Trails packed and tracks set. Great conditions for Pre-Loppet. Only sketchy areas are the lakeside approach and exit on the west side of Wirth Lake pictured. Minor with cattails leaves on entrance to lake and thin snow cover on Northwest corner exit of lake. Under Hwy 55 good coverage but narrow. Double pole only there. Otherwise best skis are a go! See you at the start line!

Photos:

(Greg Klave)

Just wanted to report that they've opened the Judy loop, and it has fantastic coverage! The skate deck was really soft, and my poles kept punching through, but that also meant I could tell there were several inches under the deck, which was really exciting! The turnoff for the trail is just before the La Squadra drop, and be aware that the left turn to follow the trail in the correct direction is hard to see because it was churned up by the snowmaking equipment. I accidentally went the wrong way, but thankfully was the only one on the loop. Also, the inner meadow and Twin lakes sections are open, and they're blowing snow on North fingers and trail 18, so hopefully the full snowmaking loop will be open shortly!

(Shawn Dodds)

Skied around lunchtime, as the temps were moving from freezing into the mid 30s. Trailhead lot pretty full but lots of room at the chalet. Starting out snow was pretty fast but as the temps rose (and my energy waned) the skiing got slower. Still plenty great conditions, with man-made snow holding up just fine (as expected) in the wamer temps. Lots of snow piles around, but the trail segment heading past the Trailhead is currently being used for tubing.

Photos:

(Bruce Adelsman)

Snowmaking trails: About the best conditions you could ask for. Classic tracks were deep and firm with enough soft snow to get some kick. Skate deck looked good as well. Full loop is about 3.86km.

(Mark Bushinski)

Cold, squeaky snow! The deck was still mostly corduroy. The tracks were good, with the left (inner) one deeper and more solid than the right (outer) one. The machines were blowing snow on the bridge (and on some cars), and at the top of Green Meadow. Everything at the top of Green Meadow was like sandpaper with the fresh made snow, and part of the downhill was too.

(Dan Boody)

Man made loop is 4K and in pristine condition this morning - smoothest it’s been for a long time, and bullet proof classic tracks. Trailhead and parking much quieter today than Saturday due to the colder temps, but excellent skiing under the sun! Natural snow trails have fresh grooming for skate skiing only - and some debris to contend with, but extremely enjoyable.

(Bill Oyler)

Lots of corduroy at Wirth skate skiing this morning and only a handful on the man made trails. More is open that a week ago - including the big hill next to the sliding hill. Classic trails were great for double-polling. I’m staying away from the natural snow because I got a huge gouge in my ski in the asphalt area on the way back to the parking lot before the last couple of inches.

Photos:

(Melanie Sorensen)

Great to see La Squadra open! The wind was whipping around this morning, but lots of people out due to the warmer temps. The deck was very firm for the warm temp, at first, but starting softening up a lot more by 10:30. Plenty of traction on the downhills, even with tons of snowplowing. There are some significant grooves and bumps on the hill down from Green Meadow due to a machine driving along the deck. And more sticks on the Green Meadow uphill from wind. But overall great conditions, especially given the heavy traffic.

(Dan Boody)

The snowmaking loop is up to 4k of trail open, from Green Meadow over to La Squadra.
Natural snow trails have been rolled and have generally good coverage. No classic tracks have been set on natural snow trails due to snow depth.

(Robert Ibler, Loppet Foundation)

Gorgeous sunrise ski mainly on the snowmaking side. 15F feels warm! La Squadra loop is open! So you can park at the Chalet parking lot and jump right on the trail. Snow guns blazing on the trail out to the Twin Lake loop. No classic tracks set yet on the natural snow on the other side of the Parkway as far as I could see.

Photos:

(Amy Myrbo)