STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The snow was as soft as could be but the grins were plentiful as the Blaine County Recreation District opened its Nordic ski trails on Saturday.

Galena Lodge and the Harriman Trail got 13 inches Thursday and Friday and groomers went to work on Friday packing snow where there hadn’t been any a day earlier.

The lack of early preparation meant skate skis were sinking a couple inches into the soft snow, but skiers were quick to forgive.

“It’s a little soft but it’s worth it,” said India Wysong.

"With another pass or two of grooming it should be pretty good," added Mel Dyck. "My observation is that there is enough depth for a Pisten Bully."

There are 10 trails groomed for skate skiing only at Galena Lodge. The Harriman Trail is groomed from SNRA to Prairie Creek with skate lanes only. The Prairie Creek Loop is also groomed.

The BCRD created classic tracks from Prairie Creek to Galena Lodge with a pisten bully Sunday morning.

And--ohmigosh--they even packed down trails at the new Quigley Nordic with snowmobile.

Meanwhile Bald Mountain was thronged with skiers and snowboarders Saturday as Sun Valley Resort opened two additional runs—Roundhouse Slope and Lower Canyon.

Bald Mountain has gotten eight inches of snow from heaven over the Thanksgiving holiday.