End of Season Round-Up

 I'm sure you all know by now that our ski season is finished. This was a pretty good season; at times, we almost had too much snow.

Our first day of skiing was December 5, 2024 and our last day of skiing was March 13, 2025. In between those dates, we had 79 days of skiable conditions (not always great skiing, but tolerable conditions). By comparison, last year we had only 44 ski days.

We got off to a slow start; skiing was not great in December, and snow was a bit thin in the first couple of weeks of January. One thing that was working in our favour was that we did not have a significant thaw all through January and February.

February brought frequent and abundant snowfall, often accompanied by strong winds and drifting, which made grooming a challenge. Interestingly, through the entire winter we did not have a major, widespread snow storm. Instead, almost all of our snow was lake-effect snow, coming in streamers from Lake Huron or Georgian Bay.

This year we had to temporarily close many of our northern trails, as the landowner carried out major logging operations. Over the summer I will be working at clearing away the debris left behind by the loggers, so that hopefully all those trails will be open next year.

No Skiing

 We have lost a lot of snow in the past 3 days. It is no longer practical to ski. Trails are closed.

Very Soft and Wet

 We've lost a lot of snow in the past 24 hours. Yesterday's high was +11 and the lowest it went overnight was +6, so the melting continued with no overnight freeze. Trails are soft and wet; not great skiing. To top it off, we're expecting rain, maybe even a thunder storm.

If I were you, I would stay at home today.

More Spring Skiing

 Ski conditions will be much the same today as yesterday. It's currently -2 and trail surfaces are frozen, hard and fast. By this afternoon, we'll be at +10, so the snow will be soft, wet and heavy. However, there will be a variation in the trail condition, depending on whether you are in sunshine or in deep shade. Trails through shady areas will remain frozen and icy later into the afternoon.

There is a large flooded area on the south west part of trail #5. The entire section from its junction with #6 Central Park to the junction with #23 Black Cherry should be avoided.

Still Icy

 Conditions on the trails are much the same as yesterday. The high temperature yesterday was just +1, so very little melting took place. This morning, it's -7 outside, so the trails are frozen hard.

Today, it's going to be sunny with a high of +7. If you were to come to ski just after the temperature goes above 0, say around noon or 1 p.m., you might find the right combination of a soft surface with a firm base beneath. No guarantee, but it might be tolerable.

We have a few small bare spots, and a flooded section at the south west corner of trail #5 which should be avoided.

More Ice

 After 2 very warm days, in which a lot of snow was lost, colder temperatures have returned. It's currently -8, and will probably only reach -1 today. That means the soft, wet snow has frozen again and our trail surfaces are very icy. Skiing is very difficult under these conditions.

Also, a result of the warmth and sunshine is that a few bare or thin spots have started to show up, and we have a flooded spot at the south-west corner of trail #5. This can be avoided by taking the southern part of #23 Black Cherry through the pine plantation.

I would not recommend skiing today.

Spring Skiing Continues

The temperature did not drop below freezing overnight. It is currently sitting at +6. The snow on the trails is soft, wet and slow. There is a flooded spot at the south-west corner of trail #5. Although I haven't been over there to check, I suspect there is a bare spot at the north-east corner of trail #7, at the crest of the hill near the junction with #4. Other than that, I believe we have complete coverage.

Spring Skiing

 Welcome to spring skiing. Ice in the morning, slush in the afternoon.

The temperature is now sitting at 0, and trail surfaces are frozen, icy, and hard. But by this afternoon, it will be +9. The snow will soften up quickly, becoming wet, heavy and slow.

Not ideal skiing conditions, but if you like sunshine you will have it today.

2 p.m. Update: The temperature is now +10 and the maple sap is running strong. Trails that are in full sun are now soft, wet and slow. But trails in deep shade are still partially frozen, so they are a little firmer and faster. A small pond of meltwater has developed at the SW corner of trail #5. Right now, it's possible to ski around it, but it will get bigger and will soon totally block access.

No Change

 Conditions are much the same today as yesterday. We have 1 to 2 cm of soft snow over a hard icy base. Skiing is very difficult.

We might see some improvement this afternoon, when the temperature rises to above 0 in the sunshine. The trail surfaces will probably soften, providing a slower but more controlled skiing experience.

This is typical "spring skiing". Some people love it, but I'm not very fond of spring skiing.

Still Icy

 I did some test grooming yesterday afternoon, on a few of the central trails. It was not very successful. Even after doing three passes over the same section of trail, skiing conditions were only marginally improved. We have received about 1 cm of new snow overnight, which helps a little bit, but it is not enough.

Conditions on the trails are poor. Skiing is not recommended.

If you want to ski somewhere in the area, I suggest you try Mono Nordic Ski Club which is just west of Hwy. 10 at Monora Park Drive. Or if you're prepared to drive a little further for some really nice skiing, Highlands Nordic, on the 10th Concession near Duntroon would be very good.

Very Icy

 Colder weather has returned (currently -4), and the partially melted snow has re-frozen. Trails are very icy. We did receive a little more new snow yesterday, but it was only 2 or 3 cm and was accompanied by high winds, so it is not uniformly distributed.

Right now, I do not recommend skiing here.

The new parts I need to repair my ATV have arrived, and I will do those repairs this morning. If time allows, I will get out with the groomer and see whether I can pulverize some of this icy crust to produce a skiable surface. But in the meantime, skiing conditions are very poor.

Not A Ski Day

 After a very warm, wet day, the temperature has dropped to -2, and we've received about 1 cm of new snow. Skiing conditions are very difficult today. The base of old snow has partially re-frozen, so it is a soft crust. But this base does not have any structural strength, so it collapses under your ski when you pass over it. Going down even a moderate hill would be dangerous, as there is no effective way to control speed or direction.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND SKIING TODAY.

Weather Roller Coaster

 We are in for a wild ride over the next 24 hours. Currently it's +1 and raining. Rain will continue all day, with a high temperature of +7. Possible thunder storms this afternoon. Then the temperature will start to fall, and will be close to 0 by this time tomorrow. There is a chance of new snow tomorrow morning.

For today, the trails will be soft, wet and slow. The snow structure will collapse beneath your skis. It is possible to ski, but it won't be much fun. With all the rain and melting snow, some places on the trails might become flooded. I haven't seen any flooded spots yet, but it is possible.

Warm Weather Coming

 The temperature is sitting just below 0 right now (6:55 a.m.) so trail conditions are much the same as yesterday: thin loose granular over a hard, icy base. However, the temperature is going to rise to +4 today, with rain expected as well. So our trails will be softening up, and for a little while it may be slower and easier to ski. However, the weather doesn't look very pleasant for skiing.

There will be no grooming today.

Skiable but Challenging - again

 Conditions on the trails are much the same as yesterday. We have a thin layer of loose granular snow over a firm, icy base. It's possible to ski, but care must be taken, especially on hills.

I will not be grooming today. My grooming capability is limited right now as I wait for parts to repair the ATV. Also, it appears we have a couple of warm days coming, so anything I do today is likely to disappear tomorrow.

Skiable, but Challenging

 Trail conditions remain about the same. Yesterday's grooming produced a thin layer of loose granular snow over a firm icy base. It is skiable, but definitely challenging and not nearly as enjoyable as skiing on the powder snow we had just over a week ago. Adding to the challenge today is the temperature: it's -18 outside.

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I have some mechanical issues with the ATV that pulls the grooming equipment. One of the bogey wheels that guides the rubber track on the bottom of the ATV came off while I was grooming yesterday. The bearings of the wheel seized up and the wheel couldn't turn anymore, so it broke off and I found it lying on the trail when I came by for a second pass. This was after I had already replaced 2 of these wheels earlier in the morning. I managed to finish up and get home without that wheel, but I'm reluctant to do any further grooming, in case I get stranded somewhere on the trails. I may try some limited grooming close to home today, to see if I can create some additional loose granular on the trail surface. This will only be on central trails.

If you come to ski today, please be aware that these conditions are difficult. Only very good skiers should attempt skiing today.

Still Icy

 We got some snow yesterday, but not very much; perhaps 2 cm. This was followed by a few hours of above-freezing temperatures last night, and then a flash freeze. As a result, the trails are very icy and fast, with little to no control on hills.

I will go out at 7 a.m. and try some grooming, to see if I can make it skiable; but I'm not very hopeful.

Current temperature is -9, with a brisk NW wind.

Right now, skiing is NOT recommended.

8:45 a.m. Update: I have groomed most of the central trails, and the result is not bad. These are definitely skiable. However, I am unable to groom the rest of the trails, due to a mechanical issue with my ATV. Southern trails, closest to the parking lot, have not been done and will be very challenging to ski. ONLY EXPERT SKIERS SHOULD ATTEMPT THESE, and the biggest hills (like the ones on Mainline and Harmony close to the gazebo) should be avoided.

1 p.m. Update: I did a repair on the ATV and got out to groom all southern trails and a couple of remaining central trails. However, I've encountered another mechanical issue with the ATV and cannot groom the northern trails. Trails that have been groomed today can be skied with caution. Do not attempt any trail that is not freshly groomed.

Icy Again

 Yesterday's snowfall was followed by a period of warm temperatures which reached +4, so about half the new snow melted. Then the temperature dropped to -6 overnight, so we now have icy conditions again. I would NOT recommend skiing this morning.

The forecast says we will get more snow today, beginning around noon. But again, they are predicting a period of warmth overnight, just after the snowfall, before temperatures drop to -10 tomorrow morning. It's difficult to know what kind of ski conditions we will have after that, but I'm not optimistic.

A Bit of New Snow

 We are currently experiencing a moderate snowfall. There is 2 to 3 cm of new snow on the ground, and it looks like there will be a couple more before it's done. This will help to cover the icy crust, but will not totally solve our problems. The temperature is just below 0 now, and will likely rise to +2 this afternoon. So this snow may melt a little before the temperature drops tonight. I think it would be a mistake for me to groom this snow, as it might just create more ice. Best to wait for colder temperatures.

The forecast is calling for a significant snowfall tomorrow, beginning around noon, followed by a fairly cold night. So, there is a chance we will have good conditions again by Saturday.

Skiing is possible today, but I think it will be a bit difficult. New snow at temperatures around 0 is almost always sticky. If you come to ski, make sure to have a good liquid glide wax on your skis.

10 a.m. Update: I changed my mind, for 2 reasons. First, our snowfall turned out to be close to 10 cm. Second, the temperature stayed below 0 until 10 a.m. So, I packed the new snow on most of the trails in the central section. Hopefully, it was the right choice, and it will make a better base for tomorrow's snow. Temperature is now +1.

Icy

 After another warm day yesterday, the temperature has dropped to below freezing this morning. The wet snow has frozen into an icy crust. Right now, the trails are almost impossible to ski on. If you want to ski today, wait until the temperature has risen to above 0 and the surface has softened; this will probably happen around 10 or 11 this morning.

Looking a couple of days ahead in the weather forecast, there is a chance we will get back into some better ski conditions for the weekend. The Weather Network is predicting 10 to 15 cm of new snow on Friday.

A Big Change

 Yesterday afternoon's temperature reached close to +5 in sunshine. A lot of melting took place, and the snow pack has settled considerably. There is still plenty of snow on the ground, but it's a very different snow: wet, heavy, and granular. Skiing is still possible, but not nearly as easy or enjoyable as it was with dry powder snow. You will not have the fine control that you had before.

The forecast says it will reach +5 again today. A full return to colder temperatures won't happen until Friday. There will be no grooming until that happens.

Skiing is still OK

 Right now, the temperature is -3, and skiing conditions are much the same as yesterday: quite good. However, that is going to change. By 11 a.m., the temperature will likely rise above 0; the snow will become wet, sticky and heavy - typical "spring skiing" conditions. It's quite windy outside, and there is a good chance of some mixed precipitation this afternoon.

For the best skiing experience, I would suggest you come as early as possible this morning.

11:00 a.m. Update: Temperature is just reaching 0, and the snow is starting to get a bit sticky. This morning, I fixed up a couple more drifted areas that I missed yesterday.

Still Good Skiing

 Conditions remain good on our trails, and the temperature will be a bit warmer today (but still below freezing). We had a strong SW wind yesterday, so there was a lot of blowing, drifting snow. We also had a large group of hikers go through, which messed up the grooming on some of the trails.

I will refresh the grooming in the worst spots this morning.

There is some warm, wet weather moving in tomorrow, which will probably have an adverse effect on our skiing conditions. Today may be the last of our powder snow conditions for a while.

10:00 a.m. Update: Badly drifted trails throughout the network have been groomed. Thankfully, there is no wind today. Skiing is very good.

Another Nice Ski Day

 Conditions remain very good on our trails. Yesterday's grooming is still looking great, and the weather is going to be nice.

Yesterday afternoon, I remedied a problem on trail #1, Mainline. There was a short section of this trail, between #16 and #3, which I had not been able to groom since our first big snowfall, 10 days ago. Snow was so deep on the trail that there was a risk of the grooming machine slipping off the edge and rolling down the hill. With a lot of shovel work, I have restored an adequate width of flat surface to take the groomer through, and the trail has been groomed.

I will refresh the grooming on the southern trails this morning. There is some wind today, so dress accordingly, and expect to see some drifting in open areas.

10 a.m. Update: Grooming on southern trails (and a couple of central ones) has been refreshed. Skiing is very good. Unfortunately, the parking lot on 5 Sideroad is full; apparently, there is a large group hike taking place today. It is permissible to park along the north shoulder of the road, where the shoulder is quite wide and well plowed back.

Very Good Skiing Continues

 There has been very little change in the ski conditions since yesterday: a trace of new snow over the previously groomed surface. A couple of trails are still a bit soft; I will try to go over these later today, to pack them a little more firmly.

It looks like there is a change coming in the weather. After an incredible stretch of almost 7 weeks of great skiing weather, 3 days of above-freezing temperatures will begin on Monday next week. This will almost certainly bring a change in our snow conditions. So, if you like skiing in powder snow, I suggest you get out on the trails this weekend.

It's cool this morning (minus 14), but will warm up to -7. There is very little wind.

Noon Update: Tracks have been refreshed on Black Cherry, Stone Hedge, Ash Grove, Central Park, most of Westside, and part of Southfield. We're currently having a little snow flurry, which is leaving a light dusting of powder over the grooming.

Very Good Skiing

 Well, things have settled down a bit, after a few days of challenging weather. All trails were groomed yesterday, and they still look good this morning. There has been about 1 cm of fresh powder overnight. It's snowing lightly now, and flurries are expected to continue through the day.

Skiing is very good today.

11 a.m. Update: I've been out to refresh tracks on a couple of trails, including #6 Central Park, #9 Pasture, #14 Logger's, and #12 Southfield. I also put up a few markers along the side of the trail on #9 so that it's easier to find the trail in the open field.

Good News/Bad News

 The bad news is that it snowed and blowed most of the day yesterday, with serious drifting and white-out conditions on the roads and trails.

The good news is that it is calm and not snowing out there this morning. Also good news that my son, who is visiting for a few days, got out yesterday afternoon and did some grooming of the central trails. It was still snowing and blowing at the time, so there is some accumulation over the groomed surface, but only a few centimetres.

I will groom the southern trails this morning, and then do the central area again.

It's a bit cool this morning, currently -16, but will warm up to -10. Skiing is good.

11:30 a.m. Update: Most trails, including all the southern section, have been packed with the roller/comb this morning. Skiing is very good. I will do some track-setting in the central area this afternoon.

Afternoon Update: Central trails have been track-set. Skiing is very good.

Snow Keeps Coming

 It is snowing here again this morning, and we are under a snow squall warning. We've received possibly as much as 5 cm since yesterday afternoon, which means that any grooming done yesterday is covered over. We also had a lot of drifting yesterday afternoon.

Skiing is good, although a bit slow this morning. At the current temperature of -15, the glide is not great.

I will not be able to groom today; I have to drive down to Toronto (a drive which I'm not looking forward to).

Recovery

 We are recovering from the heavy snowfalls of the past few days. I groomed twice yesterday; once in the morning, and again in the late afternoon. Almost everything in the southern and central areas has been rolled and packed, and skiing is very good. You will find it still a bit soft in some places, and a tiny bit of new snow fell after the grooming. Our snow depth gauge is now showing 65cm of snow on the ground.

Today, I will pack the northern trails that are open, and will then start some track-setting.

Temperatures are a little cooler today (now -13) and there is some wind, so dress accordingly. With the wind, there will likely be some drifting in open areas.

A word of warning: The parking lot had not yet been plowed at 4:30 yesterday afternoon, and one car was stuck there. If the lot has not been plowed, do not go into it; park on the roadside instead.

With the depth of snow we have now, it would be possible to ski some of the northern trails that were damaged by logging, on a "backcountry" basis. The main Bruce Trail could be skied all the way up to the stile at Airport Road, and the Northfield Circuit could also be done. DO NOT TRY North Plateau or Plateau Extension, or the section of Hockleycrest #3 parallel to Airport Road. All of these still have trees felled across them.

Afternoon Update: This morning, I rolled and packed trails #9, #12,  #14, #1a and #1 in the north end. This afternoon, I have set track on several trails in the central area. However, snow squalls continue to bring us new snow, and the wind is causing severe drifting in some areas.

Snow Just Keeps On Coming

 We've received about 10 cm of new snow since I groomed yesterday, and it's still snowing. Although the storm will not end until late today, I will start grooming right after breakfast. I know the trails will get filled in quickly, but I want to get some of this snow packed before it becomes so deep that it's totally unmanageable.

11:00 a.m. Update: STAY AT HOME TODAY. I've been out grooming in this blizzard. It's tough out there. Nobody should be on the roads in weather like this.

I managed to pack most of the trails in the central section, but it's slow going. Everything is harder when the snow is this deep. Even small uphills, that are normally done with ease, are a challenge today.

More Than Enough Snow

 I was not on site yesterday. I arrived back after 5 p.m. and began to assess the amount of new snow and its impact on the trails. I had time to roll a short loop near the house, which I have skied this morning.

We received about 20cm of new snow over the past 2 days. I will begin grooming with the roller/comb right after breakfast. I will not do a couple of difficult areas, where I might get stuck. There will be no track setting on the first groom. Once the snow has been rolled, it will provide good skiing.

However, we are expecting another major snowfall, starting this afternoon and overnight into Sunday. I would actually not mind if it stopped snowing for a few days.

10:45 a.m. Update: Most trails have been packed with the roller/comb. Only a couple of small sections were left undone. On many sections, I did multiple passes in order to achieve better compaction of this deep, soft snow.

We are currently having a moderate snowfall, with more expected later. After a short break, I will head out again with the track-setter and set a little bit of track in the central area. The parking lot has been plowed; not sure how the roads are for travelling.

Abundant Snow

 Well, if you enjoy back country skiing in deep powder, then you should like today. I'm not sure exactly how much snow fell since yesterday, but it's a lot.

Unfortunately, I have other important commitments both today and tomorrow, so this snow will not be groomed until Saturday at the earliest.

Waiting for the Big Storm

 As we wait for the big snow storm to arrive tonight, conditions on the trails are still very good. There will be no grooming today.

The forecast is currently calling for 20 to 30 cm of snow tonight. If that turns out to be correct, then it will probably take a day or two to get all the trails groomed.

More Good Skiing

 Conditions remain about the same on our trails. A few light flurries yesterday added a trace of new powder to the surface, but Sunday's grooming is still quite good. The skiing is excellent. It's a bit cool right now, at -13, but the high of -5 should be very comfortable for skiing.

It looks like we are in for a major snow storm Wednesday night and into Thursday. Is it possible to have too much snow? Actually yes. If we receive the top end of the forecast amount, 40 cm, it will be very difficult to handle. Let's wait and see.

Still Great Skiing

 It's -8 and snowing lightly right now. We've received about 1 cm of new snow since yesterday, not enough to harm yesterday's grooming. Skiing is excellent.

Based on the forecast, it looks like good conditions are going to continue for the week ahead.

Snow Again

 The snow keeps coming. Overnight, we've received 5+ cm and it's still snowing. Another couple of cm is possible. This is very nice snow - soft, powdery, good glide at the current temperature of -7.

I will groom after breakfast. In the meantime, you will have very good "backcountry" conditions. The forecast says we will have brisk westerly winds later on, so there will probably be some drifting.

11:30 a.m. Update: Trails have been groomed. Skiing is excellent. Please DO NOT SKI THE NORTHERN-MOST TRAILS. Any trail north or west of the junction of #1, #1a and #14 is closed due to damage from logging operations. Many of these trails are impassable.

A Nice Ski Day

 The trails are in good shape for today. Yesterday's grooming still looks great, except for a few drifted spots. Temperature now is -8; anticipated high -3, with very little wind. I will do a small partial groom this morning to clean up the drifted areas, primarily on trail #12.

More snow coming in this afternoon and tonight.

The northern-most trails are still closed because of logging damage. Please do not ski north or west of the junction of 1a, 1, and 14.

A Little More Snow - Again

 Yesterday's 3 cm snowfall was followed by some squalls late last night, which added another couple of cm. This was accompanied by strong winds, so there has been quite a bit of drifting. Skiing is good, but right now it's tending toward "backcountry" conditions. The glide is a bit slow this morning.

I will start a full groom right after breakfast.

11:30 a.m. Update: Trails are groomed and skiing is excellent. It's sunny and the temperature is up to -7. There is, however, a pretty strong wind; there is active drifting in open areas, especially the east end of the south field.

It's Snowing Again

It is snowing and the temperature is -8. There is already 1 to 2 cm of new snow, and it looks like we may get a couple cm more. Right now, this snow is wonderful; soft and silky, with great glide. However, conditions are subject to change.

The temperature will rise, probably topping out near -2, which is okay. The forecast mentions a possibility of freezing drizzle, which would not be good.

There will be no grooming until the snowfall is done, and then only if the temperature is cool enough.

At the moment, the skiing is very nice.

3 p.m. Update: I think our snowfall has ended. Total accumulation was about 3 cm. We also got a tiny bit of freezing drizzle, which made a very thin coat of ice on the snow surface. This has not affected the skiing; it's still very good. Our temperature has not gone above -3, which is great news.

I am not going to groom today. The wind has come up quite strong from the SW, so there is the likelihood that there will be drifting. There is also a chance of snow squalls overnight. So I'm going to wait and see what tomorrow brings.

Good Skiing Continues

 The ski conditions on our trails continue to be very good. This morning's temperature is a bit cool, at -10, and consequently the glide is a bit slow. That should improve as it warms up during the day.

Yesterday's grooming is still looking pretty good. I will do a partial groom this morning, to tidy up some of the trails that were done earliest yesterday, and therefore have the most new snow on top.

The northern-most trails continue to be closed because of logging damage. Please do not ski north or west beyond the junction of #1, #1a and #14.

Finally, a note about night skiing. The night before last, we had some skiers on the trails at about 9 p.m., well after dark, wearing head lamps. For safety reasons, I would prefer that skiers use the trails only during daylight hours. PLEASE DO NOT SKI AFTER DARK.

We Got Lucky

 We got lucky again yesterday, as the precipitation all came in the form of snow. It was wet, sticky, packing snow, falling at a temperature of +1; but it was not rain.

The temperature has now dropped to -6, and the new snow is dry and soft. There is approximately 5 cm on top of the older packed trail surfaces. Skiing right now is fair to good, with good grip and good glide. I will groom this new snow this morning, and I think it will result in very good ski conditions.

11 a.m. Update: All trails have now been groomed, with track-setting where appropriate. However, a fairly intense snow flurry moved in toward the end of the grooming session, so there will be 1 to 2 cm of fresh powder on top of the groomed surface. Temperature remains at -6.  Skiing is very good.

Good News/Bad News?

 Looking at the weather forecast, it's difficult to know what's going to happen, and what the result will be.

First the good news: we received about 1 cm of new snow yesterday afternoon, when the temperature was around -6. This snow has provided a thin cushion on top of the older packed base, and this morning, at a temperature of -2, it gives both good grip and great glide. A rare combination.

But how long will this last? The forecast says there will be some snow today, possibly mixed with rain, and a high temperature of +1. Then there will be a drop to -8 tonight. So, we might come out of this with good conditions, or there might be a lot of ice.

It's generally not good to groom wet snow at temperatures above freezing, so I will likely not groom today.

Good Skiing Again Today

 Conditions on the trails are still very good. They might even be a bit better than yesterday; skier traffic has softened up the tracks just a little, and the temperature will be up around -5 today, for comfort and good glide. If the forecast is correct, we will see a bit of new snow this afternoon.

I will not be grooming today. Both my groomer and I will be up at Mono Centre for the Town of Mono Winterfest.

Please remember that the northern-most trails are not open, due to damage from logging. The furthest north that you can ski is the junction of #1, #14, and #1a.

Skiing is still very good

 We dodged a bullet yesterday. The temperature just nudged the 0 mark, but did not go above freezing, so our snow remains almost unchanged. There is just a tiny bit of crustiness in the groomed tracks, but it's barely noticeable.

Yesterday's grooming went well, and still looks great this morning.

It IS cold this morning, currently sitting at -15, with a little bit of wind. It should reach -10 later in the day. With appropriate clothing in layers, today can be a very nice day for skiing.

Here are a couple of statistical notes: Today is Day 43 of skiing here this year. Last year, we reached Day 43 on April 4. In 2023, we reached Day 43 on March 4. So, we are significantly "ahead of schedule" this year.

I have a snow depth measuring stick in my yard; it is currently showing that we have 30cm of snow on the ground.

A Possible Temperature Problem

 Right now, the snow is still beautiful and skiing is very good. But there is a potential problem with the temperature today. It is already just below 0, and it looks like it will probably rise to slightly above 0 for part of the day (before getting very cold tonight).

This will not have much effect on the quantity of snow, but it may transform our beautiful powder to a granular, icy kind of snow. Not nearly as pleasant to ski on.

I will do a partial groom this morning, concentrating on areas that have gotten drifted over the past 2 days.

11 a.m. Update: Most trails have just been groomed; only a few short sections have been left undone (but they were done Wednesday). As I write this, the temperature is sitting at minus a half degree. Close enough to 0 that the snow may be getting a bit sticky, but not actually melting. Perhaps we'll get lucky.

Very Good Skiing Continues

 For the first time in several days, we do not have any new snow to report. But that's OK because we now have plenty. All trails were groomed yesterday, and for the most part, that grooming is still looking good. There are some spots that are drifted in as a result of yesterday's high winds. I will not be grooming today, as I have other commitments.

It's currently -11 here, with a forecast high of -2. Hopefully it won't go higher than that. Looking ahead, there are a couple of days coming up, where the temperature may get a bit too warm. Friday's forecast high is around 0, followed by a very cold Saturday, and then near 0 again on Sunday. We'll have to wait and see what impact this has on our snow.

If you come to ski, please remember that most of the northern trails are still closed due to damage from logging operations. The furthest northwest that you can ski is the intersection of #14 and #1a.

This is getting repetitive

 We received new snow again overnight. This is probably the largest single snowfall we've got so far this year; it's close to 10 cm. It's beautiful powder, so right now, we have great "backcountry" conditions.

Yesterday, I groomed about 2/3 of the trails, including lots of track-setting. This morning, that is all buried. I will start grooming right after breakfast. With this amount of snow, I think I will start with the roller/comb only, and then maybe follow up later with the track-setter.

Additional snowfall is possible today, in squalls, and the wind is going to pick up, so there will be some drifting.

The temperature is comfortable; currently -2 and it will drop to -8 during the day.

Noon Update: All trails have been groomed with the roller/comb, and some in the central area have been track-set as well. Skiing is very good. It is getting windy, and there is some drifting in open areas.

Please note that none of the trails in the most northerly part of the network are open. Logging operations have made them unskiable. The furthest north you can go is trails #9 and #14, and the connections of these to trails #1 and #1a.

More Snow, More Terrain

 We received 3 to 5 cm of new snow overnight. It's hard to tell exactly how much, because there was a lot of drifting yesterday, so the depth is variable.

We also have some "new" terrain to ski on. As I reported yesterday afternoon, some additional trails have been opened in the north part of our network; #9, #14, #1a, and #1 Mainline as far north as its junction with 9 and 14. These were all affected by logging operations as recently as 2 weeks ago, so they all have some rough spots on them. Last night's new snow will help to cover these.

I will do a little bit of grooming this morning, mainly cleaning up trails that had heavy drifting yesterday. I will not groom the entire network, because it looks like we are going to get more snow this afternoon and tonight.

Skiing is good, on powder snow over a packed base. Temperature now is -12, with a forecast high of -5.

Good Skiing Continues

 Conditions on the trails today are still good, although not quite as nice as yesterday. We have a strong wind blowing, which is causing snow to drift over some trail sections that are out in the open. I will not attempt to groom again until after the wind has died down.

Today I'm going to check a couple of the northern trails to see if they can be re-opened now that logging operations have finished.

Afternoon Update: I have opened four additional trail sections in the northern part of the network:

1. #1 Mainline downhill section from #12 to the junction of #9 and #14

2.Trail #14 from Mainline #1 to the one-way uphill #1a.

3. Trail #9 The Pasture

4. Trail #1a

All these sections have a few rough spots on them. Up until 10 days ago, heavy logging machinery was operating on them. You can expect to see very thin snow cover, dirt bleeding through, and lots of twigs.

Another Gift of Snow

 We have received more new snow overnight. The amount so far is about 4 cm, but it's still snowing, and the forecast says heavy flurries will continue until past noon.

There will be no grooming until it looks like the snowfall is coming to an end. In the meantime, we have very nice conditions, with fresh powder over a packed base. The temperature is a comfortable -4.

As reported in yesterday's afternoon update, trail #12 has now been opened for skiing. This is the most southerly of the northern trails, which were impacted by logging operations. Please do not ski further north beyond #12. Many trail sections in the north end are totally blocked and unskiable.

Noon Update: All trails have been groomed, including track-setting wherever it's appropriate. Skiing is very good; we're getting close to a 9 out of 10. One little drawback, is that the temperature is creeping up toward -2 in sunshine, so the snow is starting to get just a little bit sticky. Glide is not great. Make sure you have a good glide wax on your skis.

A Gift of Snow

 Yesterday, we received an unexpected gift: about 5 cm of new powder snow. Most trails were groomed, but snowfall continued after grooming finished, so you will find a little bit of fresh powder on top of the packed surface. I will be going out early this morning to tidy up a few trails that have not been done since Thursday.

It looks like it will be a nice day to ski. Current temperature is -12, heading for a high of -4, with light to moderate winds. There may be some additional flurries.

Conditions today are an 8 out of 10.

Northern trails are still closed, due to damage from logging operations.

2 p.m. Update: I've just re-opened trail #12 Southfield for the first time this year. This is one of the trails that was impacted by logging operations, and you will see that if you ski it. There is dirt bleeding through the snow in a few spots, especially at the NE corner where it intersects #1 Mainline.

Moderating Temperatures

 After a couple of very cold days, the temperature is moderating. Yesterday afternoon, while I was grooming, it was -5. This morning it's -10 and will probably reach -5 this afternoon.

It's snowing lightly right now, and flurries are in the forecast. We are gradually accumulating some soft powder to cover the icy base. Yesterday's grooming is still very nice, and I will do some more today.

I would rate today's skiing conditions at 7 out of 10.

Remember that all northern trails are closed, due to damage from logging operations.

Noon Update: We got a gift this morning. A snow flurry came and parked itself right over us for over 2 hours, leaving behind 3 to 4 cm of new powder. I have groomed all southern trails and any of the central ones that didn't get done yesterday afternoon.

I'm upgrading my rating from a 7 to an 8. The sun is coming out and the temperature is -8.

Slight Improvement

 There have been some slight improvements in conditions on the trails. First, it's not as cold as yesterday; the current temperature is -12 (although there is some wind). Second, we received about 1 cm of new snow overnight. This gives us a little more softness on the trail surfaces, over the hard, icy crust below.

I will do some grooming later today. Since there is more snow in the forecast, I'm going to wait and see if I can groom after the snowfall.

4 p.m. Update: I did a partial groom this afternoon, mixing in the small amount of new snow we received last night and this morning, with the older snow. I think the result was good; trails that were groomed are skiing significantly better than before.

The forecast says we will get some more snow tonight; time will tell how much.

Extremely Chilly

 It's -20 outside, with some wind. We're into potential frostbite territory. However, it should warm up to about -14 this afternoon.

Trail conditions are about the same. We received a tiny bit of new snow in flurries yesterday. I also did some grooming to reset track in some drifted areas, and I lowered the cutting teeth on the groomer to soften the surface on some of the downhill sections. When I skied yesterday afternoon, at a temperature of -12, I was actually very comfortable.

I would give the trail conditions a 7 out of 10 today.

Northern trails remain closed due to logging.

Very Chilly

 It's currently -18 outside, and the wind is blowing, so it feels pretty cold.

Trail conditions are about the same as yesterday; we received 1 or 2 cm of new snow in flurries yesterday, so trails have a firm, slightly icy base with a small covering of loose powder. Trails in open areas are drifted in. I would rate conditions today at 6 out of 10.

I did some grooming yesterday on trail #12, which is in the territory where the loggers were working up until last week. Parts of it are quite good, but there are also areas that are poor, where the loggers plowed the snow off their access roads. This trail will require more snow cover before it can be opened again.

None of the northern trails are open at this time.

Chilly

 It's cool out there this morning; -17 on my thermometer. If you're using waxable skis, there is no doubt which wax to use today: Polar.

Trail conditions remain about the same. There is a firm, crusty base, with just a little loose snow on top. We received about a half cm of new snow last night, which is helping to soften the surface a little. The grooming I did on Saturday afternoon is still looking pretty good.

Northern trails are still closed due to damage from logging operations.

A New Regime

 Things have changed a lot in the past 24 hours. Yesterday morning, we had some wet snow, sometimes mixed with rain, at a temperature of +1. Around noon, the temperature dropped through the freezing point. By 3 p.m., when the temperature was -3, we were beginning to see an icy crust form on the surface of the snow.

At that point, I got out on the groomer and re-groomed all the central trails. The result is not bad. Inevitably, the trail surface is a bit icy or crusty. It's fast. But it's still possible to control your speed, as the crust is not too hard.

The forecast says we will get some flurries later today, and that would certainly help to soften the trail surface. I would rate today's conditions at 6 out of 10.

Current weather, although colder than we've been having, is not brutally cold. It's -10 and there is almost no wind. I was very comfortable on my morning ski today.

Changing Conditions

 A change in the weather brings a change in ski conditions. The temperature did go a little above 0 yesterday afternoon for a short time. I don't think we lost any snow, but the character of the snow changed; it's now a bit less powdery, and more granular.

Then last night we had some strong winds, causing snow to drift into the groomed tracks.

Right now, it's a half degree above 0 and snowing lightly. The snowfall is forecast to continue until about 3 p.m. and the temperature will start to drop during the morning. By afternoon, we should be below 0 again.

So, ski conditions are not as good today as they have been over the past few days. Depending on temperature and moisture content, the new snow today may be sticky and unpredictable. After today, we are looking at a long period of quite cold weather.

Beautiful Skiing, Right Now

 Right now, the ski conditions are very good. We had a light to moderate snowfall for much of the day yesterday, resulting in 3 or 4 cm of new snow. Trails were groomed yesterday afternoon, between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. We've received 1 cm of new snow after the grooming, so there is a soft powder surface over a firm base.

But things could change very quickly, as a new weather system passes through. The current temperature is -4, and the forecast high is -2. If it goes any higher than that, we will begin to see a deterioration in the snow. Tomorrow will probably see a temperature above 0, but will also bring some new snow. Fortunately, it looks like the warm period will be very brief.

Another Day, Another Centimetre

 Ski conditions remain good, as we received another centimetre of snow yesterday. If I have time later today, I may tidy up the grooming. The temperature is -8 and there is some wind today, so it feels colder.

 Depending on which forecast you look at, the temperature may get up to near or above the freezing mark tomorrow and Saturday. That would be bad news for us, as it would transform our soft powder surface into an icy crust. Let's hope it stays below the 0 mark.

The northern trails are closed due to timber harvesting.

11 a.m. Update: We have had a very persistent "snow flurry" this morning, which has brought us a couple of cm of new snow. Grooming will be deferred until after the snowfall has ended.

Another Nice Day

 I cleaned up drifted areas with the groomer yesterday morning. Since then, we've received 1 to2 cm of new soft powder; just enough to freshen up the surface, but not fill in the set tracks. And this fresh snow has great glide.

In spite of the fact that Environment Canada says it is -13 outside (they are measuring it at Elora), my thermometer says -9. The high should be -5 or -6.

It's another day that rates an 8 out of 10.

Northern trails are still closed due to logging.

Good Skiing

 We received about 5 cm of snow yesterday. I groomed all trails in the afternoon, finishing about 3:30 p.m. This included track-setting wherever it is appropriate. Generally, this grooming is still looking good this morning.

We've had a little additional snow overnight, so there is around 1 cm of powder on top of the groomed surface. There are also a few areas that got drifted in, due to the strong westerly winds last night.

Overall, these are probably the best skiing conditions we've had so far this year. I give it 8 out of 10.

It's cool this morning, at -10, so the glide is a bit slow.

Please remember that all the northern trails are closed due to logging.

A Little More Snow

Snow is falling right now, and based on the weather radar, it looks like it will continue for at least an hour. This is a good news/bad news situation. Of course it's good to get more snow; we need it to increase the depth of our snow base. But the snow that is falling this morning is that sticky kind of snow that forms big clumps on the bottom of your skis and prevents you from gliding. This is because the current temperature is just below 0.

The weather forecast says the temperature will drop to -4 by this afternoon, and that should remedy the sticky situation. In the meantime, you can only ski on this stuff if you apply a very good glide wax to the bottom of your skis.

Noon Update: It has continued snowing all morning, and we have picked up an additional 5 cm of snow. Based on radar, it looks like the snowfall will end in about one hour, although blowing and drifting will continue, as the wind has picked up from the west.

Once the snowfall has ended, I will get out and groom the new snow.

Looks like a nice day to ski

 The grooming of yesterday's new snow turned out very well, and it's still looking good this morning. We have a comfortable temperature of -4, with a forecast high of -2. (Hopefully it won't go any higher than that)

Conditions are probably the best they have been so far this season. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

Remember that northern trails are all closed due to logging operations.

I enjoyed talking with a number of skiers on the trails yesterday. A few skiers have asked about making a contribution to the upkeep of the trails. There is a donation box fastened to the back side of the large sign kiosk at the parking lot. It's a rusty grey repurposed electrical box. If you would like to make a donation (totally voluntary) toward the maintenance of the trails, you can put something in the box, and it would be much appreciated.

New Snow

 We've received about 4 cm of new snow. It's still snowing lightly, but the snowfall appears to be nearly finished. I will start grooming soon. Conditions should be good when I'm done.

8:30 a.m. Update: Trails have been groomed and are skiing nicely. It's still snowing lightly, so there will be a bit of loose powder on the surface.

Southern and central trails only are open. Northern trails are closed due to logging.

New Snow Needed

 After 5 days with no snowfall, the trails are starting to look a bit "tired". Some new snow is needed to freshen up the surface. And fortunately, the forecast says we will get some snow tonight, possibly about 5 cm.

Until then, conditions are tolerable: on a scale from 1 to 10, about a 5.

Northern trails are closed for logging, and will probably not re-open this year.

Conditions Unchanged

 We have no new snow to report this morning, so conditions remain about the same. Some of the trails, especially those shared with hikers, are getting quite hard and trampled down. There is not much I can do about this, until I have some new snow to work with. There is no point in me grooming, trying to rework the thin layer of snow we now have.

The forecast predicts a snowfall of about 5 cm for Friday night. Let's hope it's correct.

Incremental Improvement

 We received 3 to 4 cm of new snow yesterday. I groomed all trails yesterday morning, during the snowfall, and that grooming is still looking good today. On a scale from 1 to 10, I would rate today's conditions at 6 or perhaps 7.

It's cool this morning, at -12, but the snow is still providing reasonable glide. A snowfall of 2 to 4 cm is predicted for Friday night.

North end trails are closed due to logging. Do not try to ski there.

A Little New Snow

 We've received 2 to 3 cm of new snow since yesterday, and it's still snowing lightly. This snow has excellent glide. Nice temperature (-8) and no wind.

I will go out with the groomer after breakfast, and clean up the tracks. The skiing is improving, little by little.

Southern and central trails are open. The north end is closed due to logging.

Cooler Today

It's a brisk minus 11 outside this morning. Conditions on the trails remain about the same. We had a light snow flurry, so trail surfaces have a light dusting of new powder on top.

The weather forecast looks good in one way, bad in another: continuous below-freezing temperatures for the next 2 weeks is good, but there is no significant snowfall in that period either. We really could use some additional snow, as our coverage is quite thin in spots. 

Much Better Skiing

 We had a snowfall of about 8 cm yesterday, which brings our total accumulation on the ground to about 15 cm. The snow came on a strong west wind, which means that it is not uniformly distributed. In a few areas, the new snow has been totally stripped away by the wind, and deposited in a deep drift somewhere else.

I groomed all trails yesterday afternoon, after the snowfall had pretty well ended. However, drifting continued overnight, covering some of the grooming. I will do some touch-up grooming this morning to tidy up the worst areas.

Overall, skiing is quite nice now. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a 7. Current temperature -7, with a predicted high of -5. This snow gives great glide.

Please don't try to ski any of the northern trails; they are all closed due to logging operations.

10 a.m. Update: drifted areas in the central section have been groomed again. The track is quite shallow in some spots, but it's better than nothing.

A Bit More Snow

 We've received another 2 cm of snow overnight, and it's still snowing. Flurries and squalls are expected to continue through today. So, we are gradually building upon our thin base.

All the trails that are open have been groomed either yesterday or the day before, so the trail surface will be a couple of cm of new powder over a packed base. The snow coming down now, at a temperature of -9, has really nice glide. I will not be grooming at least until the current snowfall has ended.

Please remember that all the northern trails (north of and including #9 and #12) are closed because of logging. Don't try skiing there; these trails are impassable.

11 a.m. Update: The snowfall has continued from 6 a.m. until now, and shows no signs of stopping. We've received about 5 cm more snow in the past 5 hours. The conditions on our trails right now are what I would call Fair to Good back-country skiing.

More Improvement

 We received a little more snow overnight - about 2 cm. And we have a nice temperature of about -5. Flurries and squalls are expected this morning, with possibly up to 5 cm more snow. I intend to do some grooming today, but I'm going to wait until afternoon, after the snowfall has ended.

Southern and central trails are open. Northern trails are closed due to logging operations.

Some Improvement

 We received a little bit of new snow overnight, perhaps one or two centimetres. Now there is just enough to ski on. I will try some grooming in the central part of the network this morning, and see how it turns out.

11 a.m. Update: trails in the central area have been packed with the roller/comb. There are definitely some thin spots, mainly where a trail passes under a tree canopy. Skiing is tolerable. And we are beginning to build a base.

If you come, please remember that all northern trails are closed for logging operations.

Some New Year Snow

 We have received about 4 cm of new snow overnight. It's not quite enough to ski on. In addition, the snow is moist and the temperature is 0, which means the snow is quite sticky. I would not recommend skiing today.

However, with consistent below-freezing temperatures over the next week, and flurries forecast every day, conditions should improve.