Friday 31 March 2017

March 31 - a little snow

Overnight we received about 3 cm of new snow, on top of bare, unfrozen ground. I've been skiing this morning, on trails with a grassy base. It is possible, though not great. I wouldn't want to try any of the rougher trails that have rocks and tree stumps in them. Temperature currently 0, rising to +2 with rain, so not an ideal day to go skiing. Stay indoors today.

Monday 20 March 2017

End of Season?

It is the first day of spring, with no snow on our trails. Unless we get a freak, major snowstorm in the next couple of weeks, it looks like our ski season may be done for this year. I will not be posting any more reports, unless there is something significant to say.

Saturday 18 March 2017

Sat. March 18 - no skiing

There is no snow on the trails, so no skiing today. However, the maple sap has started running, so if you came for a walk on the Hockleycrest trail, you would see my buckets on the trees.
I just read on the website of Stokely Creek Lodge that they are closed for the season. This is the place I went to in January to ski. It's about 50 km northwest of Sault Ste. Marie. What a shame they are closed so early. It's not due to lack of snow, since they still have over 30 cm on the trails. It's due to lack of skiers! It just isn't worth their while to stay open and groom the trails when very few skiers are coming to ski. This is the problem with their location; it's so remote from major population centres that it's very hard to attract paying customers.

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Wed. March 15

We did not receive as much snow as originally forecast. The total snowfall over the past 2 days was about 3 cm; just enough to make the ground white, but not really enough to ski on. Sorry folks, the winter of our discontent continues.
Northern portion of Mainline trail, with grass and leaves sticking up through the snow

Sunday 12 March 2017

Sun. March 12 - The times, they are a-changin'

First of all, we are now on Daylight Saving Time, so we have to sleep in an extra hour in the mornings, since it's so dark outside we can't go out and do anything.
Second, the weather pattern finally seems to be changing. We are now experiencing some of the coldest temperatures we've seen all winter; it's currently -18 outside my back door. We've had some light snow flurries over the past couple of days - enough to cover the ground in white, but not enough to ski on. However, if the forecast is correct, we should see a significant snowfall Monday night and Tuesday. If it comes, I will groom it, and we just might be skiing again.

Friday 10 March 2017

Fri. March 10 - possible snow?

We have no snow to ski on now, but the forecast is suggesting that we might get some. I will let you know tomorrow if we receive enough to enable us to ski.

Tuesday 7 March 2017

Tues. March 7 - still no luck

This warm weather is not helping us get back to skiing. There is no snow on the trails.

Saturday 4 March 2017

Wednesday 1 March 2017

March 1st - warm weather continues

As the warm weather continues, we are losing more snow. There is almost none left now. We are expecting a big freeze tonight, but there will be no skiing until we get a good snowfall.