Arctic to Indian Traverse

  [Anchorage] - 7:00 PM, Tue Mar 16, 2010

Hoping to ski A-to-I this Saturday. It will be our first time on this trail. Wondering what kind of time commitment we should expect. Obviously depends on weather and current conditions but what's the average?
Thx

Report by carey b.

Kincaid Park

  [Anchorage] - 3:00 PM, Tue Mar 16, 2010

It's hard not to " gush " about how good it is to skate in these conditions. 10 out of 10 . Margaux's, Johdpur, Ice Box,Compression, Elliot's , Mize. Thanks groomers ! Just beautiful !

Report by Sandy N.

Hillside

  [Anchorage] - 3:00 PM, Tue Mar 16, 2010

Really critical with all sun and mid-afternoon warmth, to hit the trails at just the right time. As air temp hovered around 32 just before 1pm the trails were still quick and lots of shade to keep them most of them that way, especially Spencer. Could have been even faster at 11a or noon, but still, today has to be the 10/10. Used my cyclemeter app for the first time skiing and I have to say the 5bucks invested was well worth it. Really neat to see all that data from one 80minute workout.

Report by Bob Cole.

Hillside

  [Anchorage] - 11:00 AM, Tue Mar 16, 2010

I thought skiing was 10/10 yesterday, even without grooming, but in retrospect it was only 9.9/10. Double Bubble and Spencer were out of this world today! Thanks again, groomers!

Report by Ken Zafren.

Alaska Pacific University

  [Anchorage] - 10:00 AM, Tue Mar 16, 2010

-not groomed since previous report
-mild rutting from ski and non-ski traffic
-challenging in previously not so challenging places (fast and "tracky")
-overall, still very worth it in this spectacular weather

Report by John McCormick.

Kincaid Park

  [Anchorage] - 6:00 PM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

Mize, Sisson, and west half of Margeaux are in great shape with Mize and Margeaux the freshest groom. Watch the track on the Mountain View downhill as it is one wide track at the top and I did not notice how far down since I hopped out.

Report by Larry Rundquist.

Hillside

  [Anchorage] - 5:00 PM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

All trails in really good condition. Skiing getting faster as the evening went on and the exposed areas were cooling off. Another day or so of this freeze/thaw conditions and it should be really fast. Bring on the spring skiing!

Spencer had good edging all around, no problems with ice on the corners, but that may change in a few places when it freezes up. Lots of foot traffic on the first and last parts of Spencer. Watch the last downhill where it parallels Hilltop as it looks like there is a new snowboard jump on the outside of one of the corners. It would be a bad spot to come across someone unexpectedly.

Lighted loops good all around. Tracks starting to get a little glazed in places which could make kick a bit tricky. Get out and ski if you can. If you can't, well get out and ski anyway.

Report by Jason Lamoreaux.

Russian Jack

  [Anchorage] - 11:00 AM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

Back trail of lighted loop just set (thank you MOA!) and punchy in places. Portions along Boniface reflect fresh dog tracks and pedestrian traffic. Fairways trails not set since last week but are in good condition.

Report by Marc Grober.

Homer - Lookout Mountain

  [Kenai] - 10:00 AM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

Great skiing in Homer - the groomers did an awesome job packing the trail for the Homer Marathon on Saturday from Lookout down to Baycrest. What a great course and fun race. Skiing will be good there this week - classic and skating. Thanks, Kachemak Nordic Club! Nowhere more beautiful to ski than Homer on a clear day.

Report by Ellen Toll.

Homer - Lookout Mountain

  [Kenai] - 10:00 AM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

Right you are, Ellen.

ADVERTISEMENT: The Kachemak Marathon, run this year on 3/14, is one of the very best races one can enter. In 2007 I skated, in 2010 I classiced, because conditions were good for it, and both experiences were outstanding.

This is more than a race: it's a fulfilling experience in the outdoors. This is a true cross country point-to-point race. The course is varied and extremely interesting, and the views extend from Redoubt in the northwest to China Poot in the southeast.

363 days until the next one.

If you don't want ot wear a bib, the touring is also excellent; and right now, and probably through April, conditions are quite good.

Report by C. Crawford.

Manitoba Mountain

  [Kenai] - 10:00 AM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

Lots of folks out on Manitoba on Saturday for a great day of skiing. Folks from Homer, Anchorage, California, and Europe converged to link tracks. Good snow, and a great small world experience when the Homer brother-in-law of the California SmartWool sponsor of the Alaska Huts show scheduled for this Thurs at Bear Tooth discovered the sponsored presenters--Dan and Janine Patitucci--trying their skis in the Kenai Mountains. Tracked the place up just in time for a forecast new dump that should have left a clean slate about now...

Report by Alaska Huts.

Eagle River - North Fork

  [Anchorage] - 10:00 AM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

ERHS needs grooming desperately. It has been 5-6 days now. Pretty please with sugar on top seemed to work well last time. Thanks in advance for keeping these new trails nice for all of the skiers. We are working hard to banish the boot punchers.

Report by Eric Sees.

Chester Creek Trail

  [Anchorage] - 9:00 AM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

8:35 a.m.--From my window, I can see Muni snowmachine groomers passing on the Chester Creek Trail from the Goose Lake/Tikishla Park area headed west toward Westchester.

Report by John Wolfe.

Denali View Chalet trails

  [Mat-Su] - 8:00 AM, Mon Mar 15, 2010

Set new track North Denali View Chalet sign at mile 15 Petersville Road but some drifting snow conditions might blow in some sections of trail.
Trail is lightly marked.
Will set new tracks Friday 11 am.
Please note that Denali View Chalet only has services for registered guests.

Report by Eric Schmidt.

Hillside

  [Anchorage] - 5:00 PM, Sun Mar 14, 2010

10/10 at Hillside - all trails = perfection. Fast, soft enough to enjoy every descent, and to make climbing relatively painless. Great temperatures, and obviously great grooming.

Report by James Chesher.

Kincaid Park

  [Anchorage] - 3:00 PM, Sun Mar 14, 2010

Never better. Even came upon a kill site of a spruce grouse by lynx at Four Corners.

Report by Chuck G.

Arctic to Indian Traverse

  [Anchorage] - 10:00 AM, Sun Mar 14, 2010

On March 13 we skied Arctic to Indian. The weather was great—sunny skies and no wind. There was no trail broken. Hopefully we set a great trail for those to come. The snow bridges are stable and the downhill on the Indian side is awesome—for now!

Report by Lisa Dale.

Kincaid Park

  [Anchorage] - 10:00 AM, Sun Mar 14, 2010

What a difference some warm temps make to the snow ! Margaux's, Johdpur, and Mize excellant skating and much faster than the last few day. Groomed to perfection !

Report by Sandy N.

Middle Fork Loop Trail

  [Anchorage] - 10:00 AM, Sun Mar 14, 2010

10 out of 10. Sides were starting to set up on downhill Powerline but lovely & soft. So, what's up w/the snowmachines? Are they free to go everywhere 24/7? Does alter the Glen Alps experience.

Report by holly r.

Arctic to Indian Traverse

  [Anchorage] - 10:00 AM, Sun Mar 14, 2010

Thanks Lisa for setting the great tracks! The trail was in excellent condition--the best any of us had ever seen it. The downhill from the pass to Indian was especially fun and easy with all of the fluffy snow. It was cloudy at the pass and snowing pretty heavy from the pass to Indian.

Report by Clare S .