I actually skate skied today (musical fanfare please!). Skied between base of Black Hill and Mica. The first hundred meters were terrible (why wouldn't they groom right to the parking lot?), the access road was good, despite a lot of ice, and the parkways were FABULOUS for skating. The groomer passed by as I reached the parkway.

But why is the NCC web site so confusing? One portion of parkway was listed as yellow, one as green, but both were in identical condition. They are also listed as being groomed on the 23rd, although I know they have been groomed a few times since then. Are they trying to scare skiers away?

Skating was really terrific and would have been a green check mark (good to very good, excellent actually), however much of the classic was truly unskiable unless you like skiing in the skate lane. Classic should have been marked with a red X. I don't blame Demsis for the classic conditions, the ice is probably beyond salvage. To be really helpful to skiers, though, both classic and skate need to be reflected in the ratings. Other major ski areas do this . Anyone showing up to ski classic here would be sorely disappointed.

And furthermore, why exactly are they not grooming below Mica? There is apparently lots of snow.