The temps climbed to the low 40s with bright sun Monday. South facing slopes & road crossings took a beating. Low 30s today & tomorrow then they spike into the 40s for Friday thru Monday. The future of this season looks bleak.
Both groomers were out again last night. Temps stayed near 30 overnight so trails most likely didn’t firm up well. Trails will start the day smooth but if traffic is high, they will get beat quickly again today.
I’m giving the trails a fair rating but expect some poor & good conditions thrown in too. South facing slopes (which we have few of), the north edges of east west trails & inside of turns will deteriorate first.
Road crossings on Hwy 45 are poor. Crossings on K near town also fair. The trail near the Energy Mart west to the 1st intersection (45 S) is brown & nasty. The area on 13N/45N about 2 miles north of K but south of the bridge is poor with lots of snirt & bare dirt.
We are not grooming behind the cemetery on the way to Pioneer Lake.
Twin Haven via the new trail; It has smoothened out nicely now. For those running along the power lines heading north from the North Twin boat ramp, you now have a stop sign at the grade, E/W traffic has the right of way.
The lakes are marked and pretty smooth now.
News and Reports:
It crossed my mind that for those of you that have never snowmobiled in Vilas or surrounding, it is unlike areas further south. We really have nearly zero farm field crossings. Most riding is in the woods, some trails are on old rail grades & there are lots of lake crossings. But, be prepared to travel a distance to the next stop, especially along the northern portions of the county. Food is hard to find on Tuesdays, carry a snack.
Please stay on the trails; Trespassing is the fastest way to loose trails. Don’t forget you need a WI trail permit to ride the state’s groomed trail system. Aggressive riding causes more trail damage than slower, less aggressive riding. Ride right & be safe.
Snowmobile Information:
Northwoods Blizzard Blast is February 18th at the Conover Town Park on Hwy K east.
Snow Cover: Base in most areas holding except wide open areas. Snow cover
Date of Report: February 14, 2017
Area Report:
Trails In Fair Condition
Icy
Today through Thursday the temps are more normal. High of 32 today with a low 14. Wednesday & Thursday highs in the 20’s and teens or single digits at night. Another warm up forecast for this weekend.
No grooming last night. Evil sun was out yesterday taking a toll. Snow softened up & did damage to the base on trails in the open & along roadways. There are road trails that are bare. In town yesterday it was pretty mushy. Riding under cover & in the woods the best bet.
Both Catfish Lake Loop & Eagle Lake Trail are safe by the orange reflective barrels. Surface slush reported.
Reminder that from dusk to dawn the speed limit is 55MPH.
Keep Doin’ The Snow Dance! And For Heavens Sake…THINK COLD!
See Ya On The Trails!
Holly Tomlanovich
Communications Chair
Sno-Eagles, Inc.
PROUD GROOMERS OF THE SNOWMOBILE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD® – Eagle River
Phone Trail Updates 715.479.5185 – Early AM with more updates should conditions changes dictate.
News and Reports:
RIDE WITH PRIDE RAFFLE TICKETS – Drawing 12 Noon, February 25, 2017 at TrackSide.
$2 each or 3/$5 available from Sno-Eagles, Eagle River Chamber office & many businesses in Eagle River
Prizes – 1st prize SkiDoo MXZE 600 or CanAm Outlander 570. 2nd prize 55′ Flat panel TV or $500. 3rd prize Wkend at Eagle Waters Resort + dinner. 4th prize Wkend at Wild Eagle Lodge.
SNO-EAGLES SNO HUNT – January 13-February 28, 2017 – for more information contact Dave Mrczynski at 715.891.8584.
A fun snowmobile scavenger hunt with bonus point & prizes
Register at local businesses
SNO (Saturday Night Out) – Cocktails 5:30pm – Dinner 6:00pm
February 25 – 12 Pines Restaurant on Townline Rd off of Trail 10E
March 25 – Catch 22 on Hwy 70E/Trail 10E about 5 miles from Eagle River.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY TRAIL RIDES
Meet on Trail 13 (the Grade) in town between Historic Railroad Depot & Friendship House
9am departure
MONTHLY MEETINGS – 6:30pm Snacks – Meeting at 7pm – All Welcome!
February 16 – Eddie B’s White Spruce (Hwy 45N at the bridge)
March 16 – Eagle Waters (Hwy 70E to Rangeline Rd-follow the signs)
April 20 – Gordo’s (Hwy 45N across from Holiday North Gas Station)
BOARD MEETINGS – 7pm at the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (Hwy 45N next door to the World Championship Snowmobile Derby)
All Clark County Snowmobile Trails are CLOSED. Please be advised that riding on closed trails is trespassing and fines apply.
Snowmobile Information:
Club Membership
Each person that joins the Neillsville-Granton Trailbusters has the option to be enrolled as a member of the AWSC (Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs). If you chose to be an AWSC member you would also receive a $2,000 life insurance policy and AWSC magazine subscription. All members will receive the benefit of receiving club newsletters and have the right to vote at our monthly meetings.
Our normal yearly membership fee is $20. For new members we offer a one time discount rate of $10 for the first year. The annual re-newel deadline is October 31 of each year. New members may join anytime throughout the year.
If you would also like to become an AWSC member, the yearly fee is an additional $10 and includes a AWSC magazine subscription and a $2,000 life insurance policy. If you become a Neillsville-Granton Trailbusters and AWSC member you will have the ability to order the $10.00 discounted trailpass per snowmobile.
It was a great weekend of riding! Sawyer County wooded trails have about a 5-6″ base and are in good condition. The groomers continued to be out through the weekend. There are some bare spots out in the open but again wooded trails are good and lake trails are very good! The Tuscobia does report to have numerous bare spots.
A few trail closures and reroutes to keep in mind; Trail 63 north of Seeley from Boedecker Rd to the Bayfield Co line is closed, trail 5/27 from Tuscobia south to the Rusk Co line is closed and trail 11 on the 9 mile loop south of the Tuscobia has a logging operation which has not closed the trail but we do caution when riding.
Surrounding counties continue to be open; Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk and Washburn.
We do know the upcoming forecast is to bring much unwanted warmer weather and we will update with the progress of the trail conditions as the week continues.
Thank you to all club members and volunteers as well as our enthusiastic visitors for making Sawyer County your riding destination!
Base 3- 6 inches -Trail is in good to excellent Condition.
Brimley to Raco, Trail #8 –
Base 3 – 7 inches -Trail is in excellent Condition. Trail going west off M-221 is moved to south of street as building roof next to road collapsed and county closed road.
When going across the bridge in Brimley make sure you go with the flow of traffic! Blowing and drifting occurs when you first leave Brimley.
Base 3 – 7 inches – Trail is in Excellent Condition.
Sault Ste. Marie City Trail, Trails #497, #449, parts of #8 & #49 –
Base 3- 6 inches – Trail is in good condition. Wet areas by casino are frozen and groomed.
We now have a marked & groomed trail going to Chippewa Motors. It starts once you come out of the woods east of M-129 off #449. It comes into their parking lot from behind if you need parts or service.
City curfew is from 1 am – 6 am. Remember most City streets are open to traffic 20mph, stop at all intersections, and ride on the right hand side of street not on sidewalks. Watch for closed streets that are posted, mainly around the hospital, university, and state trunk lines.
Sault Ste. Marie to Kinross, Trail #49 –
Base 2- 5 inches – Trail is in Good to excellent Condition. The wet area just south of Soo on powerline is frozen and groomed. Make sure you follow reroute once you cross bridge going south at 7 Mile road. Wet areas reopened up
When the trail is running along roads make sure you go with the flow of traffic on the right side of the road.
Kinross loop & south to Pickford, Parts of Trail #49, #472, and #494 –
Base 2- 6 inches – Trail in Good to excellent condition. Watch for trucks on trail.
Kinross to Raco & Rudyard, Parts of trail #472 & #480 –
Base 3 – 5 inches – Trail in good to excellent Condition. Watch for reroute signs just west of Kinross. Portion to Rudyard in good condition.
The Downtown Trail is signed and cones up Portage Ave! Big frozen snow banks, left from the big warm up, are hindering grooming parts of the route, but streets adjacent are open to sleds.
Courtesy of the Sault Ste Marie Snowmobile Association – Groomer Report
We now have a marked trail that will be groomed on occasion to get to parts and service at Chippewa Motors. It comes into the back of their lot from the east side of M-129 when you come out of the woods.
Remember trail base is the amount of snow between your track and the ground below not the amount of fluff piled up in the woods. 6 inches of snow compresses to less than an inch on the trail.
We have a new plowed parking area at the beginning of trail #8 under the International Bridge, which now has an all season porta John.
All Washburn County snowmobile trails are currently open with the exception of Trail 140, please see closure notice below. Trail conditions are fair with a 2 to 6 inch snow base.If the warm extended forecast holds true, it is likely that all snowmobile trails may close before the upcoming weekend. Think snow!
Trail 140 from Spooner – west to the junction with trail 7A does remain closed at this time. Access to Burnett County on trail 140 can be achieved via trail 7A at Trego; 7A west to 7A south to trail 140 west to Burnett County. Please refer to an official Washburn County Snowmobile trail map.
All Washburn County snowmobile trails are currently open with the exception of Trail 140, please see closure notice below. Trail conditions are fair with a 2 to 6 inch snow base.If the warm extended forecast holds true, it is likely that all snowmobile trails may close before the upcoming weekend. Think snow!
Trail 140 from Spooner – west to the junction with trail 7A does remain closed at this time. Access to Burnett County on trail 140 can be achieved via trail 7A at Trego; 7A west to 7A south to trail 140 west to Burnett County. Please refer to an official Washburn County Snowmobile trail map.
