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Trail Report: Ely, Minnesota – December 22, 2016

Ely, MN Chamber of Commerce

Trail Conditions: Poor

Snow Cover: 10-15 inches

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

Ely Area Lakes & Trails: There is snow in the woods.  With the recent cold weather, the swamps and wetlands now have 4-6” of ice.  Over 15” of ice is needed before grooming is possible over these areas.  Trail crews are working to clear the Taconite and Arrowhead trails of debris and trees from the November 18 storm.  They are also packing trails so the swamps and wetlands will freeze sooner.  Trail use is not recommended, please use extreme caution and travel at your own risk.  Area lakes do have ice cover.  Medium to large lakes may not have sufficient ice for foot travel yet.  Use caution when traveling out onto lakes – check ice conditions as you move across the ice.  Use recommended safety gear for protection when skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling or ice fishing on area lakes.

 

Babbitt Trails: No report

Taconite Trail: Snow – 10-15” depth  Base – 0”  Groomed – no  Condition – poor

 

 Arrowhead Trail: Snow – 10-15” depth  Base – 0”  Groomed – no  Condition – poor

 

Putnam-Fishing Lakes Trail: No report

 

Lake Vermilion State Park and Soudan Underground Mine State Park: Trails are closed

 

Taconite Spur Trails and Stony Spur Trails: Base – 0”  Trail condition – poor  Swamps and wetlands have not frozen yet, so grooming cannot commence.  Trail use Is no recommended.

 

Tomahawk Trail & Local Trails: Trail not groomed but open from Ely to the Kawishiwi River bridge – this portion of trail has been cut open and will be rough.  Remaining sections of trails still need to be opened up from wind storm.  Wetlands and swamps have not frozen solid along sections of the trail.  Ice conditions may not yet be safe for traveling by snowmobile.  Check ice conditions before venturing out.

News and Reports:

Dogsled Yurt Adventure  January 20, 2017 – January 22, 2017 | 5:00 pm – 12:00 pm  Join the International Wolf Center staff as they conduct winter track counts in the Superior National Forest and travel the trails and frozen lakes of wolf range. Fees: Non-member $980, Member $882 International Wolf Center  1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN, 55731

Ely Winter Fest  February 2, 2017 – February 12, 2017 | All Day  Ten days of winter fun in Ely.  Snow carvings in the park, art in merchant windows, food, music, winter sports and many other events.  Fun for the entire family.  Don’t miss out on this spectacular annual event!  Fees: Most events are free – see website for details on specific events and fees.

Ely Art Walk  February 2, 2017 – February 12, 2017 | All Day  Tour Ely and view breath-taking artwork created by local artisans.  Map of locations available at Ely Greenstone website.

WolfTrack Classic Vet Check & Meet the Dogs & Mushers  February 25, 2017 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm  The vet check runs from 11 am – 3 pm at Vermilion Community College.  Meet the dogs and mushers.  No fee for admission into the Vet Check area.  Free Vermilion Community College

WolfTrack Classic Pre-Race Dinner  February 25, 2017 | 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm  Our pre-race lasagna dinner runs from 4 pm to 7 pm.  Social hour 4-5 pm, dinner 5-6:30 pm, musher meeting from 6:30-7 pm and presentation of the bibs at 7 pm.  Fee is $10.00/person at the door.  Credit cards welcome.  Fees: $10.00/person for meal  Ely Senior Center  7 S 1st Ave E., Ely, MN, 55731

WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race  February 26, 2017 | All Day  Join us for this premier mid-distance sled dog race spanning 65 miles through northern Minnesota’s State Trail system.  The WolfTrack Classic is known for its unrelenting hills that test the stamina of mushers and dogs across the scenic north woods terrain.   Race starts at 9 am.  Fees: No spectator fees  Softball Fields  Old Airport Road and State Highway #1, Ely, MN, 55731

Snowmobile Information:

Northland 300 – Snowmobile Event  January 18, 2017 – January 22, 2017 | All Day  Four day event includes trail riding, banquet and prize drawings.  Fees to participate.  Learn more at www.northland300.org.   Grand Ely Lodge  400 N Pioneer Road, Ely, MN, 55731

Fun Run – Snowmobile Event  January 28, 2017 | All Day Spend a day of fun – either by snowmobile or car – traveling the northland.  Money raised goes to support snowmobile trails in the Ely, Tower and Babbitt area. Fees to participate  Fortune Bay 1430 Bois Forte Rd, Tower, MN, 55790

Pink Ribbon Riders 11th Annual Snow Run  February 24, 2017 – February 25, 2017 | All Day  The Snow Run is an event open to both men and women, including a welcome social, snowmobile ride(s), awards banquet and more! Click on the “More Information” button below to access event site and more details.  See flyer for participation fees  Grand Ely Lodge  400 N Pioneer Road, Ely, MN, 55731

Trail Report: Washburn County, Wisconsin – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Closed

Snow Cover: 2-4″

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

All Washburn County snowmobile trails remain closed at this time.  The clubs are out freezing down wet areas and packing the snow we currently have.  Significant additional snowfall is still needed before trails can be opened for safe riding.

 

Trail Report: Spooner and Washburn County, Wisconsin – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Closed

Snow Cover: 2-4″

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

All Washburn County snowmobile trails remain closed at this time.  The clubs are out freezing down wet areas and packing the snow we currently have.  Significant additional snowfall is still needed before trails can be opened for safe riding.

 

Trail Report: Cable, Wisconsin – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 4-6″ – less in woods

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

Updated Trail Report straight from our hardworking Namakagon Trail Groomers:

 

Trail Report: All gates are open, but there is not enough snow in the woods to have a great ride. We do need swamps packed down to freeze and allow groomers to get out; if you are an experienced rider, please get out there and pack! Use caution, ride safely, and please do not ride alone.
Lake Namakagon is frozen over but the stick trails are not out yet – ride smart!
Significant snow possible this weekend with temps in the 30’s.

Trail Report: Watersmeet, Michigan – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Fair

Snow Cover: 7″

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

We finally have an update from the U. P. Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club.  Trails are in fair condition with a base of only about 7″.  There are a few bare spots, so please be careful.  They have panned but now need more snow before they will be able to groom.  Snows continue off and on and the temps have been cold enough to maintain this snow depth.  What we need is a great heavy snow dumper!

This is early season riding time.  You may encounter some wet and/or ground areas.  Some mixed precipitation is anticipated for tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday.  Hopefully it will be on the snow side.

We’ll keep you posted as we know of changes.  THINK SNOW!   Please avoid the lakes out there until more ice forms.  Drive carefully and thank you for enjoying our area.  We surely enjoy your visits and helping make your get away the best it can be.

If any of you out there enjoy hitting the cross country ski trails when you’re here, Sylvania Outfitters reported yesterday that the last couple of inches of snow have helped to get the ski trails in really good shape.  They are ready for your enjoyment!  Come give it a try!

See you soon.  The happiest of holidays to all!

Carole Yakel from The Arrows

News and Reports:

For more information on our area, please visit our website at www.watersmeet.org.  We’ll be happy to send out brochures, directories of area businesses and accommodations by calling Caryl at 906-358-9961 (Watersmeet Chamber of Commerce number) or by emailing me at visit@watersmeet.org.  Caryl will give you a live snowmobile report, too, at the Chamber number above.  We always try to give the most accurate report we can.   We invite you to stay where you play and try out our varied great accommodations.  Enjoy a ma and pa motel, an historic hotel, casino resort hotel, or a cottage, cabin, or private home on a beautiful lake or river setting.  We just know you’ll love it here as much as we!

Trail Report: Washburn County, Wisconsin – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Closed

Snow Cover: 2-4″

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

All Washburn County Snowmobile Trails are closed at this time. Lower temperatures have arrived and have been a big help with freezing the lakes and swamps. Once we have enough snow, the clubs will work to get out on the trails to groom and check them. Keep checking back for updates and think snow!

Trail Report: Spooner and Washburn County, Wisconsin – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Closed

Snow Cover: 2-4″

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

All Washburn County Snowmobile Trails are closed at this time. Lower temperatures have arrived and have been a big help with freezing the lakes and swamps. Once we have enough snow, the clubs will work to get out on the trails to groom and check them. Keep checking back for updates and think snow!

Trail Report: Eagle River, Wisconsin – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 3 inch base – 6-9 inches top snow

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

Sno-Eagles Trails Open
Fair to Good Early Riding Condition

It snowed heavy for a short period of time yesterday & the Eagle River area got 2-3 inches of new SNOW! 

Grooming every night this week reported by the Trail Boss, Brian Scheid, 715.891.2332. Weather Conditions permitting.  When they groom 90% of the trails are groomed.  Did see the T-5 out on the west side of Trail 10E across from the Sports Arena early evening last night.

The heavy SNOW was perfect for a trail ride so Tom & I took a short zippy 60 mile ride.  Here’s where we went & what we saw:

Trail 10E crosses the end of our drive & we headed east & gassed at Nobbes North.  Then continued east to check if we could get to Phelps.  At the Eagle River/Three Lakes connect it is still closed.  That’s because Forest County Trails are not open until Friday at 9am.

Headed back west on Trail 10E.  Crossed Loon Lake Rd and on to where Trail 10 & Alt Trail 13 meet.  Right on Alt Trail 13 “the Grade” into Eagle River.

Rode through town.  Nice birm being built in town.  Heading north.  Take “the Grade” all the way to Trail 3 & 10/13 intersection.

Left onto Trail 10/13.  Nice woods riding with a short ride on Adams Rd.  Into the woods again & into the Petrified Forest (the power poles) area. Eventually heading toward the WI River Bridge.

Bridge area was frozen up tight & actually not too bumpy either.  Few ruts on the west side beyond the approaches.

Took a loop on all the 13’s up there.  The 2 way & the 1 ways.  There were areas in the 1 ways that I would rate at Good Season Riding.

Lunch at Bauer’s for some of their Bauer’s Dam Good Chicken Soup! Came back home the same way.

All in all saw a sort of conditions.  Fair & Good Early Riding.  A few snirty areas.  And some just plan Good riding!

Keep THINKING COLD and Doin’ The Snow Dance! It’s working!

See Ya On The Trails!  I’m Ridin’ again on Friday!

Holly Tomlanovich
Communications Chair
Sno-Eagles, Inc.
PROUD GROOMERS OF THE SNOWMOBILE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD® – Eagle River
Phone Trail Updates 715.479.5185

 

News and Reports:

Torchlight Parade – January 21, 2017.  Staging at 5:30pm Leave at 6:00pm from the Trackside parking lot.  Call Holly at 715.617.4708 for more information

  • All are welcome!
  • Decorate your sleds with lights & other fun stuff!
  • Ride from Trackside using Trail 13 to the Railroad Depot & on down “the Grade” to Trail 10E
  • Trail 10E to the ERRA Sports Arena “the dome”
  • By choice onto Nutty Squirrel for dinner or head on back home or stay for the Falcons Hockey game
  • Meet Miss Sno-Eagle, Tori Sleeman
  • Decorated groomers will be part of the parade
  • Come on Join Us!  Let’s make this a huge parade!

MONTHLY MEETINGS 6:30pm Snacks – Meeting at 7pm – All Welcome!

  • January 19 – Eagle River Inn (3 west of Eagle River near the 70W bridge)
  • February 16 – Eddie B’s White Spruce (Hwy 45N at the bridge)
  • March 16 – Eagle Waters (Hwy 70E to Rangeline Rd-follow the signs)
  • April 20 – Gordo’s (Hwy 45N across from Holiday North Gas Station)

BOARD MEETINGS 7pm at the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame (Hwy 45N next door to the World Championship Snowmobile Derby)

  • January-May the 1st Tuesday of the each month

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY TRAIL RIDES – Starting Wednesday, December 21!

  • Meet on Trail 13 (the Grade) in town between Historic Railroad Depot & Friendship House
  • 9am departure

RIDE WITH PRIDE RAFFLE TICKETS

  • $2 each or 3/$5 available from Sno-Eagles, Eagle River Chamber office & many businesses in Eagle River
  • Prizes – 1st prize SkiDoo MXZE 600 or CanAm Outlander 570. 2nd prize 55′ Flat panel TV or $500. 3rd prize Wkend at Eagle Waters Resort + dinner. 4th prize Wkend at Wild Eagle Lodge.

Trail Report: Sugar Camp, Wisconsin – December 22, 2016

Trail Conditions: Early Season

Snow Cover: 6_8″

Date of Report: December 22, 2016

Area Report:

Trail’s in Oneida County and sugar camp are open for the season and in early season riding conditions. Please be aware that lakes are not marked yet as not enough ice has formed yet. Also use caution in swampy and low lying areas as these sections are not groomed yet waiting for them to freeze for groomers to go through them. Remember to purchase your annual trail pass before riding the trails.

Trail Report: Neillsville, Wisconsin – December 21, 2016

Trail Conditions: Closed

Snow Cover: 6″

Date of Report: December 21, 2016

Area Report:

All Clark County Snowmobile Trails are currently CLOSED.  Grooming has started, but more cold weather and snow is needed to firm up the base before they can open.  Be advised riding on closed trails is trespassing and fines do apply.

News and Reports:

Our reports are based on our club trail conditions around our area and may vary from adjoining County Forest Trails and other club trails in the county. http://www.ngti.org

Snowmobile Information:

We are the Neillsville-Granton Trailbusters Inc., one of nine clubs located in Clark County Wisconsin.  We maintain 52 miles of trail around the Neillsville, Granton and Loyal areas, and are dedicated to providing some of the best marked and maintained trails in the county.  Our club is run by volunteers and we run two groomers to keep are trails in good shape.  Corridor 25 runs through the heart of our trail system.