Trail Report – : Western UP, Michigan – February 9, 2018

Date of Report: February 9, 2018

Area Report:
Temps for the weekend are going to be in the teens during the day and below zero at night. Grooming is ongoing for all clubs. Use caution on corners they may be icy. Make sure you ride on your side of the trail, we want everyone to be safe.

PLEASE STAY ON TRAILS. WE HAVE BEEN GETTING COMPLAINTS THAT SOME HAVE NOT BEEN STAYING ON TRAILS, RIDING ON UNMARKED TRAILS CAN LOSE EASEMENT FOR OUR TRAIL SYSTEM SO PLEASE STAY ON TRAILS!!!!!!

THE GOGEBIC RANGE TRAIL AUTHORITY REPORTS:

We are grooming nearly non-stop hitting most trails at least once a day. We have one groomer down for repairs. Thankfully, the cold temps are helping to keep the snow from moving too much. Overall trail conditions are very good, lots of snow on the trails. Beware of icy corners and icy entrance/exits to corners.

Trail 2 from Hurley to Ramsay US-2 Crossing is good to excellent. As you depart Ironwood past Walmart, heading east, the horseshoe-turns around the Transfer Station are getting icy. Please ride to the right and ride cautiously.
The rail-bed trail ENDS on the east side of the Keystone Bridge. The club grooms the bridge to maintain it for local access. The “old” trail to Wakefield is closed east of Verona Road. Tickets will be issued if you ride on this closed trail.

Trail 2 from Ramsay Crossing to Wakefield is fair to good. The decent from Indianhead Mountain to Wakefield as you travel eastbound on trail 2 needs more snow. Aggressive riding has pushed a lot of snow off the tight & twisty trail and we are working to bring more snow in. There have been several near-miss accidents due to riders not riding on their side of the trail or blowing through icy corners. We need everyone to ride safely through there at a reasonable speed to keep everyone safe. The hill climbs to Indianhead Big Snow Resorts are snow packed and smoolth.

Trail 2 from Wakefield to Marenisco is good to excellent. There is active construction 5 miles east of Wakefield use caution. Watch for icy corners from Wakefield to US HWY. 2 trail crossing. The rail bed section is in great condition. Snow depth will diminish slightly as you travel from Wakefield to Marenisco, mainly from 11S intersection east.

Trail 8 from Bingo’s to Tula Crossing is good to excellent. The trail has lots of snow on it and is a wide seasonal county road that is not plowed and makes for a fun trail ride.

Trail 160 from Walmart to Montreal River(WI) is good to excellent. This is a very scenic trail with spectacular views. ENJOY!! There is logging near the Lake Road area, please slow down, remember logging trucks have the right of way.

Trail 11S is good to excellent. The first 2 miles of the trail as it heads south towards Wisconsin from Trail 2 is plowed due to logging. Please yield to all commercial truck traffic. The trail is in great shape and is groomed from the Vilas County Wisconsin Line to Trail 2 completely, regularly. There are still a few thin areas and areas that need more brushing but the trail is fantastic.

LAKE GOGEBIC AREA GROOMER REPORT
Trail Conditions:
All trails are reported to be in good to excellent condition. Groomers are out daily-during the evenings-grooming almost every trail at least once a day. Lots of snow on the trails and the continued cold temps are helping to keep the snow in place. Watch out for icy corners and icy entrance/exits to corners.
A rider reports: “Took trail 1 from Fishtales to Marenisco, no moguls and excellent – Trail 2 towards Wakefield, no moguls, excellent – 11S towards Wisconsin, no moguls, excellent – Trail 2 and 8, excellent – Trail 8 towards Bergland, a little bumpy but rideable until on GAG’s portion of 8, then excellent. Light traffic all the way, excellent trails and a gorgeous day.”
There is going to be a lot of traffic this weekend – so best to hit it early.

U.P. THUNDER RIDERS OF WATERSMEET GROOMERS REPORT:

Trails are good with some fair areas. We do have some thin areas and icy corners so use caution. The groomers are running daily. Lots of thumbs up from riders so the trails must be riding well!
Trail 2 east of Watersmeet – to the 107 – good but thin in areas
Trail 3 south of Watersmeet to WI – good -this trail gets tons of traffic and it gets rough between groomings use caution over the bridges
Trail 3 north of trail 2 to bond falls – good with icy corners
Trail 3 north of Bond falls – good with icy corners
Trail 2 west of Watersmeet- good
Trail 13 south of trail 2 – good with icy corners

PLEASE STAY ON MARKED TRAILS. RIDING ON UNMARKED TRAILS CAN RESULT IN THE CLUB LOSING EASEMENT OF THAT TRAIL AND YOU POSSIBLE GETTING A TICKET…..

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