best cross country skiing Wisconsin
This is it! This is what we work for during summer trail maintenance, and wait for as we watch the weather forecasts in November and December. The weather changed in late November, colder temps finally arrived and the very wet trails began freezing as we began grooming in early December. We started skiing December 10th after grooming some of the trails closest to the warming house. By mid December, cold weather allowed more grooming and we've enjoyed surprisingly good skiing for this early in the season.The weekend of December 23-26 (and the following week) became a groomer's challenge. We were all set to groom late the evening of December 23rd. That evening the Hills received 2" of very sticky snow, and the forecast called for lots of rain on December 25th. By group consensus, we decided to avoid grooming the December 23rd snowfall, let it sit and hope it would absorb the forecast rain. Mild temps all that weekend culminated in 0.7" rain the evening of Christmas Day, followed by falling temps and A MAJOR WINDSTORM on December 26th. We're glad we allowed the December 23rd snowfall to rest without grooming. It magically absorbed the December 25th rainfall. After the December 26th windstorm, temps fell the week of December 26th, and our groomers spent loads of hours clearing tree-falls and branches. And skiers helped by flicking and flicking and flicking the sticks. As the New Years weekend approached the trails were in good shape, and skiers from near and far marveled at the quality of the skiing in the Hills.


Freeze-thaw cycles have created a crusty hardpack base. With temps starting at 14° F, grooming was a challenge early this morning - tough to penetrate that frozen surface. Almost the entire Eastside skate lane yielded to the knives on the grooming implement, producing enough of a loose surface for skate skiers to ski with abandon. Rocket fast skating lasted throughout the morning, slightly sticky conditions didn't show until about noon.
Looking at the parking lot by the warming house, this was the place to be! Nice to know that all those skiers don't find themselves crowded while exploring this lovely trail system - they just seem to disappear among the many different loops. If we groom it, will they come? More grooming planned for tomorrow morning!
Recent comments from the logbook in the warming house
- 1/29: Beautiful day & trails were so nice! We especially appreciated the tasty caramel corn! :) --Chetek, WI
- 1/31: I came to see your wonderful forest! and ski track! --Switzerland
- 1/31: Beautiful grooming! The Westside was outstanding! --Ladysmith, WI
- 1/31: Skijoured the Westside/team effort/excellent snow! --Rice Lake, WI
- 2/2: That infamous groundhog - BLUE HILLS BILL - couldn't find his shadow anywhere! Better ski while you can. Great fun today! --Ladysmith, WI
- 2/2: Very nice. 1st time. --St. Croix Falls, WI
- 2/2: Amazingly good skiing! Thanks. --author's location unknown
- 2/3: Back again today for some great skiing! --Amery, WI
- 2/3: A little icy at the start, but great "spring" skiing as the sun came out. Great job groomers, we appreciate your hard work. --Apple Valley, MN
- 2/4: Possible the BEST ski of the season - perhaps my life! Woo Hoo! The best line of the week: Groomer replying to person asking how he made the grooming so good, "I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you." Thank you groomers for scratching up the surface. --Ladysmith, WI
- 2/4: Wow! Good edge control and blazing fast! Thanks to everybody that makes these trails GO! --Ladysmith, WI
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