It’s a "Twofer" weekend, so Happy Valentine’s Day-Happy President’s Day! Season snowfall to date: 137.8" with 16" on the ground. With expected increased traffic, best riding will be early in the day altho groomers in all areas will be out working on the trails both day and night.
Gogebic Range Trail Authority: Groomers are out and all trails are being groomed including 2-8-160-11N and 11S. Overall conditions Good-some very good, some fair. Keep in mind with increased use, corners may be icy -and as always, use extra caution when crossing streets, roads and driveways.(more info on GRTA at: gogebicrangetrailauthority.com)
From Gogebic Area Grooming, covering the Lake Gogebic Area-Groomers are all out double grooming all trails.. trails in really good shape and range from good to very good. Logging is still ongoing- so watch for signs and especially logging trucks.
And from the U.P. Thunder Riders of Watersmeet: groomers are out and reporting trails are solid and conditions are fair to good.

TOO MANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS are in the news this year. Many are alcohol and speed related. We want you to have a great time on our trails here in Big Snow Country, so please use your good common sense and save your drinking for after the ride.

ICE: Let us reiterate, there is no such thing as "safe" ice.
If you choose to ride on a body of water, be sure you check with locals in the specific area you intend to ride and get current information on conditions in that area. When you ride on ice, you are doing so at your own risk.

PHOTO REQUEST from us. If you have any neat snomo pictures you’re willing to share, we’re looking for a cover shot for next years map and other marketing uses. Can’t pay but will give a photo credit on inside of map. Send in jpg -300 dpi- to bigsnow@westernup.info. Be aware anything you send will become the property of the WUPCVB so this request is more for amateur photographers…in other words, don’t send anything you may want to sell in the future. Appreciate any help on this.
WATCH FOR GROOMERS Keep in mind the groomers are out both day and night, so watch for them, and PLEASE pull over or at least slow down and wait for the operator to signal you by whenever you see them.
SIGN VANDALISM RESULTING IN SERIOUS SITUATION
Expect to see more patrols on the trails due to a recent rash of sign vandalism incidents…we’re hearing cameras also may be enlisted in order to apprehend those responsible. If you see any suspicious activity, please call the DNR at 800-292-7800.

Greetings Sledders,

I didn’t get to take my sled ride yesterday but managed to get one in today after spending the morning hanging the chains on the front tires of the New Holland with the following results.

Trail #47 to Lovells is like a good highway most of the way but the snow gets a little thin the closer you get to Lovells, not impassable by any means but thinner. Trail #7 which is our problem child regardless of snow amounts is cleaner with the addition of the couple of inches we got a couple of days ago but still shows some snirty stretches. Trail #s 679 and 79 are good and white and for the most part smooth with very few bumps although me and my M-10 actually don’t care about bumps to begin with.

WEEKEND CONDITIONS: I don’t see a problem with the weekend as traffic doesn’t look to be massive compared to years past and judging by our book, state of the economy and people leary of trail conditions I suppose are the culprits here. Again I’m sticking with the fair part of the report only because of the few number of snirty areas and the ice.

GROOMING: We are and we’re happy about it!! The usual weekend schedule is set and I don’t see any reason for varying from same.

Ride Often and Please Be Safe, Keith, Sandy and The Girls

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