Last grooming was a week ago - and with very little snowfall since then, the trails won't be freshly groomed again till after the next snowfall. Over the last three days I have skied most of the trail system, and here is what I have found: Trail conditions are generally very good, in part because the temps have not gotten above freezing for more than a few hours a day, and in part because there has been low usage. The base is still almost 2' deep. There is very little debris on trails. The green trails (easier and flatter) are very good - well set, only occasionally icy. The blue (moderate) and black trails (difficult/hilly) are mostly also very good, however there are more frequent icy spots. Don't be shy about taking your skis off to walk down some of these icier hills! Also, tracks on the hills or bottom of curves are a little "messy" - from snowplowing, herringbone ascents, and skiing out of the tracks.

Photos:

(Mary Shedd, Friends of Flathorn Gegoka Trails)

Skied portions of both the west and east trails - all in very good shape, well-groomed. In spite of temps in upper 30s, the tracks are mostly well-shaded, so they stayed cold and relatively hard. I think we will get through these warmer days without the trails icing up. As always... beautiful out there!

(Mary Shedd, Friends of Flathorn Gegoka Trails)

All trails groomed this afternoon. Tracks well-set in the 4-6" of new light dry snow since previous grooming last Friday. No litter or debris on trails.

(Mary Shedd, Friends of Flathorn Gegoka Trails)

Trails last groomed previous Friday. The 4-6" of snow we have had since then is light and dry, the snowed over tracks show through. Great skiing, good glide. Plans to groom on Friday.

Photos:

(Mary Shedd, Friends of Flathorn Gegoka Trails)

All the trails were groomed today and are the best they have been all year. The crisp sunny 10-degree day made for the perfect ski for all that were lucky enough to be on the trails today.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Today I enjoyed 2-inches of new powdery snow in zero-degree temps while taking a short ski to check out the conditions of the trails. They were not groomed and at times completely undetectable but the base was solid and the slow but beautiful trudge through the newly fallen snow was well worth it. We plan on grooming tomorrow the trails on Friday.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Today I enjoyed 3 inches of new powdery snow while taking a short ski to check out the conditions of the trails. They were not groomed and at times completely undetectable but the base was solid and the slow but beautiful trudge through the newly fallen snow was well worth it. Saturday through Tuesday the trails were a pathetic rain-soaked mess, today they were beautiful once again. We plan on grooming the trails on Friday.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Great skiing around Flat Horn! Beautiful sunny day. Some parts of the trail were pretty icy, but amazing overall. We did fall a few times, but that's part of the fun! It is really a spectacular skiing experience compared to the Twin Cities where we are from! Shout out to the groomer and Nancy!

(Eric Fisk)

Another late afternoon on the ski trails with new friends and the Pishcke's resulted in a fast glide with occasional slippery spots where the avalanches of snow came off the trees bringing debris and crusty icy snow with it. Again about 50% of the tracks on the trail were carved out perfectly.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)

Today I was fortunate to be out skiing just after the groomer finished. Joe did a stellar job of managing to set track in conditions we haven't experienced this year. Yesterday the 36 inches of snow that fell thus far experienced 38-degree temperatures, melting the snow mounds on the trees to the point where they finally came crashing down, everywhere. With these mini avalanches came debris and high spots on the trail that resulted in strange tracking conditions. With that said, it was nice to ski fast and about 50% of the trails were carved out perfectly as if the warm weather and its resulting avalanches didn't happen. At which point I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Photos:

(Nancy Schultz)