Open, -8º to start the day. BUT warming up to around 20º and sun. Yesterday was a toasty 16º with sun and no wind. It was lovely. Almost everyone was over dressed.

The skiing is great! All trails open. 25 km classic and 6 km skate. I really can’t say this enough, the skiing is sublime, fantastic, wonderful, beautiful, and really, really great!

Photo of Ian on skis is thanks to Anna Terry. Ian said the Chickadee/Upper Loop of the Blue Jay are wonderful.

This family has been logging the hours! About 4 hours Saturday and Sunday every week. And 3 afternoons a week. New skiers always want to know how to get to be a better skier. This is how you do it, put in the hours!

We were cloud watching, hoping to read the clouds for a weather report. We only saw one airy cloud from the ground on Saturday. So, I looked this morning on all the weather sites we follow. We are in a winter storm watch for Monday/Tuesday. The National Weather Service is saying 8-15 inches of snow Monday morning through Tuesday morning. And the wind is suppose to blow. Temperatures in the 20ºs.

Open, -6º at 6 am. No wind. The forecast for today is for 11º and sun.

All trails are open. 25 km classic and 6 km skate. The skiing is really, really good. This is the perfect day for a Chickadee, Loon, Waite’s Loop and Upper Loop of the Blue Jay.

Plan ahead dress in layers, mittens instead of gloves, a neck warmer. A thin wool layer is great. Down is also a good insulator, temperature regulator.

But the best are dry layers to put on as needed. A dry mask or neckie, dry socks, and shirt. That is what feels good and you won’t get as chilled on the way home.

And Jessie Diggins…. Jesse was first yesterday in a 10 km individual start World Cup race in Sweden. Such a monumental moment for American Nordic Ski Racing. This is HUGE!!! Not only did Jesse win but Rosie was 8th, Sadie was 10th. And Gus was 9th in the men’s race. It was a great day. It is very exciting to look at the results and see names we know and love. The American Women’s team had 8 women racing in that race. Eight means we have a lot of women skiing fast. Heather and Gretchen used to babysit KO and now she is skiing in World Cup races. We have been watching the races on You Tube in the evening. I know there are neighbors that have figured out how to watch the races on Peacock live in the mornings. Andy told me a cup of coffee and watching your neighbors ski race is the best!

Open, -2º at 6 am and light snow falling, maybe a half inch. It is a little windy at 6 am. Forecast high today, Friday is 7º. The forecast high for Saturday is 11º and Sunday is 21º.

All trails are open, 25 km classic and 6 km skate. The skiing is fabulous. The cold snow is really nice, it’s slower but not sticky. Ian is out re-grooming everything but Loon. To be out in cold weather takes pre-planning, but is manageable.

Dress in layers (on your legs too). Try to avoid cotton. Neck warmers and hoods help. Mittens are way warmer than gloves. Hand warmers or toe warmers are helpful, if you need them.

When Nordic skiing we all warm up quite a bit. So that makes it a great sport for cold weather (No chairlift). Sweating does happen. A dry shirt to wear for your second lap and/or to wear home is really nice.

Another thought for pandemic masking times, our masks get wet with condensation in this cold weather. A dry mask or neck gaiter is also really nice.

I see a trend here, dry cloth next to our skin are better than wet. Whether it is your shirt, mask or mittens or gloves. Pack a bag with extras clothes. Some days I go through 4 masks.

Open, 20º at 6 am and partly cloudy skies. All trails are open and the skiing is wonderful. Nice tracks. I did hear the Middle Blue Jay is a little soft. Soft is good for me. Ian finds soft, not perfect.

But the weather……….today the weather is perfect. The temperature starting at 20º, will be dropping slightly during the day. The forecast for tonight- wind chill advisory tonight thru Friday morning. Temperatures Thursday night down to -5º. High Friday of 7º. Saturday’s high 10º, Sunday warming up to around 20º.

But we all have warm clothes. Dress in layers. Try to avoid cotton. Neck warmers and hoods help. Mittens are way warmer than gloves.

When Nordic skiing we all warm up quite a bit. So that makes it a great sport for cold weather. (And no chairlift.) So sweating happens. A dry shirt to wear for your second lap and/or to wear home is really nice.

Another thought for pandemic masking times, our masks get wet with condensation in this cold weather. A dry mask or neck gaiter is also really nice.

I see a trend here, dry cloth next to our skin is better than wet. Whether it is your shirt, mask or mittens or gloves. Pack a bag with extras clothes. Some days I go through 4 masks.