Trail Conditions 1-27-06

[Snow VP]

Right now, it is 32d and the trails right now are almost perfect. The snow will be packing down quite a bit today, and any sled traffic will put the hurt on the trails. We are going to run 5 grooming runs this weekend, 2 daytime, and 3 night time runs (Friday-Sunday) We will do our best to keep the trails in tip top shape, but understand if it gets as warm as they are predicting today, conditions will vary greatly. The RR grade will likely turn back into ice, and all through the weekend the ice in the corners will get worse. Please respect each other out there, and reduce your speed accordingly. If you have the option, you can trailer to Castle Rock Road IF the RR Grade gets bad.

Note: The signs on the pipeline/Brevort Camp road are still not fixed, I am personally going to fix them, but I can not get to it until Saturday sometime. Signs on both ends of the pipeline are now missing.

It is going to be busy out there this weekend, please ride safe. Also, remember that the groomer is a huge piece of equipment. The new drag is even wider than the last one, there is no place to get around these things without the driver helping you. Be patient and let them do their job, you will not be held up long. I snagged this from another site last night:

?Just an FYI, a subject on the Cranberry Lake Trail, south of M72, near Kalkaska, struck a groomer and was injured this afternoon.?(Thursday 1-12-06) ?I just spoke with a buddy of mine. It was his brother in law that hit the groomer. He is ok , several broken bones in the foot. Sled is wasted 404 miles on it. The worst of it was while he was in the hospital he found out his mother had died. Unrelated to the crash, she had been sick.
Sounds like excessive speed was the cause of the crash. My buddy states they had stopped and his brother in law took off, getting on it pretty good. Groomer was in a corner and he had no where to go. Got past the tractor and caught the drag.?

Come on UP! We?ll leave the Bridge open for ya!

[Snow VP]

The weather is not good. It actually is 48d in St. Ignace right now. The roadways are melting quick. The trail is holding, but only because there has not been a lot of traffic out of town today. Trail out if you can to save the trail. We will get her fixed up good as soon as it gets cold. Jim D. our Pres, and owner of the Super 8 is taking the groomer out this afternoon to check out the new drag.

Sign Update. Jim D. and I are heading out Saturday afternoon to try to fix most of the sign problems. We will be in a truck, and driving the trail, please be on the lookout for us.

Jan 27 Today (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/detail/49781?dayNum=0)
Overcast skies and windy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 46F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph.
Jan 27 Tonight (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/detail/49781?dayNum=0)
Mostly cloudy skies. Windy this evening. Low 36F. WSW winds at 20 to 30 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph.
Jan 28 Tomorrow (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/detail/49781?dayNum=1)
Mostly cloudy skies. High 39F. Winds light and variable.
Jan 28 Tomorrow night (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/detail/49781?dayNum=1)
Periods of snow. Low 32F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%.
Jan 29 Sunday (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/detail/49781?dayNum=2)
Snow. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Jan 30 Monday (http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/coldandflu/detail/49781?dayNum=3)
Snow showers possible. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.

[Beagle1]

We will be in a truck, and driving the trail, please be on the lookout for us

Did I read that right? Is it THAT BAD that you can not ride a sled?

Tell me now...I will saty home :crying:

I thought wheeled vehicles on the trails was illegal?

[jimdeke]

:confused: yes it is warm but the trail should stay in good shape . the sun was out but now it is over cast, as long as the sun do not shine the will remain goodDid I read that right? Is it THAT BAD that you can not ride a sled?

Tell me now...I will saty home :crying:

I thought wheeled vehicles on the trails was illegal?

[jimdeke]

:( They are but for the safty of the trail we do have to do maintenance on the signs. It is much easyer to haul post and equipment needed to reinstall missing sign buy truckDid I read that right? Is it THAT BAD that you can not ride a sled?

Tell me now...I will saty home :crying:

I thought wheeled vehicles on the trails was illegal?

[Snow VP]

Hey guys, let me clarify, the trails are just fine, they are completely ridable, and should remain that way for the weekend. This weather is going to screw up the RR Grade, but we should be able to fix it toward the end of the weekend. It will be ICY by Sunday.

As for the truck, Jim and I have several hundred pounds of equipment to haul, and just can not do that with a sled, and there is no place to but it on the groomer, so we have decided to 4x4 it. The groomer is scheduled to run after we are don to fix anything we mess up, so don't worry. Yes wheeled vehicles are illegal on the groomed trails from Dec 1 - March 31, however we are burdened with taking care of those trails, and this needs to be done.

These signs are a safety issue that need to be fixed ASAP, and this is the only way to do it.

Cheer up - the riding will be great! (although it might be warm)

[Julie]

Hello all, this is Julie (aka Mrs. SnowVP - I think I may change my name to that :rolleyes: ) It's another 40 degree day in St. Ignace today (Saturday), how bizzare has this winter been?! I don't have the official word on the trails yet today, but Neil headed out on his sled this morning to get a jump on fixing signs, and I'm sure he will have the official report when he gets back. I can tell you that sitting in my living room, I have seen lots of sleds going by, so I will take that as a good sign.
Just wanted to say another thanks to everyone who visits the boards. :wave:
This website has really taken off in no time at all, and the club appreciates all your support. Hope to see lots of you at the February Poker Run (assuming it is not sixty degrees by then!! :eek: )

[polaris4me]

Hey , thanks for all the hard work you guys & gals do on the trails.:thumb:
We be in the U.P. Feb 3 -11. Most of that time in St.Iggy. So get those snow chants going. :banana: :director: :beerchug:

[snowie]

We just got home from St.Ignace (saturday) and I have to tell you - we rode 130 miles yesterday (3:00-9:00, 50 degree weather) - every one of the trails were excellent - if we ran across some thin or bare spots, we were able to go around (and believe me there were only a very few). We stayed off the rr grade - no reason to ride it since there are a lot more trails that had the good snow..plus the fact, there were some groups that were riding pretty fast on the grade. We had planned on staying the weekend but why push it when the weather was going to be warm again....our thanks again to you groomers, you definately have worked hard this season...

[Snobooger]

I agree! Rode Thursday and Friday on some of the best conditions I have ever seen! The Straits has some real know-how when it comes to trail maintenance...AWESOME work! Thanks again!

Posted pics and details in "The Trail Head"

[Beagle1]

First a big THANK YOU to Jim & Neil for posting the info on the trails at the 11th hour on Friday. I was at work and trying to decide what to do at 4:30pm. Made the decision to still bring the sleds up based on what they said. Otherwise I would have been visiting by truck.

And it was WORTH IT! Every 200 mile worth. Great riding for a Saturday, even with the warm temps.

It was a pleasure to meet both Jim and Neil on the TRAIL WORKING. These guys, like most volunteers, are out there making it nice for us. I for one appreciate it.

Neil, I picked up the cardboard box you lost out of your sleigh, as well as a few sheets of the paper that goes between the signs. Also picked up (2) used Chevrons? They were used, but by the time I found them they had stud holes too :conf: I can't believe people would run things over and not pick it up. Threw it all in the dumpster near our motel.

Also spotted the Sheriff on sled patrol. They didn't bother us one bit?

Thanks again guys, may be back up with my son this weekend.

-Ron