Summer prep for winter fun

Work goes on throughout the year to make our skiing experience better once the snow comes. I've been out on the trails making improvements to the trail surface in a couple of locations.



This section of trail #3 Hockleycrest, adjacent to Airport Rd, was too narrow to groom. It has now been widened and flattened, so I will be able to groom it next winter
 

New bridge on trail #3 is wide enough and strong enough to carry the groomer
 

This part of trail #12 Southfield was very uneven and had a serious cross-slope. It has now been levelled and flattened.

Thurs. March 19 - No skiing today

I've had a chance to look at more of the trails, and my conclusion of yesterday is confirmed. Skiing is basically finished for this year. We do not have sufficient snow cover, and where the ground is covered, it is more like ice than snow.
I am starting to think about things I can do to improve the trails for next year, for instance widening one or two spots which will allow me to groom where I could not groom this year.
To those of you who came this year, I hope you enjoyed it, and I look forward to seeing you again next year.

Wed. March 18

I've been away for a few days, travelling in northern Ontario. On Sunday, I skied at Stokely Creek Lodge near Sault Ste. Marie, where there is still plenty of snow. In fact, there had been a fresh snowfall of about 7 cm on Saturday, making for very scenic skiing through a winter wonderland.
Meanwhile, back here in the Orangeville area, the snow cover has been reduced dramatically. I had a very quick look at the trails last night, and we definitely have some major bare spots. Right now I would NOT recommend skiing.
It is possible that we may still receive another significant snowfall, which would bring back reasonable ski conditions, but I don't see anything big in the forecast for the next week. Without significant new snow, skiing will essentially be finished for this year.

On the trail at Stokely Creek Lodge, March 15, 2015

Friday - disappearing snow base

We have lost a lot of snow over the past 2 days. The open fields toward the north end have large bare spots on them, although the trails are still covered. Nevertheless, the snow base on trails is getting thin in spots. A couple more days of warm temperatures will probably result in bare spots on some trails. Unless you are a real die-hard skier, I would pass on skiing this weekend.

Wednesday - sunny and soft

The sun is shining strongly and the temperature is +6. Maple sap is running and that means the beginning of the end for skiing. The trails (other than #7) are still well covered with snow, but the surface is very soft and wet. I set some track in the central part of the system this morning, but it won't last long because of the melting that's taking place, especially in the sunny places. Shady areas will hold up a bit longer and are firmer and faster.

Tuesday March 10

Spring skiing continues: icy and fast in the morning, wet and slow after it warms up. There is still good snow cover. Avoid the south end of #7.

Spring skiing has arrived

With the warm sunshine out there today, spring ski conditions have definitely arrived. My thermometer is reading +2 and surface snow is melting a little on south facing slopes. There is still plenty of snow on the trails, but the snow is quite variable in character. Depending on which direction it is facing and whether it is sunny or shaded, the snow may be wet and slow, dry and powdery, or glazed and icy in the tracks. From now on, conditions in the early morning will tend to be icy and fast, while later in the day it may become slushy and slow.

I tapped my maple trees today, and at least one of the taps is dripping.