New Year's Eve

The lake trail at Pilot Knob State Park skied pretty well today.  There's not enough snow to set tracks but the thin layer was good for skate skiing.  

   

First of the season

I had to start the season out with some work on the snowmobile since it didn't want to start.  Turned out to be enough fuel gummed up in the carburetors to be the cause.  This was solved after a thorough cleaning of the carbs.

I was able to take the roller and new snow mover out on Pilot Knob Lake this morning to get a decent start on that trail.   Even though there was only one inch of snow on the ice it should skate ski fairly well once it sets up.  The new snow mover needs some modifications before I use it again, but it did help accumulate some more depth on the trail.  It might be possible to take the Ginzu out next time for a much better skating surface.

Jeff

Spring skiing

 It looks like our skiing season is coming to an end. I enjoyed skating on the lake this morning as spring skiing can be the best! But it won't last much longer.  It wasn't the best season with such a late start and small snowfalls, but we did get some good skiing in after all.  Time for me to prepare the snowmobile and grooming equipment for storage.

Trumpeter swans

Morning ski

 The road through Pilot Knob was great for skating this morning.  I'm not sure how many more melting days it can take so enjoy it while it's here. 

Pilot Knob

 The skate deck on the road was rejuvenated Wednesday night.  For the lake, the skate deck was rejuvenated and the classic tracks were regroomed. 

New snow

 We recieved 3 to 4 inches of snow yesterday.  The lake has been groomed with the ginzu for both classic and skate skiing.  I rolled the road and did make a classic track with the track setter.  It's a shame that we have melting temperatures in the forecast this week. It's very beautiful out there!

Pilot Knob lake 

Pilot Knob road 

Pilot Knob

 The skate deck was rejuvenated this morning on the road and lake in Pilot Knob state park. Classic tracks look fairly good on the road and very good on the lake. Temperatures were about negative 12 during grooming so I expect the snow to set up very well for some great skiing today!

Warmer temps

 Should be some good skiing conditions this weekend plus the temperatures will be more pleasant.  I groomed the lake for both classic and skate skiing this morning.  And there was just enough time to refresh the skate deck on the road.  The classic tracks were still intact on the road but need to be skied in after the light snow we received. 

Pilot Knob road 

Pilot Knob

 In the last couple of days we have probably received about one inch of snow total. I groomed the road and lake at Pilot Knob State Park for both classic and skate skiing this morning.

Pilot Knob road

 Just a picture of the road Wednesday afternoon. 

Pilot Knob

 Both the road and the lake in Pilot Knob State Park have been groomed tonight for both skate style and classic style skiing.

Pilot Knob road 

The Golf Course

 I groomed the golf course today but it is very thin in spots. It's only groomed for skating,  since it needs a lot more snow to set a consistent classic track.

The lake

 I regroomed the lake this morning for both classic and skate style skiing.  I did not have time to do the road again but it looks pretty good from the gate.

Pilot Knob

We received a good two or three inches with wind yesterday. I took the ginzu over the road and lake this morning.  The skate deck will need another grooming before it's really good. However the classic tracks should be good to go now.  Stay warm!

Pilot Knob road 

The lake

 I really enjoyed skate skiing the lake today. The classic tracks looked a little icy in spots but mostly pretty good. But the corduroy skated so nicely!

Back at it

 The snomobile has a new ignition module and is working fine again. I was able to groom Pilot Knob lake last night for both skate and classic skiing. I did make one pass on the skate deck on the road trying to wipe out a lot of snomobile tracks and walking damage. It's certainly skiable but is very thin in spots. 

Snowmobile is down

 Well we probably received about 2 inches of snow, but unfortunately my snowmobile would not cooperate. I just barely got started making the first pass on the Pilot Knob Road and the snowmobile would not run. It took me a couple of hours to get it back to the trailer. So I will look into what it takes to repair it. Until then please enjoy the fresh snow ungroomed.

Pilot Knob

The skate deck for both the road and lake at Pilot Knob State Park have been rejuvenated this morning.  Both places look good for skating today.  New snow will be needed to reset the classic tracks.  Snow is in the forecast for tonight.

PIlot Knob Road

 The skate deck was rejuvenated last night on the road through Pilot Knob.  Snow cover was too thin to reset the classic tracks.  The lake had some rainwater soaking into the groomed ski trail on Sunday so it will have some ice spots no doubt.  I'll work on the lake after this weekly warmup is done.

Pilot Knob state park.

 I rejuvenated the skate deck on Pilot Knob Road this morning.  The classic tracks remain from yesterday. 

I also groomed the lake for both skate and classic stride. But there is still some water coming up through and soaking into the snow in a few areas.  So expect a few icy spots today.

The lake.

Pilot Knob road

The road through Pilot Knob has been groomed for both skate and classic skiing.  However the classic tracks do go down to the road in spots so be warned. Even after using the snow mover to add depth for the tracks, it was still too thin in a few spots. The skate deck looks fairly good.

Moving snow.

New Snow

 We received about 4" of heavy wet snow after a rainy day.  Grooming will take place after it gets at least 27 degrees or colder.  First attempt hopefully will take place Saturday morning.  It might take longer for the lake since there is a lot of rain water sitting between the ice and new snow.

Pilot Knob lake

 The skate deck has been rejuvenated this morning on the lake.

Pilot Knob lake

 After four straight days of melting I was surprised to see a decent snow pack remaining on the lake.  I left the classic tracks alone since those probably  could not have been improved. They look icy in spots but still in fairly good shape. However the skating deck was rejuvenated and should be in pretty good shape this weekend. 

 

Rejuvenated skate deck, old classic tracks groomed last weekend 

A little chunky but some good corduroy for skating. 

Pilot Knob lake

 The skating deck on Pilot Knob lake has been refreshed with the ginzu groomer this morning.

Yesterday the skiing was very good! Today should be a great day to ski  also!

Pilot Knob lake

 This morning the lake at Pilot Knob has been groomed with the ginzu for both skate and classic style skiing. It should be in very good shape today. Yesterday skiing was very good also.

Pilot Knob Lake

 It was nice to finally get the snowmobile out on Pilot Knob Lake and roll the trail. I also used the track setter to make a classic track that is in fair to good condition. Tomorrow I should be able to take the ginzu groomer out and make it all better.