Thankfully, the temperatures got to minus 11 this morning in the park.  However, the sun is higher in the sky and we are seeing greater effects of the sun on the snow and trails that face into the sun – expect softer/melted snow in these areas, while other areas in the trees and facing away from the sun have winter-like snow conditions.  

As of last night’s grooming: 

Capilano:  skate lanes groomed.  Classic tracks in place. Watch for some icy patches, but overall good.    

Goldbar:  all skate lanes groomed. Classic tracks in place.  Watch for a new detour on the northshore trail (to by-pass the significant ice flow on the northern part of the trail heading east, the south part of the trail has been made into a 2-way with classic tracks set on both sides of the skate lanes for east and west traffic.  Some icy spots on the northshore on the sun exposed trails near the detour. 

Goldstick:  skate lanes groomed with existing classic tracks in place.  Shallower tracks and ice bottomed tracks in places.  Watch for icy areas on downhill corners and areas that get more snowploughing (downhills/corners), including the creekcrossing area – use caution.  Classic tracks reset on creekcrossing loop – expect softer conditions on this part of the loop. 

Southloop: skier tracked only – no grooming.  Ice on some uphills and downhills, use caution. 

Overall, currently the trails ski well.  Expect hard-track conditions with a solid base-layer of ice under the groomed snow, with areas of shallow classic tracks with ice/glazed bottoms.  Icy patches.  

Happy trails from your Edmonton Nordic Grooming Team