Today was the day I had hoped for yesterday. It proved possible to trackset so the parkways were groomed for both skating and classic this morning. I went from P6 via CP to Huron then via Ridge to intersection with 1B via #1 to the intersection with #2 (the bench at Gossip Corner2) then returned by #1 & CP to P6.

Conditions on the parkways were excellent for classic with good firm and fast tracks; a number of skaters I talked to said they found the track to be too soft and slow. Ridge from Huron to #1B was compacted - it was not in good shape - bumpy with springs and rocks showing through. #1 to the bench had been compacted and with a skier track was on the good side. Machine compaction stopped at Gossip Corner 2. #1B and #2 towards Western had been compacted and looked good. Nothing had been done to #2 towards Meech Lake however there was a good back-country track. The base on the CP was quite thin between the lookout and Huron with asphalt showing through. A friend told me he had done #24 and found it to be a delight in the downhill direction (deep powder descents) A CSM regular told me that Burma was great for the “real skiers” (i.e., no skaters need apply); he was putting in his klicks by doing circuits of Burma - Calvinism on the uphill direction and euphoria on the .downhill. Most of the backcountry trails, I passed, had tracks and looked quite usable - Western (#9), particularly, had seen a lot of use.

I found it was best to follow the counsel “take the road less travelled by”. There were hordes of skiers out today and the FP & CP route to Huron was showing the effects of the usage. Between the T-junction and P6 the tracks on CP were standing up much better and appealed to the solitary skier who doesn’t like to share.