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.

12/30/14 ~ We love that Lake Superior Lake Effect! It has been snowing for the last 3 days and it’s still coming down. Boogity-boogity-boogity!!!! On Saturday it started with a thick, wet, heavy blanket (8 to 10 inches) of system snow! The groomers went out that night to pack it in to the wet spots and reestablish our base. Sunday brought us a few more inches of Lake Effect and the temperature dropped into the teens. Then Sunday night and Monday the lake effect machine really kicked up it’s heals with more cold temps and wind! At times dropping over an inch an hour even in town. I would say over the last few days, we’ve gotten in the neighborhood of 18 to 24 inches of white gold putting us in the 20 to 39 inch range on the snow cover map! ! The groomers are now running nightly except New Years Eve.

From the driver’s seat: All the Crazy 8’s trails are in great shape now; Trail 8 starting about 4 miles west of Rainbow Lodge (still closed) all the way to the junction with #43 headed toward the Bear Trap, Trail 88, 89, 888 and 431 are good to go! One trouble spot on Trail 88 east of M-77 is a water/mud hole that opened back up night before last. Yesterday morning, the guys went out and back filled it to help freeze it down. It will hold a sled, but no way would it hold a groomer! Hopefully tonight will get it froze down solid. The spur from the staging area at M-77 and Adams Trail, along the north side of Adams Trail, out to Trails 88, 888 and 8 west of M-77 is now groomed. The snow in town through the campground is still thin; we’ll need more system snow to build that up. The best snow cover based on the NOAA maps is north of M-28, east of Munising, and from Paradise/White Fish Point west. Aside from that, you have to go west of Marquette to find deep snow.

As always, Ride Safe and Bring them Home Alive!

Kay