Greetings Sledders,
Conditions have improved and the forecast is looking better.
We started grooming Sunday and finished yesterday. This wasn’t a panning exercise, we were grooming with the intention of getting everything flat knowing that there were going to be limited short stretches where dirt would get mixed in which is why I wanted to hold off and start on Sunday. It was better to let the weekend traffic ride on what we had then to go out on Friday and make some areas less than appealing. There was more snow then anticipated on most of the trails that we groomed but at the same time it’s impossible to avoid the sand ridges, some of the corners, and the areas around the healed up water holes when you are cutting the trail for the first time. Fortunately there was snow in the forecast and it arrived as predicted which helped cover our grooming sins.
With all of that said the trails have improved to fair to good.
We have what looks to be a minor hiccup on Thursday and Friday with temps rising to a little above freezing which at this point doesn’t look too threatening due to cloud cover. Snow is forecast for Saturday.
There are two areas where caution is advised and one trail segment that has been closed with all of this due to water.
First: Trail #47 between Lewiston Grade Rd and Old 27. There are two places where water is flowing across the trail. Both are marked with ” Water Over Trail ” signs. The flow of the spot to the west is restricted and there is a fairly deep pond that has developed and I advise that you skirt this on the south side of the trail. The other spot is pretty straight forward.
Second: Trail #47 as well. Travelling east about a mile and a half from Wilcox Bridge Rd ( paved road ) you will see a ” Water Over Trail ” sign and shortly after you will see yet another spot where water is flowing across the trail followed by another quarter mile of water holes of various sizes. If you are westbound this section is about a mile and a half from Bob Cat Trail Rd. and is signed as well.
Trail Closure: Trail #7 south of M-72 and west of M-93. There is a very short piece of trail that connects the two highways and it is completely flooded for several hundred feet. There are signs indicating that the trail is closed, the gates are closed and there are arrow signs directing traffic. I cannot tell you specifically where to go in order to cross M-72, I can only tell you that you should ride with the direction of vehicle traffic on the un-plowed portion of the road right-of-way.
Next report Friday.
Ride Often and Please Be Safe,
Keith, Sandy and The Kids