Am I really in Duluth?

[mca80]

Ha, it says there is 4 to 8 where I am. I see patches of grass out the window in certain spots and maybe 1 to 2 inch depth where there is snow, so I am guessing it isn't that accurate. But yeah there are some places I could drive.

[mca80]

Well my prior hyperbolic lament about the snow completely and totally melting served as good psychic defense as I was pleasantly surprised this morning that, despite a few patches of dirt, most areas had a solid 1 to 2 inches, which had been repeatedly thawed and refrozen with no new snow daily for well over a week and included some rain, snow depth down from over a foot. It is basically a solid mass of ice that leaves almost no ski tracks.

First time using Swix KX30 blue "ice" klister on my rock skis (and rock boots, $35 ebay 30year old crispis vs my new models) and wow is that stuff awesome. Walking straight up inclines I normally need to herringbone, but zipping along on flats and rolling terrain--thanks to the nature of the snow--at maybe dangerously high speeds since braking, turning and stopping in such conditions is quite difficult. Prior klister experience was Swix Universal but may look into more temperature specific flavors going forward, especially if accuweather's multi-months-long forecast is correct and we get a lot of snow end of Feb and all through March with temps hovering above and just below freezing. Will be using this setup exclusively for next 10 days unless my forecast changes. Also time to check out some lakes with my skates.

[fisheater]

Ice klister is the shiznet! I don’t have those conditions often, but it’s awesome. Nobody on the trail, unless it’s a dedicated hiker with microspikes. Going way too fast on skinny skis. Good thing I learned to slide playing baseball, I’ve missed a turn before on the icy luge track, slide into third, offer up the skis to the trees. I would hate to break the skis, but better the skis than me.
I have not had as much fun with red, warm klister. It works, just not the ridiculous fun that blue ice klister has been

[mca80]

Definitely fun! And definitely need to know how to fall properly (grew up playing hockey, skateboarding, gymnastics, high dive, think I am pretty comfortable with controlled falls and uncontrolled accidents mid-air--although now mid 40s my body may not like it). What a relief, and actually a joy, since I thought skiing wouldn't be possible for weeks. Will order some red for spring though I am guessing it will be as you say, not as much fun as ice klister. Will check out some more established/maintained trails in the coming days as I was just wandering old overgrown paths around my place and hitting plenty of branches, but that's what rock skis are for. Maybe the maintained trails I could even take the Finnmarks out along with the dog.