Open, 20º 4.8 inches of new snow and snowing at 6 am. Groomed this morning; Woodcock, Snow Goose, Turkey, Grouse, Peregrine, Chickadee, Middle and Upper Blue Jay. Loon, not this morning.

Parking lot is plowed, fires are lit, trails are perfect. Skiing is fabulous. BUT, the temperatures are expected to go to 29º/30º. New snow, and temperatures around 32º, you will need Maxiglide or Swix F4 on no wax skis today. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, ask if it is needed.

Open, 6º at 7 am and clear. Really good hard pack skiing, the track is good. Ian is out in a groomer on the “lower trails”.

25 km open, all trails, 25 km classic and 6 km skate.

Dick is up clipping the sides of the trails back on Middle and Upper Blue Jay. This is a day off from skiing for Dick. He had skied, many kms, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Monday became his day off. So it is a trail work day, and the work of the day involved loppers. Before the 3 feet of snow that fell last week his tool of choice was a shovel. He is happy to move on to cutting the sides of the trail back. Notice his work while you are skiing, you will see little branch cuttings here and there.

We had about 70 skiers yesterday, 2 had trouble with the uphill and downhill. The harder pack snow is not as forgiving as fresh new powder. If you have difficulties with a herringbone on the uphill. Start to march, in the herringbone, up the hill, keep your shoulders moving UP. If your snowplow isn’t working, concentrate on knees bent over your toes, and hands by or on your knees. Never “sit” on your heels, stay on the balls of your feet. These two tips help a lot.

And with all the new snow the animal tracks show up nicely. We are guessing these are coyote tracks, and it is looking for breakfast. These tracks have been spotted in the Turkey, Woodcock area.

Open, 2º at 6am. Forecast high today 23º and sunny. A beautiful day for a ski. 25 km open, 25 km classic and 6 km skate. The skiing really is as good as it gets.

“Kindness is like snow, it beautifies everything it covers.” Kahil Girbran. It is beautiful out there. If you have any photos to share, send them to me.

Cliff got a shot of some nice corduroy up at Styles Junction. The upper trails are great right now. Well, it is all good. Take your pick and today is supposed to be a little bit warmer and not windy. Tuesday a chance of snow.

Martha is out first thing most mornings, skis quite a few kms and gets great, “look what cool things I found” pictures. This nest was on the Chickadee, but not a chickadee nest. Chickadees house themselves in holes in trees. Chuck narrowed it down for us, (say that sarcastically)– migratory songbird. Thanks Martha for sharing!!!

Open, 6º at 7 am and clear skies. 25 km open, 25 km classic and 6 km skate. The skiing really is very, very, very good. It is the kind of great, that is great because of wonderful snow, cold temperatures and knowledgeable grooming. Ian is grooming today the Chickadee, Middle and Upper Blue Jay. (Brrrrr, this is a snow machine groom. So no whining from skiers about the cold.)

In the photo above are 2 of my favorite 8 year olds, Ryder and Graham, partners in fun and skiing. They have now skied the Chickadee 3 times in the last week. They chat, they smile, they have so much fun. Ryder’s dad is the dad we all want to ski with. He hands out M&Ms on the top of every hill climb. I want to ski with him too!!!!

Ian skis!! Ian and Rob out for a ski. He skied quite a bit yesterday. He said, “it’s pretty darn good.” Which is a lot coming from Ian.

Andy texted me, “I agree the skiing is sublime today Best ski of the season. Thanks!”

And there were quite a few words of the day suggestions yesterday. When you give me the word of the day in the parking lot. Tell me to write it on my phone, right that minute. Or you should email it to me later. Yep, I just forget. But thanks for all the submissions. Glorious was from Todd and was early on before my brain was else where.