After it is all said and done we received close to 15″ of new snow. We have a chance of snow through out the weekend. Our temps will be in the 20’s with lows in the teens. Come up and enjoy our snow!!!!

Western U.P. Snow Shakers (GRTA) reported on Feb.2

Trail 2 from Ironwood to Bessemer is groomed and is in good to very good condition. From Bessemer to Wakefield it is groomed and it is in good condition. From Wakefield to Marenisco it is groomed and is in good to very good condition.

Trail 8 from Wakefield to Tula was groomed on Wednesday. It is in good condition.

Trail 160 is groomed and is in good condition. Be prepared for a few wet areas along the trail.

Trial 11N and 11S are closed this winter.

Just a reminder Trail 11 between Trail 11N and 102 is not being groomed due to the closure of 11N.

Lake Gogebic Area Groomers:

Trails 8W & 8E along with 1 North will be double groomed each day weather permitting.

Trail 102 logging is ongoing. Please use caution logging trucks have the right of way.

Trail 13 south of the Root Cellar logging has started here so please use caution.

All trail conditions will improve with this newest snowfall and there is more almost every day over this next week. The important news is the temps expected to drop into the single digits tonight and teens through the next few days. This will really help freeze the trails up after grooming to keep them in really good shape longer.

I know some of you will not want to hear this but the way you ride on the trails dramatically impacts the condition of the trails. “Goosing” your sled on corners results in throwing all the snow off the corners, causing bare conditions and making the groomer have to spend extra time trying to plow snow back onto the corners. “Goosing your sled wherever you stop and start again creates moguls, sometimes into driveways. These are just a few things you can change to help keep the trails in good rideable condition. We appreciate the help you can give.
Continue to watch for logging truck traffic over a portion of Trail 102, and always remember to respect the trucks and give them the right of way at all times – for your safety. No problems to report on any of our other trails at this time. Please remember to always ride to the right and single file to prevent accidents, especially on blind corners.
*I’ve been asked to post the following as a public service to all snowmobilers so you can make adjustments before heading out.
MICHIGAN DNR REMINDS SNOWMOBILES OF SOUND DECIBEL LIMITS

The MDNR are reminding snowmobilers that state law does have decibel limits for snowmobiles. The conservation officers will be enhancing statewide efforts to enforce the law. The muffler on a snowmobile must be in good working order and when in constant operation noise emission cannot exceed the 88 decibel limit. A factory installed muffler system will meet these standards. The penalty for violating the sound levels is a civil infraction with fines up to $250.00.
Half of our trails are on private lands and are at the discretion of the landowner. “Riders who modify their machines to make them extra loud jeopardize the enjoyment of our nationally recognized trails for all riders.” said Ron Yesney, Recreation Specialist with the MDNR.
Also, no colored lens covers may be used in Michigan on snowmobiles.
For more information on snowmobiling in Michigan, including current laws and regulations, go to www.michigan.gov/snowmobiling.

The U.P. Thunder Riders of Watersmeet report:

Groomers are running daily.

Trail 2 west of Watersmeet is good.

Trail 2 east of Watersmeet to Trail 107 is good.

Trail 3 north of Trail to Trail 8 is good.

Trail 3 south of Watersmeet to Land O’ Lakes WI -is good.

Trail 13 south of Trail 2 towards the Cisco Chain of Lakes WI – good.

Please help the drivers out and pull off the trail if you can so they can pass you, the groomer cannot pull off the trail but in most cases will stop or slow down so you can pass safely.

Our new website is www.explorewesternup.com Our new temporary location is 1401 E. Cloverland Dr. in Ironwood, MI. 49938

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Temps have cooled just a bi, and should be OK through the weekend. Things are looking pretty good around here, and I am going to rate the trails at very-good, almost excellent condition. Groomers got the heavy wet snow from Wednesday packed down and are reporting very few problems. Only thing to note is it is still pretty thin both in Moran and on the pipeline South of Brevort Lake, so leaving Iggy you will have to deal with one or the other. Both are still completely passable you may see some rocks in Moran or sand on the pipeline.

This is I-500 weekend, so expect some transient traffic, especially on Saturaday. The North Ice rink lot is closed for the next couple of weeks, so if you park in the South lot, then do so intelligently. If you run out of room you may park along the side of Ojibewa Trail, just NE of that lot, or along Cheeseman Road, which goes under the overpass. The Starline RR Dock on across from the Shell downtown would also be OK to park in for the day.

We do have some logging going on, but it isn’t really effecting us. They are plowing the entirety of Castle Rock road, (the Southeast end of #471) and the Eastern Mile of the Burma grade (Trail #2, at #47) and maybe a mile right in the middle of the Cut River Trail, between Brevort & Epoufette (#473 near the Prout Rd). (You can pick out these areas on V&V Maps on MSA Site: http://www.vvmapping.com/trails/miSn…gnace_1748.pdf

Pond Hockey Update:
TRAIL WARNING
There is currently no good lake ice around the area, and the organizers are going to attempt to create rinks at the ice rink parking lot. There will be a winding trail through the area, and you must stay on the marked trail and off the ice rinks! It is going to be very difficult to get the rinks built before the tourney, so please help out, and stay where you belong

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Visit Straits Area Snowmobile Club Website >>>>

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