December 31, 2017

I don't need to tell you that it's cold outside this morning. I've just come in from my first ski of the day; it's -25C. Luckily there is very little wind. Snow at these temperatures does not provide very good glide; it will be slow today.
Otherwise, trails are in pretty good shape. We unfortunately had a big group of hikers come through yesterday, and they did not obey the simple rules of trail etiquette, i.e. stay on the hiking trail, and when sharing with skiers, walk along the edge. This was in spite of the fact that I met them on the trail and explained the rules to them. Consequently, you will find significant portions of the Mainline trail pock-marked by about 20 sets of footprints.
I'm having some mechanical problems with the ATV that pulls my groomer, so I will not be grooming today.

Sat. Dec. 30

Skiing is good this morning. Trails in the northern portion of the network are a little better, due to less use by both skiers and walkers. It's a little warmer this morning, according to the thermometer, with a reading of -14. However, we have some wind to deal with today, so it's feeling like -22 right now. Dress accordingly.

Late yesterday afternoon

Friday, late afternoon update

We've received about 2 cm of new snow today. I managed to get over to the north end to roll Northfield Circuit and North Plateau. I skied both immediately afterward, and they were very nice.

The high point of North Plateau

Northfield Circuit just before sunset

December 29, 2017

I'm a bit late with my report today, as I was having computer problems. Skiing continues good on our trails. Those at the south end have been trampled a bit by hikers, but once you reach the central and northern portions of the network, you will not have this problem. Snow on the trails has become quite firm as a result of this cold weather. We've had a little new snowfall this morning, but only about 1 cm of accumulation, which helps to soften up the surface a bit.
Temperature right now is -13 with no wind, so it actually feels quite comfortable.

Dec. 28, 2017 - It's cold out there!

Trail and snow conditions remain good, but it's very cold this morning, at -24. Dress warmly with plenty of layers. Perhaps wait until this afternoon, when the temperature will have reached the predicted high of -13.

Dec. 27, 2017 - good skiing

It is cold again today: -17 with a few snowflakes drifting down, but very little wind this morning. The Christmas day grooming on the south and central trails is still holding up very nicely except in a couple of drifted spots. Yesterday afternoon, I finished packing most of the northern trails. The North Plateau is not groomed but is skiing nicely with a back-country feeling.
I have not set any track yet, as the snow depth is still a bit too thin in places. The first track-setting will happen after the next significant snowfall.
Dress appropriately for these cool temperatures.

Dec. 26 - blowing and drifting

No new snow to report, but the snow we have has moved around a bit due to strong westerly winds yesterday. The wind is not as strong this morning, but it is still significant, and therefore we are still seeing some drifting in open areas. The Mainline trail between the 2 ends of Southfield (#12) is very drifted. For those heading to the northern portion of the network, I would recommend using Pasture (#9) since it is much more sheltered.
It's also fairly cold today, at -16, so dress warmly and protect exposed skin.
I will try to groom some more terrain today, but I'm having some trouble with the groomer so I can't promise to get everything done.
Late afternoon update: drifted areas on Mainline between the ends of #12, #12 itself, #1a, #14, Pasture, Roller Coaster, the northern portion of Mainline and a connection across the north field to connect with Hockleycrest were all groomed today. There is still some drifting taking place, but the grooming has smoothed things out quite a bit.

Happy Christmas - we have new snow

We received about 7 cm of new snow overnight, and it is still snowing lightly. I have groomed all the south end trails and some in the central area this morning. Skiing will be very good today, but it would be best to stick to protected areas. The wind is strong from the west, so there will be blowing and drifting in exposed areas.

West Side Story trail #5, just after grooming

Sun. Dec. 24

Conditions remain the same as yesterday: fair to good. Most trails were groomed (roller and snow comb only) yesterday. There is still not enough snow depth to set track. There are still a few thin spots. The groomer suffered some minor damage yesterday, but that has been repaired overnight.
We are expecting a new snowfall of 5 to 10 cm overnight tonight. If this proves to be true, then conditions should be very good for Christmas skiing.

Mainline trail near the gazebo on Tai Chi

Sat. Dec. 23 - a return to skiing

We received close to 10 cm of new snow in the Thursday/Friday snowfall. Trails are skiable again. I have packed about half of the network this morning; there is still not enough snow to set track. The temperature is warming up to near 0 this afternoon, and the snow is getting a bit sticky. Things should be better tomorrow, and more snow is predicted. Late afternoon update: the rest of the network has been packed, except for a small section of Mainline in the south end.

Central Park trail just after grooming, about 10 a.m. today

Fri. Dec. 22

We have some new snow on the ground this morning, but I'm not sure it is enough to make the trails skiable. It will take some time to assess, once the snowfall ends. Earliest grooming will be Saturday morning.

Thursday Dec. 21

Trails are still closed for skiing due to lack of snow. However, it looks like we will get 5 to 10 cm today and tomorrow, so we might be able to ski on the weekend.

Here today - gone tomorrow

The warm temperatures have taken away about half our snow, and it's still above freezing this morning. The trails are not skiable.

New snow is good, but......

This morning we have received about 2 cm of new snow, which has softened up our surface. However, the temperature is rising, and is predicted to go a little above 0. The snow may change over to rain, or be mixed with rain, which would not be good news. Tomorrow is also forecast to be above freezing, with temperatures turning cooler on Wednesday.
In conclusion, ski conditions right now are not bad, but may deteriorate later today and tomorrow.

New snow; slight improvement

Our ski conditions are slightly better today, as a result of about 5 cm of new snow that fell over the past 24 hours. I have rolled and combed trails in the south and central portions of the network. There are still thin spots, especially in the north end.

Skiing is possible, but coverage is thin

Our conditions remain about the same. There has been some minor flurry activity, but no significant new accumulation of snow. Lots of thin spots; rock skis recommended.

Coooool!

It's cool out there this morning: -15C. We had a light dusting of new snow overnight. Ski conditions remain about the same: fair, with quite a few thin spots, especially on the more rugged trails in the north end. Only very good skiers with rock skis should attempt the northern trails.

Skiing at last!

Total snowfall Sunday and Monday was about 8 cm. After rolling, this leaves about 2 to 3 cm of packed snow, just enough to ski on. This afternoon, I have packed all the trails in the central portion of the network, where the ground beneath is the smoothest. There is no track-setting yet, but the rolled and combed surface provides not-bad skiing. Rock skis are recommended.

Westside Story after one pass of the roller.

Getting closer to ski time

After light flurries all day long on Sunday, we have 2 to 3 cm of snow on the ground. Forecasters continue to say that we will get 5 to 10 cm tonight, and a bit more tomorrow. If this turns out to be true, then I will groom tomorrow. The first grooming will probably be roller and snow-comb only; no track-set until snow gets deeper.
The long-term forecast is also good: we should have below-freezing temperatures and occasional additional snow all the way through until Christmas Day.

Waiting Impatiently

We have just a light dusting of snow on the ground. Flurries are forecast over the next 2 days, but it doesn't look like there will be any significant accumulation until Monday, when 5 to 10 cm is predicted. When we have skiing, I will let you know.

Snow is on the way?

We now have the cooler temperatures we need, and the ground surface is frozen. We had some light flurries yesterday, but no accumulation. There are lots of flurries in the forecast, and the possibility of a general snowfall Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed!

Warm and Dry

Still no skiing, as temperatures continue above freezing. Colder weather and some snow should be moving in around the middle of the coming week. Maybe next weekend we'll be able to ski.

No News is Bad News

Our temperatures continue to be on a roller coaster, above and below freezing. In the past week we had a couple of days around +7. This morning, it's -3 and there is a very light dusting of snow on the ground, but not nearly enough to ski on. The forecast for the coming week looks quite warm, with one day predicted to reach +11. I don't think we'll be skiing anytime soon.

No skiing yet.

Yesterday's rain changed to snow overnight. This morning, we have 1 to 2 cm of snow on the ground - not enough to ski on.
I'm heading over to Monora Park this morning, for the Mono Nordic Ski Club open house and registration day.

A little snow, but not enough

We have about 3 cm of snow on the ground. Grass is sticking up through it. Not enough to ski on. With temperatures going up to +6 on Monday and Tuesday, this snow won't stay around for long.

This was the Hockleycrest Trail at about 8 this morning.

Winter Arrives

We have some snow on the ground this morning. It is not sufficient to ski on, but we are heading in the right direction. The forecast calls for snow squalls today; if these should happen to cross our area, we could receive larger amounts of snow.
I will not groom until there is sufficient depth. Look for updates later today and tomorrow.

Getting ready for winter, and sharing the trails

We've been busy clearing all the trails and putting up our signage for the approaching winter ski season. Something new this year is some signage on the wide portions of the Hockleycrest Trail (#3) directing trail users to walk left and ski right (or the opposite if they are going in the opposite direction). I hope this will help to maintain the groomed ski tracks in better condition.

Erosion Repairs

On June 23, 2017 the Hockley valley area experienced a very intense rain storm - exceeding the 100 year storm. Homes and roads in the valley were flooded. Up on the shoulder of the valley, our trails suffered some serious erosion damage, especially the North Plateau Trail. Repairs are now underway, and are going well. Come winter, we should have some good skiing here, provided we get some snow!

damaged trail section after repairs

Deep eroded gulley before repairs.

The grass is always greener ......

Lots of rain means lots of grass growing on our trails. We keep them cut through the summer, because it's easier to do it several times when it's not too tall, rather than waiting until late fall when it's up to your shoulder. Also produces a better turf. One nice aspect of doing this is that there is lots of milkweed along the trails, and I am seeing quite a few monarch butterflies.

The Lowdown trail

The Pasture Trail

Next year, everything will be groomable

We are continuing to work on widening the one section of our trail network that was too narrow for the groomer. Only 15m of trail remains to be widened, out of the original 95 metres that were too narrow. I need a minimum width of 1.6m to get through with the groomer.

Trees lean, and then disappear

A dead ironwood tree fell and was leaning over the Hockleycrest trail near the north junction of Mainline. It was only a matter of time before it came all the way down onto the trail. So my son Peter and I got out and removed it. No more ducking under!

before

after

Another project finished

The project to correct a bad cross-slope on the Mainline trail just north of its junction with Pasture trail has been completed. Hopefully next winter the groomer will no longer slide off the side of the trail anymore. The area I re-worked was 28 metres long; I finished the last 8 metres today.

Work continues year-round

Although we do our skiing in the winter, and most maintenance work is done in fall and winter, operating a XC ski trail network requires work all year round. I've been working on a couple of projects that will hopefully make for better skiing next winter. The one remaining piece of trail that was not wide enough to groom is being widened to a minimum 5 feet, so the groomer should be able to pass through next year. I've finished 44 metres of widening, and have 51 metres left to do. Another trail section that had a nasty cross-slope on it is being levelled so that the groomer won't slide off the side anymore. On this job, 18m has been done, and 9m is left to do.

March 31 - a little snow

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

End of Season?

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

Sat. March 18 - no skiing

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

Wed. March 15

We did not receive as much snow as originally forecast. The total snowfall over the past 2 days was about 3 cm; just enough to make the ground white, but not really enough to ski on. Sorry folks, the winter of our discontent continues.

Northern portion of Mainline trail, with grass and leaves sticking up through the snow

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

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

Fri. March 10 - possible snow?

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

Tues. March 7 - still no luck

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

Sat. March 4 - a little snow, but not enough

We received a little snow overnight - about 1 cm. It's not enough to ski on.

March 1st - warm weather continues

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

Mon. Feb. 27 - still no skiing

Our trails remain mostly bare. There will be no skiing until we receive a significant snowfall - at least 10 cm.

Sunday Feb 26 - No skiing today

I've returned from a week in New Hampshire (where there is still abundant snow) to find that most of the snow on our trails has disappeared. This is not surprising after week of record-breaking warm temperatures. However, not all is lost. Some trail sections still have a little bit of hard-packed snow on them, which will provide a base for new snow when it comes. We've had some flurry activity last night and this morning, so the ground is white, but there is definitely NOT enough snow to ski on.

Remaining base on West Side Story, Feb. 25

February 22 - vacation update

Although it has been warm here in Jackson New Hampshire (around +5 each day) the skiing has been quite good. Groomers go out during the overnight, when the temperature has dropped below freezing. They have an abundance of snow to work with.

Sunday, Feb 19 - taking a holiday

I can't give a first-hand report of conditions today, as I am in Ottawa for the Gatineau Loppet. With yesterday's warm temperature, I suspect we lost a lot of snow, and that will continue through the week. I will be moving on from Ottawa to Jackson New Hampshire for a ski holiday. Jackson has an abundance of snow, an excellent network of trails, and superb grooming.
There will be no reports for Hockleycrest, and no grooming over the next week.

Friday Feb. 17

Ski conditions will be good today. Last chance to enjoy nice snow before the heat wave hits.

Thurs. Feb. 16 - Looking good!

I've just been out skiing the trails, and it is very nice! The weather is gorgeous, with bright sun and a temperature of -3. In spite of warmish temperatures both Monday and Tuesday afternoons, there is not icy crust. There is about 1 to 2 cm of new powder snow over the surface that I groomed on Monday, which is just enough to soften the surface without getting in the way. Conditions should remain very good the rest of today and tomorrow. The weekend looks like a disaster, with temperatures rising to about +7. So, get out and enjoy these beautiful conditions today or tomorrow, before they disappear.

North Plateau trail, just before noon Thursday.

Wed. Feb. 15

Ski conditions were good early yesterday, but it got a little bit too warm in the afternoon, so it got sticky and slow. Now that we're back below freezing, skiing should be fairly good; perhaps a bit crusty and fast. Some flurries are in today's forecast, so if we can get a bit of fresh powder on the surface, that would definitely improve the skiing.
The broken-down groomer was recovered out of the field yesterday afternoon and has gone to the shop for repairs. A short section of #12 and #5 suffered minor damage as a result of towing the ATV out. There will be no grooming until it returns, probably a week or more. It looks like we're going to have a major meltdown this weekend, so grooming may be irrelevant anyway.

Late Monday

I started grooming late this afternoon. There was definitely some wind last night, as evidenced by big snow drifts in a number of places. Most of the trails I groomed yesterday were blown in. Ski tracks indicated that several people came to ski today.
I completed all the southern trails and most of the central and northern before disaster struck. The ATV that I use to pull the groomer broke down in the field, and would not move. Seems to be some kind of transmission problem. It still sits in the middle of the north skate loop, so that's a problem I will have to solve tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the skiing is very good, even on the few trails that did not get groomed today.

West Side Story in the area where it overlaps the skate loop

Stone Hedge, about 4:30 this afternoon.

Monday Feb. 13

Yesterday's snowfall abated for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and then started up again about 4:30 p.m. so our total accumulation was over 10 cm. I rolled and packed a number of trails early yesterday afternoon - any trail where we are likely to lose snow when the wind blows. Once the snow is packed it is more likely to stay in place. The skate loops, South Field, North Field, the Pasture, the Lowdown, Tornado Alley and portions of Around the Pines, Field and Forest, Mainline, Hockleycrest and Stone Hedge were all done. I hope to groom the remaining trails later today.
Yesterday's high temperature just reached 0, so it got a bit sticky in the afternoon. it should be a little cooler today, so skiing should be good.

Sunday Feb. 12 - SNOW

The snowfall has already begun, and it's coming down pretty hard out there, at a temperature of -3. Ski conditions should be great when it's all done. I will groom when the snowfall is finished, probably tomorrow. I've just come in from skiing, and conditions are already very good. It will only get better as the day progresses. However, road conditions might be tricky, so if you come, be very careful along the way.

Trail #5 just after the snowfall stopped.

Saturday Feb. 11 - we catch a break!

The weather has turned out not as bad as predicted. Yesterday afternoon and evening, we received about 5 cm of new snow. The temperature was supposed to rise to 0 by morning, but it is now sitting at -5, and the new predicted high for today is only +2. So, we might get through today without a massive melt or transformation from snow to ice. Tomorrow's forecast now calls for up to 10 cm of new snow, so if that happens, we should be in pretty good shape.
MID MORNING UPDATE: I have groomed most trails with roller and comb. Hopefully this will smooth out the rough spots, help hold snow in place when the wind blows, and provide a good base for tomorrow's snowfall. As I write this, at 10:40 a.m. the temperature is sitting just below 0.
At the moment, we have tolerable ski conditions on yesterday's snow.

Trail #5 Westside Story this morning

Friday Feb. 10 - snow coming, but then what?

It looks like some snow is on the way this afternoon and evening, but that will be followed by a warm day Saturday with chance of showers. So, it's hard to know what we will be left with. I will be checking conditions over the weekend as things develop, and will let you know if we have skiing or not.

Wednesday Feb 8 - Good news/bad news again.

I've been out for a short inspection tour, and it looks like yesterday's rain, freezing rain and warm temperatures have not done as much damage as I feared. There are no trees down that I know of, and only a few small branches on the trail. We did not lose all our snow; in fact, we probably have better coverage now than before the storm, except it is now ice rather than powder snow. There is a thin ice crust on top of the snow, which breaks quite easily. Underneath, in many places, there is still loose granular snow.
I will try my crust-buster this afternoon, to see if it makes any improvement. However, I am not going to expend major time and fuel on grooming, when we have another meltdown forecast for this weekend. What we need is a good snowfall of about 10 cm, accompanied by stable, below-freezing temperatures.
I would not recommend skiing at the moment. It would be very fast, and very dangerous. Perhaps come for a walk, and wear icers on your boots (remember to keep to the edges).

Hockleycrest trail about noon today

Monday Feb 6 continuing much the same

Conditions on the trails will be much the same again today - generally good. We had some drifting again yesterday, so trails in exposed areas may be covered with a bit of drifted snow, but will still be good skiing.
A big weather system is coming through tomorrow. It looks like it will give us a mix of precipitation. We'll have to wait until things settle down on Wednesday to find out how it has affected the ski conditions.

Sunday - a little new snow, good conditions

The forecast calls for 2 cm of new snow today, and it is snowing lightly right now. Skiing will continue to be good today, with comfortable temperatures. I have groomed a little today, mainly touching up areas that got drifted yesterday, including the north part of Mainline and North Plateau.
The outlook for Tuesday is worrisome: a major precipitation event which might be in the form of rain, freezing rain, or snow. We'll have to wait and see where this storm tracks, and what it brings us. So, all the more reason to get out and enjoy good skiing today.

Saturday - looking good

Skiing should be good again today. We had a bit of wind, and therefore some drifting, late yesterday. I will run the roller/comb over a few trails in the exposed areas to refresh the surface. The wind is blowing again this morning, so it will feel colder than what the thermometer is indicating (currently -10). We're having a mix of sunshine and snow flurries here this morning.
I'm going to make a request of trail users. Please stay on the trails! Over the past couple of days, some skiers went down the Pasture trail, but they skied a long way off the trail in "uncharted territory". The trails have been designed and maintained to avoid dangerous obstacles, like tree stumps and big boulders. There happens to be an old stone fence very close to the Pasture trail. If you ski off the trail, you run the risk of hitting a big stone that would damage either your skis or yourself, or both. I can't vouch for the safety or "ski-ability" of terrain that is off the trails.
THE RULE IS THE SAME IN SKIING AS IT IS IN HIKING: STAY ON THE MARKED TRAIL.

Trail #10 Field and Forest, yesterday afternoon

The Pasture trail this morning after grooming

Friday Feb 3 - good skiing

The blowing and drifting of yesterday have ended; it is cool out there, currently -6 with sunshine. I have groomed the drifted areas this morning. I also tried some track-setting in the central part of the network. It was moderately successful; the track is not very deep, but it should be helpful. Both north and south skating loops have been packed again.

The Ash Grove

Hockleycrest Trail groomed for skate and classic

Some people have been walking and snowshoeing on the main Bruce Trail and Hockleycrest Side Trail over the past couple of days, and they did a good job of staying along the edge, avoiding the ski grooming. I want to thank them for sharing the trails responsibly and for setting an excellent example for other walkers.

Trail #17 Northfield Circuit, about 10 a.m.

Ground Hog Day

Skiing was good yesterday, and it should be no different today. We had a little bit of light flurry activity, but yesterday's grooming should still be fine. The only place where snow is really thin is on trail #7 Around The Pines, on the west leg where it goes through the pine plantation.
Noon update: I don't know if the groundhog saw his shadow this morning, but if he emerged, I think he'd be inclined to go back underground to escape the wind. It is blowing pretty hard here, with associated snow drifting, both on the roads and on some of the open sections of trail. Yesterday's grooming will be drifted in at some locations; there is nothing we can do about this until the wind stops blowing.

February 1 - a new month and new snow

We got about 5 cm of snow overnight. All trails have been groomed, including skate loops. There are still a few thin spots, but generally skiing is good. There is not sufficient depth to set a track, so trails have been rolled and combed only.

Trail #6 Central Park, about 9 a.m. this morning

Snow is on the way

Flurries are predicted for today, and a general snowfall tonight. I will be monitoring the snowfall, and if there is enough, I will groom. 5 p.m. update. I groomed the skate loops this afternoon. Snow is beginning to fall at a moderate rate right now. Hopefully I can pack the new snow either tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Good News/Bad News - again

I've just returned from my week at Stokely Creek Lodge in Algoma, where snow is plentiful. Unfortunately, I pulled a hamstring muscle while there, so I'm on the limp right now. That's the bad news.
The good news is that stable, below-freezing temperatures have returned to our area, and we have a bit of new snow. We got about 5 cm of snow yesterday and overnight, and it is snowing lightly right now. There will be no grooming today, but the new powder over the old crust is providing fairly good skiing. It looks like there will be a general snowfall on Tuesday. I may try to groom after that.

Hope for the future

It looks like things are going to cool down by this weekend, and there is a chance of some new snow. According to long range forecasts, temperatures over the next 2 weeks will be great for skiing, if we can get a bit of new snow on top of the icy base.
Meanwhile, I am at a place where snow is abundant - Stokely Creek Lodge in Algoma, 70 km north of Sault Ste. Marie. Although there is close to a meter of snow in the bush, and half a meter of packed snow on the trails, temperatures here have been just as mild as in southern ontario. It was plus 2 yesterday, and the skiing was slow, so I opted for a snowshoe hike to the top of King Mountain.

A narrow spot next to a rock face near the summit

In a holding pattern

I skied yesterday afternoon, and it was actually not bad. The warm temperature had one benefit, which was to soften the surface and get rid of the ice. That said, however, each warm day means a little more snow lost. There are definitely some thin and bare spots out there, but 95% of the trail surface is still well covered.
We have to get through about 3 or 4 more warm days before colder weather returns.
I will not be posting regular condition reports over the next week. I am going on a holiday to a place where snow is plentiful: Stokely Creek Lodge, north of Sault Ste. Marie. I hope that when I return, there will still be something to ski on here at Hockleycrest.

Skiing is still possible!

Amazingly, after close to 3 weeks of mild weather, we still have reasonably good snow coverage on the trails. There are definitely some thin, bare, or icy spots, but generally the trails are covered with a soft packed granular snow. Conditions today are safer and more comfortable than a couple of days ago when everything was ice.
It is not what I would call great conditions, but if you're desperate to get out on skis, it is possible.

Poor skiing and a dismal forecast

We're sitting at plus 1 right now, and yesterday's ice is starting to fall off the trees. The forecast calls for very warm weather for the next week, so I don't think we're going to be skiing here anytime soon. Meanwhile, there is lots of debris to pick up as a result of the ice load on the trees.

A dead scots pine that came down across trail #1a as a result of the freezing rain.

Tuesday - freezing rain

As predicted, we are receiving freezing rain. Trail conditions are poor. Skiing is not recommended today.

icicles on a sign at the junction of Hockleycrest #3 and Central Park #6

Sunday Jan 15 - no change from yesterday

Trails are still hard packed and icy, not very good for skiing.
I spent some time yesterday putting up snow fencing along a portion of trail #7 where it doesn't get much snow and then the wind blows away whatever is there. Hopefully, the next time we have a snowfall, we will retain more snow in that area.

Saturday Jan. 14 - Skiable, but not enjoyable

I've just come in from skiing. Trail conditions have not changed much over the past few days. It is still hard and icy. Yesterday, we received about 1 cm of new snow from light flurries, but this has not really improved skiing conditions very much. If I were you, I'd go for a hike today rather than skiing.
I spent some time yesterday afternoon, limbing white pines along the Hockleycrest Trail #3; anyplace where branches were overhanging the trail and I could reach them with a saw, I removed them. This will make no difference to current trail conditions, but will hopefully pay dividends in the future.

Friday morning - Good new/bad news

The good news is that Thursday was not as warm or as wet as predicted. We still have surprisingly good snow coverage on the trails, with thin or bare spots in 4 or 5 of the usual locations. These are places where, either the overhead canopy of conifers prevents snow from landing on the ground, or the prevailing winds strip away fallen snow, or both. I spent some time yesterday morning putting up snow fencing at the junction of trail #10 and trail #19, and pruning spruce branches at the junction of #19 and #6. I piled the boughs along the edges of the trail in an attempt to hold snow and reduce wind erosion. These are experimental snow management techniques; I'm looking forward to seeing whether they make any difference.
As for today, the trails are much the same as they have been over the past week: fast and icy, not the most enjoyable to ski on, and definitely not for beginners. There are some flurries and possible snow squalls in the forecast for later today. If we got even a few centimetres of new snow over our current base, skiing would immediately be vastly improved.

Thursday - warm and wet

It is currently plus 2 and raining. I would not recommend skiing today.

Wednesday - survived phase one of Colorado Low

Tuesday saw the arrival of a Colorado Low that brought us snow, accompanied by warming temperatures, followed by rain, followed by winds that gusted to nearly 100 km/h. Today's inspection of trails revealed that we still have quite good snow coverage; about 7 cm of yesterday's snow remained on the surface in a partially melted condition. The trails, and the ground everywhere, were littered with thousands of branches and twigs. I groomed all trails this afternoon with roller and snow-comb, and stopped along the way to pick up several hundred twigs and half dozen larger limbs or entire trees. Afterward I skied and it was surprisingly good, at a temperature of +2. The purpose of the grooming was not really to produce good ski conditions now, but to create a uniform packed base for future snowfalls (if they come).
The second phase of the storm system is set to arrive tonight with more warmth and up to 25mm of rain. Time will tell if we can survive that one.

The forecast is not encouraging

We received one or two centimetres of snow in flurries yesterday, which served to soften up the trail surface just a bit. A few intrepid skiers were out on the trails Sunday. I did not see them in person, but I saw their tracks.
It looks like things will be much the same again today.
There is bad news in the weather forecast. A Colorado low is going to move through over the next 3 days, and it looks like it will bring more rain than snow. A return to colder temperatures is not expected until Thursday night.

Sunday - still no change

We are under a Snow Squall Warning, but as yet no significant snow has arrived here. The trail conditions continue to be icy and hard, with just a tiny bit of powder snow on top.
It looks like things are going to change on Tuesday. The weather forecasts all agree there will be precipitation, mostly in the form of snow. Some forecasts predict a bit of rain mixed in, and a high temperature that may go above 0. We will have to wait and see what the final result is

Saturday - much the same

We have not had any new snow, so trails are much the same as yesterday:icy and not very enjoyable to ski on. It's also pretty cold this morning at -16.

Friday morning - Wanted : more snow

Trail conditions are pretty much the same today as yesterday: hard icy crust with just a touch of powder snow on top. I did some grooming yesterday in the central area, with a heavy track-setter. It made some improvement, especially on trails where there was some powder snow drifted in. Generally however, conditions are not very good. I would not recommend skiing today. Another consideration today is the temperature; it is currently -17, which is rather cool.

Thursday morning - still icy

We've had a little bit of new snow, but not sufficient to really cover the icy crust below. The snow was accompanied by strong winds, so it was very unevenly distributed. In some places the snow blew away completely, while in other spots there are deep drifts. I tried a bit of grooming yesterday afternoon, but it was not very effective, so I stopped.
There are flurries in the forecast, and it's snowing lightly here now, but we need 5 to 10 cm to make conditions good again.
I would not recommend skiing today.

Meltdown finished - waiting for new snow

After yesterday's warmth and rain, the temperature is now sitting right on 0, and will drop during the day. We did not lose very much snow, but surface conditions today are going to be difficult, becoming hard and icy, certainly not the powder heaven we had a couple of days ago. I suspect we have a few bare spots, but will have to get out for a tour of the trails to confirm that.
The forecast says it will be cold over the next week, and there is a chance of flurries just about every day. I would not recommend skiing here until we get at least 5 cm of new snow.
10:40 a.m. update: It is snowing and blowing here right now. Not enough accumulation yet to make a real difference, but at least we are heading in the right direction. I may try a bit of grooming this afternoon and see how it works out. Grooming after warm, wet, soft conditions is tricky business;if you go on the snow too soon, you end up with hard-pack ice.

Warm and wet; please don't ski today

We're going through another warm, wet spell. Fortunately it looks like it will only last until tonight, and then we'll see a return to cooler temperatures. Please don't try skiing today. It won't be much fun, and it would just damage our snow base, leaving deep icy ruts that will be impossible to groom out.
A big thank-you to everyone who has left a donation in the box at the trail head. I've had some expenses with the groomer lately (new battery for the ATV, new drum for the roller/comb), so your contributions are greatly appreciated.

Good skiing early today - bad weather coming later

Warm weather with drizzle and rain is moving in this afternoon. Skiing should be very good up until about noon; conditions will get more difficult after that.
I will pack the skating loops this morning.
This was the view on the Southfield trail #12 this morning, with an ice crystal fog. We had great skiing until about noon.

More snow, more great skiing

The snowfall yesterday afternoon and evening left us with close to 10 cm of new snow, so I will be out at first light, packing it and smoothing things out.
Yesterday, when the temperature hit 0, the snow got very sticky and glide was poor. New fallen snow is the worst for this.Today's predicted high is -1, so hopefully we will avoid that problem; it would probably be best to ski early before the temperature goes up too much.
Thanks to TamE for pointing out in comments yesterday that some folks have been having problems in the parking lot. It is best to park only on the level area at the west end of the parking lot. If you go down the slope toward the east, you may have trouble getting back up again.
Here's your noon hour update: trails are all groomed except the skating loops. Skiing is near perfect, with blue sunny sky and comfortable temperature. So far, the glide is great.

North Plateau Trail approaching the viewpoint over the valley

The Pasture Trail