D, R, X and C loops were track-set on Sunday. I had a report on Monday that the tracks were already quite hard. I had to cut off and move twenty or twenty-five tall saplings because they were hanging into the trail. Different trees continue to bend over farther and obstruct the trail every day and several people are taking a saw with them to clear the trails as they ski.
Touring skiers are strongly encouraged to give overhanging branches a strong tug as they pass. This usually dislodges the heavy clinging snow and allows the tree to rebound out of the trail.
Yesterday (Tue.), all of M, H, S and B were rolled and trackset. Removal of many obstructions slowed this work. Rolling is new for DRXC and the result looked wonderful. However, the snow did not harden very well, partly because the temperature rose during the day, so the skating trail is patchy-soft and broken up by skiers. The classic track seems better with a firm bottom.
The rocks seem well covered now, but the track-setter was still bouncing on the R-loop corduroy logs. The snow is still quite thin over the high rocks and the saving grace is the layer of wet stuff that fell and froze on boxing day.
