GRAND MARAIS UPDATE via Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 12/12
Last night Groomer Chad Groomed the South Trail (8, 88 & 443 all East of M77). He reported a good sized water hole located about a mile north of 88 on the 443. He also took care of a downed tree. Thanks Chad for the information and pictures.
Ride Safe & Ride Right.
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GRAND MARAIS UPDATE via Grand Marais Sno-Trails Assoc. – 12/11
GMSTA trail boss grooming update: I have had a lot of questions and inquiries on if we are grooming, when we will be grooming, and why we are not grooming, etc. Before I get into the scheduling I just want to give you all some insight to how we determine when and how much we groom.
Of course one of the biggest factors is weather. How much snow, temps, conditions, what snow quality etc. Just because it’s below 32 degrees doesn’t mean you groom. If the snow quality is poor, sugary not packy, then grooming that type of snow when the base is not set up does very little for the overall “condition” of the trail. You cannot get all the woops/moguls out and the sugary snow just blows back out of the trail as the snowmobiles go over it. If this is the scenario, and it is early in the week with very low traffic, this would be the time to take a day off.
The other big factor is the budget we have to groom for the entire season, Dec. 1st – Mar. 31st. One never knows how much snow we will get over the course of the snowmobile season, as proven last year. The season lasts 121 days, and we want to make sure there is enough budget to get us through the entire season. Budgeting is critical and plays a huge part in the decision of when not to groom. If the budget allowed, we would groom every day weather permitted.
The next consideration is traffic volume. Usually Tuesday -Thursday is the slowest part of the week for traffic. Those are the first days we consider to not groom, as there is the least amount of traffic. This coupled with weather, snow conditions, and budget all help to make the call to groom or not. High travel times, we strive to groom every day to give you the best trails possible.
We will be grooming this afternoon, starting with our East trail, trail 8, and our South trail, 443 & 88 from the park and ride on M77 east to 443. Then once they get back, we will head out on the West trail, 8, 89, 43/88 across Sunrise Landing to the south end of 888 and our North trail 8, from the split at 89, 888, and 88 all the way down to the park and ride on M77. The town route is usually done in coordination with the North run and or run as needed, as it is the single groomed trail route into the town of Grand Marais for food, gas, etc.
Our scheduled grooming times are the same every day with the North and West trails being done early mornings, departing the groomer barn approximately 2am, returning approximately 9am. The East and South trails departing the barn approximately 5pm returning approximately 1am.
Hopefully the snow that is in the forecast will come, and we will have the trails good and ready for a great sledding weekend. We want to thank everyone for your support, patience, and understanding. Thank you also for your comments and info from out on the trails. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Last but not least, I also highly recommend downloading the Groomer Tracker app and for $10.00 download the GMSTA trails so you can follow the groomers in “real time”. For $10.00 each, you can download the Curtis Area Trails, Seney Snowmobile Association, Tahquamenon Area Snowmobile Association, Chippewa Snow Chasers, and the Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association and see all the trails that are being groomed in the EUP! Other club trail systems are also available for purchase as well as other States. A percentage of the $10.00 goes directly to each club who’s trail system you download. This helps and we greatly appreciate it. Take a minute and check it out.
WEATHER UPDATE via Meteorologist Brad Sugden >> The U.P right now! Already 10.5 inches by Ironwood as of 11pm! Wow! Posting often can reduce how many people Facebook shows my content to. If you’re seeing this, tapping any reaction—👍🥰😢😡—helps make sure others see it too. I appreciate you! Blizzard! #miweather #westernup#munising #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via Trails End Lodging >> TASA Tahquamenon Area Snowmobile Association coming through Windy Corners on December 28th. #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via TASA Tahquamenon Area Snowmobile Association >> See what happens when we leave you alone 48hrs?! WOW! 🙃 Out here seeing if we can save her, its ugly, testing our limits now, at or around freezing, sticky icky mess, but gotta get her flat before it freezes, starting to snow pretty good, hard trip up and hope we have some new they've been warning/promising last day or so to blend in on the way back!🤞 #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A high impact winter storm is set to impact the U.P. tonight through tomorrow. Blizzard conditions are expected to develop, resulting in areas near zero visibility, especially near Lake Superior where gusts upwards of 60 mph are likely. Important update: Trends in storm track have resulted in a southeast shift of the heaviest snowfall axis. Areas of 1 to 2 feet will be common from the high terrain of the central UP eastward along and north of M-28. Strong northerly winds may result in downed trees and power outages. Please take extreme caution if you must travel over the next 24 hours. Stay safe! Check in on your neighbors! For additional details, find the full briefing here: www.weather.gov/media/mqt/DssPacket.pdf #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea... See MoreSee Less
NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via TASA Tahquamenon Area Snowmobile Association >> Just a reminder trail 45 has some water spots on it do to the warm weather just ride with caution till we get some cold weather we are doing all we can to fix them but until we get some cold weather and snow it’s not going to be perfect thank you.. #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Heavy snow and very strong winds expected to spread across Upper Michigan tonight and Monday. Near zero visibilities and blizzard conditions expected in some locations. Power outages likely. If you have travel plans Sunday night and Monday, change your plans to avoid being on the roads! #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea... See MoreSee Less
PARADISE AREA UPDATE via Town Hall Snowmobile Club Paradise MI >> Didn’t get going till after noon today and had a maintenance stop at Clarke Motel for some fresh carbides along the way. South out of Paradise is very bumpy and the route to Hulbert was scrapped really good but passable. Heavy traffic made corners bumpy and studder bumps most of our day. Some sections were great like Mission Hill trail and part of 8 (west of the strongs turn off before getting to Curley Lewis) - busy weekend normal stuff. It’s about to get really good with forecasted 2-3 feet coming! FYI- you’ll want to avoid that little red diamond section south of paradise as we did- It’s wet in the Federal Forest #paradise #newberryDidn’t get going till after noon today and had a maintenance stop at Clarke Motel for some fresh carbides along the way. South out of Paradise is very bumpy and the route to Hulbert was scrapped really good but passable. Heavy traffic made corners bumpy and studder bumps most of our day. Some sections were great like Mission Hill trail and part of 8 (west of the strongs turn off before getting to Curley Lewis) - busy weekend normal stuff. It’s about to get really good with forecasted 2-3 feet coming! FYI- you’ll want to avoid that little red diamond section south of paradise as we did- It’s wet in the Federal Forest ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Heavy snow and strong winds expected to spread across Upper Michigan Sunday night and Monday. Hazardous to dangerous driving conditions and power outages will be possible. Those with travel plans Sunday night and Monday should be prepared to cancel or adjust those plans! #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaHeavy snow and strong winds expected to spread across Upper Michigan Sunday night and Monday. Hazardous to dangerous driving conditions and power outages will be possible. Those with travel plans Sunday night and Monday should be prepared to cancel or adjust those plans! ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via Midwest Weather >> ~(Updated) Snowfall Forecast Sunrise Sunday-Sunrise Tuesday~ A major winter storm is expected to bring significant snowfall to portions of the region. Most of the accumulating snow will be along and north of I-80. No matter how much snow will fall, there will be strong northwest winds that will create blowing and drifting snow. Travel north of I-80 will be near impossible at times. Some road closures are possible along and north of I-90 given greater accumulation and more persistent blizzard-like conditions. Heaviest snowfall totals through sunrise Tuesday (there will be more after) will be along Lake Superior. Snowfall rates could exceed 2" an hour at times due to lake enhancement. Expect over a foot in most areas along the lakeshore before dropping as you get closer to the WI border. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsarea#gaylord#cadillac#benzie#traversecity#petoskey~OUTDATED~
A major winter storm is expected to bring significant snowfall to portions of the region. Most of the accumulating snow will be along and north of I-80. No matter how much snow will fall, there will be strong northwest winds that will create blowing and drifting snow. Travel north of I-80 will be near impossible at times. Some road closures are possible along and north of I-90 given greater accumulation and more persistent blizzard-like conditions. Heaviest snowfall totals through sunrise Tuesday (there will be more after) will be along Lake Superior. Snowfall rates could exceed 2" an hour at times due to lake enhancement. Expect over a foot in most areas along the lakeshore before dropping as you get closer to the WI border.
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PARADISE AREA UPDATE via Town Hall Snowmobile Club Paradise MI >> Woke up to 4-5” of fresh snow in paradise. Did a nice 250 mile loop through Pine Stump road- Wolf Inn- Eagles Nest- Seney- Took 43 up to 8 and back to Grand Marias to Paradise. We skipped the Paradise side of 8 for the most part and everything we ran was great today. The new snow was just what the trails needed- another foot or two and off trail riding will begin! Looks like a groomer left the barn in Paradise- guessing he did the point loop 🤷♂️ as the trail into town was excellent. #paradise #newberry #snowphotosWoke up to 4-5” of fresh snow in paradise. Did a nice 250 mile loop through Pine Stump road- Wolf Inn- Eagles Nest- Seney- Took 43 up to 8 and back to Grand Marias to Paradise. We skipped the Paradise side of 8 for the most part and everything we ran was great today. The new snow was just what the trails needed- another foot or two and off trail riding will begin! Looks like a groomer left the barn in Paradise- guessing he did the point loop 🤷♂️ as the trail into town was excellent. ... See MoreSee Less
GRAND MARAIS AREA UPDATE via Grand Marais Outfitters Michigan >> ❄Mostly snow here - we did get a little freezing rain and ice - but for the most part that's over. Several sources are pointing to "impactful snow storms " in the next few days. Here's hoping the temps keep it all snow. 🤓 The riders I've spoken to say the trails are holding up - see you soon ❄☃❄ #grandmarais #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via TASA Tahquamenon Area Snowmobile Association >> Just in case you thought I couldn't make entering 9 from M123 in Newberry look this nice twice 😉 Decision making time, thought we give her a try, 28⁰ and headed in the wrong direction, back to snow not agreeing with our needs very well, would if we in the snowman making business, wants to stick and not flow or cycle through the drag, 6 miles in, making her flat but if its not going to set up, it won't last at all. Plenty of riding snow, just won't stay where we put it. Im going to flatten it out to the 498 intersection, and bring it back home for the night, I'll get right back in this thing as soon as the thermometer starts working with, rather than against us. HEY!! 😊 More traffic already since I've seen all year, and they ALL pulled over!! 🥰 TYTYTY!! Busy busy busy!! If its OK with you guys imma keep going, she needs us whether we like it or not, just remember earl season grooming conditions as well, dont be to harsh with your critiques K? Fog is a neat addition 🤔 #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
NEWBERRY AREA UPDATE via Trails End Lodging >> Rode from Windy Corners to the Bra Tree back to the Eagles Nest for a nice little loop today! #newberry #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less