March 23 - It looks like this might be the end

 We've had an extended period of very mild weather. Looking ahead in the long range forecast, it doesn't look like there is a significant snowfall headed our way, so it appears our ski season has come to an end.

It was a good year, skiing-wise. We had 77 days of skiable conditions, which is 3 more than last year. The number of people who came out to enjoy the trails was certainly much higher than a year ago.

I want to thank those of you who made donations toward the upkeep of the trails. My operating costs for the groomer were about $500 ($300 for fuel and $200 for maintenance). I am going to spend about $400 on new signage for next year. Any donation money left over after these expenses are paid will be given to the Bruce Trail Conservancy to acquire more land to expand and improve the Trail.

Plans for next season include:

    - more aggressive pruning and limbing of spruce and pine trees to allow snow to penetrate through the canopy to the trail surface;

    - widening of one very narrow spot in the spruce plantation on trail #23 (this has already been done);

    - some levelling of trail sections where there is a cross-slope on the trail;

    - improved signage to keep walkers off the ski trails.

I am also going to explore possibilities with one additional landowner to see if we might be able to have a new trail that would enable skiers to avoid one of the most difficult hills in the southern part of the trail network. This is a "long shot", but if successful, it would make the trails much more accessible to beginner level skiers.

PLEASE NOTE: ONCE THE SKI TRAILS AND SNOWSHOW TRAIL ARE CLOSED FOR THE SEASON, THEY ARE CLOSED TO ALL USERS. THESE TRAILS ARE NOT OPEN FOR WALKING IN THE SUMMER.

I will begin taking down ski trail signage, as time permits, over the next couple of weeks.

March 17 - still closed

 We have received no new snow, so our trails remain closed.

I am going to stop making daily posts, until conditions change. If we get a major snowfall which allows us to re-open, then I will post it.

March 16 - still closed

 The forecast is calling for snow this morning, but I haven't seen any yet. Our trails are closed again today, due to lack of snow.

March 15 - Still closed

 At a temperature of -11 this morning, it's certainly cold enough for skiing. But we have no snow. Trails remain closed.

March 14 - still closed

 Trails remain closed, as we have not received any new snow.

March 13 - Trails Closed

 Our trails remain closed, due to lack of snow. The photo below is an example.

Black Cherry trail #23, at 6:30 this morning

March 12 - Trails are Closed

 We have lost almost all our snow. It would be impossible to ski here today.

March 11 - Trails Closed

 Today is not a ski day.

We have lost a huge amount of snow since yesterday morning. I don't believe I've ever seen so much snow disappear in one day. Yesterday's high was +14, and the temperature only dropped to +10 overnight, so the melting continued. With a forecast high today of +16, things will not get better.

There are now numerous thin spots and bare spots on our trails. Other places, where the snow was packed very hard, are now glare ice.

Consequently, trails are closed.

Whether this is the end of our season remains to be seen. It is not unusual to have a significant snowfall in later March, or even early April, so it is possible we may get one or two more days of skiing in. However, for the foreseeable future, there will be no skiing here.

Trail #3, about 6:30 this morning

March 10 - Timing is everything

 Day 77 of skiing this season.

Yesterday afternoon, we had what I consider to be good spring skiing; trail surfaces were predominantly soft and controllable, but not too slow.  Shady spots were still a little bit icy. I expect it will be about the same again today.

But timing is everything! Don't come too early. Right now, with the temperature sitting at 0, the trails are very icy and fast. You will need to wait until late morning or early afternoon for the trails to soften up again. We are expecting sunny skies with a high of +12, so it should be very pleasant out on the trails this afternoon, if you enjoy spring skiing.

Yesterday afternoon - the uphill climb to the lookout point on North Plateau

March 9 - Spring skiing

 Day 76 of skiing this season.

With a current temperature of 0, the trails are icy and fast right now. But as the temperature rises to +9 under sunshine, trails will soften up. This afternoon, it will be slow and slushy.

We still have adequate snow cover on all our trails, but as the spring-like weather continues, you may begin to see a few thin spots. This is the reality of spring skiing.

Late afternoon update: this afternoon, we have what I consider to be good spring skiing. Trails in sunny areas were soft and manageable, without being excessively slow. Trails in shaded areas were still a touch icy, but tolerable.

Trail #12, on the downhill section in the open field

March 8 - cautious re-opening

 Day 75 of skiing this season.

This morning, conditions are still very icy and fast, so trails will remain closed. However, our temperature is going to rise to +7 later on, so trail surfaces should soften up and slow down. I plan to open the trails at about noon.

Conditions will still be challenging. Only very good skiers should come here today.

March 7 - trails are closed

 We have seen no improvement over yesterday's conditions. Trails are very icy, and not skiable.

March 6 - Disappointment

 We went to bed last night with a snow squall warning in effect, but woke up this morning to find we had received virtually no new snow: perhaps a half centimeter. This is not enough to make our trails skiable. Trail surfaces are still very icy and dangerous.

Trails are closed again today.

March 5 - still closed, but maybe tomorrow?

 We still have plenty of snow on the ground, but after so many freeze-thaw cycles it has been transformed into ice. Trails are very icy and dangerous, so they remain closed today.

There is a chance that things may get better for tomorrow. Snow squalls are forecast for this area tonight and on Saturday morning. These could bring significant new snow accumulation. But snow squalls can be very localized and very unpredictable. We will have to wait and see what things look like tomorrow morning.

March 4 - still closed

 With warm temperatures and sunshine yesterday afternoon, it was possible to ski for a few hours. But that was yesterday. This morning we are back below freezing, and it will remain there all day. The result is that trails are once again very icy and dangerous.

Trails are closed today, and based on the forecast, they will probably remain closed until Monday.

March 3 - still closed

 Our trails are closed again today, due to extremely icy conditions. If the temperature reaches the forecast high of +5, then it may become possible to ski this afternoon.

I will post an update around noon.

UPDATE: It's now warm enough and sunny enough that the icy surface of the trails has partly melted and softened up. It would now be possible to ski - spring conditions.

March 2 - still closed

 Our trails are closed again today. Although we had some snow flurries yesterday, there was no measurable accumulation, so trail surfaces remain very icy.

Please do NOT ski here today.

March 1 - Not a ski day

 After yesterday's warmth and rain, the temperature has again dropped below freezing, and will remain there throughout the day. Our trails are extremely icy; attempting to ski under these conditions would be dangerous.

Ski trails are closed today. I will be putting up a Trails Closed sign at the entrance on 5 Sideroad within the next hour. Please do not come here to ski today.