I skated the entire perimeter except Flats starting at 4:30 pm. Conditions varied from very good to poor depending on where it had been groomed which was very erratic. It was groomed where snow was deep enough and cold enough to allow it. So 2E to 4E, about the right angle turn before 8E to 18E and after the last uphill following 19E to 20E had nice corduroy. The rest varied from soft corn to rutted, glazed snow. Most skaters would want to avoid North, which was totally ungroomed and had the most rutting. I skated it but as I came down the gentle hill to the lake while drifting over to the outside edge when I tried to move back to the center of the trail, caught a rut and nearly went down. Good news was all the downhills were pretty much rut-free and easily skied. Although I was careful descending the hill after 4E I did not run into the "rip you out of your binding" deaccelerating, soft snow I've experienced there in the past. I used FastWax Yellow LF. It was 37 degrees with a moderate overcast. It was a pretty fast ski despite the conditions. Met nobody on the trail; somebody left trailhead a little before me but I never saw him until he came back to his car as I was departing the parking lot and one skier came down the hill to the Nordic Center as I was taking off my skis.

(Keith Carlson)

Icy and unskiable. Office didn't know if they would be groomed and didn't seem to have communication with grooming staff.

(Mark Trumper)

Repairs have been made to the Hills (Green) Loop on the East Side Trails to remove the rutts leftover after the rescue that was made over the weekend. The rest of the trails (East and West) are going to be in fair/poor condition with a lot of icy sections and a little bit of standing water in sections along the Savanna. Our tentative plan is to completely repack the trails tomorrow morning after any snowfall and hopefully reset/refresh track if conditions allow.

(Jen Garcia, Washington County Parks)

If you classic skiing, Browns Pond loop is fine but avoid until they regroom for skate skiing. Otherwise track was in very good shape and great morning to get out. Picture 3 shows the trail damage from the emergency run last night.

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(Scott Ford)

Had the potential given the weather but super crappy -- not groomed and surprised it wasn't. I talked to a couple coming off who said the green was still chewed up from the ATV mentioned previously. I skied the north end and wished I had gone somewhere else. Told that classic tracks were good.

(Dan Vlieger)

Amazing ski this evening at Lake Elmo! FYI, there was an emergency situation and an EMT ATV had to drive on some of the green trail (especially near trail marker 10E). The skate deck and some of the classic tracks were chewed up.

(Marina Gorzig)

Due to an evacuation of an injured skiier tonight, there are some deep ATV tracks on parts the green loop. The classic tracks are mostly unaffected but skaters will want to stick to other loops until the groomer comes through.

(Colleen O'Connor Toberman)

Beautiful, wonderful xc skiing at Lake Elmo Park this afternoon. Lots of skiers out enjoying the trails. Some leaf litter in tracks, but not bothersome.

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(Ken Kuznia)

Thanks to the snow overnight Wednesday into Thursday and a light dusting overnight, the day was beautiful and all who were on the Lake Elmo East ski trails were smiling, including myself. Trails, both classic tracks and skate deck in great shape thanks to groomers, a bit of drift in the tracks on the far side of the Flats, but otherwise a great day.

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(Harlan Jones)

Absolutely pristine this morning for classic and skate. The most wonderful skiing at Elmo I can recall. To be able to stay in the tracks for all the fun sections rather than stepping out for leaves was a treat! Classic track beautifully groomed throughout and skate deck looked wonderful, as well. Despite it already seeming perfect out there, I crossed paths with the groomer four times in 90 minutes out working the corduroy.

(Marjie Carr-Oxley)