Reporter:SaultSteMarie
Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 0-3″
Date of Report: January 2, 2020
Area Report:
Chippewa County:
Sault: (12/24) Mother Nature again throws a curve into the trails. Just as we were getting things groomed and frozen down here comes the warmth! Grooming is on hold and trails that were good show melting spots and wet spots have reopened. Trails in poor condition with no new snow or real cold for several days.
Paradise: (12/29) 36 degrees with a steady 25 mph wind outa the east and raining….doesn`t sound like the end of December does it? Looking at the extended forecast they’re saying highs close to 40 and the lows around 30 for ALL of next week. Nothing to report on the trails. We haven`t been out with the groomers due to the weather. What I`m afraid of is we are going to have to start all over again on freezing the trails down. I guess we`ll just have to be a patient bunch this winter. Let’s hope things change quickly after next week. Just thought I would jump on here to let all of you know what’s up. LET `ER SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Groomer Chris
Eckerman: (12/22) 9″ base. Good condition. CAUTION****CAUTION ***REMINDER: Groomer’s are big so you need to give them room to do their job. So please give them the room, you can get off the trail they can’t. If you hit the groomer we have to call the POLICE to have a report made out. So please move off the trail don’t try to squeeze by them. All our trails were groomed last night. Power Line to Trout Lake still has a wet hole please be careful. There are stop ahead signs and stop signs. Stay to the west side. Please be careful while riding we are hoping for more snow. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! ATVORV riders remember you are not supposed to be on the snowmobile trails after December 1st. We appreciate it if you could keep your ATV’s off our trails so we could have decent trails to ride.
Rex Hyrns, President of the Chippewa Snow Chasers.
Drummond Island: (12/17) Poor conditions. Our trails are not rideable yet! As if not enough snow and big water holes wasn’t bad enough now, both groomers have broken down so they can’t work on freezing in the water holes. They are working hard on getting one of them up and running by the weekend if the parts get here in time. The other one will won’t be fixed until after Christmas or later depending on parts as well. So that’s our good news for the day, you keep doing the snow dance!
Luce County: (12/29) There was a lot of traffic yesterday and the trails were surprisingly better than expected. They were bumpy for sure and the ability to smooth them out was, well let’s just say not easy. Tough sitting in the groomers seat. You feel it when you get back! It will not last long, because of the temperatures, traffic and the soft snow. The little bit of freezing rain last night has turned into rain which is expected to last most of the day. The forecast has been all over the place the past couple of days and going forward the same, however Monday now is showing 5-8″ of snow. WHAT!! Wish we were meteorologists. Your guess is as good as ours so it is wait and see now. The trails took a pretty good beating. It is spotty with dirt showing here and there and areas where there is water. The detailed trail reports are listed below. In saying all that, there is still a good snow depth oddly enough. We asked that if you see any soft spots or if you personally get through that area before we do please let us know. All reports of areas of interest that could need some attention please let us know and we will do our best to get them right. We Take Pride in Your Ride!! All riders have their own opinion of what the trail conditions are like according to what conditions they like to ride in. Most of the riders from this area yesterday and last night said their ride was not bad, but certainly had its moments. The staging area in town is bare and the trail leading out of town is beat up pretty bad. The alley ways through town are bare.
Trail 9/2/473 (South of Newberry) Fair Soft snow and water in spots.
Trail 45 Falls: The trail is in fair shape. There are a few spots even before you get to the 500 where water is running across the trail. You can get through, however caution is still urged until the temperatures drop back off and it freezes solid again.
Trail 9 North: This is one of the heaviest traveled trails and is in fair shape. Spotty with dirt, soft snow. Swamps are not completely frozen!!
Mackinac County:
St Ignace: (12/27) Over 40 degrees this morning, it was super foggy all yesterday and light drizzle this morning. We have lost an amazing amount of snow, and trails are shot anywhere not in the deep woods. No improvement in the cold weather department, going to have to look to next week for cold temps – it is scary but there may be almost no snow left by the time we get our next snowstorm.
Neil VP Straits Area Snowmobile Club
Curtis: (12/21) 8″ cover. Trails are in fair condition. Our trails are officially open today!! Groomers were out all day and night Sunday, opening gates and clearing more debris. It is reported that #43 is soft between Curtis and Germfask. #457 is extremely soft along Sandtown Rd. #2 is NOT passable past Michihistrigan. Please use extreme caution is these areas. Have fun and enjoy the trails! Always remember to give the groomers plenty of room! Thanks everyone.
Les Cheneaux/Cedarville/Hessel: (12/19) Scott and Tom groomed from m-48 to trail 47 and 491 west to trail 49 . Get out its great again.
Schoolcraft County:
Seney: (12/23) 12″ base. Excellent condition. Groomer Tim groomed to the Bear Trap last night, trail set up nice. Groomer Matt groomed 431 and 43 south of Seney to Ten Curves Rd. The trails set up very nicely. The logging on Trail 431 is all done. The only logging we have left is 4 miles east of the Bear Trap – it is only a mile long. The trails are in excellent shape! Remember, stay right, stay safe!
Dave Biggs Secretary/Treasurer
Manistique: (12/20) Trail update: What’s groomed: Trail 41 from Manistque to JackPine trailhead and North 41 to Shingleton. Trail 413 to Trail 7 junction Cleared of trees and packed in: Trail 7 from the 2/7 junction on the “A” Frame Road (FFR2410) North to Trail 411 2 WEST from Manistque will be cleared and packed by noon, December 20th. (CAUTION: several water hazards going west and south of CR442 on the powerline, passable, but BE WARNED.) Trail 2 EAST off Haywire Grade is still CLOSED.
