Michigan Trail Report

Trail Reports


Grayling Trail Report – Fay’s Motel – 12/30

Greetings Would Be Anxious Sledder Types,

Once again we’ve lost the most sought after week of sledding due to the most bizarre behaving Mother Nature that we’ve seen in at least the last decade. Consistent Winters are simply not her forte’. There is reason for hope, however, as the temps are supposed to stay solid, a couple of clippers are scheduled, and the Lake Effect Snow guns are supposed to kick into gear in the not too distant future, this according to our beloved, and trusted Johndee.com. How much we get out of the clippers and LES is anybody’s guess and these types of snows are unpredictable, but hey, it’s a positive forecast. Seeing a forecast with clippers in it is encouraging. Some of the best winters are ones that have clippers stacked up, which gives us a steady diet of a few inches every few days.

Oh Yeah, welcome to all of you newcomers that signed up for this report. Welcome back to all of you seasoned veterans that have been reading this thing over the years. Can’t believe this is the beginning of the fifteenth season of this sometimes nonsensical, often digressive, always honest, and accurate report. We are Keith and Sandy, owners of Fay’s Motel, I manage the trails in and around Grayling and have been setting in the groomer driver’s seat for 14 years, together we can provide you with up to date trail conditions. That’s the last sales pitch you’ll read this season, I promise.

There is reason to be upbeat about the weather forecast and I’ll not get into the details that most of you have probably already seen.

Stay tuned for an update as soon as we get significant snowfall on the horizon and/or more importantly on the ground.

Have a safe and Happy New Year.

When the time gets here, and it eventually will,
Ride Often And Please Be Safe,
Keith, Sandy and The Girls.

December 30, 2014 |

Grayling Trail Report – Fay’s Motel – 03/19

Greetings Sledders,

That’s a wrap, game over, season 14’s finale’ report, what the hell do you want to talk about now?

I’ll just throw some numbers at you in terms of what we groomed and monies and time we spent to get there and call it a season, how’s that?

We are responsible for 86 miles of trail and on that 86 we groomed 6,942 miles, and to accomplish that we put butts in the seats for 1,193 hours which equates to a robust 5.8 miles per hour.

Our very thirsty John Deere 7830 tractors consumed the better part of our $26,000.00 fuel bill this past season which put our cost to groom each mile at approximately $3.74, and that’s just fuel. It doesn’t take into account several thousands of dollars spent on non-reimbursable items such as oils, hoses, lights, etc.

One should not lose sight of the pre-season hours spent brushing, signing, grading, and machine maintenance when putting the final tally on this year, we had about 550 hours associated with those functions as well and it’s far from over. We now enter into post season shut down which includes dropping the blades off the Deere’s, removing and re-building all of the cylinder and rod ends, dropping all three drags and flipping the cutters for next year, final greasing for the year and the list goes on and on.

In closing, thanks to all of you who read and responded to the reports this year and a huge thank you to all who stayed with us during a year where you could go pretty much anywhere in the State, your business is genuinely appreciated.

Keith, Sandy and The Girls

At Fay’s Motel enjoy direct access to the Grayling Area snowmobile trails.

March 19, 2014 | Uncategorized
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