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Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Some trails rolled

We did some rolling today so feel free to skate or classic on the surface. I'm not sure I would use my best skis, some thin spots. Also some wet spots.

Start at the Kingswood lodge. Some trails in Kingswood done. The connector isn't in great shape but passable. The big loop in the woodlot is done.

Monday, December 28, 2015

2016 Trail Access

*Note* The Lian St access is currently in very poor condition as a result of low snow. It is recommended that Kinsgwood be used as the access point until we receive a significant snowfall.

For 2016, Wostawea is encouraging all skiers to access the ski trails at two locations:

1. Lian Street access (details below)
2. Kingswood

UNB has again advised that trails are not to be accessed from the New Maryland highway. Please respect that request.

Also, for 2016, we would request that users no longer access the trails from the Kent entrance on Bishop Drive and, instead, access the trails at either Lian Street (2.5km from Kent entrance) or Kingswood (5km from Kent entrance). With the opening of the roundabout at the top of Smythe, traffic has increased dramatically on Bishop Drive making that access point unsafe.

Lian Street access

Access is now available off of Lian Street, approximately 400m from the Irving on Bishop Drive. From the Irving, drive approximately 400m on Lian Street, and turn left on an unnamed court. Parking is along the sides of the court. The trailhead is signed. Google maps link is here.



Directions from Kent access to Lian St. access


Kingswood access

The trails may also be accessed at Kingswood. Access this year will be to the right of the main lodge (not from the back parking lot as in years past). The trailhead will be signed once grooming commences.

No Grooming Yet

The groomers are as keen as you are to get out on the trails, but we're going to need a little more snow and more cold weather to freeze up the wet spots before grooming can start.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Grooming Status

It appears that for the remainder of the season the grooming will be sporadic at best. The access from the Kingswood end to transport our equipment is very muddy and difficult to get through. If we had temperatures that turned the mud into a frozen mass then we might consider doing a little more grooming. And before someone suggests moving the gear by trailer - we won't be doing that. That was done in the past and no one wants to return to those days. That being said it could be the end of the grooming. I want to give a big  thanks all the people that help with the grooming.

Enjoy the spring skiing when temps and conditions allow. The base is fairly deep in the woodlot.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Bob has touched up the trails. Conditions are good now, but he reports that the trails are softening fast in the sun. Take an early lunch if you can.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

No access from Kingswood

Due to construction using heavy equipment near the trailhead, it is not safe to access the ski trails from Kingswood until further notice. Please use an alternative entrance. The Kingswood trails are still groomed and skiable. It is just the entrance - up to the highway underpass tunnel - that is out of bounds.
There is no access from Kingswood due to construction, but Bob has touched-up everything, including the Kingswood trails. It is the area from the parking lot to the highway tunnel just before the first hill that is blocked by construction. Everything else is good to go. It was great skiing yesterday - should be more of the same today.

The construction at Kingswood has made it difficult to access the grooming equipment safely. It is not clear whether we'll be able to groom this morning. I will post an update later once we have more news.

Monday, March 23, 2015

There is construction with heavy machinery going on at Kingswood right now. It is best to go in by another entrance for the time being.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Rex is going to groom in the morning (Monday). Should be great conditions. Take advantage before the rain hits on Thursday.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Bob has finished grooming. He reports "great spring skiing," fairly firm and smooth, with good classic tracks.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Saturday Skiing

Bob will be grooming first thing tomorrow (Sat) morning. Today's warm temps put some moisture into the snow, so it should set up nicely overnight. We're expecting excellent conditions after it's groomed, especially if you can get out before it warms up too much.
Rex is out grooming now. He should be done in time for a noon ski. Not clear how firm it will be.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Both the Woodlot and Kingswood have been groomed. Tracks have been set in the Woodlot, but no tracks will be set in Kingswood until the wind dies down. Classic skiing should be good, especially in the Woodlot, but the skate surface is very soft.

UPDATE: All reports confirm that the skate surface is very soft.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The plan is to roll the trails early this afternoon. Grooming and track-setting will wait until tomorrow so the surface can set up overnight. At least there isn't any more snow in the forecast.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Kingswood is groomed and golf course trail is tracked. The Woodlot is groomed and tracked but soft.

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Post-another-storm plans

Rex and Donat will start rolling tomorrow (Monday) at 9:00am. Bob and Brian will do more rolling and hopefully grooming on Tuesday. The surface has to set up to be reasonably firm before the groomer can be used. Bob and Brian will set the classic track on Tuesday if conditions permit.

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Ski before the storm

Rex is out touching up the skate surface right now. Should be great skiing once he's done. Get out today, before tomorrow's storm!

UPDATE: Rex is done. Conditions are prime.

Friday, March 13, 2015

More great skiing today

The skating yesterday was fantastic, and you can expect more of the same today. Bob has just finished touching up the skate surface and it is firm and fast. Enjoy!


Thursday, March 12, 2015

After the thaw

The trails are rock hard and icy after yesterday's thaw. Bob and Rex are working on the skating surface now. Eventually the drag and the ginzu together will be able to turn the icy surface into some great, fast skate skiing, but it will take some time. Should be somewhere between okay and great this afternoon, depending on how things go. The classic track is more difficult because it is deeper. It may not be possible to reset the classic track today. I will post an update later.

UPDATE: Bob and Rex are still working, but they report that skate conditions are excellent already.

UPDATE: They've started snowblowing some of the Kingswood trails so they can get the greens ready for spring. Be careful.

UPDATE: Classic tracks have been reset.

UPDATE: The Woodlot is still accessible from Kingswood, but they have started snowblowing some trails and you will have to walk about 100 feet at the top of the first hill Also be careful about the snowblowers. Also, the road from the parking lot  to the trailhead is very muddy.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

No grooming Wednesday

With warm overnight temperatures forecast, there are no plans to groom tomorrow morning. When the snow is warm it will get balled up in the groomer and make things worse rather than better.
Trails are done. Should be great skiing.


Monday, March 9, 2015

Trails were freshly touched up this morning and were looking good and fast before the little dump of snow. Should be good skiing this afternoon, but likely a bit slower than it was this morning.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Saturday morning touch-up

The trails are touched up and ready to go. Should be a great weekend for skiing.


Friday, March 6, 2015

The skate surface has been touched up. Apparently it is very fast.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Rex and Bob are planning to get out this morning to set classic tracks and touch up the skate surface. Should be good skiing later today.

Update: The Woodlot is done -- groomed and trackset -- and Rex is  working on Kingswood.


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Wednesday grooming

Rex has been out grooming all morning and he should be pretty much done by now, so conditions should be good for a noon ski.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Trails are good to go

Freshly touched up - thanks Bob!


Golf course work at Kingswood

Kingswood will start taking the tarps off their greens in a week or so. When they do, they will use snow blowers to clear some of the paths that we ski on in order to get to the greens. Be careful when skiing on Kingswood -- skiers and snow blowers don't mix. Also, there will be some bare patches on the main Kingswood trail that you will need to walk across. We hope that the highway trail will hold up so we can keep getting the grooming gear through.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Trails are in great shape!

Bob has finished touching up the trails. "Trails are in great shape. Good and firm and ready for skiers."


Thursday, February 26, 2015

Track being set

Bob has finished rolling. The highway trail has been opened up, but the skate surface is very soft. He is track setting in the Woodlot right now, so he should be finished in time for an after-work classic ski.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Post-(another) storm

I did some rolling this evening and Rex will go out tomorrow morning to keep working on it, but this snow was very light and fluffy and I expect the surface will be very soft. Very unlikely we'll be able to set classic track before Friday at the earliest, maybe even Saturday morning.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Tracks are set

The classic tracks have been set in the Woodlot and Kingswood, but they're drifting in fast.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Bob's afternoon off

With all grooming he does, it's hard to imagine Bob has any time for anything else, but here's what he likes to do in his spare time.


Trails have been rolled

Trails have been rolled but not trackset. Skate surface is probably on the soft side, but skiable.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Everything groomed, Woodlot trackset

Bob finished up last night at midnight. Everything is groomed, and the Woodlot is also trackset.


Friday, February 20, 2015

Roling, rolling, rolling...

Rex is out rolling the trails now. Probably will not be able to set classic track today.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Trails freshly groomed

And looking good. Should be good skiing with a forecast high of -4. Enjoy the balmy weather!


Tuesday, February 17, 2015

More post-storm

Grooming has been very difficult because of drifts in Kingswood. The Woodlot has been rolled and Kingswood has been rolled and partially groomed. No tracks have been set. Bob will go out tomorrow morning to set classic tracks.

The old Skandic sled is on its last legs. Good thing we have two sleds! Might be looking at another fund-raiser though.... Grooming is really hard on the snowmobiles.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Trails have been rolled

The trails have been rolled, except by the lodge. More drifting is likely, especially in Kingswood.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Storm plans

Post-storm grooming will start Monday morning. We expect to have a first pass done by mid-afternoon. Then there will be more grooming on Tuesday. Classic tracks will be set on Tuesday. Go ahead and ski anytime, but as always, it will take a few days before the skate surface firms up.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Rex just finished touching up the skate surface. Conditions look great.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Trails have had a fresh touch-up and are looking good.


Friday, February 6, 2015

Friday Feb 6

The woodlot and Kingswood trails are groomed and track-set and looking good. It's brisk but sunny out there.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Thursday & Friday Plans

Brian and Bob will be heading out to do some rolling early this afternoon, and Bob and Rex will be track setting and leveling tomorrow (Friday) morning. As always, it will take time for the skate surface to set up, but go ahead and ski anytime.

Update: First pass is done.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

More Post-Storm

Rex and Donat will be heading out at noon today to do some packing and rolling. Bob and Brian plan on doing some grooming tomorrow. If we're lucky, it will set up well overnight.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Rex and Donat are out working on the trails right now. Give them a friendly wave if you see them while you're skiing!

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Post-Storm

Nick and I were just out doing some first passes at rolling. Still very soft and no tracks set, but classic skiers might have a good time. Rex and Donat will be going out tomorrow morning to do some more rolling and maybe take the groomer out if it has set up enough overnight. Hopefully it will start to firm up by the afternoon, but it will likely still be soft for a few more days, like it was last week.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Pre-Snow Skiing

Bob is going out now to brush up the skate surface. He should be done by 9:30. Get out early before it snows.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Soft Snow, Best for Classic

Bob reports: "The trails are done and tracked.  Very soft snow. Best for classic."

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Rolling, rolling, rolling

Rex and Brian have just finished rolling the Woodlot and Kingswood. The Highway trail in Kingswood is closed due to drifts. Everything else is rolled, but no tracks have been set. There are drifts even on the Main trail in Kingswood, but the Woodlot is in good shape. Enjoy!




Brian and Rex are heading out today at noon to roll the trails. Ski anytime if you feel like it, though conditions will be soft.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Post-storm

Bob and Rex groomed this morning, and Bob reports the trails are "showcase". Kingswood is skiable, but not the best - the coverage is thin because of blowing snow. There are no classic tracks in Kingswood, but everything else is tracked. Get out and ski before the next storm.


Sunday, January 25, 2015

Post-Storm Plans

Rex and I will be out rolling the trails starting about 11. Go ahead and ski if you want - we'll have to groom again tomorrow - but the surface will be very soft.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Bob touched up the trails again this morning, and they're looking good. Get out and ski before the storm!


Friday, January 23, 2015

Bob touched up the Woodlot trails this morning, and they're in good shape.


Thursday, January 22, 2015

Thursday Touch-Up

Rex has touched up the Wootlot trails (including Lollipop), and they're good to go. Kingswood is still closed, but we are hoping for a big storm this weekend.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Woodlot Good, but Kingswood Closed

Bob is out grooming now. He reports:

"Trails in the Woodlot are grooming up nicely. Kent has a few passable bare spots. The inner circle is great. No track set. Kingswood is closed."

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Bob has just groomed the trails. No new tracks but tracks are fairly good. Get out before the rain.

Friday, January 16, 2015

"Great Day for a Nooner"

Bob has touched up the trails. Get out today if you - tomorrow will be cold.


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Bob is planning on grooming mid-morning tomorrow, after the forecast snow starts to taper off. Should be good skiing by lunch time.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Trails have been freshly groomed and are in great shape!



Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Rex is planning on grooming and resetting the classic track this morning. Classic should be good, but expect the skate surface to be soft.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Bob was out and rolled the trails. We may do more tomorrow if needed.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Friday Afternoon Update

Bob has been out grooming and reports that trails are in "excellent shape."


Friday Snow Plans

We are planning on doing some grooming once the snow stops. Track-setting may be possible, depending on total accumulation.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Post-Storm Grooming Plans

We can't groom when the snow is wet or it will freeze into an icy surface when temperatures drop. Current plans are to groom on Tuesday morning, after the snow has had a chance to dry out. It's not clear at this point whether we will be able to track set.