We have re tracked the entire Norpine trail system.  The trail should be firmed up substantially from the original grooming run we did.  Extremely warm temperatures this weekend will make for late spring like conditions.  Please see www.norpinetrails.org for the latest and most detailed grooming report.

We have been grooming all week and the trails are standing tall!  All 58km of trails are now open with access from all trail heads.  Including the loops in front of Solbakken which are pet friendly!  Waxless skis are recomended due to unseasonably warm skiing conditions.  Skate skiing is best from Lutsen Ski Hill Road to Caribou Trail.

The Deeryard Lake Main Loop, Firetower and Short Loop are all skiing fine.  Two track classic skiing throughout the system.  We have closed the Pioneer loop until further snow accumulates.

We groomed out the Western side of the Pioneer loop then did all of the deeryard lake loops including the short loop and the firetower run.  It is possible to ski from Cascade to the Deeryard lake area but you need to walk about 2 blocks until you get reasonable snow.  Expect icier conditions on the lower portions of the Pioneer loop but very good conditions on the Deeryard portions of the trail.  We have closed the lookout mountain ski due to a dangerous boulder in the trail.  Hall/Massie and all connectors to Solbakken and Lutsen remain in very poor condition but skiers are using the trails.

 We have groomed all trails including Deeryard, Pioneer, Ridge Run, Lookout, Connector to Hall/Massie, Hall Massie loops, and connector to Lutsen.  The only trail that remains ungroomed are those South of the Jonvik creek bridge.  Most skiing is similar to late spring conditions requiring care in the early morning and late evening hours and we would recomend rock skis on much of the system with the exception of:  Deeryard, Pioneer Loops, Lookout Mountain.  The run from Caribou will ski well until the trail sub surface gets very uneven, then it is going to be walking it until you hit more flat subsurface conditions.  Please see www.norpinetrails.org for the latest conditions and updates.

On Tuesday we groomed the Pioneer loop and attempted to groom the Hall/Massie loops but by the time we got to the Hall road we gave up due to lack of snow.   Pioneer loop will ski if you ski it clockwise.  Skiing it the other direction could be hazordous as the downhill runs have some exposed dirt spots.  The Deeryard loop continues to be the loop of choice with base depths in the 2-5 inch range, nice track setting with our new Ginzu double track groomer and cooler temperatures.