KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Keweenaw Trail Reports – 03/13
Yesterday was a great day of late season riding conditions on trails north of Mohawk!
I have met countless groups of riders that are either all or a couple of them first time riders to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula! This is awesome, I just hope they are able to return for a mid season trip sometime!
I usually try to share other rider’s photos and reviews of trails in addition to mine , but this morning I am posting some of mine from yesterday’s ride. When I choose to ride early and late season conditions, yes it’s for the actually snowmobiling BUT, I always know conditions aren’t going to be anywhere near perfect! I ride accepting fair conditions as I personally am just not really ready for the season to end AND for the beautiful views of the Keweenaw!
Most people are choosing to stage and ride either out of Calumet at The The Trailside Lodge
or Phoenix out of Vansville Bar
.
Trails north of Mohawk have remained in the best condition overall.
Yesterday there was limited grooming. Trail 3 South of Houghton and Trail 17 were groomed. North of Mohawk Trail 3 and 134 were groomed.
Thursday night Trail 130 and 132 had started to get pretty choppy and by yesterday afternoon Trail 130 was definitely moguled up. Trail 124 that runs from Phoenix to Gay is also pretty rough. The trails that were groomed north of Mohawk was a huge help yesterday from the condition they were in Thursday night…. just knocking down the tops of the bumps and filling in bare spots made a huge difference.
Groomer Tracker
app would be very helpful to those still planning to ride. Check it out and see what has or hasn’t been groomed daily to try to help plan your route!
That being said without trail 124, 122, 132 and 130 being groomed at all since the warmup last week and the rain that was received they will indeed be very choppy trails. Brockway Mountain has some bare spots, but most were avoidable yesterday. Trail 134 was definitely what was reported as the best trail out their and I would have to agree! Riding out to High Rock was very choppy but definitely still worth it for the views!
Today’s high temperature of 43 and sunny is definitely not going to help with preservation of the trails! The moral of the story is get out there and ride…. no guarantees how long this season will last…..sadly!
As I’ve been saying each day getting into ANY town is real rough – bare pavement. It’s definitely not stopping people from grinning and baring that lovely sound on the carbides as The Mariner North
and The Pines Resort Home of Zik’s Bar
were pretty busy when we were in both times yesterday and sleds at Eagle Harbor Inn
and Bear Belly Pit Stop
even though you are running some pavement to get there. There are other restaurants/bars along the way that are possibly a bit easier to access Cliff View Bar
, Vansville Bar, Drift Inn, Slim’s Cafe
, Glacia Tavern
etc. There are also countless other amazing restaurants in Calumet and of course Houghton/Hancock and Dollar Bay that would be much easier to access by car when you are done riding.
Fuel is available at Vansville Bar located right on trail 3 where 124 intersects. Copper Harbor Fuel Stop
has fuel and a convenience type store if you are riding through Copper Harbor along with Lac La Belle and Gay. These will be a little more difficult to get to in amounts of road riding.
Whether you have tucked your sleds in for the season or are up riding I hope you enjoy your day!
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KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via Western UP Trail Reports – 03/13
Some pics from yesterdays run up Brockway and down 134. Looks like its going to be a while before we go out again, if we even do. With warm temps and sunshine for the next 8-10 days the trails are going to take a big hit. 😢
☠Stretch
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> The week starts out dry today with temperatures climbing above freezing across the UP. The next system brings a mix of rain and snow on Tuesday before temperatures turn sharply colder Tuesday night, followed by a round of potentially heavy lake effect snow in the north wind snow belts on Wednesday. Quieter weather on Thursday then gives way to another chance of snow with the next system on Friday. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaThe week starts out dry today with temperatures climbing above freezing across the UP. The next system brings a mix of rain and snow on Tuesday before temperatures turn sharply colder Tuesday night, followed by a round of potentially heavy lake effect snow in the north wind snow belts on Wednesday. Quieter weather on Thursday then gives way to another chance of snow with the next system on Friday. ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via Michigan Storm Chasers >> It's noon here on Monday, January 12th, and this week does present a couple instances of lake effect snow throughout the week. As a preliminary first call for the entire week, we've displayed current odds at areas receiving more than 4" of snow based on data from medium range models, and the WPC. Most of the lake effect snow for the UP will fall between Tuesday and Thursday, where much of the higher elevation areas along Lake Superior currently have a greater than 50% chance at 4" of snow by the end of the work week. For much of the LP, lake effect snow will be confined primarily to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, especially AFTER Wednesday heading into Thursday. We are keeping an area of 1-20% across much of southern and central Michigan in the event wind shifts or passing clippers allow for extra accumulation, but the greatest chances for 4" will be in the far southwest corner, the thumb, or your typical lake effect zones across northern lower Michigan. We have lake effect snow forecasts coming all week, along with other forecasts for other weather phenomena such as wind, rain, and perhaps mixed precipitation. Click the follow button on our profile today here at Michigan Storm Chasers! #miweather #keweenaw#westernup #newberry #sooIt's noon here on Monday, January 12th, and this week does present a couple instances of lake effect snow throughout the week. As a preliminary first call for the entire week, we've displayed current odds at areas receiving more than 4" of snow based on data from medium range models, and the WPC.
Most of the lake effect snow for the UP will fall between Tuesday and Thursday, where much of the higher elevation areas along Lake Superior currently have a greater than 50% chance at 4" of snow by the end of the work week. For much of the LP, lake effect snow will be confined primarily to Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, especially AFTER Wednesday heading into Thursday. We are keeping an area of 1-20% across much of southern and central Michigan in the event wind shifts or passing clippers allow for extra accumulation, but the greatest chances for 4" will be in the far southwest corner, the thumb, or your typical lake effect zones across northern lower Michigan.
We have lake effect snow forecasts coming all week, along with other forecasts for other weather phenomena such as wind, rain, and perhaps mixed precipitation. Click the follow button on our profile today here at Michigan Storm Chasers!
-- Trusted Partner of the Day -- McKay Tree Specialists | Turn to your top option in SE Michigan today for all your tree care needs by calling McKay today at 248-308-7308! ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Light snow will continue moving into the western half of the UP over the next 2 hours. Snow will continue west to east quickly, diminishing in the Keweenaw and central as the night progresses. Snow will diminish in the eastern UP by early morning. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaLight snow will continue moving into the western half of the UP over the next 2 hours. Snow will continue west to east quickly, diminishing in the Keweenaw and central as the night progresses. Snow will diminish in the eastern UP by early morning. ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Quieter weather settles in across the U.P. today as lingering snow showers tapering off this morning. A weak clipper system will bring another round of light snow tonight, but only expect another inch or so of accumulation in most locations. After another quiet day on Monday, another system brings a mix of rain and snow to the area on Tuesday. #miweather #keweenaw#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaQuieter weather settles in across the U.P. today as lingering snow showers tapering off this morning. A weak clipper system will bring another round of light snow tonight, but only expect another inch or so of accumulation in most locations. After another quiet day on Monday, another system brings a mix of rain and snow to the area on Tuesday. ... See MoreSee Less
KEWEENAW PENINSULA UPDATE via The Trailside Lodge >> Well… Mother Nature heard us complaining about that warm-up and said absolutely NOT. ❄️ Colder temps and snowy powder falling all day long. Not mad about it. In fact... let’s keep it coming. The sleds are out there having an absolute blast on the trails. And yeah, we’re pretty sure the customers are having fun too… based on the grins (behind the helmets of course), throttle therapy, and lack of urgency to come back 😎 #keweenaw#snowphotosWell… Mother Nature heard us complaining about that warm-up and said absolutely NOT. ❄️
Colder temps and snowy powder falling all day long. Not mad about it. In fact... let’s keep it coming.
The sleds are out there having an absolute blast on the trails. And yeah, we’re pretty sure the customers are having fun too… based on the grins (behind the helmets of course), throttle therapy, and lack of urgency to come back 😎
📸 Pic details for the trail detectives: This photo was taken right along Trail #17 between Calumet and Houghton, and those good-looking machines are 3 of our Ski-Doo 600 Backcountries E-TEC's.
🏨 Little bonus perk: Our hotel rooms are located right at the same spot as our rentals. Ride all day, park your sled right at your door, warm up, relax, and repeat. No trailering. No nonsense.
Colder temps, snowy trails, happy sleds, and zero complaints today. Who’s ready to ride? ❄️😏 ... See MoreSee Less