Trail Conditions 12-30-09

[Snow VP]

The phrase that sums everything up is:
Thin, but perfectly ridable.

I went out and checked the worst of our trails, which would be the RR Grade heading out of Iggy, and it is quite thin, but perfectly ridable. The base developed about perfect, and there is between 2" & 4" on top of a smooth ice base. The trails should hold some traffic well for the upcoming weekend. There are currently 10 trailers at the ice rink parking lot, and I heard at least 40 sleds go by the office yesterday.

I talked to the groomer drivers, and they are not reporting any problems with lack of snow. There is a trail hazard, about 5 miles North or Moran, or 2-3 miles North of Burma Grade, on the RR Grade where there was some water flowing across the trail for a short stretch. Not sure if this is still a problem, so just be aware when riding that between Trout Lake & Moran.

Both groomers will run today, and at the least again Saturday night. We are still really just panning thing down - there is not enough snow to make huge moguls by any means. I will not be grooming the trail inside town until we get more snow - can't risk tearing peoples yards up. You can certainly ride it, but no grooming. Things are very thin along the ice rink lot, but it improves as soon as you get under I-75 and head out of town. As stated, there is about 2"-4" on top of the ice grade, with a few rocks that poked through here and there. I actually see more grass and twigs then rocks - this is from the big brushing project last fall. All of the other roads have between 3"-6" over the ice base, with a little less on the Carp River TT, where the loggers plowed it. Watch for ice in the corners for sure.

Forecast is for a few inches of snow over the next couple of days, and big winds for news years day. That is supposed to hit the normal belts with lake effect snow. If the winds are strong enough it will bring that stuff across the UP to us. So things should improve a little over the next couple of days, things certainly will not get worse with the very cold temps forecasted.

Getting back into the swing of things, see below for attached pics. First 2 are of the RR Grade, just outside of Iggy. Second 2 are at the Grade crossing Cheeseman Road, about 2 miles out of town. The last 3 are at the Grade & Castle rock Road intersection, about 4 miles out of town.

[srtf1000]

Just watchout for loggers at the firepit.

[Snow VP]

I have not been up there in a while, but they are supposed to be done by now. In any case, I think their road permit expires tomorrow. The Carp River TT Loggers have until Jan 15th, unless something has changed.

[indootime]

Thanks for the pics!

Its always nice to see the snow for us down state.

Pat

[sjmcphail]

Be UP there late Friday night for 5 nights..thanks for the pics. They really give us something to look forward to!

[Megan600]

Thanks for the info and pics. I really do appreciate the help as I was getting nervous about if our group would have snow or if we needed to relocate. We are headed there this afternoon, see ya on the trails!
Megan

[srtf1000]

When riding, watch out for hunters along the trail especially near the Cut River area.

[gambeler1]

I also want to thank you for posting the pics.
we'll be looking forward to an update after this weekend as we are looking to come up next weekend

[ToddMeister]

Well me and the wifey took our first ride of the season in the Straits Area trails yesterday. It was very cold, below zero when we left around 10 am. Warmed up just a bit in the afternoon, still in the single digits.

Had a very nice ride with sun shining most of the time.

Trails are fair to good at this time, snow is thin on the RR grade between Castle Rock Rd and Moran. North of Moran the snow is deeper, and the RR grade is fine.

The lower loop (Castle Rock Rd to Pipeline to Borland rd) is in very good condition, with a little sand mixing on the pipeline, but you can ride off to the side of the groomed trail to avoid this.

I took a few pics of where the trail stop is located, loggers clear cut the area to the north and south of the trail stop. Attached are a few pics below. There is about 10-12 inches of snow in the woods here.

First pic shows the trail stop, notice all the nice pine trees are gone.

2nd pic shows looking south of the trail stop.

Bottom pic another view looking southwest of the trail stop.

Oh and if anyone lost their kitchen chair, we found it LOL

[ToddMeister]

A few more pics.

top pic is looking at burma grade east of trail stop.

bottom is looking west of trail stop towards the ORV parking lot.

[ToddMeister]

The Cut River trail (473) was in pretty good condition, a bit snirty in the corners.

Have heard that TASA has not yet groomed the south trail to Cut River so we did not ride that trail yesterday. So we didn't rail the Caffey yesterday.

[polaris4me]

The trail stop sure looks different. We were there Friday afternoon. I think the chair is for Neil for next weekend.
We rode to Curtis On saturday, TASA needs to groom that south trail. They stopped at the Trout Lake trail connector.

YES it was cold !!! That evening at dusk we were just getting back and the last 10 miles was the coldest I have been in a long time!

[Gunner F5]

So much for the windbreak at the trail stop.
So TASA hasn't groomed those trails yet this season?

[Wink]

Will the loggers have to re-plant any of that? That just plain looks like hell!!!

[polaris4me]

Originally Posted by Gunner F5

So much for the windbreak at the trail stop.
So TASA hasn't groomed those trails yet this season?

The lady at the Rexton store said she has NOT seen the groomer yet this winter.

[ski-doo]

Was in brevort fri,sat.sun. Trails were in great shape for the amount of snow on the ground, lots of ice under the snow. Rode from rexton to cut river, trail has not seen a groomer yet, would do it alot of good. But it was not that bad. Rode to newberry, hulbert, trout lake, rudyard, moran trails were all good, although some more snow would not hurt.

[Gunner F5]

Originally Posted by polaris4me

The lady at the Rexton store said she has NOT seen the groomer yet this winter.

Everyone knows these trails are less traveled than the TASA trails north of the Trout Lake connector but they should have done them at least once by now.

[Snow VP]

Originally Posted by Wink

Will the loggers have to re-plant any of that? That just plain looks like hell!!!

There is a reason that we were asked to take that trail.
Problem is they won't give us another groomer to do the job, as we are at max mileage right now.

[SmittyAllSeason]

Neil, do you have any contact info for TASA for that trail that is not getting done. I will call them every day until they groom it. I wish Straits could pick up that section and get additional groomer.

[Snow VP]

www.tasatrail.com

Their webpage has e-mail links on it. Only direct email I had was for Kathy, and her and Dale are in S Carolina or something this winter.

From their site:

Trail #473 has about 7 miles of plowed road from Rexton south to Epoufette due to logging in the area. Please watch for trucks and deer in the area. The base is marginal to 3 inches and in fair condition.
Trail #473 Rexton to Trout lake is being groomed today to the power lines, It has a 1 -3 inch base and is in good condition.

[srtf1000]

That was my chair! lol

[sjmcphail]

We rode of Cut River yesterday (Jan 5th) and the trail was freshly groomed the whole way.