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Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 12/28

KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports – 12/28

The white gold has started to fall in the Keweenaw and what a beautiful site it is! I almost forgot what it was like to actually ride while it’s snowing out 😳

The forecast is now calling for snow most of the night but possibly turning to rain tomorrow afternoon 😞. I have watched this forecast diligently for the past 4 days and I can tell it changes hourly! We will definitely just have to wait and see what it actually produces….

Trails were virtually the same today as they were the past few so please refer to those previous posts for more details.

Trail 132w leading into Lac La Belle is probably the best kept secret right now…. not a single complaint in regards to the condition of that trail. Trail 132e running out of Lac La Belle is definitely not as good, some bare spots and wet areas. Trail 122 is probably in the worst shape and the groomer tried to fill in as many areas as he could with snow and mark areas with caution tape. That being said please ride all the trails with extreme caution.

Hoping the snow keeps up and that the rain dissipates tomorrow!

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KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports – 12/28

I’ve never wanted to skip right past a Sunday 🌧 and move into Monday ❄ before….. but if only that could happen now!

There is no doubt that we are in need of cold and snow! The increased sled traffic and lack of further snowfall definitely did not help trail conditions today 😞

This report is for those that are already UP here in the area looking to get out and ride, knowing that the weather has not cooperated at all and are just looking to make the best of their trip here. Trails would be rated in poor to fair condition for the majority of the system, that said there are still areas that are better than others to ride.

We rode the majority of the trail system again today and the report would be the same as yesterday essentially, only adding that there are definitely more bare spots and whooped areas. The trail out to High Rock would definitely be considered the least favorable riding conditions. There are MANY bare spots and waterholes etc….and little to no snow once you arrive at the point… all that said, I personally am still glad we made the trip out as the views at sunset were breathtaking.

We also rode trail 132 into Lac la Belle to get fuel and lunch at Bear Belly Bar & Grill, there are definitely some areas where the snow bridges have been lost and bare spots, but it is all definitely “rideable” and SO worth the trip for the delicious food!

Trail 3/17 from Houghton/Hancock did not change much from yesterday and groomers were out today on stretches of those trails. We also fueled up at Vansville Bar right off of trail 3 in Phoenix.

There are larger stretches of trail 3 over Brockway that were bare today and personally I felt trail 134 into Copper Harbor was a better route than trail 3 up and over the mountain when it comes to snow cover and overall trail condition. All roads leading into towns, parking lots and road crossings were pretty bare or thin snow cover. There is a shoulder of snow to ride most of the way going into Lac La Belle from trail 132E, where riding through Copper Harbor there is not. Snowfall amounts were much less early season as you head north.

Groomers will be going back out late tonight/early morning to do their best with the conditions we have. The truth is, there just isn’t much that can be done without additional snowfall.

All of that said, just had our carbides and hyfax inspected at Jam Service Inc. and after two full days of riding these conditions we are still not showing any significant wear and tear and even if we were, the memories we made and beauty we saw at each destination would make up for it.

The trails and businesses were very busy today and I talked with many people who all said they were still happy to just be riding!

If you are debating coming up in the next few days to ride, my personal opinion would be to hold off for a future date if you can for sure. With conditions the way they currently are and rain in the forecast it is not going to be favorable riding conditions.

However, looking into next week, possibly even Monday, the white gold ❄ returns.

Everyone join in doing their best snow dances ❄💃 and let’s get winter to return…. this interruption to snowmobile season is just unacceptable 😉 …

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December 28, 2019 |

Keweenaw Peninsula Trail Report – 12/26

KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports – 12/26

LOTS of messages etc asking for updates….. we rode pretty much all day and the start of the day was very different from the end of the day/night.

The best way to explain it is in comparison to very late season riding. This morning the trails were still in “decent” condition ….. actually everyone we talked to at stops along the trails had very positive reports from Greenland to Cooper Harbor.

The couple we talked to around noon said they had just come from Greenland to Hancock and thought that the trails had held remarkably well. They said the amount of snow on the trail got less as they approached South Range.

From Houghton/Hancock to Phoenix the trail was still, for the most part decent. Some dirt in the corners and road crossings were bare. We also spoke to 3 other groups and the report of this stretch was the same around 3:30.

We then rode from Phoenix to Gay on trail 124…… until the last 8-10 miles trail was about the same as 17 and 3 from Houghton//Hancock. We spoke to 2 other groups at about 4:30 and they agreed 124 was good until the last 8 miles in from Gay and still wasn’t bad, but had bare spots.

Pretty much the same report for 3 up to Copper Harbor and then out to High Rock and back down to 132 Lac la Belle…. some thin or bare spots on the trail and towns/road crossings are all bare. I did not ride or get a report of anyone riding into Eagle Harbor or Eagle River, however I would imagine there is far less snow left on the trail in that direction.

By 8:00 pm. I would describe trail 124 as fair ….. definitely more bare spots.

I definitely believe with any amount of higher traffic tomorrow, warm temps and no additional snowfall the trails will deteriorate quickly. That said, the die hard in me will still ride, but if you are looking for great conditions this is not the time to ride…….If you can, envision Spring riding after the meltdown has started. I met a few others upon leaving 124/3 intersection in Phoenix and would love to hear a further report from them as it is all so subjective.

In short…. trails are deteriorating quickly and colder temps and snowfall is needed! Every forecast I look at appears to be different and changes by the hour!

I wish it was better news….. please report any conditions you personally found as it is helpful to everyone. ..

KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western & Southern UP Trail Reports – 12/26

Base is holding, soft snow on top of the base…. waiting for the new snow this weekend…

KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula – 12/26

December 26, 2019

Snowmobile trails are in poor condition throughout the Keweenaw due to the prolonged temperatures. Valley Sno Drifters trail from Lake Linden to Dreamland Restaurant & Bar is OPEN!

The Portage Lift Bridge is open to snowmobile traffic.
A reroute on Trail 133 around the Gay stamp sands is now open.
The “Mandan Trail” portion of Trail 134 is open.
Trail 3 from Dollar Bay to Lake Linden and the Freda Trail (south of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge) will be closed the entire season for repair.

Please stay on the trails, STAY OFF THE ICE, respect private property, do not drink and drive, and above all else, drive safely. The signs on the trails are there for rider’s safety so please DO NOT remove or destroy them.
Snowfall & Weather Report

Houghton County has received a total of 77.5″ of snow for the season and Keweenaw County has received 118.4″ of snow for the season.

Today’s forecast: Cloudy skies. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s.
Friday: Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Temps nearly steady around 30.
Saturday: Cloudy. High 32F.
Sunday: Windy. Rain…mixing with snow in the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in mid 30s.
Monday: Snow likely. High 33F. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.

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December 27, 2019 | Uncategorized
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