New Year's Eve update

Skiing was great this morning before the temperature warmed up. I cleaned up the grooming in the central and northern parts. A few modifications to the set-up of the track-setter seem have produced better results.

Hockleycrest Trail #3 just after grooming.

Toward noon, the temperature got up to 0 and the snow got really sticky. It was not fun to ski on. We are having a pretty heavy snowfall right now (3:48 p.m.). Let's see what tomorrow brings.

More snow predicted - but watch the temperature!

We had a light dusting of new snow overnight, and more is predicted for today: 5 to 10 cm more. However, the temperature is forecast to reach 0, so that could lead to some stickiness. I will be out with the groomer to touch up a few areas, such as those that were trampled yesterday by inconsiderate hikers who can't read signs (or won't obey them).
Ski conditions today are good, and should continue that way through tomorrow.

Very good skiing today

I've just come in from skiing under the stars (with the help of a headlamp). Yesterday's 8 cm snowfall, plus another couple of cm that we got overnight, have transformed our trails into near perfect skiing conditions. Current temperature of -5 and forecast high of -4 are ideal for snow and for skier comfort.
I will be out grooming at first light, and should have everything done before noon.
Here's an update. All trails were groomed by 10:30 a.m. A few spots (the same ones that were totally bare a few days ago) are still thinly covered, but 99% of the network is really good.

Mainline trail (the section that skis southbound only, between the 2 ends of Tamarack) at about 11 this morning.

It is enough!

I just returned from a day in the city, and found about 8 cm of new powder snow on top of our old icy crust. I have packed and combed most of the trails in the central area, and skiing there is now good. I will groom the rest of the trails tomorrow morning.
It is still flurrying here, and there is a chance of snow squalls tonight, so there could be even more snow by morning. Based on the forecast, it looks like we should have fairly good conditions until about New Year's Day.

Some snow - but is it enough?

Flurries yesterday resulted in about 1 cm of new snow over our old icy crust. With not much happening on the trails, I took advantage of the lull to install a new roller on my groomer. The plastic drum I've been using for the past 4 years had developed a large crack. My earlier attempt to repair the drum by applying a galvanized steel patch was not very successful, as the steel soon began to show cracks as well. So, I now have a brand new 45 gallon plastic drum installed - slightly bigger and thicker than the old one.
We're getting some snow this morning, but the forecast predicts it will only amount to a few centimetres. After the general snowfall, there is the possibility of squalls that might bring more snow, but those are a hit-and-miss proposition.
I will let you know when we have enough new snow to resume skiing again.

Pretty much the same

We've had a dusting of new snow overnight. It's not enough to really change the surface conditions. Trails remain hard and very icy. Skiing is not recommended today.

Our trails survived!

Assessment of the ski trails is finished, and the news is generally good. We still have good snow coverage on 99% of the network. There are about 4 places where the ground is bare. I have removed a couple of small trees that fell over the trail, and about 300 small branches and twigs.  As stated earlier today, the remaining snow is very coarse and icy, and skiing would be no fun today. However, what we do have will make an excellent base for the next snowfall, which could come as early as Thursday. In the meantime, please don't ski here; you can get an excellent workout on snowshoes today (I know, because I just did).

Return to near-normal; assessing damage

After yesterday's warmth and rain, things have returned to near-normal here this morning. Current temperature is -2. There is still snow on the ground, but it is definitely of the crunchy variety, in other words - ice.
It will take me some time to look over the entire network and assess the condition. I've been over about half the trails with the scarifier this morning. Most trails still have reasonable snow cover. There are a few thin spots and at least one area that is totally bare: the south leg of #7 Around the Pines, where it passes through the pine plantation. The biggest problem is that the trails are generally very icy and very fast. For today, I would say No Skiing.
The forecast is fairly good, with plenty of flurries, and a possible general snowfall on Thursday. If those bring us even a few cm of snow, then we might be back in business within a couple of days.

Warm and Wet

It's currently -5 here and there is freezing rain/ice pellets falling outside. A predicted high of +11 with 10 to 15 mm of rain can't be good news for our trails. The only good thing about this is that it will only last a short time. Cooler temperatures will return tomorrow, with lots of flurries in the forecast. I'll let you know how things are once this mess is all finished.

Turkey time coming soon

In spite of the icy conditions, the whole family got out for a group ski today. Actually, conditions weren't that bad as long as you stayed away from big hills. Tracks that were set on Friday and not used yesterday were really quite nice, and the skating loops were good and fast.
As I was skiing the #12 trail Southfield, about a half hour ago, there were about 15 Christmas turkeys foraging there. When you ski #12 you can see lots of evidence of both turkeys and deer scratching away the snow to get at the remnants of the soybean crop that was planted there this past summer.
Not looking forward to the freezing rain and liquid rain that is forecast for tomorrow.

Christmas morning

After a mild day and some melting yesterday, the temperature is just now beginning to drop below freezing. Trails will be icy and fast today; it would probably be best to stay home and eat turkey.
Our big weather challenge will come tomorrow, as a warm front sweeps through, accompanied by rain and possibly freezing rain. With a high of about +10, we will definitely lose some snow. I will assess the condition of the trails on Tuesday when cooler temperatures have returned.
It would probably be wise to take a couple of days off skiing until things stabilize. In the meantime, Merry Christmas and thanks to all who have come, skied, enjoyed, and left a donation in the box. It is appreciated.

Saturday morning

We've had about 3 cm of new wet snow overnight. It is excellent snow for snowballs or making snowmen, but not the best for skiing. With an expected high today of +3, it would be a mistake to groom this snow; it would just result in a hard packed icy surface when the temperature drops tonight.
We will have one day of colder temperatures tomorrow - Christmas Day - before the chinook blows through on Monday.

Friday late afternoon - surprise!

The skiing today has been much better than I expected. In spite of above-freezing temperatures yesterday afternoon, the snow is still quite powdery. Today's temperature topped out at 0, but the snow did not get wet and sticky. A pleasant surprise.

This is trail #12 Southfield, the portion that is groomed for both classic and skating

Friday morning: tricky conditions ahead

We have a mixed bag of weather coming at us over the next few days, and that is going to make for some difficult ski conditions.
The temperature went above 0 yesterday afternoon, and is now -4, so if you come early today you will find icy, crusty snow. Later on, as the temperature again climbs above 0, it will get softer and stickier.
Tonight, they are predicting a snowfall of 5 to 10 cm, so we might see better conditions briefly tomorrow morning, before it again warms up to +3.
The real challenge is going to come on Monday, when the forecast calls for +9 with rain. We will definitely lose some snow as a result of that.
Grooming over the next few days will depend on what kind of temperatures and precip we actually get. I will not be investing a lot of time and fuel into grooming snow if it is only going to melt away within a day or two.

Better coverage - tricky temperatures

After a snowfall of 2 cm last night, our trails have better snow coverage. The new snow was just enough to cover the needles and leaves that were slowing things down yesterday. I have done some light snow-comb grooming and set some new track in the central portion of the network this morning.
However, we are experiencing that scourge of nordic skiers - a temperature of zero degrees C. That means tricky waxing and probably some stickiness. Depending on how you are waxed, you might end up with big clumps of snow stuck to the bottom of your skis. If you come, be prepared for that. A good glide wax along the entire length of your ski, even the central grip area of no-wax skis, is a good idea for this kind of snow. There is a liquid glide wax that can be applied on the fish-scale portion of no-wax skis.

Trail #5 West Side Story, about 7:30 this morning

A little clean-up

I've spent the day doing some tidying up on the trails. The tree that was fallen across the Mainline trail near the north end was cleared this morning. I also did some light grooming with the rubber snow comb on some drifted areas. After lunch, I used the roller and comb to tidy up heavily drifted areas including the north skate loop. Unfortunately there is not much I can do to get rid of the millions of needles and leaves that have blown into the groomed tracks. I don't have a giant vacuum! We are expecting a bit of new snow tonight. That should help.

This was the tree that fell across Mainline near the north end; a dead ash, about 20cm diameter

An example of beautifully groomed ski tracks, filled with tiny goldenrod leaves.

Wednesday morning

I've just come in from skiing. It's a lot calmer now than it was yesterday afternoon and evening. The result of the strong winds is that the groomed track is filled in with blown snow in many places. Also, in a lot of places, the tracks have accumulated a lot of "stuff" such as pine needles, spruce needles or the tiny leaves from goldenrod plants along the trail. This is not too serious, but it definitely slows down the glide.
Some snow is predicted for tonight, so I think I will wait until after that happens before doing any serious grooming again.

Who has seen the wind?

We have had a pretty strong wind here this afternoon, from the south west. That means there has been (and still is) quite a bit of drifting, although in different places than last week. There are also a lot of small tree branches and twigs down on the trail. I have one entire tree that I know of that needs to be cleared; it's on the Mainline trail at the far north end. I should have that removed tomorrow morning.
Skiing is not quite as good as it was, but is still pretty good for December.

Monday morning - great skiing continues

There has been little change in conditions since yesterday, except it's a bit colder. I think yesterday's grooming should hold up and provide very good skiing again today, so I will not be grooming again until tomorrow at the earliest.
I saw several comments on Facebook that people have been out enjoying the trails.

Field and Forest Trail #10 Sunday Morning

Sunday morning update

Since I made my first post this morning before the sun was up, I've been out skiing and doing some grooming. I've now set track on most trails in the southern and central part of the network.
The skiing is superb right now. To top it off, we now have sunshine and blue sky. There is a bit of wind from the northwest, so it feels a little cooler than the -5 reading on the thermometer, and we may get a bit of drifting on the north field. All in all, skiing couldn't be much better than this.

Another Day of Great Skiing

We had just a tiny bit of new snow overnight - perhaps 1 cm. More importantly, the freezing rain that was in last night's forecast did not materialize, so we have powder, not ice.
Yesterday's grooming should still provide very good skiing today. I will just add a bit of track-setting in some areas.

Saturday afternoon update.

Well, the snowfall that was supposed to last all day stopped about 10 this morning. This gave me a chance to roll and comb all the trails. The last of them, including the skate loops, was done about 3 p.m. Then I got out on skis to try it out, and it was really good! We had a bit of precip late this afternoon that I would best describe as drizzle, although the temperature was -2. As I look out the window now, it is beginning to snow again.
I would love to hear from anybody who skied here today, particularly after lunch. How was it for you?

This was the view on #7 Around the Pines about 9 this morning, before grooming

Saturday morning - More Snow

It has been snowing since about 9 last night, so we have about 10 cm of new powder on top of the packed base at the moment. Snowfall is predicted to continue throughout the day, ending sometime tonight. We can expect about 10 cm more before it's done. There is also a risk of freezing rain this evening; hopefully, that doesn't happen!

Skiing today will be good - if you can get here. Road conditions might be difficult.

The snowfall stopped in mid-morning, so I got out and did some grooming. Most trails have now been done, with roller and snow-comb only. No track-setting today. I will try to pack the rest of the network this afternoon. Skate loops have not been done yet.

Excellent skiing

Today is calm, with only a little wind and about 15 cm of new snow. I've groomed virtually all of the trails now. A few areas where snow was extremely deep are still a bit soft and rough. I went skiing after I finished grooming. Skiing is excellent. It doesn't get much better than this.
More snow is coming tonight and into tomorrow. For a short time Saturday, there may be some rain, before the precip changes back to snow. I will probably not groom again until this event is over on Sunday.

Friday - time to groom again

Well, winter was late arriving, and for the longest time we had either no snow or not enough snow. Now, ironically, we almost have too much. At least, we have gotten more snow in a short period of time than we can handle. Yesterday's snowfall brought us another 7 cm approximately. Now that there is a brief lull, I will be out grooming today to try to get things in shape for the weekend. There may be some drifted areas that will not be perfect, but I will do my best.
More snow expected tonight and tomorrow (and possibly a tiny bit of rain or freezing rain - hopefully not much).

Thursday - more of the same

Blowing  and drifting snow continue, both on the trails and on the roads. Perhaps best to stay in until things settle down a bit.

Wednesday afternoon - near blizzard

We are having what I would call a moderate snowfall right now. The problem is the wind, which is howling from the west, and causing serious drifting on the open field trail sections. I have been out with the groomer to tidy up the drifted-in sections, but it's pretty futile as long as the wind keeps blowing. If you come to ski, try to stay on trails that are in the bush; they are still offering pretty nice skiing.
Sections to avoid are the piece of #1 Mainline at the east end of the south field, between the 2 ends of trail #12, and the east end of the north skating loop. The Pasture trail is a great alternate to the drifted portion of #1 because it is down in the hollow and sheltered from the wind.

Moonlight Skiing

I've just come in from skiing under the light of the full moon. Nice! Our snow conditions are about the same as yesterday - generally good coverage, with a few thin spots under conifers, or where the wind has blown the snow away. It's colder today, currently -12, and there is still a wind, so there will be drifting in open areas. I will do some touch up grooming of drifted areas later today. After that, the next grooming will probably be Saturday.
The forecast calls for flurries today, and possibly a snow squall which could bring significant snowfall if it happens to sit and stay over us. Temperatures over the next week look really good for getting and keeping snow.

Grooming done

I've just finished grooming. All trails have been done at least once with roller and snow comb. I set track in a few places where I thought there was enough depth. Current temperature is -5 and there is a bit of wind blowing from the west, so we are getting some drifting in open areas. The groomed surface may be covered with blown snow in some places, particularly on Mainline at the east end of the South Field, and on the Northfield Circuit.
Ski conditions range from fair to very good.
Skate loops are packed, but may have some drifted spots.

Grooming underway

The snowfall of Sunday night and Monday morning gave us about 10 cm of new snow. Tonight I packed the skate loops and also set a little bit of track on some of the central trails, including Stone Hedge, Ash Grove, Central Park, Hockleycrest, and West Side Story. I will do more grooming tomorrow morning, and hopefully will have all trails packed before noon. On rougher trails, where there are rocks, roots and stumps, I will not be setting track until there is more snow.

A Quantum Leap Forward

We had a nice snowfall yesterday and overnight, approximately 15 cm of beautiful powder. I did some initial packing of trails in the central area (including the skating loops) about 4 p.m. yesterday. All trails will need to be packed again once the snow stops. Grooming will not be done until Tuesday.
There are still some thin spots due to drifting and under some of the conifers. Skiing today will be fair to good.

Slight Improvement

We received 1 to 2 cm of new snow yesterday in flurries, so trail conditions have improved slightly. Snow coverage is still thin. We are expecting a significant snowfall tonight; time will tell how much that turns out to be.

Skiing Not Recommended

In spite of a very promising forecast of flurries and snow squalls, we have received only about 2 cm of snow since Wednesday. Our coverage is still very thin. Although skiing is possible, I would not recommend it right now. Hopefully, we will get some more snow over the next few days.

Flurries and possible snow squalls

We've had some flurries, but not a lot of accumulation. The forecast says we might get squalls with significant snowfall in isolated locations, but that hasn't happened here yet. I'll keep you posted.

Holding Steady

Last nights mixed precipitation didn't do us any harm. For a while we had a rain/snow mix at a temperature of +1, but in the end we picked up about 1 cm of new snow accumulation. Temperature  is now 0 and is supposed to drop during the day. The weather office is calling for lake effect snow tomorrow and Friday, possibly with significant accumulation.
So, no skiing right now, but we're heading in the right direction.

Conditions Deteriorate

As feared, the temperature this afternoon was too warm. We've lost considerable snow and there are now lots of bare patches. I did groom some of the smoother trails in the central section, not for the purpose of skiing now, but to create a smooth firm base for the snow that hopefully will come over the next few days.
For the moment, No Skiing.

Trail Report

I've just come in from skiing. Right now it is tolerable on the grassy flatter areas. I would not try rougher areas yet. We have about 5 cm on the ground (less under the branches of conifers). Last night, at temperature of +2, the snow was very wet. This morning, at current temperature of -2, the snow is frozen and slightly crusty. Today's weather will be critical; forecast high is +4, with a mix of snow and rain predicted for tonight. Depending on what actually happens, conditions may get either better or worse. After tonight, the forecast looks very promising - continuous below 0, with flurries every day.
My recommendation would be Don't ski today; wait and see what happens.

p.s. my ski this morning revealed that we are sharing the trail with rabbits, turkeys, coyotes, deer, and at least one human who cannot read signs that tell walkers to keep off the ski trails.

We have some snow, but is it enough?

Overnight, we received about 7 cm of wet snow. However, with temperatures predicted to go above 0 today and the next couple of days, I'm not confident about it staying around and being skiable. I am not at Hockleycrest today, as I have to spend the day in the city, so I will not be grooming.
Cooler temperatures and flurries are forecast for the end of the week.
I would recommend waiting a few more days before trying skiing.

Still No Snow

Although there are a few flakes of snow in the air, there is none on the ground, so we will have to wait a little longer before putting on the skis.
At least we are seeing a cooling trend in the temperature, with daytime highs just above freezing and overnight lows below 0.
I will advise when we have some snow on the ground.

We're back to square one.

Two days of above-freezing temperatures have melted virtually all of our snow.
No skiing this weekend!
The weather forecast for the next few days isn't very promising either, with predicted highs of 11 on Tuesday and 10 on Wednesday. Looks like it will be at least a week before we have any skiing.

Meanwhile here at Hockleycrest, we are setting up today for our annual sale of Christmas trees and other seasonal decorations. If you are in the area on any of the weekends in December, drop in to get your tree, wreath, greenery, etc. We open next Saturday, December 3. ALL THE PROCEEDS OF THE CHRISTMAS TREES GO TO THE CALEDON HILLS BRUCE TRAIL CLUB.

A Hint of things to come

I was off line for a day while I got set up on a new computer.
There was some snow yesterday morning, just enough to try skiing. Coverage was about 4 or 5 cm and the temperature was right on 0. I got out  for a short ski - about 5 km - on my old rock skis and  it was tolerable. I did hear the skis scrape over a couple of rocks, but no serious harm was done. However, by noon the temperature  was up up to +2 and we were having some  melting.

I would not recommend skiing at this time.

Don't ski yet

Although we have some snow on the ground, I would not recommend skiing right now. There is not sufficient snow cover.

Well, it's a start!

We've been having some light snow flurries most of the morning, and there is now a small accumulation on the ground. It's far less than the 15 to 20 cm predicted by the forecasters, but at least it's a start.

A portion of the Hockleycrest Trail, about noon today
 

No Snow Yet

Although we had a couple of light flurries yesterday, and there is a very light flurry happening right now, we have no accumulation on the ground. We are going to have to wait a little longer before putting on the skis.

Snow on the way?

While the current temperature here is +12, this morning's weather forecast starts off with a SNOW SQUALL WATCH. By this afternoon, the temperature will drop to about +1 and squalls are expected to develop overnight, bringing snow from Georgian Bay down to this area. These will be very localized; they may hit us, or they may not. Possible accumulations of 10 cm are predicted, but time will tell.
Stay posted!

New trail map has arrived

We have a new trail map, just received from our cartographer today. I got some printed and laminated, and they will be put up on the trails within a few days.

Unexpected chores

The forest is a dynamic thing. New things are growing and old trees are constantly dying and falling down. Today, on a recreational walk, I discovered 2 large dead limbs fallen right at the junction of the Mainline and Pasture trails, so that both trails were blocked. They weren't huge, but they were too big to move without cutting them into pieces first. So, it was back to the garage, get out the chainsaw, and then return to remove the limbs.

Blockage of the Pasture trail

After clearing

Limb on the Mainline trail
 





Mainline cleared

Ready for Skiing

Over the past weekend, I finished the installation of signage for the ski season, including the skate loop in the central area. The only thing remaining to do is the map signs at a number of trail junctions. The soybeans have just been harvested from the south field and that area has been prepared for skiing.
All we need now is snow!

October 27 - first snowfall

We have a little bit of snow today, but not enough to ski on. The ground is still relatively warm and there will be lots of melting at the surface.
I haven't finished putting up all the ski trail signs yet. The southern portion of the network still needs to be done. Hopefully I'll get that finished this weekend.

Getting More Ready - groomer improvements

I've been making some modifications to the snow groomer, which will hopefully make it easier for me to switch from track-setting mode to non-track-setting. I built a new, smaller and much lighter track-setter that attaches in a way that permits it to be folded up and over the roller when I don't want to set track - for instance on hills where we just want a smooth packed surface. My hope is that, with a surface area about one-third the size of the old track-setter, I will only need one-third as much weight to press the track moulds down into the snow to create a nice deep ski track. Time will tell.

The groomer with both the track-setter and snow-comb flap folded up for travel or backing up. The snow-comb flap can be dropped while the track-setter is still folded up, to create a flat, corduroy surface

Here is the groomer with the track-setter and snow-comb flap both in the down position

Close-up of the track setter bottom. The track moulds are made of sugar maple that came out of my firewood pile. Angle-iron cutters in front of the moulds help to cut into firm snow and protect the nose of the wooden moulds from obstacles like rocks and tree roots
 

Getting Ready

Although it was summerlike today, with a high temperature above 20, winter is coming. It is conceivable that we could be skiing a month from now, so I'm getting ready.
I've begun putting up the ski trail signs.

 

It's a pleasure being outside working on a day like today.

Something New for 2016/17

I've just finished work on a new initiative for the coming winter - a loop trail exclusively for snowshoers, along with a section of snowshoe trail that provides an alternate route to a portion of the main Bruce Trail. My hope is that, by providing a trail just for snowshoers, we will see less snowshoe traffic on the ski trails.
The loop trail is 2 km in length, more or less around the perimeter of my property. It traverses a variety of landscapes, from conifer plantation to open grassland, regenerating field, wetland, and young forest. The snowshoe trail will be marked with orange surveyors' tape ribbons, while ski trails are marked with blue ribbons. Here are a couple of photos taken October 5.

Beside the Christmas tree field

Crossing the Ash Grove

Regenerating old field

Mid September - Time to Prepare for Skiing

Hi Folks:
While the snow may still be quite a way off in the future, it is time to get ready for skiing. I've been mowing grass on the trails, and digging out big, protruding rocks from the trail surface so we won't hit them with our skis (or the groomer). I have also made a number of improvements to the network since last winter:
- opened a new, 750m loop trail at the north end, overlooking the Hockley Valley
- opened a new, 200m trail section at the south end, entering from 5 Sideroad, to separate walkers from skiers, and hopefully put the skiers in a place with better snow
- widened the Bruce Trail main trail in the southeast part of the network, so that it will now be wide enough to groom.
- moved the Pine Cut trail off to the edge of the clearing through the plantation so it will be separated from the track used by motor vehicles.
I am currently working on a new, exclusive snowshoe trail in the central area, in an attempt to separate walkers from skiers in that part of the system.

The US Weather Service has published its long range outlook for next winter and they are predicting that the northeast (which includes the Great Lakes region) will be colder and snowier than normal. The Old Farmer's Almanac is saying something similar. So, if those predictions come true, we should be looking at a pretty good winter for skiing. Let's hope so, because last winter was pretty bad.

Once there are a few centimetres of snow on the ground, I hope to see some of you out on the trails.

April 15 - Now we're really done

Our snow is gone. No more skiing until next season. Thanks for your support.

April 10

No snow yet. According to the forecast it is going to start around noon.
Update: Well, the snow has not amounted to much. I think our ski season may be done.

April 9

There is no skiing today. We have more bare ground than snow covered. However, maybe tomorrow, according to the forecast.

April 6

We have received about 2 cm of snow this morning - just enough to tune up the surface. I've been out skiing and it's not bad. There are a few wet spots and the snow is generally pretty thin, but it is skiable. I groomed a few trails in the central and northern portions with the roller and snow comb.
On the positive side, I have now cleared the fallen trees on trail #10 near #1, and removed the fallen limbs along the edge of the entrance to Pasture trail. Roller Coaster is still blocked by a fallen tree, and the south half of West Side Story is flooded.
If you are going to come skiing, better do it quick, as the weather is supposed to warm up and the snow will change to rain.

April 5 - Spring skiing

I've just come in from skiing. It not great skiing, but most of the network IS skiable. See my post from yesterday for a list of trail sections that cannot be skied.
In addition, there are a few bare spots, mainly where there is either ponded or flowing water. With the bright, warm sunshine today, the surface snow is beginning to melt and get quite sticky, except in the shady places where it is still powdery. There has been significant melting this afternoon due to the warm April sun; consequently, a lot more bare spots. We are expecting a moderate snowfall tonight and tomorrow morning. Skiing might be better tomorrow morning, before the snow changes to rain.

Trail #5, northern portion, at noon April 5

Monday April 4 - Snow arrives 3 months late

I am not at Hockleycrest today, but I'm pretty sure there will be enough snow to ski on. This is the snowfall we should have had in January.
If you decide to give skiing a try, there are a couple of things to bear in mind:

• All the directional signage and maps have been taken down, so you'd better know your way around, or download and print a map.
• a little over a week ago we had a massive ice storm, which brought down many tree branches and in some cases entire trees. Not all trails have been totally cleared.

The following trails should be avoided:

• southern half of #5 West Side Story - due to fallen branches and flooded areas
• eastern section of #10 Field and Forest (between #1 and #3) due to a fallen tree
• #18 Roller Coaster due to a huge hemlock tree fallen right across the trail

You will also find fallen trees or limbs on #12 along the north edge of the field, and on #17 along the north edge of the field, but these can be avoided simply by skiing further out into the field.

April 3 - Disappointment

Last night's forecast said there would be snow squalls, possibly totalling 15 cm accumulation. Wrong! This morning we have snow, but not enough to ski on. There is about 1 to 2 cm of snow on the ground. Meanwhile I am still cleaning up fallen trees and branches from last week's ice storm.

Fanatic skier sighted!

The skier I reported this morning was back again this afternoon! While I was clearing fallen trees on the Bruce Trail property this afternoon, along came Steve, skiing without shirt in the 15 degree sunshine. Conditions were not great: about 5 cm of melting ice nuggets that had fallen off the trees in the good spots, bare earth in the bad spots, punctuated by fallen trees and branches. Not my idea of good skiing, but I have to give him credit; he was out there doin' it.
After a full day of chain sawing, most of the big stuff on the trails has now been cleared, but this is for hiking. I would not recommend skiing, as the "snow" is almost all gone.

March 27, 2016

Well, I didn't think we would have any more skiing, but somebody (obviously a ski fanatic who likes a challenge) has been on the trails late yesterday or early today. I saw their tracks on a good portion of the network. I'm going to go way out on a limb here and guess that it may have been Michael. We had something white on the ground yesterday, though I wouldn't really call it snow. It was mostly ice, the result of Thursday's freezing rain storm. Now, much of it is gone, as we have bright sunshine and a temperature of +13. I've been out all yesterday afternoon and all this morning with the chain saw, clearing fallen trees and branches from the trails. It's a real mess. The hydro has been off since Thursday night and is not restored yet.
Let's hope that next winter has lots of nice white fluffy snow. We don't need this stuff.

Monday, March 7 - I think this is the end

We had a very good weekend on the trails. The conditions on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and the early part of Sunday were possibly the best we've had all season.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Looking at the weather forecast for the week ahead, I'm sure all our snow will soon be gone. It is unlikely we will see a return to skiable conditions before next winter.
I want to thank all of you who came and skied and enjoyed the trails; seeing happy skiers is what makes it all worthwhile. Thanks to those who have made comments, and to those who left a contribution in the donation box.
I am already working on a number of improvements for next year. Among them are:

•  a new entrance trail from the parking lot at the south end, eliminating the problem of hikers trampling the ski trail
• an extension of the trails at the north end, adding about 750 m of new trail
• widening of the Mainline trail in the southern area, east of Tamarack, so that it will be groomable

Also, the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club is working with the Town of Mono to expand the parking area and put a proper surface on the entire parking lot. That should be done before next winter. Hopefully, next winter will have more snow and more consistent below-freezing temperatures so that we can build a snow base and keep it for the season.

Sunday, March 6 - Beautiful

I've just come in from a lovely sunrise ski. It's a really pretty morning out there, starting off a bit cool at -13, but sunny and with no wind. Yesterday's snowfall of about 2 cm has left every twig on every tree coated with a thin outline of white.
If you come early (before noon) you will find very good ski conditions out there. After lunch the temperature will rise to about +4 and things will not be so nice.

The Lowdown trail, taken while grooming this morning (track-setting sled in foreground)

The Ash Grove trail, 9:30 a.m. this morning
 

Saturday Afternoon Update

I've just been out, both grooming and skiing. The skiing is very good today. There has been a persistent and continuous snow flurry all afternoon, and the temperature has not risen above -1. I touched up the grooming with a light sweep, primarily on the skate loops and some downhill sections, to eliminate ski tracks, footprints and assorted rough spots.
Things should still be very good tomorrow morning. By noon, the temperature is predicted to rise above zero, and conditions will start to deteriorate.

Saturday March 5 - Last Hurraw?

I will not be at Hockleycrest until later today, so trails will not be groomed today. Skiing should still be good, with some possible flurries predicted and a high near 0.
Warm weather arrives tomorrow; this may be the end of our ski season.

Friday March 4

Good skiing conditions continue. We picked up one or two centimetres of new snow yesterday afternoon, from a persistent, localized flurry that wasn't forecast.
On the Tai Chi property, you will encounter some minor interference between the ski trails and the work they are doing preparing for maple syrup season. Trail #7 Around the Pines crosses snow-plowed access roads in 3 places.
The grooming from Wednesday and Thursday should hold up well today. The larger, steeper hills are skiing very nicely with the soft surface snow on top of a packed base.
Enjoy today or tomorrow; it looks like Sunday may be the end of our skiing.

Thurs. March 3

Ski conditions are good. All trails were groomed yesterday. I have been out this morning to touch up the grooming in the drifted areas (the wind is not blowing at the moment). I have also packed the skating loops and set some track in the northern portion of the network.
One thing to keep in mind: it is now March and the sun is strong. Snow on south-facing slopes will begin melting, even if the air temperature is below zero. These areas will be icy first thing in the morning, and wet later on if the sun is shining.

Combination skate/classic section of Trail #12, after grooming this morning
 

If you want to ski, better come in the next couple of days. It looks like things will deteriorate rapidly starting Sunday. Instead of maintaining ski trails, I will be tapping maple trees and making syrup.

Trail #5 yesterday afternoon
 

Wed. March 2

We definitely have snow; yesterday's storm brought us about 20 to 25 cm of beautiful powder. It is so deep that in places the groomer had difficulty getting up the hills.
All trails have now been groomed, at least with the roller and snow comb. Trails in the central area have also been track-set. I did not groom for skating today.
There is a fairly strong wind from the north, so there will be some drifting in open areas. Other than that, conditions are very good - probably the best we've had all season.

Trail #3 in the spruce plantation

Trail #3 alongside the white pine plantation

Tuesday March 1 - Waiting

It looks like we are definitely going to get some significant snow today and tonight. I will groom tomorrow, after the snowfall is finished.

Monday Feb. 29 - No skiing today, but maybe tomorrow

It's looking like we will definitely have some new snow tomorrow. By Wednesday, I'm hopeful the trails will be skiable again.

Sunday Feb. 28

Well, we still had some skiing this morning, but after a day where the temperature reached +9, the snow is gone once again. There is the potential for a significant snowfall on Tuesday, so let's see what happens; perhaps there is still some skiing left before spring really arrives.

While the snow was rapidly melting at Hockleycrest, I was up in Ottawa skiing the Gatineau Loppet on Saturday. (52 km: 4 hours 58 minutes)  When I left there this morning, it was snowing quite hard and the temperature was -7.

Saturday Feb. 27

I am in Ottawa, not at Hockleycrest, but my wife tells me the snow is getting quite wet and ice is falling from the trees. Tomorrow's temperature looks like a disaster for our trails.

Fri. Feb. 26

I will not be at Hockleycrest this weekend, as I am skiing the Gatineau Loppet up in Ottawa. More warm weather moving in on Saturday. If you're coming to ski, better come early before the snow melts.

Thurs. Afternoon Update

I groomed this morning, completing about 95% of the trails. Most were done with roller and snow comb only. I tried some tracksetting in the central portion, but it was only partly successful. The grooming was beneficial I think. First, I managed to pack down the crust so that it no longer collapses under your ski as you pass over. Second, I picked up numerous fallen branches and twigs, brought down by the ice. There are still some on the trails (and they continue to fall) but I think I got most of the bigger ones.
There are numerous wet spots, where slush was hiding just below the surface. When I packed the snow, these became evident. Now that they are exposed to the air, they should freeze as the temperature drops. Another bit of good news: the snowfall still continues as I write this, coming down at a rate of about 1 cm per hour. This is filling in the tracks and the grooves in the corduroy, and making for a nice surface to ski on.
If you come skiing, you will have to duck under some low-hanging branches, mostly pines. I pruned the worst of them while I groomed but there are more, so keep your eyes open!

Groomer sitting on Mainline in the north end. showing ice-laden trees

Trail #12 along the edge of the soybean field, with heavily laden maples

 

Thurs. Feb. 25 - Winter Wonderland?

We have a real mixed bag this morning. Yesterday morning we received about 8 cm of new snow, but that was followed by several hours of freezing rain and some plain rain. So there is an ice crust on top of the new snow, and some of the rain penetrated down through the snow and still sits there as unfrozen water at ground level. On top of it all, we have 2 cm of new snow this morning and it is still snowing lightly. The trees are all coated in ice and snow, so it is rather pretty.
As for skiing, I've just been out and it is skiable as it stands right now. I will be out with the groomer after breakfast to see if I can crush the ice crust and leave a compressed area where more new snow will collect. Stay tuned.

Wed. Feb. 24 - Snow has begun

The snow began at 8:50 a.m. falling at a rate of about 1 cm per hour. It has now intensified and is accumulating at about 2 cm per hour. There is a risk that it will change to ice pellets or freezing rain later today, before changing back to snow tomorrow. We'll have to wait and see what we have once it is all done.

Tues. Feb. 23 - Snow is on the way

According to the forecast we will definitely get some snow over the next 2 days. The total amount appears to be 10 to 15 cm. Let's keep our fingers crossed; there may be good skiing on the weekend. I will try to groom, but may not be able to do everything. I am leaving Friday morning for Ottawa where I will be skiing in the Gatineau Loppet 50km classic on Saturday.

Monday, Feb. 22 - There may be hope on the horizon

At the moment we have no snow and therefore no skiing. But there may be cause for hope. A major storm system is forecast to pass through the region on Wed and Thurs, with some snow and maybe some rain, followed by cooler temperatures. With any luck, we might be skiing again next weekend.

Sunday Feb. 21

We have lost virtually all our snow. It will require a snowfall of at least 10 cm before we can be skiing again here.

Sat. Feb. 20, 2016 - Melt Down - Again

The mild temperatures yesterday and overnight have done major damage to our trails. There are many bare spots, and what is left on the ground is more like slush than snow.
The trails are closed to skiing today.

Thurs. Feb. 18

The trails skied well yesterday. However, late in the afternoon I noticed a few spots where conditions had deteriorated a little. With the wind blowing from the NW, some places were getting drifted in; the portion of #1 Mainline that crosses the east end of the south field, between the 2 junctions of trail #12, was drifted, as was the southeastern part of #12. Wear and tear as a result of skier traffic was also evident in a few places.
I will not be at Hockleycrest today, so trails will not be groomed. However, Tuesday's grooming is still holding up quite well.

Wed. Feb. 17 - Getting Better

We received another cm of snow overnight, so conditions on the trails have improved a bit. I would now rate them at 7 to 8 out of 10. If you're going to come skiing, better do it today or tomorrow; Friday and the weekend look horrible, weather-wise.

Tuesday afternoon update

The snowfall ended in the early afternoon, leaving us with about 3 cm of new snow since yesterday. I groomed all trails this afternoon. I rolled the north and south portions of the network, and set track on the central portion. It is not perfect, but I just skied it and it's not bad. Overall, I would rate the conditions at 6 to 7 out of 10. The skate loops are also rolled and combed.
Thank you to whoever put some money in the donation box. It is appreciated, as it helps to pay for the fuel for the groomer.

Tues. Feb. 16

We received a little snow yesterday afternoon - about 1 cm. It is snowing now, and is supposed to accumulate to about 2 cm. If there is sufficient new snow, I will groom this afternoon. I still have not set a track, because the base depth is only about 2 cm.
Temperature is comfortable! It is -3 right now and forecast high is -1.

Monday Feb 15 - Family Day

It is a much warmer day out there today, starting off at -12 this morning. Our trails are unchanged from yesterday: a packed powder surface, full coverage, but a bit thin in places.

Sunday afternoon update

All trails that can be groomed have been groomed. The temperature has climbed to -13 and the sunshine makes it feel warmer than that.
Perhaps I was a bit optimistic this morning when I said "at last some good conditions". Some trail sections certainly are good, but others are only fair, with very thin snow cover on trails running between the rows of pines and on the open fields. The 2 skate loops have both been packed; if you want to come and skate, send me an email at salydave@sympatico.ca and I will tell you where to park to access the skate loops directly.

Sunday Feb 14 - Finally, some good conditions

We have 8 to 10 cm of new powder snow on the trails. I will be out after breakfast to pack and snowcomb the surface. I do not think there is sufficient depth yet to set a track, although I may try an experimental section later on to see how it works.
IT IS EXTREMELY COLD OUTSIDE THIS MORNING. Current temperature is -29C, so if you come to ski, dress very warmly and be prepared to cover exposed skin (i.e. your face). The coldness also means that glide is very poor, so skiing will be slow.
The forecast says the high will be -12, so things should improve later in the day.

We have new snow

|I'm not back to Hockleycrest yet, but I'm on my way. Meanwhile, my son has reported to me that there is 10 cm of new snow, so I think we may have decent skiing conditions tomorrow. I will provide an update tomorrow morning. Looks like it will be pretty cold first thing in the morning, but the high is predicted to be -11, so that is not bad.

Go North

As noted in my previous post, I am skiing at Stokely Creek Lodge in northern Ontario - about 45 minutes drive north of Sault Ste. Marie. There is plenty of snow here, although conditions were a bit tricky yesterday with the temperature at +3. Due to the warm temps and wet snow, they were not able to groom much yesterday. It is colder this morning and there was about 2 cm of new snow overnight so grooming is underway. The big grooming machine just went by the window of the dining room as I sit having my morning coffee and writing this.
So, if you want to ski XC, the answer is Go North! (I've also been reading pretty good reports from Gatineau Park just outside Ottawa).
Below are a couple of photos I took today while skiing at Stokely Creek.

It seems they don't like yellow snow here, so they have provided a number of small buildings to take the pressure off.
 

Perfect grooming on perfect snow; temperature -5

Sat. Feb. 6 - A step in the right direction

We received about 3 cm of snow Friday night, so the ground is at least covered in white. This is a step in the right direction, but is still not enough to make acceptable skiing conditions.
I will not be reporting conditions here over the next week, as I will be skiing at Stokely Creek Lodge, north of Sault Ste. Marie, where they have lots of beautiful powder snow. If it snows here while I am away, the trails will not be groomed until next Sunday at the earliest.

Fri. Feb. 5 - We Need Snow

I'm sorry to report that it will be another weekend with no skiing here at Hockleycrest. We do not have sufficient snow coverage.

Wed. Feb. 3 - Good News/Bad News

After a night of mixed precipitation including snow, ice pellets, freezing rain and rain, it is now +3 outside, with more rain expected. The good news is that not all our trails are totally bare; some sections, especially in the trees, still have a covering of either ice or snow on them. However, other trails, particularly in open field areas, are completely bare.
It looks like we will return to colder temperatures tomorrow, but there is no significant snowfall in the forecast. The more immediate problem is to get through the predicted +11 today.
Yesterday, I took advantage of the mild weather to widen one spot on trail #7, and to make a small reroute also on #7. I have moved the most westerly leg of #7 into the trees, away from an area that is being used by cars and trucks. If the snow ever returns, this should make for better skiing conditions in that area.

Monday Feb. 1 - Wiped Out

The ridiculously mild weather and rain have completely wiped out our snow base. And the warm weather is predicted to continue for another few days. No skiing until further notice.

Sunday, Jan 31 - No Skiing today

The temperature rose to +3 yesterday afternoon and remained there overnight. We have lost some of the small amount of snow we had and there are numerous bare spots. With today's forecast calling for +6 and rain, things can only get worse. Sorry folks, today is not a good day for skiing.

Saturday morning - tolerable - for now

I've just come in from my pre-breakfast ski with the dog. We got a little bit more snow on Thursday evening, which means skiing is just possible. There is about 3 cm of soft powder over the base, which is either ice or earth (with occasional rocks and roots). So the conditions for skiing are barely tolerable. The temperature today is predicted to rise to +3, so things will not get better later on. Tomorrow's high will be +5 with rain, so that is not very encouraging either.
Now I have to unburden some frustration: sometime since Thursday night's snowfall, someone has been walking on the ski trails. This was not just on the Bruce Trail or one of its official side trails, but also on several trails that are marked clearly as for skiing only. It is difficult enough to maintain good snow conditions for skiing, without having selfish, inconsiderate people trample the snow with hiking boots.
Please, please, please, if you are walking (or snow-shoeing) restrict your travels to the main Bruce Trail (white rectangular paint blazes) or a BT side trail (blue rectangular paint blazes). And when you are walking on the joint use trails, please walk along the edges, not right down the middle.

Thursday Jan 28

I have returned from Horseshoe Valley, where the skiing is still good today. I'm sorry I can't say the same about the Hockleycrest trails.
Some sections of our trails were virtually bare after Tuesday's melt and rain. Since then we've received about 2 cm of new snow, but it is not enough to provide adequate coverage. TRAILS ARE CLOSED TO SKIING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Sorry folks, Mother Nature is not on our side.

Wednesday - return to cooler weather

After yesterday's mild weather and rain, temperatures have dropped and we have a little bit of new snow on the surface. I am not at Hockleycrest today, as I am at Horseshoe Valley to ski, so I don't know exactly what conditions are on the Hockleycrest trails.
I suspect however, that we lost more snow than we gained, and the trails are probably quite icy today. I would not recommend skiing until we receive at least 5 cm of new snow.

Monday Jan 25 - Thank you

Somebody left some money in my voluntary donation box beside the parking lot on 5 Sideroad recently. THANK-YOU! Each time I do a complete grooming of the network, I use about 15 litres of fuel. The support of trail users is very helpful and much appreciated.
We are in for a challenging couple of days, today and tomorrow. Temperatures are predicted to rise to 0 today, and to +4 tomorrow, with possible rain or snow. So, this could be good news or bad news. We will have to wait and see just how warm it gets, and what kind of precip we receive in order to assess the effect on trail conditions.
I suggest we stay off the trails today and tomorrow to minimize damage.

Sunday Jan 24 Morning

I've just returned from my morning ski with the dog. It's comfortable out there at -8, with a predicted high of -2, so it should be a nice day for skiing. There may be some flurries later today; any additional snow we get will only make conditions better.
The trails are hard-packed granular snow with a little bit of packed powder on top. Yesterday's grooming is holding up nicely in most places. Unfortunately, we had a couple of very inconsiderate hiking groups come through yesterday. Significant sections of the Mainline trail were trampled across the entire width, in spite of signs asking walkers to stay on the edge of the trail. In addition, a small group of ignorant hikers walked on several of the trails that are for skiers only.
The skate loops are both packed and in good condition.
The Pasture trail is skiing very nicely, as is Roller Coaster. If you haven't tried these, you should.

Mid-day Update

All trails have now been groomed. Trails in the central section have been track-set, although the snow was not quite deep enough to set a good, deep track. The south portion of #7 Around the Pines, and the west half of Pine Cut are hard-packed and icy as a result of cars and trucks driving on the trails. The folks at the Tai Chi Centre are preparing for their maple syrup operation, so they have been driving in to work on the sugar shack, and collecting firewood along the trails. Sorry about that; I have not control over what they do.

The Ash Grove trail after grooming

Saturday Jan 23 - A Pretty Morning

It's a very pretty morning outside as the sun rises. A bit chilly at -14, but there is no wind, and all the trees are coated in hoar frost.
We have had about 2 to 3 cm of new powder snow since Wednesday, so the trail conditions have improved. I will be grooming later this morning, at least with the roller and snow comb. I will do a trial section of track-setting to see if it is effective.
With a predicted high of -6 and sunshine, it looks like a very nice day to ski.

Trail #10 Field and Forest at 8 a.m. today

Where the Snow is

I skied yesterday at Highlands Nordic near Duntroon. That is where the snow is. Nice powder surface and good coverage on all their trails.
Meanwhile at Hockleycrest we continue to scrape by with a thin crunchy coating. The forecast says we might get some snow next Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday morning

Our conditions have not changed since yesterday. We had a few light flurries last night and the odd flake continues to drift down, but there is no significant accumulation.
The trails are skiable, with a hard packed icy base and one to two cm of soft snow on top.

A Near Miss

Some areas received heavy snow from squalls yesterday and last night, but we continue to receive only a fraction of the snow predicted. According to the forecast, we should have gotten about 5 cm of snow between Sunday and today, but instead we have added about half a cm of new snow to our base. Consequently, conditions remain about the same - thin and a bit icy.
I was out skiing this afternoon, trying to asses whether to groom or not. I came to the conclusion that it would not be worthwhile; there just isn't enough snow to work with.
We're having a light flurry right now. I'll report in the morning whether there has been any significant change overnight.

Slowly but surely

A persistent snow flurry yesterday morning gave us 1 to 2 cm of new powder over our firm base. The surface condition is gradually getting softer, which helps with control on hills and overall enjoyment of the ski experience.
Today's forecast calls for fairly strong snow squalls from Lake Huron. If we happen to get lucky, we might pick up around 5 cm of snow, which would be really beneficial. My next grooming will be Tuesday afternoon at the earliest, more likely Wednesday morning. I'll keep you posted.

Sunday - getting colder

It's minus 5 outside right now and the temperature is expected to drop steadily through the day. We received a tiny bit of new snow overnight - about 1 cm - so conditions are about the same as last night. Skiing is OK but not great.
I will not be grooming here today; I will be over at Mono Centre with the groomer for the Town of Mono Winterfest. Lots of fun to be had there: skating, sledding, skiing, food, games, prizes. If you're in the neighbourhood, why not drop by?

Saturday Night fever

As predicted, the temperature dropped during the day and by mid afternoon it was -5. The wet snow of this morning froze and became a porous icy crust. I went over some of the trails in the central area with my crust buster, and I think the result is a better (looser, less crusty) surface. I had one skate skier here this afternoon and he thought the south skate loop was quite good.
In spite of our best efforts, conditions generally are still icy and the snow cover is very thin. The hills in the southern part of the network will be difficult in these conditions. There are flurries and squalls in the forecast for early next week. I would suggest you wait until we have more snow before coming to ski.

Saturday morning - Wait and See

The warm weather passed through during the night, accompanied by some rain. The temperature now is minus half a degree and it's beginning to fall. We have not lost much snow, but the snow on the ground is very wet and definitely of the packing variety. I will have to wait until the snow temperature through the entire depth of the snow pack has dropped below freezing before I can do any grooming. Otherwise we would end up with hard-packed glare ice.
My suggestion would be to wait until tomorrow before trying any skiing.

Friday: weather is not as bad as expected

The temperature here is now -1 and it hasn't risen above 0 all day. We have actually received about 1 cm of new snow since yesterday, but right now it is definitely of the "packing" variety. This is a much better outcome than we were expecting from the forecast. There are a few more critical hours before we can definitely declare that the warm weather is behind us. By tomorrow morning, chances are it will be about -2 and the snow will probably be a bit on the crusty side. I will let you know after I've been out for my morning ski.

Thursday update

I've been over the northern portions of trails #1 and #3 with the groomer this morning, and smoothed out some drifted sections. I also packed the south skating loop and gave it a try. Although the snow cover is thin, the skating is pretty good. This is the south skate loop only; I have not done the north skate loop.
If you want to come and try skate skiing, email me at salydave@sympatico.ca and I will tell you where to park for easy access to the skate trail.
Light snowfall has continued all morning, giving us an additional 1 to 2 cm. Now we have to wait and see what Mother Nature sends us tomorrow!

Thursday January 14 - some improvement

I've just come in from a short ski. The temperature is -9 and a light snowfall has continued since last night. New accumulation is 1 to 2 cm. so there is some improvement in the ski conditions. Nevertheless there are still many thin spots with either ice, rocks or tree stumps just below the surface.
I will take the groomer over a couple of drifted areas on Mainline near Southfield and further north, but there is not sufficient new snow to justify grooming the entire network.

Tomorrow's forecast is of concern; Environment Canada says it will be well above 0 with rain. The Weather Network predicts it will rise to just a little above 0 with possible snow. Let's hope The Weather Network is right.

To ski or not to ski, that is the question.

I've just come in from over 3 hours of grooming. The new snow we've received since Sunday amounts to about 5 cm on average. There are places where it is drifted much deeper than that, and there are places where the wind has blown away most of the snow. I have packed almost everything. It is possible to ski, but the ice that remains from the old snow that melted last weekend and then re-froze is not far below the surface. To make for pleasant, safe skiing we need about 5 cm more snow. There have been some light flurries today, but not enough to really increase the snow depth.


A shot of the north skating loop, showing how thin the snow is.

One of the things I encountered while grooming this morning was a large butternut tree fallen across the Mainline trail near the bottom of a pretty fast downhill section. I went and got my chainsaw and cleared what would have been a very unpleasant surprise. See the photos below for Before and After shots. As I arrived at that spot, I also saw 3 deer and about a dozen wild turkeys.

Fallen tree across trail #1

Site of the fallen tree after I had cleared it.

Snow

Hopefully, there is now enough snow to ski on. I will be grooming tomorrow, and will report whether we have good coverage everywhere.

Winter Returns

Well, the weather conditions certainly changed quickly. I'm not sure there is enough snow on the trails now to resume skiing, but according to the forecast more is on the way. My goal is to groom on Wednesday, Jan. 13, after the heaviest period of squalls has passed.

Saturday January 9 - warm with rain

It is +3 and raining lightly this morning. We have already lost some snow, and by the time colder weather returns we will undoubtedly lose a lot more.
The good news is that, starting Sunday afternoon, cold temperatures and snow should return and continue all next week. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
For today, however, no skiing.

Wed. Jan. 6 - No improvement

I've just been out for a short ski. Conditions are much the same as they were on the weekend. We have a hard icy base with about half a cm of soft snow on top. It is possible to ski, but I don't recommend it. Under these conditions it just isn't much fun.
There is warmer weather coming in over the next few days. We will probably lose the small amount of snow we now have.

Feast and Famine

While we generally do not have as much snow as we would like, there are spots where we have too much. One such is at the east end of the soybean field, where the Mainline Trail crosses between the 2 junctions of trail #12. The wind blowing across the field picks up all the loose snow and dumps it in drifts across the trail. I went there this morning with a shovel and levelled it out. Later this afternoon, I took the groomer over it to make it even better.
I also used my shovel to fill in the bare spots on #1 between #1a and #3, using snow from the bush along the edge of the trail. After running the roller/comb over it, I can say it is much better than yesterday. I also rolled and combed the south skating loop a couple of times, so it is quite good.

If you would like to come and skate ski, please email me at salydave@sympatico.ca and I will tell you where to park so you can easily access the skating trail.

Sunday January 3, 2016 Morning

I've been out for a short ski. Conditions are basically the same as yesterday. The predicted 2 cm snowfall for last night did not materialize. At the moment we are having some very light flurry activity but there is no additional accumulation at this time.
The surface is hard and icy. There are some bare spots and rocks close to the surface. Skiing is fair.

Noon, January 2

I've been out with the crust buster on the southern trails, so conditions there are slightly improved, but still hard, crusty and a bit uneven.
AVOID THE LARGER STEEPER HILLS ON MAINLINE, HARMONY, AND ESPECIALLY GAZEBO. The best entry and exit trail is #7 Around the Pines, a trail I rerouted this year to provide a more gentle access to the other trails.
I have set track on almost all the trails in the central section, and here skiing is good.

Overall rating of the trail conditions is only FAIR. Hopefully we will get more snow tonight and tomorrow.

Later New Year's Day

We've seen some improvement since this morning, mainly due to 2 factors:
1. We received a little new snow in the form of flurries, throughout the day
2. I built a new piece of grooming equipment this morning - a kind of scarifier I call the bed of nails or the Crust Buster. It is a drag consisting of 9 rows of 3 and a half inch nails, supported by a pair of old skis so it doesn't dig in too far. In the afternoon, I dragged the Crust Buster over a number of trails in the central and northern parts of the network. It did a fairly good job of breaking up the icy crust and levelling out the footprints and ski tracks that were molded into the crust before it froze. Then I took the roller and snow comb over the trails to pack and further level the surface. I even set some track on some trails in the central area. The result is a much improved ski experience ON THE TRAILS I HAVE GROOMED. Please note that I have not yet groomed any trails toward the south end, close to 5 Sideroad. I will try to get to those tomorrow.
We are expecting flurries to continue tonight and tomorrow, followed by a snowfall of 2 to 4 cm Saturday night. If the forecast is correct, then conditions will continue to improve.
There is one section of trail with significant bare spots on it; Mainline trail #1, in the north end between the junctions of #1a, and #3 has been washed out by water running across and along the trail. This is a perennial seepage area which will take some time to freeze and get covered with snow.

underside of the crust buster, snowing the nails and skis

Crust buster lying flat, in its working position

New Year's Day 2016 - Morning

It is -3 outside this morning, with very light snow flurries. Our ski conditions are basically unchanged since yesterday. It is possible to ski, but it's not very good. We need lots more snow.