A very enjoyable skate of the "loop". Raw, damp wind as we set out, and a dusting of powder over the connector trail, which didn't seem to be groomed. I was happy with the snow covering as it modified what would have been quite icy otherwise. I was also happy that it stayed overcast and cool - less snow melt! Conditions varied depending on location: P6 to P5/P8 was fabulous, fast and easy to control. The north loop was distressingly slow, appearing to have no new grooming, but just that coating of slow powder on the surface. The connector was fairly icy, but not a problem in our uphill direction. Fortune was wonderful - either more recently groomed or perhaps just more skied in, it was difficult to tell which. The Champlain parkway was brutally slow until the base of the Black Lake Hill where it once again appeared to have been groomed. Relatively few skiers were out, it seemed - have they given up already? The skiing is not yet done!