Trail Conditions 3-12-08

[Snow VP]

Our base survived just fine. We got a little bit of snow on the Southern areas, and a bit more in the Northern areas that have made them even more ridable, with some icy areas in the corners. The paved roads are shot, gravel roads about gone too. The logging area South of Trout Lake on the Truck Trail, where they had plowed it is icy for that mile or two, perfectly ridable though. In the Iggy area, the sides of Brevort Lake Rd trail a rather tough for that short stretch. In town, there are the 2 section of pavement to get by. The Mac Bridge connector has 2 blocks of tough going, but I cut a shelf into the bank along a good chunk to fix up another block, with the rest of that trail holding fine. Drive your truck along that stretch to see if you are OK with it, otherwise trailer to the Ice Rink - riding is fine from there.

The ice bridge to Mackinac island is perfectly ridable, but is rough as hell. Last weekends sledders along the tree line tore it up real bad and the slush froze hard and rough. There may be different tracks to follow to get around the rough area, but I don't recommend it. The rough ice will get cut down a bit as more studded sleds make the trip. Mackinac Island itself has a bit of pavement showing, and large water holes. They will likely freeze tonight, but it really could use some more snow. You can dodge this stuff to get around though.

Going to me low 30s this weekend, almost perfect riding - with a warm up expected next week. Only 2 weeks left, might want to get while the getting is good.

Check out Tuesdays update for pics of what it looks like around here right now: http://www.straitsareasnowmobileclub...read.php?t=751

EVENTS:
Timmy Lees Pub is sponsoring a poker run in St. Ignace on March 14th, signup is at the Driftwood between 8:30 and 11. The snowmobile club will be having our normal trail stop that afternoon as well on the North end of Trail #471. Come ride our trails, meet some club members and see a groomer or 2! Fun for the whole family.

[Snow VP]

I was driving by so I got a couple of quick update pics this afternoon. Looks to be pretty hard, smooth and fast! They are just outside of Iggy on the RR Grade.

[Snow VP]

Quick update from my town groom last night.
I fixed things up the best I could. Mac Bridge trail is better now, but still some gravel/pavement for those 2 blocks to deal with. Down through town is better too, only 2 short sections of pavement to deal with getting to the shell station / Ice Bridge.

Overall things are very hard and fast. Our Southern loop does have some loose stuff on top, if it gets really warm while riding, there may be a bi of cooling problems. Northern loop has more loose stuff so things should be OK there.

Have fun this weekend, and drive careful!

[Snow VP]

Just talked to a groomer driver, and everything is in pretty good shape. They tried to scratch up as much as possible for sled cooling. There are some icy areas along the RR Grade from Cheeseman Rd to Moran, and long the mile of logging South of Trout Lake on the Truck Trail, other then that, everything looks good. Come by the trail stop tomorrow at the North end of #471, and say hi!
Weatherman says next week 40s, so this could be the last good weekend, hitch up, and head North!!

[stovepipe]

Neil
The additional grooming did loosen the trail up for better cooling and hyfax lube , When I left Iggy on Thursday morning the base was rock solid and the hyfax was sticking Friday was alot better. Met up with the groomer on Friday morning out of Brevort . good job !!!
You guys had the best condtions out of the 500 miles we rode Thursday and Friday, Flat solid and fast. TRAILS WERE AWSOME
I always laugh when I see trucks and trailers driving further north when they could be riding north on the sleds.
The Tasa groomer told the people in Rexton on Friday that they are done grooming south until they get more snow they only went as far as the gas station not to cut river like they usally do. Everyone needs to take grooming lesons from you guys period