First Fire Tower run in two years! Skate skied from P8 along the Doldrums, across the Connector, up the Fortune Parkway, then west on Ridge Road. Contrary to the Park website report, there had been recent fresh grooming all the way out to the western intersection with 24. The groomed surface was nice powdery snow, making for easy edging. The classic tracks were a bit glazed and not particularly fast. West of the 24/Ridge intersection there had been no fresh grooming and the surface was harder, but still skiable. Ski traffic on the downhills had broken through any crust, allowing for good control. (I admit I snowplowed the downhills to maintain control on the hard surface; braver skiers were enjoying fast, full-throttle descents). There were irritating snowmobile ruts extending all the way out to the Fire Tower, ready to catch skis on the downhills. All the ice storm debris from last year has been cleared away. The only problem with the trail was a couple of icy patches near the Fire Tower. I didn't see many other skiers until I passed Huron on my return trip. There were a few parking spaces in P8 at 2PM.