Conditions are a 10!

Unbelievable skiing everywhere. Has anyone been out to Punderson? Those trails are a blast, especially if groomed. The trail system is actually named after Betsy Youngman,  our very own Olympic XC skier, although I think those signs giving her kudos are long gone.  The big sled dog races are Feb. 26-27, so a tip is to get out there a day or two before or a day or two afterwards for an excellent groomed trail to ski on. Don't go the day of the dog races, because the trail is closed except for the mushers. Punderson also has the greatest sledding hill ever, in case the kids want to sled while you ski. But when you see the hill, you probably will want to try it too. It's a former ski slope, probably a quarter mile long. and has a safety zone in the middle for returning up the hill. -MF

Under The Lights

Got across to Chapin last night to ski under the lights. Trails continue to be good with a track set. Loads of people out, right up to 9:00pm. Using head lights for the first time we went over to the Over Look - really cool skiing at night. We will be back on Saturday
PhillW

Kudos to Lake Metroparks

The Ohio Championship/Nordic Flurry races went off without a hitch on Saturday in the bitter cold at Chapin Forest. The two Brians and their crew of volunteers did a great job, as usual. Even the National Ski Patrol (Nordic) was there. This is the 20 year anniversary of the Nordic Flurry, although the weather did not cooperate every year over that period. Also congrats to all the brave skiers, young and old, who turned out to race. More kudos to Tom Cook and his Hilltoppers crew for coordinating the kids races, too. Hopefully Mother Nature (or Ullr, the Norse god of winter) will continue to throw snow at us this week as well. Build that base! -MF

Wilderness Lodge - Sunday and Monday
We spent time on teh NY trails this weekend, wow - great. Tracked trails all down the Peak Trail, High Road, KC Cut, A Frame. Also around teh big field just outside teh lodge - it was so hard to leave today. - Phill W

Big Met groomed for skating!

I've literally waited 35 years for this to happen, and have sent numerous letters and emails over the years (not that they actually had any effect towards this end) but the day has finally arrived! Today I skied a 6' wide skating lane which follows the cart path around the 18 holes of Big Met golf course. It's pretty flat terrain, but the path meanders nicely for a total of about 4 miles, I would guess. The only glitch comes at the end of the path, when it heads up a popular sledding hill, and should return to the clubhouse. The grooming peters out, and the cart path has been plowed for sledders to make their way to the hill. The best thing to do is follow a skier-made trail to the right at the base of the hill, avoiding the sledder traffic altogether, and pick up the grooming at the bottom of the small hill to the right. Or you could simply reverse course altogether. I do hope the staff re-grooms every few days, because the hikers are discovering this trail, and punching holes in it with their boots. Not a big problem for skaters, but a definite problem for classic skiers.  I feel another email to the parks developing...anyway, if you're a Westsider - get going!-MF

Kendall Lake

Skied Kendall Lake today, just south of Peninsula.  Skier/hiker/snowshoe packed. Somewhat bumpy, and the chute on the backside is very slick, and has a woop-de-doo bump right before the bridge/creek crossing.  If you hit it with any speed, you're going into the creek...The big downhill at the sledding bowl is also quite slick, so be careful...It all needs a once over with a snow machine, but I don't know if they actually ever do that. Tomorrow I'm checking out the supposedly groomed Big Met Golf Course extolled in the P.D. today (picture didn't show the surface). I say "supposedly groomed" because in the past, the only thing they ever did was drive around the cart path with what looked like a 4x4. I thought it was just bored greenskeepers having some winter fun...-MF

Places to ski ..

Great idea on Blog Mike. thanks for update on Orchard. I'll probably see you in Rocky River Res. sometime soon - hard to beat it for convenience on wknights. I've also been skiing at Indian Hollow MetroPark in Grafton as its so close to home (and can enter at night behind the Grafton bowling alley) -- probably not worth the drive for anyone else though. The Lorain Co Parks Equestrian Ctr is also quite good when it gets skied-in but access is difficult in the dark.. Oberlin Golf course is also good for far-westies. I've been to Girdled Road 3x so far this year and is definitely worth the extra drive, especially when Chapin is busy or icy. More snow there too, and they have a new trail out of Big Creek Valley that is really challenging (better for classical is narrow). Any word on grooming at N. Olmsted golf course??

Besides Chapin

I tried skiing at Orchard Hills over Xmas break, but got to the parking lot and could not even find the trail because it was so windblown, so I headed over to Chapin, as usual. I also skied at Holden Arboretum, after having run there with some Hilltopper Dads during the last dryland session at Red Oak Camp. They have some nice trails, but the grooming was ancient, and hikers had punched it and bumped it out. I emailed them about trying to groom more often for a better surface, but I got no response. I'm sure they just love me now...I also like to get out to Punderson a couple of times a season, because the trails are so awesome, but of course the conditions vary widely because the grooming is handled only occasionally by the mushing club as far as I can tell. During the week I train in the RR Metropark usually between the Nature Center trails and the 3 golf courses. I also go west to French Creek in the Lorain County system after the hikers pack it a bit. Post any conditions or any other good spots here! -MF

Skied Chapin today.

Only about 3"deep, but expertly groomed. Lake Metroparks staff does a great job, again. I'm hoping to go up to Peak-n-Peek next week for the Quad race. Contact me if interested in carpooling. -MF