Quick skate trip from P6 to Huron Lookout. A surprisingly large number of skiers (for a weekday) were taking advantage of quite good conditions. Near Kingsmere the snow was a bit wet, particularly near the bottom of the hills. You could hear the hiss of water under the skis! The skate lane had been groomed, but traffic had compacted it to a polished surface of wet snow that made edging a bit difficult. Above Black Lake conditions were powdery and the skiing was much more pleasant and controllable. In a few places the groomer had gouged out fairly large chunks of snow, exposing the ice underneath.

The heavy snow had coated the trees, and a number had snapped under the weight. On my way out I found two large fallen trees completely blocking the parkway, and by the time I returned a third had fallen across the road (I am very grateful to have not been around when it fell). I encountered a considerable amount of debris from earlier tree falls that had been cleaned up. On the Black Lake Hill I heard a large tree fall in the forest.

If there is grooming tonight, skate conditions tomorrow should be quite good. There is far more snow in the park (particularly high on the ridge) than in Ottawa.