Conditions as reported by our Members / Groomer Operators
Snow & trail report 19 Mar 08 22:07hrs
I put a groom on the alba connector tonight, the blue bear was
fine, didn't need it. LON has been groomed. I talked to one of the other
drivers and he reports that the Jordan Valley and 131 were done as well.
Everything still is white, the cold night temps are keeping the base in place.
I will groom the blue bear and alba connector on Friday. Unless the traffic is
a lot heavier than I expect, there will be no Saturday groom because at this
point, over grooming will significantly shorten the life of the base, and we
still have one more week end after this one!
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 17 Mar 08 17:52hrs
Light traffic and cold night time temps brought the trails
thru the w/e just fine. The blue bear and alba connector are in perfect
condition now, with NO brown and only 2 small bare spots on the bear. The
alba connector is 90% white, the only brown being in the new section by Cinder
hill rd, and only a few small bare spots. A hard ice base will hold up to the
minor warm up this week, and night temps in the teens thru Sunday will give us
another w/e. The Off-trail riding is excellent as well with 12 to 20 inches of
snow in the woods.
131 is ride able, but has a few issues with ice and bare spots, nothing to
stop riding though. The Jordan Valley is groomed and almost all white from 131
all the way to East Jordan. The cranberry is groomed flat, but very icy. The
Frederic connector was not groomed this afternoon when I went past it ,ditto
for LON.
Snow & trail report 13 Mar 08 17:19hrs
We got a couple inches of new snow overnight, so we went for a
ride today, rode most of the Bear, some of the Alba connector, and all of the
Cranberry. Of the 3,the Cranberry was the best, mostly because we were the
first ones over Jerry's groom! At the south end of the Cranberry we headed
over to Grayling, it was icy, bumpy, and had dirt in places. We chose the west
bypass around Grayling (to Frederic), it was the same. That area, wont stand
any warm weather or traffic, so count it out for any kind of quality w/e ride.
When we got to the intersection that goes to Frederic or Lovells, the snow got
much better quickly. The trail was better too .Had lunch at the Frederic Inn,
then headed home. Yesterday I said the Frederic Connector LOOKED groomed, it
was not. It was ride able, but we got off at Cameron Bridge Rd and took it
west to the Blue Bear. The new snow helped the road shoulders out, but warmer
temps tomorrow may cancel it out. In any case, the trail riding north of
Missaukee County will be OK.
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 12 Mar 08 22:18hrs
The Cranberry lake trail and the blue bear were both groomed
out today. The bear really was OK and only needed attention at the normal
'trouble' spots and some corners. Traffic was really light, I only saw 7 sleds
all day. The Frederic Connector looked as though it had been done yesterday or
last night, and was fine from what I could see. No brown or dirt yet even
though the temp hit 40 around 4 pm.26 now w/ light snow in the forecast
tonight. As long as we keep the low temps at night, the w/e will be ok on
trail or in the woods, but the road shoulders are for the most part gone.
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 6 Mar 08 20:33hrs
We got some new snow this morning, but the amount varies from
3' down by M72, to 5' at Alba. I would assume that (up to a point) the further
north, the more there is. This will help the road shoulders, which were
getting pretty bare.
I groomed the Blue Bear and the Alba Connector today, and they are both
perfect. The hard frozen base and the new snow really fixed them up! I heard
from riders that the Jordan Valley and 131 were great also. There is a problem
spot on 131 just across from ,or a bit north of, Caruso's restaurant. There are
some rather large drifts that helped to form a succession of big (3') whoops.
They are very close together, so watch for them. We did get the 3' build-up
w/huge whoops cleaned off the goose creek bridge yesterday( on the blue bear
next to CR 612),so that hazard is gone. See the last 2 pictures for that. Pics
are on the Bear this morning and Connector this afternoon.
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 4 Mar 08 20:37hrs
We actually got to go for a ride today! Checked out parts of
the blue bear, all the connector,131 up to the valley, and then to East Jordan
for lunch. The only bumps we found were at the road crossings! The corners
that I thought were a little tan last night, are not nearly as bad in
daylight. So, the update is that everything is actually better today than
yesterday, all white right into East Jordan. I shot the pictures on the trail
to East Jordan(trail4).
the horny groomer
snow/trailreport03mar082131hrs
Even with the extremely heavy traffic last w/e, the base held
up well. The bear got a double groom on Saturday, and it was still pretty
bumpy at one end or the other. The warm-up and rain last night actually was a
benefit, as it softened up the base and allowed it to be groomed out flat
today. All the corners on the bear and connector are pulled down flat, and we
are ready to go for next w/e. There is some brown in some of the corners, but
I think it came from the old snow that I pulled down out of the rails and
elevations, because there was , and is, no real dirt showing anywhere. The
Frederic connector had been groomed last night, but as of 8pm the lakes of the
north trail was looking pretty knurly! Its now down to 20 degrees, and the
trails are freezing up nicely. We did get about an inch and a half today, and
the weather guys are saying 4' Wednesday ,so I'd say the coming w/e will be
great. I will update on wed night. The pictures are on the bear and connector
today.
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 26feb08 15:05hrs
We got about 1' new overnight, and now the temps are falling
to 'acceptable levels, and are supposed to stay that way for the weekend .The
trails came thru the busy w/e just fine, they have all been double groomed and
are in great condition. The Frederic connector was groomed last night, but
nothing on LON yet. Rumor has it that Gaylord only has one groomer unit
running and 3 drivers to do their 168 miles of trail, so I wouldn't expect
anything to be very pretty over there. We still have the Tucker unit down, and
the JD8120 is picking up the runs. If all goes well, it should be back up for
the w/e, this would allow some double runs, and keep things smoother. Pictures
are on the Bear this morning.
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 20feb08 22:42hrs
About the only thing to report tonight is that the snow and
trails are even better than they were last night! Believe me, this is the
weekend to ride! I would like everyone to welcome a new driver to the blue
bear trail, Terry Nyland. He started today and will be taking over the Wed and
Fri run on the bear. Terry lives over by squaw lake, so the blue bear is right
in his back yard! Anyway give him a special wave when you see him. I will be
off again this weekend ,riding with my kids, and terrorizing the groomer
drivers!
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 19feb08 21:12hrs
The slushy base has frozen hard and we got about 7' new snow
since last night. As of now ,conditions are excellent for the w/e, at least on
our trails. LON still had not been groomed as of tonight when I went past it.
I did run into snowseeker2 (from HCS) and his family on the trail tonight,
and they reported that the Jordan Valley and 131 were outstanding! Its snowing
hard right now, about 2 more inches down in the last 2 hours or so. Pictures
are on the alba connector tonight.
the horny groomer
Snow & trail report 18feb08 22:12hrs
The warm-up and rain made for some interesting conditions
today! Overnight the top couple inches froze solid, leaving the soft, somewhat
slushy stuff on the bottom. This gives a somewhat 'chunky' appearance to the
groomed surface because the hard pieces don't process thru the groomer drag
the same as the slush. Doesn't really hurt anything, and after 20 sleds run
over it, you cant even tell, except in the corners where the 'chunks' are a
bit larger. Just some insight as to what happens!
Quite a bit of traffic today too, most of it "family" type. I guess not as
many people gave it up yesterday as I originally thought.
Anyway, it all came out nice and flat, although not all white since the icy
slush makes it grey, and of course the dreaded' snirt' in some of the corners.
New snow in the forecast all week, anywhere from 3 to 9,depending on who you
ask. We did get about 2 during the day today. Cold temps as well, so we should
be good for the w/e.
It did not look like LON or Frederic was groomed (when I went by), don't know
what's up w/that.
Pictures show the before/after with some of the open slush pots on both the
bear and connector, remember, its only Monday!
the horny groomer
snow & trail report 14feb08 09:00hrs
Not a lot new to report. We have a frozen base w/about 12" or
so of groom able topping. I was only out in the groomer for an hour or so
yesterday doing some post maintenance checking, and the bear was smooth and
white. The other drivers have been out non-stop since then, and report that
everything is well covered and smooth.
5 to 7 inches forecast for today with good riding temps in the low 20's for
the w/e.
the horny groomer
snow & trail report 23jan08 18:49hrs
We received another 4' or so in the last 24hrs here at
suburban starvation lake. The blue bear is totally flat and mostly white.
There are some coffee stains ,and they will likely be there for the rest of
the season, as a result of the last big thaw and the fact that we rushed into
shaping the base. The connector is the same, but a little more coffee. The
Frederic connector looked good and had been groomed overnight (see last pic)
All the before & after pics are on the bear. Road shoulders are all good and
ride able. I have tomorrow off, so there wont be a Thursday report unless we
go riding.
the horny groomer
snow & trail report 22jan08 18:46hrs
The snow conditions are getting better every day and Mr.
snowman is smiling.
I have not been on any trails since Monday, but I did talk to the drivers on
the bear and connector this afternoon, they
report the trails being excellent. Both of those were groomed this afternoon.
I will be back out there tomorrow with some
pictures ,tonight you will have to be happy with the horny gauge !
the horny groomer
snow/trail report01/14/08 2113hrs
It has not really stopped snowing since Saturday, and its
still coming down now. The horny gauge pic I took this morning and it was
creeping up on 12',its at 12' now. There is more snow as you go south and
east. Down by M72 its more like 15',and the trail shows it.
None the less, we have enough that at least on the bear ,cranberry, and the
Frederic connector to actually make a trail, instead of a base.
I was still pulling up some old base and brown stuff while filling holes and
corners, but the good news is, they are all filled, so from here on out its all icing on the cake! I haven't talked to Tom about the connector
today, but he was out this morning, and yesterday I told him not to go unless we get another 3 - 4 overnight up by Alba. He lives up by Deadman's
Hill off 131,so he would know. I will ride up there tomorrow on the sled and find out for sure. The temp has dropped below freezing
finally, its 27 and falling. The pics are 'before and after' on the east and south side of the bear. Weather says 6' or so by the w/e starting on Thursday,
this will make for a great riding w/e if we get it, but even w/o it, it will
be OK.
the horny groomer
