A Possible Temperature Problem

 Right now, the snow is still beautiful and skiing is very good. But there is a potential problem with the temperature today. It is already just below 0, and it looks like it will probably rise to slightly above 0 for part of the day (before getting very cold tonight).

This will not have much effect on the quantity of snow, but it may transform our beautiful powder to a granular, icy kind of snow. Not nearly as pleasant to ski on.

I will do a partial groom this morning, concentrating on areas that have gotten drifted over the past 2 days.

11 a.m. Update: Most trails have just been groomed; only a few short sections have been left undone (but they were done Wednesday). As I write this, the temperature is sitting at minus a half degree. Close enough to 0 that the snow may be getting a bit sticky, but not actually melting. Perhaps we'll get lucky.

Very Good Skiing Continues

 For the first time in several days, we do not have any new snow to report. But that's OK because we now have plenty. All trails were groomed yesterday, and for the most part, that grooming is still looking good. There are some spots that are drifted in as a result of yesterday's high winds. I will not be grooming today, as I have other commitments.

It's currently -11 here, with a forecast high of -2. Hopefully it won't go higher than that. Looking ahead, there are a couple of days coming up, where the temperature may get a bit too warm. Friday's forecast high is around 0, followed by a very cold Saturday, and then near 0 again on Sunday. We'll have to wait and see what impact this has on our snow.

If you come to ski, please remember that most of the northern trails are still closed due to damage from logging operations. The furthest northwest that you can ski is the intersection of #14 and #1a.

This is getting repetitive

 We received new snow again overnight. This is probably the largest single snowfall we've got so far this year; it's close to 10 cm. It's beautiful powder, so right now, we have great "backcountry" conditions.

Yesterday, I groomed about 2/3 of the trails, including lots of track-setting. This morning, that is all buried. I will start grooming right after breakfast. With this amount of snow, I think I will start with the roller/comb only, and then maybe follow up later with the track-setter.

Additional snowfall is possible today, in squalls, and the wind is going to pick up, so there will be some drifting.

The temperature is comfortable; currently -2 and it will drop to -8 during the day.

Noon Update: All trails have been groomed with the roller/comb, and some in the central area have been track-set as well. Skiing is very good. It is getting windy, and there is some drifting in open areas.

Please note that none of the trails in the most northerly part of the network are open. Logging operations have made them unskiable. The furthest north you can go is trails #9 and #14, and the connections of these to trails #1 and #1a.

More Snow, More Terrain

 We received 3 to 5 cm of new snow overnight. It's hard to tell exactly how much, because there was a lot of drifting yesterday, so the depth is variable.

We also have some "new" terrain to ski on. As I reported yesterday afternoon, some additional trails have been opened in the north part of our network; #9, #14, #1a, and #1 Mainline as far north as its junction with 9 and 14. These were all affected by logging operations as recently as 2 weeks ago, so they all have some rough spots on them. Last night's new snow will help to cover these.

I will do a little bit of grooming this morning, mainly cleaning up trails that had heavy drifting yesterday. I will not groom the entire network, because it looks like we are going to get more snow this afternoon and tonight.

Skiing is good, on powder snow over a packed base. Temperature now is -12, with a forecast high of -5.

Good Skiing Continues

 Conditions on the trails today are still good, although not quite as nice as yesterday. We have a strong wind blowing, which is causing snow to drift over some trail sections that are out in the open. I will not attempt to groom again until after the wind has died down.

Today I'm going to check a couple of the northern trails to see if they can be re-opened now that logging operations have finished.

Afternoon Update: I have opened four additional trail sections in the northern part of the network:

1. #1 Mainline downhill section from #12 to the junction of #9 and #14

2.Trail #14 from Mainline #1 to the one-way uphill #1a.

3. Trail #9 The Pasture

4. Trail #1a

All these sections have a few rough spots on them. Up until 10 days ago, heavy logging machinery was operating on them. You can expect to see very thin snow cover, dirt bleeding through, and lots of twigs.

Another Gift of Snow

 We have received more new snow overnight. The amount so far is about 4 cm, but it's still snowing, and the forecast says heavy flurries will continue until past noon.

There will be no grooming until it looks like the snowfall is coming to an end. In the meantime, we have very nice conditions, with fresh powder over a packed base. The temperature is a comfortable -4.

As reported in yesterday's afternoon update, trail #12 has now been opened for skiing. This is the most southerly of the northern trails, which were impacted by logging operations. Please do not ski further north beyond #12. Many trail sections in the north end are totally blocked and unskiable.

Noon Update: All trails have been groomed, including track-setting wherever it's appropriate. Skiing is very good; we're getting close to a 9 out of 10. One little drawback, is that the temperature is creeping up toward -2 in sunshine, so the snow is starting to get just a little bit sticky. Glide is not great. Make sure you have a good glide wax on your skis.

A Gift of Snow

 Yesterday, we received an unexpected gift: about 5 cm of new powder snow. Most trails were groomed, but snowfall continued after grooming finished, so you will find a little bit of fresh powder on top of the packed surface. I will be going out early this morning to tidy up a few trails that have not been done since Thursday.

It looks like it will be a nice day to ski. Current temperature is -12, heading for a high of -4, with light to moderate winds. There may be some additional flurries.

Conditions today are an 8 out of 10.

Northern trails are still closed, due to damage from logging operations.

2 p.m. Update: I've just re-opened trail #12 Southfield for the first time this year. This is one of the trails that was impacted by logging operations, and you will see that if you ski it. There is dirt bleeding through the snow in a few spots, especially at the NE corner where it intersects #1 Mainline.