Conditions

Recent milder temperatures and minimal overnight freezing is causing the frost to thaw in the ground and rapid melting of any snow and ice.  This creates soft ground, puddles and muddy areas on trails.  Sun and wind exposed trails are becoming dry and firm, but shaded areas are wet and muddy or still have ice-snow patches.  There are still deep, mushy snow drifts on many trails and the water melting out of those drifts is soaking the adjacent trails.  Trails that were groomed for XC skiing or fat-biking are especially slow to dry out.  Any rain or snow at this time will quickly soak in and make the trails muddy again.  The weather for the coming week is forecast to have alternating sunny and rainy-snowy days.  Please give the trails at least 24 hours to dry out after any precipitation. Be aware of the trail conditions and watch your own impact.  If you are leaving footprints, ruts or hoof prints in mud or soft ground, you are damaging the trail. Don't walk on vegetation beside a muddy trail, as you will simply be widening the trail or creating unwanted trails.  If the trail looks wet and muddy, please turn around and avoid causing more damage.  In a few weeks, most of the trails will be good to go!