Trail Conditions: Fair
Snow Cover: 6-8
Date of Report: January 2, 2020
Area Report:
Red Arrow Snowmobile ATV Club (Townsend) – Trails are all freshly groomed!! Does it get any better than that? The wonderful drivers tell me that all groomed out very well. There will continue to be issues in the areas that are mentioned in the previous report until we get another 6″-8″ of wet snow and some cold weather to freeze up the wet areas in the region, along with the lack of snow on the Bob Kroll between intersections 510 & 512 caused by logging. Most trails are in Good to very good riding conditions, but be alert. Groomers will continue to be out every night throughout the weekend to ensure you the best riding in the area.
Paul Bunyan Riders Snowmobile Club (Lakewood) – 12/1 Trails groomed out great last night. Several more branches came down with the wet snow that the area received. Swamps are still to wet to groom yet.
Chute Pond Snowmobile Club (Mountain) – Chute Pond Snowmobile Club trails are open, and in fair “early season” condition. It rained for over 36 hours before the snow came yesterday, which here at Chute Pond was only a disappointing 3-4″ of wet, sticky stuff. Groomers will go out tonight to see what they can do with the fresh snow. Watch for branches hanging down on the trails- there are lots of them, and possible slushy and/or wet areas. One section of trail to avoid right now is from INT#472 (Old 64) north to INT#455. There is a large section of water (about a foot deep) near the bridge that you probably don’t want to ride through.
Exceptions (see map): trails that will remain closed at this time are from INT#451-INT#453 (from east of Hwy 32 behind the Junction to Jack Pine Rd), and from INT#447 north to the 18 Corridor trail near Cooked Lake (the northern pipeline trail). DO NOT ride the closed trails- they have not been cleared from the July wind storms because the swamps are still wet and have not allowed equipment to get in to work on those areas yet. The closed areas are tangles of fallen trees in a swampy area- you don’t want to go there.
As for the rest of the trails, “early season conditions” means there will be some bumps, dips, and ruts to deal with as the groomers continue to work on the trails. Be aware that any off-trail riding- even to take one ski off to “grab a little loose snow”- could be dangerous. The July wind storms have devastated many areas of our forested trails, and there are many trees and limbs on the ground just off the edges of the groomed trails. Please stay safe- stay on the groomed trails.
Riders are urged to reduce speed and ride with extra caution, as the forest and the trails look very different since the storm. There are numerous logging operations that will be ongoing throughout the season. Please use extra caution in these areas. No Chute Pond trails cross any lakes or rivers- and ice has been slow to form on most area lakes. Riding on frozen surfaces is not recommended. You are encouraged to carry a portable hand saw if possible, since limbs and branches continue to fall onto and over the trails.
Bagley & Brazeau Joyriders – CLOSED.
Gillett Sno ATV Riders – CLOSED.
Oconto Falls Sno-Jokers – CLOSED.
Lena Sno-Drifters – CLOSED.
Chase Sno-Chasers – CLOSED.