My dad and I went out to ski at Elm creek today about 4:30 (right before the snow started). We only skied the man-made loop, which actually felt like skiing snow and not ice. There had not been many skiers out so the corduroy was still very nice. There were very few spots where it was hard to get an edge due to being smoothed out. The snow was surprisingly fast despite cold temps. As our ski went on the wind picked up and it got cold. The snow also started coming down and it was blowing all around.

Photos:

(Elizabeth Loper)

Yesterday's meltdown did a number on the outer trails. The unlighted trails haven't been regroomed, and at best they're icy and rutted in the skating lane, with bare spots, including pavement showing through where the trail crosses the paved trail behind Mud Lake. The big hill there is hazardous, with a bare spot in the middle and ice on both sides of that. The classic tracks are shallow, icy and in a couple of spots, melted through. I won't be back on those trails until we get more snow. Parts of the tracks on Eagle Trail were groomed under a few days ago, and only skier-made tracks remain in those spots. Lots of foot traffic on the classic trails, too, with some by two-footed creatures and some by four-footed residents. Northern Lights is in good condition. While the classic tracks haven't been regroomed, the skate deck was touched up last night, once the temp dropped below freezing. The classic tracks are icy in spots, and washed out on some of the turns, but they're very skiable and much preferable to the open-to-the-wind snow-making trail. The snow-making trail is, as always, well-groomed. Both the tracks and the skate deck were very fast, for such a cold day.

(Ken Tobacman)

The EC groomers came through again. The skate deck was very nice with just a few small thin spots. I skated Creek and Northern Lights. The classic track looked pretty good with a few washed out spots.

(Tom Harris)

Skied mostly the natural snow outer loop early afternoon, starting out from the swimming beach parking lot to avoid the crowded lots. Trails were in great shape -- firm skate deck but not icy, looked like it had been groomed that morning. Classic tracks looked good too. Only area of any concern was the wooden palet bridge you cross as you come back past the swimming beach. That was thin, but didn't hit anything. Outer trails were quiet, only busy area was the snowboarding/tubing area as we skied past.

(Bruce Adelsman)

I went out and skied the outer loop trails today. I skied the Lake trail, with parts of Creek and Eagle, finishing on Northern lights and the man made loop. The trails were just beautiful. Their were a few dirt spots to ski around but they were easily avoidable and probably only 3-4 on the whole loop. The snow was well packed but had some lose snow on the top for grip but not too much lose snow that it was difficult skiing. There were only about 6/8 people out on the outer trails. When I got to Northern lights I started to see more people. Then the man made loop was packed (to be expected when the weather is nice and it's the weekend). The man made loop was in icy condition as compared to the beautiful snow on the outer loop.

Photos:

(Elizabeth Loper)

I skated on the multi use trail and Creek / Northern Lights. The multi use trail is in excellent condition with corduroy still showing on the deck, I didn't notice any significant thin spots. Creek had the same good skate deck with a few thin spots mainly just before the classic Eagle trail start and just north of the beach, both areas could be skated around. The classic tracks looked to be in good condition. Northern Lights had a good skate deck (I didn't do the section with the big hill) with almost no thin spots. The classic tracks looked a bit washed out but still definitely usable. A big thanks to the groomers!

(Tom Harris)

I ran the multiuser trails today - if I had my skis on I would not have hesitated to take my good skis out on them. If you’re looking to mix it up, be sure to get on the multi use loop too. Better for skate of course as there’s no double track set on the multiuser trails.

(Mike Schowalter)

Trail conditions were amazing! I circled the Lit trail twice and had a blast! I may encourage everyone to come out and enjoy the trail.

(Jim Cloutier)

Skate skied Creek, Lake, Northern Lights, and Valley. Great snow on all, kudos to the groomers! A few corners were a little fluffy, but nowhere was thin. Also had the trails to myself at 4pm; will be back soon!

(David Uber)

Skied the Lake Trail, Northern Lights and finished on the Valley Trail. Natural snow trails had adequate snow coverage with tracks set for classic as nearly perfect but with some wash outs on corners and some shallow tracks. Overall it was a great ski with that beautiful fresh snow. Of course the Valley man made snow trail had excellent groomed tracks.

(Earl Stabenow)