Skied Whitetail this morning. Conditions were very good, tracks were firm and deep, some hiking/snowshoe damage on the ski trail, otherwise great conditional all around.

(John Elling)

Conditions at Whitetail were great. Freshly groomed earlier today, I was the first skier on many of the trails. A handful of short sections in the meadow where the tracks were down to the icy base. Tracks had firmed up nicely, given the recent grooming. Temps in the single digits so conditions were a bit slow. Saw one other skier the whole time I was out (10K). So glad to see the return of winter. Let's hope it sticks around for a while.

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(Dave Gardner)

Skied all the trails. I'm giving this a B+ ski rating because there are some woody plants sticking through the trail in spots. Except for near the camper cabins, tracks were largely free of debris. It appears coyotes felled a deer on the tracks between 21 and 27, but the remains have been removed. Overall the tracks were shallow and pretty fast.

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(Rick Vatsaas)

Tracks are still holding up this morning, good to very good, minimal debris except in the pines up by the cabins. Great spot for classic skiing.

(John Elling)

Great classic tracks at Whitetail woods this afternoon. Skied all trails and had great conditions. Wind wasn't too bad in the open areas.

(John Elling)

Skied Whitetail late afternoon. Freshly groomed; we followed the groomer thru some sections. Whitetail is classic only. Deep, sharp, crisp tracks set in perfect solid base with the early morning's flurry rolled in. Couldn't ask for better. Excellent grooming -- lifted the tracks on the hills and junctions. A few road crossings; you'll want to take off your good skis. Another feature: well mapped junctions, informative signage about sharing the trail with walkers, leashed dogs etc. Dress very warm this weekend!

(Gavin Watt)

Existing tracks were covered by about an inch of fresh snow, which made for soft, slow, sticky skiing. Some minor drifting in exposed areas. Looks like there would be enough snow to regroom.

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(Dave Gardner)

Third day in a row skiing at Whitetail. Conditions remained excellent. Freezing fog on the trees and vegetation was picturesque. It was quiet out there this morning. Saw three other skiers in 5 miles of skiing.

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(Dave Gardner)

Skied almost all the loops at Whitetail. Conditions were very good. All trails were tracked earlier today, including the Lone Rock Trail connector between the meadow and camper cabin loops. Tracks were firm and fairly deep. Hills had a great corduroy surface. There was a "rumble strip" surface in the bottoms of some of the tracks (see photos) with alternate strips of snow and ice. This was probably due to the icy base beneath the snow. Did not cause problems skiing though; surface was smooth and I was able to get adequate kick with regular wax. Conditions and glide were significantly better than yesterday's partially groomed, sticky soft snow at Lebanon.

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(Dave Gardner)

Skied all trails at Whitetail except a couple short connectors (about 10K). Trails have been groomed since last week's freezing rain event. Tracks were deep, firm and fast throughout, glazed in a couple spots. Got good glide, even with my waxless skis. Hills were hard-packed and fast but controllable. The groomer left some bumps and craters at the transition points where the track setter was dropped and lifted (see photo). Some debris and thinner spots under the pines, no bare spots. A few boot tracks here and there. There were deep boot prints on the hill right before you turn left onto the trail above Empire Lake. The Lone Rock Trail connector between the meadow and camper cabin trails was recently groomed. Conditions seemed a bit faster and more hard packed than at Lebanon yesterday. But Whitetail gets much less use so the tracks were better. Only saw 5 other skiers the whole time I was out.

Photos:

(Dave Gardner)