We skied 4 1/2 hours yesterday arriving back at the car as the days light came to an end. The first half of our time we were the first skiers on the routes we chose, which meant about 3 inches of snow filling in the existing track. The last half of our ski was in freshly polished track...so not a lot of skiers here today. Temp was - 9 at the start then - 7 when we finished. I was surprised snow was not faster. We could not get the long glides we love, just thought base would be a bit icier underneath the new powder. Went to the top of the mountain, first time in a few years, stood there drinking in a view under a sunny blue February sky.

Kolapore received some freezing rain Monday night/early Tuesday, but not enough to significantly reduce the snow cover.  About 10 cm of fresh snow has fallen in the past 24 hours.  The snow gauge is now at 37 cm (14") which is the most we have had at any point this winter.  (Unfortunately, that statistic confirms that we have had a mediocre winter - the maximum snow cover is usually over 60 cm.)  The skiing was very good this afternoon, although you still periodically notice the crust left by the freezing rain.   
This trail conditions page isn't intended to be a monologue by me.  If you have any observations about the trails that you would like to share with other trail users please post them using the instructions above, or you can add a comment to a post.
Kolapore Trail Guide   

Although I was reasonably optimistic when I did my posting last evening, the skiing was even better than I had expected.  The skiing is the best it has been this winter (but you still need to expect occasional wet spots and rocks).  The snow gauge is at 32 cm (12"), which is the highest it has been this winter.  The snow gauge is at the same height it was last Sunday, but the skiing is much better, because the thaw packed down the base, and this has been covered by about 15 cm of fresh snow.  It flurried off and on all day today.  Get out and enjoy the skiing while you can.
Kolapore Trail Guide

There hasn't been a post recently, because I've been exploring ski trails in the Laurentians.   Kolapore appears to have retained a substantial amount of snow in the thaw last Sunday - Monday, and there is about 10 - 15 cm of new snow.  Ski conditions should be relatively good, although the base is still thin.  You are likely to encounter occasional rocks.   As mentioned previously, we strongly recommend that you not ski in the east end of the County Forest, because of the ruts left from recent logging.
Kolapore Trail Guide
 

 After skiing on the trails this afternoon, I thought I should provide a short update.  I checked the Kolapore snow gauge at 3 PM, and it was at 31 cm (12").  It has snowed hard since then.  I think we have received about 20 cm in the past 24 hours.  Because most of the snow on the trails is new powder snow, skis sink through the snow to the ground.  You are likely to occasionally hit rocks - rock skis are strongly recommended.  You may also encounter the occasional wet spot.  Be prepared to break trail tomorrow.
There is a good chance that the Kolapore (Entrance N) parking lot won't be plowed tomorrow (Saturday), at least initially.  The Grey County Roads Department plows this as a public service.  They are likely to have other plowing priorities tomorrow.   
As I mentioned in the previous post, logging has been completed at the east end of the County Forest.  Based on conditions I observed today, I strongly recommend that that you avoid the trails in this area.  The ruts left by the heavy logging equipment will make skiing in this area unpleasant. 
Kolapore Trail Guide

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow overnight.  It may have been more - it's hard to tell because there was a lot of drifting.  It is snowing hard at the moment.  Ski conditions should be good, although the first skiers out will need to do quite a bit of trail breaking.  Kolapore still won't have normal mid-winter conditions - rock skis are advisable, and there may still be some wet spots from the thaw last week. Logging has been completed in the east end of the County Forest, but we strongly recommend that you avoid skiing in this area.  The trails were badly rutted by the heavy logging equipment, and even the recent snowfall won't cover the ruts.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Since my posting on Monday, Kolapore has received about 2 cm of new snow.  The total snow cover is still thin for Kolapore skiing.  The forecast for Thursday night and Friday is promising a substantial amount of snow, so there may be good Kolapore skiing on the weekend. 
Given the scarcity of snow, I headed off to try two other trails today - Sawmill Trails at Hepworth, and the Sauble Beach ski trails.  Both of them have a lot more snow than Kolapore.   The Sawmill trails have close to 50cm of snow in the forest.  However, I don't think the Sawmill trails would appeal to most Kolapore skiers - the entire 10 km trail network is groomed for skating as well as classic skiing.  The trails are real highways, although they do have some decent hills.  In contrast, the Sauble Beach trails are groomed for narrow single track skiing. They are so narrow that my pruning hand wanted to get to work clearing them to Kolapore standards... Kolapore skiers would feel at home on these trails. 
Kolapore Trail Guide   

Since my last post, Kolapore has received another 5 cm of snow.  I measured the snow in an open area, and we have about 13 cm (5") of fresh snow that has accumulated since the thaw last week.  This is still very thin for Kolapore skiing.  We have been missing some of the great squalls that have been coming off the bay.  I was at the top of Blue Mountain this morning, and they had at least 20 cm of new snow that had fallen overnight and today, and it was snowing so hard it was difficult to see.  This should improve the cross country skiing at Scenic Caves, which was quite poor yesterday.
Kolapore Trail Guide

Since my last post yesterday morning, Kolapore has received about another 4 cm of snow.  This brings the total new snow since the thaw earlier this week to about 10 cm.  At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this isn't really enough to provide enjoyable skiing on most of the Kolapore trails.  Skiing may be OK in areas where there was a snow base remaining after the thaw this week, but unfortunately there are lots of areas where the snow cover was completely melted.
I skied at Wasaga Nordic today, and it was pleasant.  It is a scenic area, and the longer trails run through interesting rolling terrain.
Kolapore Trail Guide  

Kolapore has received about 5 - 7 cm (3") of snow since the thaw this week.  This is not nearly enough to make the trails skiable, particularly in areas where the base completely melted.  I will do frequent posts as conditions improve.
Kolapore Trail Guide