Despite exposed rocks on the trails, nordic skiers have options

The pickings are slim, but there are options for nordic skiers in the Anchorage area this weekend.

According to the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage, trails at Beach Lake Park in Chugiak were groomed Wednesday — though skiers should proceed with care.

"More rocks are surfacing so ski with caution," reads the NSAA grooming report for the trails.

Beach Lake got about five inches of snow Oct. 30, which allowed groomers to begin building a base. Check the association's website (anchoragenordicski.com) for up-to-date information on trail grooming and conditions.

Trails at Eagle River High School have also been compacted and are skiable. Trails at Bartlett have not been groomed.

As of Wednesday, Kincaid Park and the Hillside trails had yet to be groomed, though the Hillside trails have enough snow cover for rock skis, according to online reports. NSAA will continue to monitor the trails and groom if enough snow falls later in the week.

"At this point we are trying to develop a sustainable base layer," the NSAA trail report read Thursday.

At Kincaid Park, Thursday's temperatures were low enough for snow-making, but there's still not yet enough snow for the association to recommend skiing.

Skiers venturing north to Hatcher Pass may have more luck. Trails at Independence Mine were groomed Wednesday, according to a report posted to snowio.com by Mat-Su Ski Club groomer Mark Strabel. Strabel reported both skate trails and classic tracks were groomed.