Skied the snowmaking loop at dusk again. The trail had fresh, unrolled snow so it was slower. My pace dropped.7 mph. But there had been enough skier traffic to pack a center lane with high school racer traffic having done additional packing of Willow and Frog Town that made it okay. Once again I passed a straggling racer on the uphill on Willow and several passed me going the other way coming down off of Scenic. Then they were gone. Only met two other skiers after that. One using skins passed me near the top of the climb on Boulder but then he had no glide on the run out at the bottom of Boulder's downhill. Thank God he moved to the side because I was 10 to 15 seconds behind him arriving at the top and was carrying plenty of speed when I reached the bottom. I used FastWax Yellow LF.

(Keith Carlson)

Despite the weather and my wife's efforts to dissuade me, I went out to Hyland arriving about dusk. I caught a great window with the rain holding off for most of my circuit of the snowmaking loop and the high school racing just concluding. I passed two race stragglers on the end of the uphill on Williow and one on the middle, brief climb on outbound Frog Town. Contrary to my fears, it was not waterlogged snow. Instead it was moderately hard packed that was slightly glazed. It was around 35 degrees. There was no big snow plow wake on the Boulder downhill - just a little ridge and the climbs did not have a lot of loose snow, even the climb after the right angle turn on Frog Town's return - one of two climbs the other being Willow, which I was able to skate non-stop. I ended up completing the loop at a 6.4 mph pace on my third time out in my five day season so far. Great boost to this 70 year old's ego. I used Fast Wax Yellow LF.

(Keith Carlson)

Skied Lake Trail. Snow was thin, with some gravel churned up, but no big bare spots. No tracks. The deck was well packed, so it was all fun with rock skis.

(Laurie Ford)

Skated the snow-making loop a little after noon. It was around 32 degrees and partly sunny. Coverage was great and varied from moderately packed to up to a inch or two of loose snow. Deepest loose snow was on the climb after the right angle turn on Frog Town. Reasonably fast given the temperature. The crowd was pretty light given it was sunny with warmer temperatures. I used FastWax Yellow LF.

(Keith Carlson)

Skied only the natural snow trails today. North trail, Oak Knob, and Hill skate decks were smooth and hard with no bare spots. None of them had tracks set. A skis would be fine on these trails. The first third of Lake had lots of leaf debris and some dirt showing on the skate deck. Again no tracks were set. Easy to ski around the bad spots but they can catch you out. The rest of the trail from the Hill split was in very good shape with a smooth and hard skate deck.

(Steve Hum)

Still just sticking to the man made snow loops as that is the only place with tracks and the tracks are fabulous. Firm and flat. Skate deck was great as well. I noticed in a few areas where something appears to be coming through the snow - one place was by Jans as you are coming down the hill from Willow. The other was in the classic tracks going up the Foothills. Hoping that is it just leaves that have been ground in.
A note to those who ski when it's dark - out on Boulder one of the lights wasn't working this morning.

(Scott Greymont)

The Hyland maintenance surprised us all with an early Christmas gift: all 5k of manufactured snow trails are open, good, packed and tracked. The trails with natural snow (10k) are all packed, not tracked and are all in good condition except lake is in fair condition.

(Sonja Bercich, Three Rivers Park District)

The 5k man made loop was great! Super clean snow, solid classic tracks, Boulder Ridge was very even and fun to descend for the first time this season. Nice work Hyland groomers!

Photos:

(Bill Oyler)

Shout out to the team at Hyland getting the full 5k of man made snow expertly groomed. Tracks were firm and flat. The skate deck was perfect.

Photos:

(Scott Greymont)

Only skied the man made loop, it was in excellent condition this morning. Props go out to the grooming crew. They were out moving snow around the Foothills - looks like it is only a matter of a few days before this becomes available. Skate deck was a perfect corduroy - the tracks were firm with little to no ice.

(Scott Greymont)