I managed to get out on the x-country skis twice over the weekend.  I took my shorter, wider adventure skis to break a track on the lake surface beside the Amisk Wuche trail at Elk Island.  The hard packed under layer was covered with about four inches of fluffy snow.  It took a bit of effort to get the loop made.  I was overdressed for the task and felt like I had stepped out of the shower with my clothes on.  Needless to say, I did not do a second loop that day.

The second day was supposed to be sunny.  Well, the sun was shining at home but the clouds filled the sky at my destination.  I was looking forward to blue sky and sunshine while touring the lake shore but that was beyond my control.

I brought two sets of skis; the adventure skis to go around the loop the first time and the regular classic skis to use after that.  I learned something new that day.  I learned that the old comfortable ski boots that I have don't fit into the binding on the new skis.  The bar is a few millimeters narrower than what they need to be.  Try as I might, it was not going to happen so I put the adventure skis back on and away I went.  

Halfway through the second loop, the clouds parted and the sun shone through.  There is nothing like hearing the swish of the skis through the snow, blue sky and sunshine. 

I could see hikers on the trail but I was the only skier out on the lake.  As I made my way round the loop, my tracks criss crossed the tracks made by the animals.  The large beaver lodge was a popular destination.  I could see that coyotes were digging in the snow close to the lodge entrance.  Mouse tracks and tunnels were visible between clumps of tall slough grass.  I don't usually see the tracks of larger mammals on the ice but there were some elk tracks in the snow.

The day turned out to be sunny and perfect for my ski outing.  I can't wait to get them out again; with boots that actually fit the classic skis.