipitation this winter, and slightly less than 1" of that was in the form of 12" snow we've had since Dec 1st.

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)

Very nice skate skiing this morning. One inch of groomed new snow set up hard and fast. Just a few icy spots in places. No tracks set and a really hard base.

(Carl Nordgren)

All machine made snow groomed with Pisten Bully late Friday night; skate deck set. Approximately 2k of total trail. Trails in the woods look nice. Some open areas in stadium are icy. No classic tracks set. We will try to set tracks when we are able to further till snow or perhaps get a bit of the real stuff.

(Jonathan Arntson)

Trails are closed on Tuesday, Feb 6 for Section 8 HS Championships. Machine made snow is generally holding up well given the circumstances. We have no specific weather related closures slated for later this week, but grooming may be spotty due to coming warm/rain. Further announcements regarding availability will be made here.

(Jonathan Arntson)

Groomed the 1.65 km of machine-made snow for Section 8 high school races Tuesday Feb 6. Set tracks for the races, too, so there will be tracks for classic skiing when the races are finished. Didn't have a chance to assess the rest of the trails, but given the amount of snow and melting in sun-exposed areas, Exit Ramp is likely closed, and there could be some bare areas in some places where there was no snowmaking. Use good skis on the 1.65 km loop and rock skis elsewhere.

(Bob Conzemius)

Lower loops of rock hard man made snow on biathlon course have been tilled and tracks reset. Good skiing for the weekend. Upper and west trails icy and hard pack. No grooming possible. Thin base with bare spots, dirt and leaves.

(Catherine McLynn)

Skied Mount Itasca this afternoon. In the sun it was actually kind of like pleasant spring skiing. Shade was icy. Fast all around. About 2k of trails around the biathalon range have good snow depth. Everything else that is natural snow has pretty widespread bare spots.

(Afton Clarke-Sather)

Skied the whole trail system. Conditions are spring-like but without the suction cup effect on the skis. Tracks are in place most places. There are dirt clumps in a few areas where mowing equipment last fall scuffed up the trails, but otherwise, everything is skiable! No big races on the schedule, so hopefully, it stays cloudy and 33 degrees instead. Enjoy!

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)

Trails were tilled Friday evening. Tracks were reset on the 1.65 km loop but not on the natural snow. It looks like those tracks are holding up okay, and the dustings of snow have made skiing in the a little better for the skis, so we left them as is. There are no major races planned this weekend, but there may be some teams practicing. Either way, there should be plenty of room on the trails Saturday. Sunday has MyXC from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.

(Bob Conzemius)

Set track on remaining portion of Grant-In-Aid trails that did not have a track. Get out and enjoy the snow because it looks like this could be the deepest we have all season! Lots of tracks were set on the man-made 1.65 km loop for the CXC races Sunday. We also have another high school race scheduled at Mt Itasca on Thursday since there is not enough snow elsewhere. The 1.65 km loop is closed during races, but the rest is open all the time.

Photos:

(Bob Conzemius)