Jan. 21, 2023--Pilot Knob State Park

 Beautiful conditions at the park over the weekend! Thanks for the great grooming! Skied the main road and the lake area. 

Irv Warren Golf Course – Waterloo

 Skied Irv Warren Golf Course this afternoon.   The skating deck continues to be a little soft but over all good.   The classical track is in excellent shape other than a few spots where a skier has to jump out of the tracks to avoid a bare spot.

 

Irv Warren Golf Course

 Thanks to the Waterloo Leisure Services for the grooming. They did a great job for the little and type of snow we received. A little soft today, but if we could get some cooler temps, it should firm up.

Pilot Knob State Park

 We had beautiful conditions to ski in today thanks in part to the frost/ice in the trees. And since it falls down and adds more depth to the trail, we might be able to survive this weekend's warm spell.

Pilot Knob

 Skied Pilot Knob yesterday (Jan 11) and the skate deck was really good both on the road and on the lake.   The classic track was well formed but icy on the road but in better condition on part of the lake loop.  

Pilot Knob

 Outstanding conditions at Pilot Knob both yesterday and today. The road is in great condition for skating and classical. The lake loop is in even better condition. Thanks Jeff!

Pilot Knob

 Great skiing again today! Thanks Jeff for all the work you put in. 

Pilot Knob

 Great conditions at Pilot Knob today. Skate deck was in great shape, because of the wonderful job Jeff does in grooming. Not enough snow to re-groom the Classic Track. Thanks Jeff for all the hard work you put in!

Irv Warren Golf Course - Waterloo

 Waterloo Leisure Services posted on their web page that they groomed the skating lane today (12/27/2022) but there was insufficient snow to set a classical track.  Get out and enjoy before the warmup!

Merry Christmas from the Knob!

 It was great to be able to ski with family and friends today at Pilot Knob State Park. It took a lot of raking to clean up after the blizzard and the snow was slightly dirty, but it groomed up well and made for a fun Christmas workout.  

There is more snow coming tonight so I plan on grooming the road and the lake early in the morning.  This should make for good skiing conditions until it gets a little bit soft later in the week with the warmer temperatures.

Pilot Knob Road

New Ski Season

 Hi Skiers,

 

With a major storm bearing down on Iowa it’s time (or is it past time?) to start thinking about cross country skiing and where to find good ski conditions.

 As we head into the new ski season just a note to encourage skiers to again post conditions here on the Iowa Ski Blog if you know of a place that has been groomed and the skiing is good.   Thanks to all of the folks that have posted in the past – please continue to do so.

 For those skiers that would like to post on this blog but don’t have access please send me an email at xc.ski.wloo.cf@gmail.com and I will add you to the list.    Posting on the Iowa Ski Blog is a great way to let a broader audience know that you have skiing in your area.   Getting more skiers to your favorite ski trail is a great way to let your parks people and/or local groomer know that their efforts are worthwhile.

 We welcome posts from all parts of Iowa.    

Irv Warren Golf Course - Waterloo

 Repost from Waterloo Leisure Services web page;

Cross Country Ski Update:

Ski Skating trail was compacted and groomed 3/7/22.  Sticky snow made for difficult grooming conditions.  Snow depths were too thin to install classical track.

Wanatee Park

Skied at Wanatee Park this morning.  The snow was VERY sticky.  Had to wind our way around the blown open spots.  Broke through to the grass even in some of the deepest spots.  Maybe with the thaw and freeze conditions will be better tomorrow?  That is wishful thinking...  but maybe the potential 1-3 inches on Thursday will give us something to ski on?  

Pilot Knob State Park

It was a tough week of warm weather, but we seemed to have survived at Pilot Knob.  It was groomed both Saturday morning and Sunday morning after a fresh dusting of new snow.  The one mile long trail around the perimeter of the lake is good for skating and classic striding. The two mile road is good for skating, but the classic tracks are only fair.  My son and I had a very fun skate ski today!

Lake trail

Lake trail

Road trail

Road trail

Irv Warren Golf Course - Waterloo

 Waterloo Leisure Services regroomed both the classical track and skating lane this morning.    Reports are that both are in good condition.   Get out and enjoy before the coming melt down.

Morgan Creek

Skied Morgan Creek this evening.  Conditions essentially still as good as previously reported.