Snow cover, everywhere it seems

Rare snow atop Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, California, USA, in early Dec 2009

Follow-up to last post.  Dutchnews.nl reports that:
"this [past] weekend's snow has finally put paid to hopes of staging the 200 km Elfstedentocht outdoor skating race around the 11 cities of Friesland, the organisers said on Monday.

'The ice is far from Elfstentocht-worthy,' spokeswoman Immie Jonkman told news agency ANP. 'The ice first has to thaw and then freeze again.' Snow not only spoils the surface of the ice but acts as an insulating layer to stop it thickening.

At least 15 cm of ice is needed for the race, which attracts thousands of skaters, to go ahead. It last took place in 1997."

But here's some cool photos of the 100km marathon race held at a lake:
2010 Dutch Skating Marathon on Universal Sports.com

I'll try to get a report on the Illinois canals.  Lake Ellyn in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn, IL has a track cleared of snow and is open for skating.