We didn’t lose much base during our 56 degree days (surprisingly!) but the surface of the snow is obviously quite icy, especially on lakes.  Wind gusts up to 40+ mph all Thursday night and Friday didn’t help. Groomers were out on both sides today. Can’t speak for the north side, but on this side of the system trails were blowing closed very quickly. Trees are also blowing down on the trails. 

Many skiers were out Friday, but most of them didn’t feel they could withstand the windchill temps very long. Quite a contrast to two days ago, when skiers were out shirtless or in shorts.  It’s been a good day to sit by the fire with a book, a beer, or a bowl of chili. Those cozy chairs in front of our lodge fireplace were very busy today!

We’re hoping for improved weather Saturday.  Groomers on both sides of the system are using every tool and implement known to grooming in order to bring the trails back to tip-top shape. At this point, though, until the winds die down a bit, great grooming will be a bit of a challenge. Some snow tonight would be nice.  Decreased winds and snow showers are in the current forecast. 

If you are thinking of skiing Saturday or Sunday, call the lodges to find out up-to-the minute grooming updates. The trails have been great all winter and we assume the groomers will soon have everything back in great shape.

New info Saturday:  Winds died down, sun came out, temps warming up. Much, much better day today.  Friday was probably the worst day this winter.  Groomers are out tilling and grooming the icy layer this morning, and unlike yesterday, the created layer of snow isn’t just blowing back off.    Between having to till the icy layer and needing to remove fallen trees, it is very SLOW grooming. West side trails, Oxcart and Poplar Creek, are the first to be done.  Skiers are reporting that Campground is still quite good from yesterday’s grooming, and Summer Home stayed fairly good except for a few windblown patches in the open areas.

We’ve received close to a foot of new snow over the last week, which has been a bit of grooming challenge.  Yesterday we received about 4 more inches. 

Wind has also been a factor for the past few days.  Quinn groomed a lake trail  and said that as he looked behind him, he watched his newly groomed trail disappear.  Right now it might be wise to choose ski trail routes without major lake crossings.

Bearskin groomers have been out since 5:30 AM and should have the trails finished before noon.  North-South link continues to have an ungroomed section because of a problem on the steep hill down to Aspen Lake. Skiers have made a path down the hill, but we haven’t been able to get equipment down the hill without getting stuck.  Choosing an alternative, more sheltered route will be more pleasant right now anyway.

Dan’s Golden Eagle ski report this morning says, “We were out grooming late last night and finished Red Pines, Cross Fox, Deer Mouse, Moose Ridge, Wolf Point, the Logging Camp on the North and West side of Flour Lake, Ridge Run, Moose Pasture, the Upper part of the Beaver Dam and the North South Link from Golden Eagle Lodge to Aspen Lake.  Bearskin was out this morning and all trails on their side will be done this morning.  Temperature at 9:00 am was -3 F with very little wind.”

Ted Young reports that the Lace Lake/Tall Pines Trail will hopefully be groomed today and the Banadad is scheduled to be groomed tomorrow.

Dan’s current measurements: 

New Snow Last 24 hours:  3.25 inches

New Snow Last 7 days:  10.85 inches

Trail Base: Snowcat packed: 9-1/2 to 9-3/4 inches

Snow in Woods: 22-25 inches

Surface Conditions: Powder, packed powder

Trails Open: 70 km

Total snowfall since November 1:  54.10 inches

Oxcart Ski Trail 1.15.11

The trails were groomed today (again) and it didn’t snow immediately afterwards.  That’s a first for a while.

It’s beautiful out there.  Not warm, but certainly gorgeous.

A trail to be avoided at the moment is the North-South Link.  From the East Bearskin side, it is groomed to the point where the hill dramatically descends–and then the grooming stops.  Long story, but at the moment we have been unable to get down the steep hill to the lake.  It’s just as well, because with the wind we had today, a trail across the lake would have just disappeared.  Choose another alternative if you want to head towards Flour Lake for now.

Groomed Oxcart, Poplar Creek, Summer Home and Campground this morning.  The trails were groomed beautifully … for about an hour.  A number of trails on the Flour Lake side of the system were also groomed today.

We always appreciate fresh snow, but this is the third time this week that a nice grooming job ended with a snowstorm.  Talk about an exercise in futility!

It’s snowing hard now, nice big flakes resulting in a significant accumulation.  We’ll groom all our trails for the long 3 day weekend,  but we’re hoping to wait until it stops snowing!