I liked your report. It looks like fun.

I take my mountain bike out in the city when there's no ice underneath, and just a couple of inches of snow. (Unfortunately, that's only a few times each year.) It's a workout, plowing through the snow. I can't lean into turns like I do in dry conditions, or it'll slide out in slow motion. So it's good training for balancing and being centered on the bike, instead of depending on the tires for grip.