Kolapore has received several cm of snow since my last post.  However, the overall trail conditions haven't changed a lot, and I will repeat some of the commentary from the previous post.   Snow cover is still around 20 cm (8")  This provides decent skiing on many trails, although some of the rockier trails and trails under conifers are only "fair".   The strong winds last weekend brought down branches, so caution on hills is desirable.  The Trail Guides have cleared some of the more popular trails (Kolapore Church, Paradise Highway, Wild Mouse, Kingsway, Jackrabbit, John's Portage).  However, we have not yet been on other trails.  If you encounter branches on the trail, please help by removing them where possible.  If they are too big to remove, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with information about the location, and the trail guides will try to remedy the problem. 
Kolapore Trail Guide

Fresh snow over the past few days has considerably improved trail conditions.  The Kolapore snow gauge is now up to 20 cm (8").  This provides decent skiing on many trails, although some of the rockier trails and trails under conifers are only "fair".  In spite of the recent cold weather there are still wet spots.  The strong winds on the weekend brought down numerous branches, so caution on hills is desirable.  Please help by removing branches where possible.  If they are too big to remove, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org with information about the location, and the trail guides will try to remedy the problem.  The trails at the east end of the County Forest remain closed because of logging.   
Kolapore Trail Guide

Kolapore had rain last night, followed by 10+ cm of snow.  I did a short ski this morning, and concluded that there is just enough snow to ski satisfactorily on the drier and less rocky trails.  On the rockier trails (I.e., most of the Kolapore trails), you are still likely to frequently encounter rocks.  One additional challenge is that it is possible to ice up, because there is slush under the snow.  Both the thin snow and slush are likely to be fixed if we get the predicted heavy snowfalls and cold weather. 
A reminder that the eastern County Forest trails are closed due to logging.  Although the logging should be completed in the near future, the trails are likely to remain closed because of the poor conditions (rutting and logging debris on the trails.)
Kolapore Trail Guide   

Kolapore received about 10 cm of new snow over the past few days.  This starts the recovery process from the thaw on the weekend, however the trails are not yet skiable.  The thaw was bad enough that some parts of the trails had zero snow cover, and many rocks were sticking out.  The forecast over the next week sounds like there could be quite a bit of snow coming.  You would be wise to wait until there is more snow cover.  Check here for updates. 
Some of the local commercial trails (Scenic Caves and Highlands Nordic at Duntroon) sound like they had more snow than Kolapore, and may be worth trying.  Although they are close to Kolapore, when streamers come off Georgian Bay we find that these areas often get more snow than Kolapore.  This is based on our personal observation, not just on the snowfall that they report on their website!   
Kolapore Trail Guide 

Based on a windshield survey and a short walk, I don't think that the trails are skiable at the moment.   I went in at entrance W in the County Forest, and the general snow cover is 5 - 10 cm, with lots of bare spots.  There may be a bit more on the trail where it has been packed by skiers, but not enough to cover many rocks.  Overall, we have marginal spring conditions.
A skier believes she lost a set of keys in the Entrance N (Grey Road 2 at Kolapore) parking lot last weekend.  If you know anything about keys being found, please send an e-mail to info@kolaporetrails.org
Kolapore Trail Guide  

Kolapore had about 2 cm of snow last night, and more snow is predicted.  This will help to freshen up the trails.  As noted in my previous post, snow cover is still thin (about 25 cm) and it is easy to hit rocks on downhills.  Use your rock skis.  Since my previous post I've skied more trails, and can confirm that the only trails with serious water problems (that I'm aware of) are Southern Crossing west of the 10th line and Quiet Pastures south of the intersection with Northwest Passage.  I haven't been on Northwest Passage yet.  The trails at the east end of the County Forest are closed because of logging.  Please stay off these trails. 
Kolapore Trail Guide

We haven't had a lot of new snow since my last post - the snow gauge is at 25 cm.   This is still thin, given the rocky nature of the Kolapore Uplands.  I've skied most of the trails at the south end of the system, and they are in decent shape with two specific exceptions.  Both Southern Crossing west of the 10th line, and Quiet Pastures south of the intersection with Northwest Passage, have numerous wet sections.  At the moment these trails should only be used by hard core skiers who don't mind dodging the wet spots.
Please obey the Trail Closed signs at the east end of the County Forest (east of intersections 5 and 11).  There is logging underway, and Grey County is very concerned about the fact that some users are ignoring the signs, thus creating significant hazard/liability issues.   

The Kolapore snow gauge is at 23 cm (just under 10").  Because of the rocky terrain in the Kolapore Uplands, this is a thin snow cover.  However, the skiing has been surprisingly good.  Where the trails have been skied it is possible to avoid most rocks, and most wet areas are in reasonable shape.  Caution is still required, particularly on downhills.  And using your "rock skis" is strongly recommended.  (Your skis will probably become rock skis if they don't already have that designation.)  A reminder - the trails at the east end of the County Forest - east of 11 and 5 - are closed due to logging.  If you notice a problem on the trails, please post it here, or send an e-mail to: info@kolaporetrails.org
Kolapore Trail Guide  

Last night the Kolapore Uplands received about 15 cm of snow, and as I write this at 10:20 AM, it is still snowing hard.  The total snow cover is now close to 30 cm in dry areas.  The snow cover could still be around zero in wet areas, because the ground isn't frozen yet.  I think (and will test this shortly) that there is enough snow to ski on some of the drier and less rocky trails at Kolapore.  However, considerable caution will be required because the rocks will be very close to the surface. 
Kolapore Trail Guide

Kolapore received about 15 cm of snow yesterday and overnight.  There was no base, so this is not enough snow to provide satisfactory skiing on the Kolapore trails, even on the trails that we recommend for low snow conditions.  As I noted in my previous posting, the County Forest trails east of intersections 5 and 11 are closed due to logging.  We inspected the areas that have been logged, and you really don't want to try to ski on the closed trails - there is serious rutting and lots of branches down.   We expect that these trails will remain closed all winter.
Kolapore Trail Guide