Still good conditions for skate, better when freshly groomed (multiuse loop, machine snow loop), harder snow with a few bare parches otherwise but easy to ski around. Snow is fast, good for long glides.

(Bernard Cerles)

It was a beautiful, sunny, Sunday afternoon with temps in the low 20's. I skied all of the trails at Elm Creek. The snowmaking loop was perfectly groomed as per usual, firm and fast. The natural snow trails still had a little of that cold snow squeak, but were warming up nicely and were also quite fast. Coverage was great and I didn't find one bare or thin spot. There were few sections of very minor debris that was easily avoidable; just a stray leaf, here and there. Classic tracks looked deep and fast. Some trails were still a little bumpy, but only a few more feet of snow would fix that. Northern Lights was nearing perfection.

(Chris Jopp)

Fresh groom on nearly all the trails. Classic tracks set, good in most places although thin snow in some places left them less than well-formed. There's a fair amount of debris in some areas on the outer loops, Valley and NL are pretty good though. All-in-all, a fantastic morning to be out in the park!

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(Brad Johnson)

Good conditions overall, everything groomed anew except Creek trail to the North which was a little more bumpy. Multiuse loop still in good shape for skate. Some granular snow coming back on Northern lights, should improve with higher temperature.

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(Bernard Cerles)

This is my favorite classic trail in the Metro and it was wonderful. Eagle and Monarch trails are in terrific condition. Grip tape with Toko mint cover was ok at 8-10f, blue would have been better. Solid level tracks with enough depth to keep the skis tracking easily. Very strange day at Elm Creek- even on the Valley and Lake connectors I saw only track skiers, no one was skating. There are some deer and raccoon tracks, and oak leaves in a couple of places- Perfect reminders that these trails are in the woods.

(Steve Casey)

Trail conditions were fair to very good. The portion of the snowmaking loop I skated before exiting on to the natural snow perimeter loop was very hard packed. I fell as I made the 180 turn from behind the snow fence onto the trail at the trailhead because my skis went out from under me as I tried to skate the tight radius turn. It was also slow for my FastWax Blue LF waxed skis. Things improved as I got off on to the natural snow that had been groomed recently from the amount of corduroy that was evident. I ran into only a few spots of snert and there was only a little twig and seed liter. The classic track was consistent out bound but washed out a lot on the open portions of the return. It was maybe right around 20 degrees at my 3:30 start dropping to 18 or 17 when I ended 45 minutes later. There was a north wind that I had to fight on my outbound leg and aided me on my return. The parking lot and snowmaking loop were packed with snowboarders, high school racers and spectators. Only met two skiers on the natural snow portion of the trail.

(Keith Carlson)

Great fun, the outside course was great through out, the trail to Eastman was as usual leaf lettered. There was some washed out areas, but still ok. They do not groom a part of creek trail because of safety over old bridge, but skied in. Eagle trail was newly groomed as was Northern Lights. Two outside loops plus again the Northern Lights, biggest ski of the year -- I'm pooped.

(Brad Erickson)

Very good snow around 9am for skate. Did Eagle, Multi use loop, Lake, Northern lights, Valley all in good shape. A few leaves and small branches from time to time.

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(Bernard Cerles)

Hit the outer Classic loops (Eagle, Eastman, and Monarch) through to Creek and I found the tracks to be in pretty great condition. They hadn't been groomed since the last snowfall but we're holding up well. The tracks were a little washed out on trails where it was skate and classic. Debris in the tracks was pretty minimal and no grass showing. I used B skis but if I went back I'd use my best skis, easy to dance around the 3-4 spots where there were fallen twigs. Groomer was out at 4PM in the cold, doing a great job!

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(Nils Wahlander)

We skied the manmade loop and Northern Lights. Great conditions. It appears there are no tracks on the outer loops which was disappointing. Skating looked good. Fun to get up there on natural trails. A nice change of pace.

(Diane Pattridge)