Chippewa-Rusk-Barron Counties

[snomobiff]

Welcome all to viewers of this thread, the trail conditions for this area are in excellent condition. We have had the best base conditions since the RAIN. What that produced is amazing. Today the day after Valentines we received 3-4 inches of snow today, with another 1-2" expected today. Grooming is has been excellent as they have been grooming quite regularly. Neary 1000 miles on this year and no complaints here.

Check tomorrow for update on specific trail info, and recomended areas to ride.

[snomobiff]

Leaving from the New Auburn area has been very good for riding yesterday, you can go south on Corridor Trail 33 and have some amazing bluff riding experience which will take you to Corridor Trail 18. This trail network is highly recommended with little sled pressure even on weekends.

Also going south you can bypass Trail 33 and head south to Bloomer Club trail "Short Cut". From there you can find Bloomer, head East and head your way to the Western Edge of the Chippewa County Forest.

Unfortunately going thru Bloomer has been a challenge as trail that allows you to travel on the Eastern side of Bloomer has been closed this season. And only allows you to travel inside the City of Bloomer with the club trail marked to cross on the Bloomer Pond, and marking of this area of travel is not very clear to users that may not know the area. Will update when the closed trail on East Side of Bloomer is OPEN.

Heading North from New Auburn on Corridor Trail 33 is excellent as this can take you to a choice of destinations, you may travel to the Chetek area, or continue East on Trail 14 and find your way to Blue Diamond Area into Rusk County. Another alternative is to head South on Club Trail Blue Diamond Area Trail then to Bloomer Snow Hawk Trail and into the Chippewa County Forest, and what a beautiful ride to be.

South to Jim Falls area or North to the Chippewa and Flambeau Rivers. Your choice, either way you will not be dissapointed. Rusk County trail systems are a great choice. The Blue Hills on Saturday was the best I have seen in Ten years. Stopping at the warming shack with the kids was a unique experience for all of us. Even though snowmobile traffic was moderate, the trails held up to challenge. The base is so hard it is difficult for the trails to get the "mogul" effect, anyways ride was great.

If you have any comments post them here, I will check daily for questions or comments.

I am doing this to give info on where to ride. And if anyone want specific information. I will provide all that I can........

Remember RIDE SAFE

[snomobiff]

Started from New Auburn headed North on Corridor 33 to Corridor 14, then East to Blue Diamond area. Trails conditions excellent. Continued to down the Blue Diamond Trail south to Bloomer Snowhawk trail then East to Corridor 31. Unfortunately the trail portion thats labeled 1.3 miles on County map to Rock Lake is not groomed at all this year. Looks a little narrow. This trail seems to be a major necking point to get to Corridor 31, drop me an email which I will leave posted below. Maybe somehow that can get addressed to the Bloomer Club and or The Council. Definetly needs a change.

Well down 31 to Jim Falls, what an awesome ride. The signs that spring is near is really starting to take effect. Gonna need new carbides and slides soon!! But still worth riding. West on Corridor 18 to Eagleton, flat as a pancake all the way thru. Bunker hill was starting to show its signs of spring as the sun is really starting to bake it in the morning. Decided to head North on Bloomer Club trail to Bloomer along 110th Street. By the big Turkey Barns, when you pass thru the aroma therapy and climb to the top of the hill, the ride was worth the smell.

The view is pretty cool for those to see, and if you have kids. Mine are in augh everytime. As tonight with just I and my nine year-old daughter.
Well to update all those interested in the trail still being closed on the east side of Bloomer from the Pines. Yes, it is still closed, I believe it is due to standing corn, and it looks as though some people are using the trail anyhow? But, you can still manage thru town if you want to get to the Bloomer Clubs Shortcut Trail.

Must note, I did not pass ONE snowmobile, not even see any at taverns that you pass along the trail, wow, where did they all go? I must say the trails North of Bloomer and Jim Falls are in better condition than others, considering the conditions of weather and sun beating down now. No complaints here, none.

Get out and ride, best riding I have had in over ten years. Will post Sunday evening plan on riding North, maybe to Birchwood and around to Ladysmith and back to New Auburn.

Remember ride safe, and watch those blind corners.
snomobiff@gmail.com

[snomobiff]

Well did a short ride Saturday evening, nothing to brag about, trails were pretty messed up. Our Sun is really hurting the crossing and hillsides, but still very rideable. Where is all the riders? I see them from my house during the day, but the evenings are all to myself. I did not encounter one single snowmobilier. Oh well. Did not make it anywhere on Sunday, my trusty Ski-doo took out a pistion, jug, and crank. Fortunately for me it is running now, and will have it out this week.

Weatherman says 1-2 inches of snow tomorrow, turning cold. Works for me!

Plan on heading to Iron County this coming weekend, lake effect snow warnings are already in place. Been some real good riding up in the Northwoods. And talking to some off the business owners they are not seeing the number of snowmobiliers out and about.

Take it for what it is, will report on any trail info that can report on asap.

Ride Safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snojunkie]

A few of us are planning to backpack from the Mole Lake area over towards Price county. Are we going to be able to navigate thru the Onieda area or should we look at an alternate route? We're taking off on Wed. morning, any input is appreciated.

[snomobiff]

Well must say hats off to the Rusk County groomer operators, not one trail left rough this year. Seems trails are groomed nearly are almost daily, by far the best trail conditions between the three Counties. And the Townships and County Plows do not seem to make things worse when you need to travel along roads and right of ways. Again put some focus here and go riding, sounds like its going to warm up.

Oh seen 12 Robins this last weekend, what is that a sign off?

Rode today, 63.9 miles off really good riding, at the 19.2 miles on my speedometer I was thinking, huh, no sleds again? Well met two, then a group of four, was kinda cool for a change. Actually had met a total of 15 sledders out and about.

East of Chetek was excellent fresh groomer tracks and virgin trails, off to Western Rusk County. Again fresh signs of a groomer around, down to Potatoe Lake, and over to 40 and down 14, I took the lakes rather than Basswood Rd. As trail shows on map, fair amount of snow cover but still wanted to keep my hi fax for this weekend. Jumped over to Larabee and on to Salisbury then hit 14 again. What an awesome pleasant ride in just over 2 and 1/2 hours!

Trails in Barron and Rusk were by far better than Chippewa County, seems as though these Counties groom more thourghly and on a regular basis, yes there is a bit more snow to the North but still. Highly recommend riding there. Chippewa on the other hand has too many roads to travel on. Example of Corridor 14, sure if funny the Bloomer Club Trails get more attention than Corridor Trails. Been like that Since I can remember back in the 90's, when I was very active in Eagleton Snoflyers. Figured some people should figure out my handle by now. Ha, Ha. I plan on talking and hopefully meeting with Chippewa Council President Paulson, if he is still a member. Things went haywire a little in that interest a few weeks ago. So I know that is some of the reason the trails are not up as well as Northern Counties.

Like a stated earlier, headed to Iron County this weekend. They got 3 inches in Mercer and a foot plus near Hurley, so Lake Effect should be good to the North.
I'll let you know!

And finally I am not trying to give Chippewa County a bad image, just giving my opinion of some situations.

[snomobiff]

Unfortunatley trails are really going down hill fast, Barron County has officially Closed there snow trails.

Going to make an effort to trailer up to Weyerhauser tommorrow and try riding the Blue Hills, was a lot of snow there last week yet, by far more than southern Iron County.

Did make it to the Northwoods over the weekend thru Monday, must say was not worth the trip. From a few people that know anything about the Grooming schedule for the Mercer Club, they sound like shutting down until they get more snow. Now North of the 310 road in Iron County the snow accumulates very fast and heading toward Island Lake wasn't bad. Did here alot of complaints from riders in Ashland County wishing they would have stayed riding in Ashland County. Rode to Montreal, stopped at Squeaks and had dinner. Lots of sleds, everyone must have had the same idea. One last hurrah. Back toward Pence, snow was plentiful but rough. Groomer was out, but mostly for looks. Soon as a group of sleds would go thru the trails turned to a mushy system again.

If they groom at night should make for a good base!

Sunday attempted to try it South, jumped on Flowage and headed for Springstead. Well that didnt work well either. Basically messed around on Flowage and got some really cool pics with the kids.

I realize this post is not of area listed, I did state was going to make a small post for this earlier.

Just in case Anyone was curious as to where to head up yet. Heard Mellen, Cayuga, and North of Clam Lake was all good. Northern Bayfield County was good from a reliable source. And from Mellen to Drummond thru the Forest was really good. Stay away from the Big known towns and you should be fine. Ashland, Marengo, Mason area is stay away zone. They dont seem to get the Lake Effect.

After seeing the trails in Chippewa County from NA to Eagleton im sure the trails will be closed soon. Must say though the County forest should hold up for a while as will other areas, fall plowed fields are the really catcher. Not helpful there.

O Well, gonna keep riding as long as I can.
Officially logged 1832.4 miles to this date and Im not complaining.

Next time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snomobiff]

Well beleive it or not a friend of mine and I trailered up to Island Lake at the North Boat Landing and took off for the Blue Hills, from Shep's North Shore Resort. Reality we could hit some dirt and lack of snow the trails were open.

Should start saying it was 9am on Thursday March 4, yesterday! Jumped on trail and wow we had a groomer go thru on Wednesday with only 1 sled track on it. Decided to take it West to Roses Bay, and then off to Corridor 131. There was plenty of snow to call it Excellent late winter rider conditions, yeah there was a few patches of grass and dirt, but they were mostly avoidable. There was a slight misfortune for us just before the Rusk-Barron County line, as we found trees on the trail, no big deal knowing they are logging in that area. Around the corner we found Joe Perry logging, Im sure he didnt realize it was us but I will give him !@# in a couple of weeks. The groomer led us to the Barron County Line, continued that North across Hwy 8 and into the Blue Hills to the Newer warming shack area.

Trails at this point was starting to loosen up and able to horse around a little more. We decided hey why not make a loop up to Corridor 31 and back down to Bruce, if that is a good as riding as this we will have it made. Well long story short that was a BIG mistake. Whoever decided to allow logging on a state corridor trail in the winter time needs his head examined. I have done plenty of logging in the Blue Hills in the summer and in the winter, a smart forester would be able to realize this. Or at least use a different road to haul. Definetely need some corridination between foresters office and state or local and county Snowmobile orginization. This trend is going on all over Corridor 31 all the way up to the Barnes area. Just makes things one more of a possibility for a dangerous encounter.

Once we finally made it to Weyerhauser, we were good to go again. And what a blast I had back to Island Lake the frozen pizza sized flakes of snow and ice coming from My friends sled was simply put, "cool". I wish I had a video camera of how neat that was, and I would put myself right in the falling of them all and what encounter that was!!!

Best last ride of the season I have had in over 15 years! no kidding. Just nearly 2000 miles this year and I have to say I will call it quits. Weather doesnt look good for at least two more weaks.

If anyone is looking to ride anywhere you may be safe staying South of Weyerhauser and riding the local club trail. Other wise Bayfield Co. still claims of good riding oppurtunities, or Im sure as well the U.P. My advice stay away from Iron County and Ashland the city.

Will post any information that comes my way, who knows maybe the snow fairy will leave us with a fortune.

Will attatch pics from yesterday as soon as my Blackberry p.o.s. reloads.

[snomobiff]

Here are some trail pics of the Blue Hills!

[snomobiff]

Here are a few pictures of Iron County last weekend.