Very good snow on the man made snow loop this morning, so good I did not try the natural trails. Will wait for a few more inches of snow.

Photos:

(Bernard Cerles)

I skied the outer skate loop today for the first time. All natural trails are open. The inch dusting the other day had not been rolled into the trail. The outer loop has some debris (especially on the very far portion on the top of the hill overlooking the creek on Creek Trail), but everything is skiable. There is a little black top showing just prior to the bridge heading out to the trail. Overall, good skiing amidst the slower snow today and it was nice to get off the manmade snow. The lower doughnut on Valley Creek has also opened up since Tuesday.

(Brent Lackas)

Sun coming out and a bit of breeze. Did the man-made loop to begin, then most of Northern Lights. Good cover with the new snow. Minimal tracks, but doable.

(Steve Paladie)

I skied the manufactured ski trails just has as the new snow was stopping. Slow as expected, but nice conditions. Still only 2K open, but the snow cat was pushing out the giant snow piles on the last 1/2 K while I skied and made good progress and the snow guns were going on the hill bypass section. Hopefully the extra 1/2 K should be open in the next couple of days.

(Kathleen Miller)

Explored the classic conditions on all the natural trails today. Lake and Creek were the best, Eagle was mostly hard packed and blown over, Monarch had good deep snow but was not groomed and had lots of foot traffic (I asked a groomer about it he said they may groom Monarch today if they have time). Overall, I was able to find snow coverage everywhere by moving around on the trail, so I wasn't worried about damage.

(Dan Zenk)

The existing man made snow loop was in very good condition with a slow area near the chalet from fresh snow blowing from the snow guns on the tubing hill. Snow guns were on the South Donut so that should open soon. Natural snow on Northern Lights was skiable but not recently groomed making for a very hard packed surface and therefore a bit challenging to find an edge.

(Don Callander)

Had a great ski on the natural snow trails. Creek trail and Eagle trail had both been rolled and well packed due to a good amount of ski traffic. Snow was thin, but very skiable. A few spots of pavement to watch out for and definitely felt the skis hit something once or twice so rock or B skis to be safe. A few areas where runners make it interesting, but overall really nice ski! Man made snow loop nearly fully open.

(Erik Erickson)

Skate skied the outer natural snow trails (multiuse, creek trail, northern lights, etc). Conditions were better than expected, and surprisingly better on the multi-use trail. No classic tracks on any of the natural snow trails yet. Some areas had grass tips peaking through, and only two spots where most of the trail was bare ground but where easily avoided by double poling around. I would definitely recommend jumping on some B skis or rock skis.

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(Zachary Pierson)

Skated most of the natural snow trails (Valley, Creek, Northern Lights) and the open parts of the snowmaking loops. Conditions were fair on the natural snow loops, with a few small bare spots that were easily avoided. The trails were packed, but a bit uneven because of the thin snow coverage. Snow was starting to soften up in the 39F temp by 1:30 pm. No tracks set on the natural snow trails. Snowmaking trails were in excellent condition.

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(Craig Wiklund, North Star Ski Touring Club)

I skied the Northern Lights loop, and the dark side both yesterday and today. In one day the conditions have gotten much worse on the dark side (non lighted). I used B skis yesterday and rock skis today and glad I did. Coverage is still there but thin but where trail follows or crosses pavement, poles are useless and ground and pavement are starting to show thru. The best part of the loop is the back half of Northern Lights.

(Tim Nelson)