Tania Williamson

8:00am – This just in……………..the Corgi’s name is Callie. Her owners shared the below picture with me. I am sure they had to leave the lights out as to not disturb her. While she may have impressive endurance, she does need her rest. Hope she can do it all over again today to add to the smiles. That warm breeze I felt on my way in was the bringer of the warm temps. Our porch thermometer is reading 31 degrees, the highway weather station is reporting 34 degrees. A quick temp climb over the past 1.5 hours. The snow is grooming out great.

GROOMED: Starlight, Caboose and Cabin Lanes, Essex Road, Kendi’s Crossing, Towering Pines, Pileated, Highline, Essex Creek, Spring Hill. Will update if we get more done!

6:30am – Good Morning! The stars and crescent moon were amazing last night and they are now covered with clouds. We are forecast for an 80% chance of snow today, beginning around 11am with 1-3 inches of potential accumulation and a high of 37 degrees. It is currently 23 degrees with a gently warm wind blowing. The groomer is chomping away at the snow to make smooth, sweet corduroy for your enjoyment.

I heard there was a Corgi on the trails yesterday. She really enjoyed the Izaak’s  YES DOG trails. Her owners have been calling her the Norgi. Who knew that a Corgi could keep up with skiers? I certainly didn’t know Corgi’s could be so athletic. Turns out, Corgi’s were originally bread to drive livestock. They are fast, powerful and have impressive endurance. They are extremely loyal, obedient and especially love children.  (according to purina.com) I bet that Corgi put a smile on the face of everyone who saw her. Have a great day and don’t forget to smile!

Image from Shutterstock

10:00am – GROOMING COMPLETE: Caboose and Cabin Lanes, Starlight, Essex Rd, Pileated, Highline Up, Essex Creek Down, Spring Hill Down, Lower Dickey Loop and Dickey Road

7:30 Update: Everything is coming out fantastic. Conditions are favorable for grooming today. Our temps are up to 15 degrees, the skies are starting to clear and currently is remains calm.

GROOMED: Caboose and Cabin Lanes, Starlight, Essex Rd to Kendi’s, Pileated, Highline Up, Essex Creek Down……..the groomer is moving on to Spring Hill Down, Lower Dickey Loop and Dickey Road, will update when complete

6:30am – We are currently out of the deep freeze. Gooooood Morning! It is 9 degrees. Balmy. If you are wondering, Delyankir (mentioned in yesterday’s report) has gotten even colder. In Delyankir, it is currently -67. I am feeling pretty good about our 9 degrees. Currently, it is partly cloudy but we are forecast for mostly sunny skies and a high of 23. If the winds start up, we could feel a chill as low as -6. Fingers crossed we get sun and no wind, sure would feel good!

The groomer is laying down some nice corduroy for all of you lovers of the grooves. The focus will be on what didn’t get attention yesterday. Check back later for an update.

FUN FACTS: According to onlyinyourstate.com, the largest snowflake ever recorded landed in Montana. It measured 15 inches across. Montana has the largest population of grizzly bear in the lower 48.

9:30 Update: Grooming is going well! Turning out real nice! It has warmed up to -12 degrees. We are hoping for the sun.

GROOMED: Starlight, Caboose and Cabin Lanes, Spring Hill, Essex Road to Kendi’s, Towering Pines Down (there is a large tree down on the UpSide of loop, we will remove when temps improve), Pileated Down, Highline Down, Essex Creek Up

Planning to do Upper Dickey, River Trail, River Loop and finish Essex Road

 

Good Morning. Grooming will happen today. The plan is to start a little later than usual due to the extremely cold temps. It is 6am, the thermometer is reading -15 degrees. Not the coldest we have had this winter but very cold nonetheless.  The sun has a good chance of shining on us this afternoon and we are forecast for a high of 10. There is still the pesky wind chill to consider, possible wind chill value of -24. Good layers, face coverings and getting inside to warm up regularly will be very important today.

FUN FACTS: At McMurdo Station in Antarctica it is currently 10 degrees above zero. However, it is -52 at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.  The coldest place in the world right now is Delyankir, Russia. It is currently -56.2. Just a tad colder than the South Pole. If all of this cold weather talk is getting you down, you could travel to Voolsdrif, South Africa. It is a balmy 113 degrees at the moment.

9:40 Weather Update: Still chilly, very chilly. Temps are at -13 and there is a good breeze with some gusts. There is a great fire going in the lobby to warm up by if you brave the weather and go for a loop!

BRRRRRRRRRRRR! IT IS SO CHILLY OUT RIGHT NOW! Negative temps this morning, currently sitting at -12 degrees. Our high today is forecast as -2 with potential for winds creating a wind chill value as low as -39! The Arctic air is back. We have a 30% chance of a little bit of snow. Sounds like a day for good layers, covered faces, short loops and hot beverages by the crackling fire in the lobby.

We have 12km of trail groomed on 2/21 that continues to be in good condition as it saw very light traffic the past few frigid days. The trails that are currently groomed are: Starlight, Cabin and Caboose Lanes, Pileated, Essex Road, Highline Up and Essex Creek Down.

What is a weather persons favorite winter time meal?

BRRRRRRRRR-itos

11:12 UPDATE: The temp is holding around 33 degrees. The storm came in wet, glide wax can help you enjoy your time on the trails! If you are getting high heels (snow built up on your binding under your heel) try smudging some glide wax on your heel plate. This can help the snow slough off for a few steps at least!

Today is national Hoodie Hoo Day. According to nationaltoday.com, Hoodie Hoo Day was established by the owners of Wellcat, and is set on a day exactly a month before spring.  On Hoodie Hoo Day, people gather in a place at noon, wave their hands and shout, “Hoodie Hoo!” to say goodbye to winter and welcome to spring. Hoodie Hoo Day originated in Pennsylvannia.

Although this holiday might seem like a joke holiday, it is an actual holiday that was created and copyrighted by Thomas Roy; a guy that has created over 80 different holidays, many of them quite unusual, such as Bathtub Party Day and Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day. (according to holidayscalendar.com)

In Essex, we are going to celebrate this storm and appreciate the snow and Say Yippppppeeeeee Yip in honor of winter, then we will Hoodie Hoo to celebrate that spring is on the way!

6:00 am – It is too warm for sweet, sweet corduroy to be part of our day.

GROOMED: Starlight, Cabin and Caboose Lanes

But that means there is a great layer of powder to enjoy on top of yesterday’s corduroy. Have fun playing in the snow today!

 

We intend to groom on Monday, February 20 if weather permits. Just wanted to let y’all k wi.

10am AND DICKEY ROAD to the switch back

9:30am – GROOMED: Starlight, Spring Hill, Cabin and Caboose Lanes, Essex Road, Towering Pines, Highline, Essex Creek, Pileated, Upper Dickey Loop, River Trail

8:30am – Still snowing lightly. Back Porch temp reads at 29 degrees. The grooming is fabulous, get out there and get some!

GROOMED: Starlight, Spring Hill, Cabin and Caboose Lanes, Essex Road, Towering Pines, Highline, Essex Creek, Pileated, Upper Dickey Loop, and soon the River Trail will be done. ENJOY!

Again….the morning has started with The Rascals…

Groovin’ on a Sunday afternoon….do do do…Really couldn’t get away too soon….I can’t imagine anything that’s better…..The world is ours whenever we’re together….There ain’t a place I’d like to be instead of….Groovin’ at the Izaak Walton Inn with my friends.

It is currently 30 degrees. The groover, I mean groomer, is doing his thing and doing it well. He reports the corduroy is turning out spectacular. It is currently snowing. We got an inch or two since yesterday morning. We are forecast for a high of 36. Glide wax will be a great addition to your backpack today.

10:00am – GROOMED: Starlight, Spring Hill, Caboose and Cabin Lane, Essex Road, Boy Scout Crossover, Shortcut, Pileated, Towering Pines, Highline, Essex Creek, Junction Circle and that’s all for today folks.

Temps are rising slightly, we are around 32 degrees, it is still snowing an is feels like you are in a magical snow globe as you wander through the woods on the trails.

8:00am – GROOMED: Starlight, Spring Hill, Caboose and Cabin Lane, Essex Road to Kendi’s, Boy Scout Crossover, Shortcut, Pileated, Towering Pines

Dear Snow Dance friends,

Just want to say thanks to all the folks for putting on your snow dance pants because it worked! Essex received 2 inches of snow in the past 24 hours and our forecast says there is much more to come! The trails have been in excellent shape but a fresh batch of snow is always a good thing.

At 6am, it is 26 degrees. I can hear Gloria (the PistenBully) cruising her laps to beautify the trails for all of you snow conjurers and corduroy enjoyers.  As on any snow day, get out there early to enjoy the fresh grooves. The NWS says 100%….yes, you read that right….100% chance of snow today with 2 – 4 inches possible.

The Snow Stake on Kendi’s Crossing on 2/18, 3.6 feet is about 43 inches (we have another Snow Stake in the Cabin/Caboose area)

A little fresh snow on top of the corduroy – 2/17/23 – kinda like a cherry on top in my opinion

9:30am: GROOMED: Starlight, Spring Hill, Caboose and Cabin Lanes, Essex Road, Highline, Essex Creek, Lower Dickey Loop, River Trail, River Loop

Have Fun!!! It is gently snowing and the temperature is holding at 30 degrees.

7:45am:  GROOMED: Starlight, Spring Hill, Caboose and Cabin Lanes, Essex Road to Kendi’s, Highline, Essex Creek….more to come, check back for an update

It’s a beautiful morning
I think I’ll go outside for a while and just smile
Just take in some clean fresh air
Ain’t No sense in staying inside
If the weather’s fine and you got the time
It’s your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day

-The Rascals, Lyrics from “It’s a Beautiful Morning” (a good song to start the day)

Hey folks! It’s 6:30 am. It’s 30 degrees and ever so gently snowing! The groomer is out laying fresh corduroy for everyone’s enjoyment. We are forecast for a high of 34 degrees and a 50% chance of up to an inch of snow. After days of lovely sunshine, the snow is a welcome sight and it looks like we have a chance of getting some good dumps this weekend and through next week. Get on the trails early to enjoy the corduroy or head out later for the possibility of a little powder on top.

 

 

11:15 Update: The skis are still clear and beautifully blue. It is 28 degrees. Perfect for a ski!

GROOMED: Essex Road, Kendi’s Crossing, Pileated, Towering Pines, Highline, Essex Creek, Starlight, Cabin and Caboose Lanes, Upper Dickey Loop, Spring Hill Down

9:30am Update:

It is a beautiful day. A few clouds in the distance but mostly blue skies!

GROOMED: Essex Road to Kendi’s, Kendi’s Crossing, Pileated, Towering Pines, Highline, Essex Creek, Starlight

Good Morning! It is clear and twinkly and chilly outdoors at the moment. The stars are beautifully blazing in the sky. It is 7 degrees. We are forecast for a high of 35 degrees and mostly sunny skies. The skiing has been excellent this week and today looks to be just as good. Grooming is underway. Check back for an update on which trails were spruced up this morning.

February 16th is known as National Innovation Day and National Do A Grouch a Favor Day.