Published: 14 December 2017

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Overall Story:  It has not stopped snowing for 10 days!  Trails are open!  The record setting rains on Dec-4th continue to wreak havoc across our trails, but our prompt work in getting trails packed has saved some sections.  Running water has eaten much of the snow up in spots leaving trail conditions changing rapidly and profoundly throughout our 95 miles of trails.  You will ride excellent trail conditions right into a water hazard or low snow spot.  Early season conditions will continue for the foreseeable future as no major snow event is forecast, but consistent snow and great temperatures appear are in the forecast.    We are grooming around the clock and need help brushing trails.  We have logged well over 1,000 hours brushing since October 27th, when the fall storms began.  We logged 1,000 hours prior to Halloween weekend and our trails were done/ready.  It's been a battle folks.

We would appreciate if riders brought a pair of loppers with them on their first rides and help brush!  We are a 100% volunteer club, we do this for YOU!  Help do your part in making our trails the best experience around!  We have logged over 1,000 hours since October 27th storm event and really need an infusion of fresh blood.  Join Today!

Nothing but snow and good temperatures is forecast for the foreseeable future.  We have a slight warm up on Monday to near 32, which should help settle the snow down.

Please read below for additional trail segment details.  "Base snowfall" is what we considered the packed trail base.

Trail 2 from Hurley to Ramsay US-2 Crossing:

Overall rating:  GOOD.

Groomed yesterday 12/13.  Off-season trail bed work has left this trail in very good shape.  Current condition is rated as good to very good.  4-5" base on the trail.  Trail will be groomed Friday morning 12/15 at 4am. 6-12" of new snow this week has been packed in.

New Projects completed Summer 2017:  Iron Belle Trestle Bridge drainage improved & grade reestablished, East Ironwood to Ramsay graded (had 18" gravel whoops removed), Ramsay access trail has been dozed open and large water hole removed.  The horseshoe around the Gogebic Range Transfer Station has been dozed flat and graded to drain.

Trail 2 from Ramsay Crossing to Wakefield:

Overall rating:  POOR.

Groomed 12/13 overnight, will be groomed again before the weekend.  Snow cover is extremely thin and the trail has been extremely wet.  There are open water holes and active run off from the hills cutting trenches across the trail.  Ride slow, stay on the trail and be respectful of drive way crossings.  This is a tight trail and whoops up fast.  Be patient with us as we need more snow to groom this trail back into shape.  It's a new trail and is a constant work in progress.  Shout out to the hill crew at Big Snow Resort's Indianhead Mountain for pushing snow to the top of their hill that our trail comes up, we'll be pushing itdown as needed to keep the trail from getting swept and turning into a sheet of ice!  They are a fantastic partner!!

New Projects completed Summer 2017:  Indianhead Resort's western climb has been regraded, ditched, widened and hopefully no more icing problems.  The decent down to Wakefield has also been straightened, grade lowered and widened.  We are so excited for this work as it makes the trail safer, more easily groomed by both of our rigs and will greatly increase the ride quality.

Trail 2 from Wakefield to Marenisco:

Overall Rating:   FAIR. 

Groomed last night into this morning, 12" of new snow packed in!  3 miles east of Wakefield there is 1.5 miles of trail currently plowed by logging company; GO SLOW AND YIELD TO ANY LOG TRUCK TRAFFIC.  There is one water drainage trench 2 miles east of trail 11S intersection (FR-8170) with water running across trail.  We keep packing snow on and in it, but the water keeps consuming it.  Be cautious and ride slow!  Conditions range from marginal to very good, we have a thin base so throughout Saturday we expect the trail to degrade to poor.

New Projects completed Summer 2017: Beaver abatement work continued down at Heart Lake Rd. and trail 2 intersection, entire rail bed was mowed with our brusher, water hole just west of FR-8170 was ditched to drain (further work needed) so a dip in the trail now exists, but no longer a 2.5' deep water hole.

Trail 8 from Bingo’s to Tula Crossing:

Overall Rating:  MARGINAL TO GOOD.

Groomed twice yesterday 12/14, 12-20"+ of new snow since last grooming a week ago.  There are several wet areas on the trail, please ride with caution.  We hope they will continue to freeze up, but we're fighting running water and still the ground around the trails are extremely warm.  We have not seen groomer tracks on Trail 8 from the Lake Gogebic Club, the north side ditch trail along M28 is extremely wet!!  Ride with extreme caution!

New Projects completed Summer 2017: Brushed trail back along M28 to get it further away from Highway M28, Moved trail back onto "old M28" seasonal road due to lack of logging out there this winter.

Trail 160 from Walmart to Montreal River (WI):

Overall Rating:  CLOSED.

Rolled & packed completely Tuesday 12/12.  There are MANY wet areas that were busted open packed with snow on Sat/Sun last weekend, some of them 6'+ deep.  This trail had been heavily damaged from gail force winds and heavy snow.  Please remember to stay on the trail in the farm fields!  So much work and money has been put into this trail we cannot risk losing it.  The last 1.5 miles is plowed for a camp, unclear if that will be plowed all year.  The trail needs more work to get it to freeze in to provide a safer trail.  We hope to open this trail in the very near future.  The Wisconsin trail ours connects up with is still closed as well for the same reasons, dangerous water hazards.

New Projects completed Summer 2017: $170,000 Mud Creek Bridge project completed, 5 miles of new trail made for us by the Gogebic County Forestry Department, hundreds and hundreds of hours brushing and signing this trail.  It was closed last weekend and we cannot wait to show you the new trail for this year!  Gorgeous!

11S (Wakefield, MI to Winchester, WI):

Overall Rating:  CLOSED. 

The northern 1/2 of the trail was rolled 12/13.  Active logging is going on in this area and the logging company widened roads removing many of our signs.  There are so many trees down on the trail from fall storms as well.  We are a ways from opening this trail due to the amount of labor needed.  We are desperately seeking help brushing this trail open and will need help getting it signed.

New Projects completed Summer 2017:  Hundreds and hundreds of hours signing/brushing.  $4.000 culvert replacement, $1000 spent eradicating beaver from lakes they along the trail.  Due to a large wet area we will be unable to groom the route completely to start the season.  We have a club member who has purchased a new snowmobile drag that will be packing and laying it flat until it freezes completely.  We will keep you updated as the freezing process continues

11N (Wakefield, MI to South boundary Rd):  Closed indefinitely.  Local landowner has had too many snowmobile issues with the trail and refuses to entertain a route.  The landowner continues to have sleds trespass even though the trail has been closed for 5 years.

Published: 27 February 2017

Overall Conditions:  Marginal – Some trails better than others, need more snow to reestablish base.

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Trail 2 from Hurley to Ramsay Crossing:

Overall rating:   Rolled 2/24, Marginal to Poor

Trail 2 from Ramsay Crossing to Wakefield:

Overall rating: Rolled 2/24, Poor Condition.  Wet area near Blackjack Ski hill has returned/reopened.  Please ride cautiously!  Trail is very icy.

Trail 2 from Wakefield to Marenisco:

Overall Rating:  GOOD condition.  GROOMED 2/26

Trail 8 from Bingo’s to Tula Crossing:

Overall Rating:  Rolled 2/24, Marginal condition, will be groomed early this week

Trail 160 from Walmart to Montreal River (WI):

Overall Rating: OPENING SOON!!!

Bridge is complete!  Trail remains closed, we need your immediate help brushing and signing this trail!  We cannot groom it without DNR signing/brushing approval so it is a critical task to get this completed!  We need people during the week and the weekend!  Please contact us today (Facebook us!) so we can include you on the planning conversation (email).

Trail 11N (South Boundary Rd) / 11S (Winchester, WI):

Overall Rating: CLOSED for the season.  Seeking volunteers to help open the trails!

The club is actively seeking help to get the trail evaluated and prioritized for opening 11S next summer.  One of the areas most favorite trails was lost due to logging operations and an inability to reroute.  Then, the task of getting the trail back open was hindered by beaver flooding issues and a lack of labor.  We need volunteers to step up and help get this gorgeous trail open next season!