February 9, 2015 – Although the weather predictions were off for snowfall amounts this past weekend we are holding out hope that the snowfall predicted for Tuesday through this upcoming weekend comes…we need snow.

What a crazy winter…too much snow too early, not enough snow in January! What can you do? We’re looking at 20’s for highs until Thursday, which has a predicted high of 1 degree! Pack your long johns, looks like we’re in for some pretty cold temps off and on past the middle of February.

Our 3 groomers are out on trails every day, and doing the best they can with the amount of snow we’ve received. The cold temps are helping, but more snow would really help. Please do not confuse our grooming entity with Gogebic Range Authority to our west, we are Gogebic Area Grooming. They have had some problems with their groomers and we’ve been getting a lot of calls about this situation lately.

The logging is finished on trail 13N and the reroute due to logging on 13S was completed yesterday

***VERY IMPORTANT – EFFECTIVE JANUARY 26TH THROUGH MARCH*** -The big news is a reroute over the area where trails 1, 102 and 8 west meet, north of Merriweather and west for about 5 miles. Please watch for changes and new signing (and there is plenty of it) in this area and heed all trail signage. There will be many pipeline workers plus a lot of heavy equipment in the area formally used for trails in this area so for their safety as well as yours please heed the new signing and don’t take any “short cuts”. This reroute will be in effect for most of the remainder of the snowmobile season, but we will post any changes as they occur. You will also want to top off your gas if headed north through this area as the reroute will add on an extra 10 miles (there and back) to your trip with no gas stops between Lake Gogebic and Silver City. YOU CAN NOT USE THIS AREA FOR ANY RIDING.

Keep in mind that we continue to groom our trails typically until the last day of March. Of course that depends a great deal on the weather as we’ve had years where we had to stop prior to that date but then again we’ve had years where, after receiving special permission from the DNR we groomed as late as April 8th! There’s a lot to be said for snowmobiling that late in the season!

You can legally ride any county road that does not get plowed, but check with the Forest Service for a map to these roads. They have a waterproof one for $10.00. Call 906-932-1330 or go to www.fs.usda.gov/ottawa for more info.

The new snowmobile maps are out and available at most local businesses. Please remember that only money put into the wooden map money boxes with the photo of the groomers on it goes back to the trails – so please be aware of this and watch for this.

That’s all for now from Carolyn at the Hoop! Keep checking back for more updates as conditions change. For additional information about the Lake Gogebic area please visit the chamber website at www.LakeGogebicArea.com or call them at 1-888-464-3242 (888-GOGEBIC). Have a great day and a great ride.

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Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce –

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It was 12 below this morning and we had 4-6 inches of snow over the weekend. The snow cut the race short on Saturday do to visibility. There were lots of sleds out on the trails over the weekend, with 2 on fire out on the trail between Soo & Brimley, and we did extra grooms trying to keep them smooth so if you were in the area hopefully you enjoyed them.

Trails overall are in excellent shape and groomers are out on a daily basis. If you are staying in the Sault please look at our list of supporters on our web page and give them your business. Please do that in all towns you visit. The grooming entities are all made up of volunteers who want you to support those who support us!!!!!!

We now have a marked trail that will be groomed on occasion to get to parts and service at Chippewa Motors. it comes into the back of their lot from the east side of M-129 when you come out of the woods.

Sault Ste. Marie to Brimley, Trail #8 –

Base 4- 6 inches -Trail is in Excellent Condition. Watch for logging trucks the last 2 miles before Brimley, they are using the grade to haul, so a portion is plowed.

Brimley to Raco, Trail #8 –

Base 4 – 7 inches -Trail is in Excellent Condition. When going across the bridge in Brimley make sure you go with the flow of traffic!

Raco to Naomikong Trail #8 [where Paradise meets us], Trail #8 –

Base 6 – 10 inches – Trail is in Excellent Condition. Lots of snow out here but watch for blowing and drifting snow in open areas.

Sault Ste. Marie City Trail, Trails #497, #449, parts of #8 & #49 –

Base 3 -6 inches – Trail is in Excellent condition. The wet spots have frozen over and trail is groomed all the way to the Antlers Restaurant and up to the I-500 Track.

We now have a marked & groomed trail going to Chippewa Motors. It starts once you come out of the woods east of M-129 off #449. It comes into their parking lot from behind if you need parts or service.

City curfew is from 1 am – 6 am. Remember most City streets are open to traffic 20mph, stop at all intersections, and ride on the right hand side of street not on side walks. Watch for closed streets that are posted, mainly around the hospital, university, and state trunk lines.

Sault Ste. Marie to Kinross, Trail #49 –

Base 3 – 7 inches – Trail is in Excellent Condition.

When the trail is running along roads make sure you go with the flow of traffic on the right side of the road.

Kinross loop & south to Pickford, Parts of Trail #49, #472, and #494 –

Base 3 – 6 inches – Trail in Good to Excellent condition. There is less snow the farther south you go but enough to ride.

Kinross to Raco, Parts of trail #472 & #480 –

Base 4 – 7 inches – Trail in Excellent Condition.

The Downtown Trail is signed and groomed starting the 16th of January.

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Via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association on Facebook

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Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association