Another nice day of skiing for early April. Fast fresh cord for the morning before getting a bit softer in the afternoon with warmer temps compared to previous two days. We have been grooming a 8km loop for skate skiing after 12″ of snow earlier in the week. The snow did get a bit softer and slower mid afternoon but a application of a structure tool (see photos below) and the right wax, fine skiing all day!! The loop was groomed Friday night and should be some very nice skiing Saturday morning before 11am. We will not be grooming the loop again but Sunday morning should still be some good skiing for early April. No tracks set and no charge to use the trails. The trails will be closed after this weekend.
Access to North Loup Friday afternoon.Start of North Loup trail late Friday afternoon. Groomed later in the evening.
Big time snow falling on Tuesday. Measuring 10-12″ new snow as of 7pm, 30-32 degrees. East winds 10mph. Another inch or so during the night bringing the storm total to 11-13″. New snow packing down to 5-6″. Mid afternoon roll-combed the 8km loop we have been grooming and skiing on as of late. The snow was just starting to get sticky, making for some challenging grooming at times. Combed/Ginzu out the connector trail and decided to wait to do any more combing/Ginzu grooming until it drops a degree or two. Early evening I skied the loop. Was a bit soft, naturally, but still very nice skiing and glide was better than I expected, probably helped I rubbed on some FC040S and slightly cooler temps. March ending nicely with 31 skiable days with just two days a bit dicey. Skiing next three mornings will most likely be best before noon. Grooming planned on 8km next three evenings. Grooming skate only and no tracks being set.
Getting stuck on North Loup with the rollpacker. Few passes with the snowmobile then another pass with roller, good to go. Groomed in the evening with Ginzu groomer.
A nice morning of skiing on the 8km loop we have been grooming. Fast conditions on mostly packed powder snow with a few more icy spots and thinning areas. Bit warmer today and combined with the sunshine, a few more icy spots and areas of thin cover. Still holding coverage on this 8km loop and should have some skiing this week. Chance of snow tomorrow night in to Wednesday and we will continue grooming the 8km loop if new snow does fall.
Very good to Excellent Mid winter. 12 degrees, mix sun/clouds off and on flurries. Grooming on 8km of trail. 5″ fresh snow past 48 hours compacted to 1-3″ packed powder on top of 1-3″ icy/frozen granular base.
Last night North Loup and the connector trail to North Loup was roll combed. A inch of fluffy snow on top this morning. Skiing was spectacular on North Loup this morning, just a few cruncy/icy spots but skiable throughout. Otherwise, very good coverage and 95% excellent skiing. We will continue grooming this 8km loop through the weekend as areas skiers have expressed interest in skiing. Not recommended to ski other trails as there are areas of standing water that have thin layer of ice with snow on top. We are closed for lodging on the season but have taken in three families displaced by the flood and prepared to take in more folks.
Winterlike weather returning with 4-5″ of fresh snow and temps in the teens. Later morning (Wednesday), North Loup was groomed using a better section of Skaters Waltz to access the Loup since these trails still had snow and ice coverage before the new snow. Skiing on the groomed later was not too bad, minus the low areas that had water/slush. Snow since grooming has improved the skiing but a few low areas still wet. Temp has been in the upper teens, freezing down most of the low areas and should make for better grooming and skiing next time around, most likely Thursday night and skiing should be very nice on Friday and Saturday mornings.
Snowy conditions on North Loup Thursday morning.Trees flocked with snow in the skinny field on Sukkerbusk.
