Trail Conditions: Poor
Snow Cover: 5''-15''
Date of Report: March 19, 2018
Area Report:
Western U.P. Trail Report – Western U.P. Bureau – 03/19
Date of Report: March 19, 2018
THE GOGEBIC RANGE TRAIL AUTHORITY REPORTS:
Overall Story:
03/13/18: No new snow. Another warm weekend. Road crossings, road routes and in town is really tough. We still have sections that remain in good condition, however, they can be hard to get to for the faint of heart. We still suggest trailering to Wakefield if riding east. Park and rides on the SW corner of Sunday lake and the open lot across from Holiday Gas Station is available. During the late Feb/Early March storms our extreme western corner of the U.P. saw very little or no accumulation. Not far west, east or south saw considerable more. PLEASE STAY ON THE TRAIL! PLEASE DON’T STEAL OUR TRAIL SIGNS. Hard to believe we have to continue echoing these issues, we are so lucky we have some of the most friendly landowners around. Please remind yourselves and riders in your group to check road crossings TWICE (at least!) before venturing across roadways. If traveling on a county road ROW keep speeds slow to avoid any issues.
Trail 2 from Hurley to Ramsay US-2 Crossing:
Overall rating: FAIR
Last groomed 3/2. From the Iron Belle Train Trestle (east of the transfer station horseshoe loop) and east to Bessemer the trail has on and off thin spots. Water has pooled and made a slushy (night time icy) center strip. Around Walmart, we are working to cover an approximate 50′ long bare spot. Lots of snow was drug over it last night and will continue tonight. Please be courteous and keep noise/speed as low as possible in towns. We know you come to play but the community lives with the traffic all winter long, so help our cause and be respectful!
Trail 2 from Ramsay Crossing to Wakefield:
Overall rating: POOR.
Last groomed 3/2. Conditions are good from Ramsay Crossing US HWY 2 intersection all the way to Indianhead. From Indianhead to Wakefield the trail is poor with very thin snow in spots. There is a 1/2 mile stretch as you come into Wakefield that is down to dirt.
Trail 2 from Wakefield to Marenisco:
Overall Rating: FAIR.
Groomed 3/13 from Trail 2/ Trail 8 Intersection to US Hwy 2. The 12 miles of rail bed to Marenisco was not groomed but was in decent shape. Lots of snow on the trail. As you near Marenisco there are some on/off thin spots. Nothing bare.
Trail 8 from Bingos to Tula Crossing:
Overall Rating: FAIR.
Last groomed 3/13. The trail is showing signs of wear from traffic and little fresh snow. Corners will deteriorate quickly
Trail 160 from Walmart to Montreal River (WI):
Overall Rating: FAIR
Last Groomed 2/27. Lots of snow. We recommend doing an “Out and Back” as the Wisconsin Trail 3 / 2 we are told is hit or miss. As you depart the Montreal River Gorge the snow diminishes (with the elevation decline) but there is plenty of snow to make your way into Wisconsin. The Driftwood Bar on County Highway A has excellent burgers!! There are many scenic overlooks on this trail that riders should be on the lookout for! Bald Mountain / Powers Road Lake Superior Northern Overlook, Bald Mountain Southern viewing overlook, The Montreal River Gorge & Superior Falls are all spectacular. Be safe in these areas! This trail is an incredible ride and we are so happy to see riders out on it! 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 half mile from high-line to Lake road is plowed for logging, ride cautiously.
11S (Wakefield, MI to Winchester, WI):
Overall Rating: FAIR
Last groomed 2/26. 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. 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. Please enjoy this reopened trail responsibly, thousands of 100% volunteer hours were logged to open this! Keep speeds slow as you travel the southern half of it, once you cross the bridge within 2 miles there are some rough spots. They are snow covered, but we need more snow to fill in the uneven trail until we can repair it next summer.
LAKE GOGEBIC AREA GROOMER REPORT
Groomer Report
Monday, March 19th
Sled Season 2018 is on the books –but what a great season it has been! Our weather forecast over the next few days is anything but positive for our rapidly deteriorating trails, and groomers have packed it up for the season. Many trails are in not rideable condition, but if you are out there riding – please use caution as wet spots will re-develop with melting snow.
Delivering some of the best riding in the Country is not something that happens easily or overnight. It a long-term group effort fueled by a team of truly dedicated, hard-working and knowledgeable (stubborn) people. It’s a team of people who you can count on to GSD when it really matters and it’s those people who make the U.P. a unique and special place to visit and live. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this season a success and a big show of gratitude to Mother Nature for her fabulous appearance! No matter how big or small your role may have been – your role is important – and it all makes a difference!
On behalf of our Gogebic Area Groomers, all our local area businesses, volunteers, members and supporters (Moonshine Riders) – we also want to thank everyone who came to ride our Gogebic Area trails this season! We know that you have a choice of where to ride – we are glad that you choose Lake Gogebic – and we look forward to seeing you again next year!
U.P. THUNDER RIDERS OF WATERSMEET GROOMERS REPORT:
Groomer Report
Groomers ran the whole trail system Friday, March 2 and will not be running again until we get more snow. Our trail conditions range from very good to poor call it “end of the season conditions” Everything is rideable and the trails are open until March 31 we just don’t have enough snow to keep grooming at this time.
Trail 2 east of Watersmeet – to trail 107 – Fair/good – snirty/dirty as you leave Watersmeet
Trail 3 north of trail 2 to bond falls – fair – roadside section right as you turn off trail 2 is bare, the rest of the trail has icy areas and icy/dirty corners
Trail 3 north of Bond falls – good – icy corners
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 2 west of Watersmeet – good – holding up much better than you’d think, there is a wet area about 20 miles west of Watersmeet where water is on the trail there are signs so please use caution
Trail 13 south of trail 2 – good – icy/dirty 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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