Very Icy

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

Right now, I do not recommend skiing here.

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

Not A Ski Day

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

I DO NOT RECOMMEND SKIING TODAY.

Weather Roller Coaster

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

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

Warm Weather Coming

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

There will be no grooming today.

Skiable but Challenging - again

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

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

Skiable, but Challenging

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

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

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

Still Icy

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

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

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

Right now, skiing is NOT recommended.

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

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