The trails were expertly groomed this morning!
What a fantastic day on the snow for April!

There’s plenty of snow on the Ward Trail System for late season backcountry skiing and snowshoe trekking! From the Ward trailhead (TH) on April 3, 2025, I ski-toured up Staircase Trail, then north on Ward Trail to northern Sheep and Finney Trails. I returned to the Ward TH via Overlook, lower Skinned Horse, and Ward Trails. 2 to 5 inches of new snow on a firm crust that tops a substantial base of snow. The limited new snow on crust made some of the downhill telemarking a bit tricky. The photo, taken on April 3, 2025, shows fresh ski tracks on the northern part of Sheep Trail.

Kudos to the groomer during Spring Break. The skiing was, how shall I say, “like buttah.”

About 3 to 4 inches of new snow today (March 22, 2025) on the Ward Trail System, on top of the big snow accumulation from earlier in the week. There’s plenty of snow in the Ward area now! I toured up Staircase Trail, north on Ward to East Ward, north on East Ward to Junction 16, then south on Ward and down the “old Staircase alignment.” South facing hills were a bit tricky to negotiate, with a few inches of new snow on top of a breakable crust with variable wind-drifted snow. Photo shows fresh tracks on Ward Trail, north of Junction No. 9.

After a big snow and before the groomer. It was a winter wonderland with no tracks!
Nice sunset by the warming hut.

Eight to 10 inches of new snow in the Ward area this afternoon, March 7, 2025. Skiers and snowshoe trekkers have tracked many trails, including Ward, East Ward, Cutoff, High, Wild, Staircase, and lower Skinned Horse Trails. Photos: 1) Descending “South Discovery Hill”, above Ward Trail, behind the USFS Visitor Center and 2) skiers heading south on Ward Trail north of Junction No. 9.

As of March 4, 2025, 3 PM, there are about 6 inches of new snow in the lower Ward area, but lots of variability from less than 2 inches to 8 inches due to wind drift. We saw just 2 other skiers this afternoon. Staircase trail is broken, as are parts of Ward and East Ward Trails. Photo: Telemarking on “Ruth’s Hill” by Ward Trail near Junction No. 8.

Ward Trail was nicely groomed yesterday, February 21, 2025, and lots of skiers and snowshoe trekkers were enjoying the wonderful new snow. In addition to the grooming, there were ski tracks on most Ward area backcountry trails, including East Ward, Sheep, Finney, and lower Skinned Horse. Photo was taken on lower Skinned Horse Trail, February 21, 2025.

As of Monday, February 10, 2025, the Ward Trail System had received half an inch of new snow at Ward Trailhead and about 1″ new snow at the Skinned Horse/Finney Junction (since last grooming). I skied up Wild Trail, then north on Deep Slough Trail, south on East Ward, then up Sheep and Finney, returning to Ward Trailhead via lower Skinned Horse and lower Ward Trails. All trails were skiable, although parts of some trails were icy with rocks starting to appear. Hopefully, new snow that is forecast for this week will help extend the season at Ward. After the light snowfall of February 8-9, a rouge snowmobiler entered Ward Trailhead and proceeded partway up Wild Trail before returning. The photo (taken on Feb 10, 2025) shows Ward Trail at the Ward/Wild Trail Junction (Jct. No. 9).