Snowbandit
New member
One has to wonder if anyone involved in that area grooming and maintenance reads this stuff?!. If I owned a business up there I’d be pissed. Anyone know how much money they get each year for grooming and how much goes unspent ?
Lake Gogebic Area
- Thread starter skidoobirch58
- Start date
Rode from Minocqua to Copper Harbor and back this weekend and I can assure you the groomers in the UP are running 24/7. It doesn’t take long for the trails to get rough. We came upon a few and had perfectly groomed trails from Houghton back to Minocqua this morning (except for a few rough areas)..
Note- They did (or do still ) have one groomer down due to a damaged track awaiting funds approval from MI, and I believe, another with a small electrical fire (back up and running). This info came from a groomer driver we talked with in Calumet- he just got done grooming from 3:30 am until 2pm.
The only bad area we found was in and around Bruce Crossing...lots of rocks on the rail beds....but that is fairly typical
Yes, is the answer to do the businesses know. That is why we gave up on the Gogebic area. Strange situation. And if the business, and snowmobile groups can't work together, well good luck with it getting any better. Perhaps the, "They don't like snowmobilers" has some truth to it???
Snowbandit
New member
I guess I never thought of that cause I figured the winter economic benefits would outweigh that . But with all the crap , no brushing , logging etc that is definitely a way to keep the sleds away
Last fri I tried to take my group from Greenland to bergland on trail 13, I got pissed with a horrible trail and turned and headed north to ontanogon, from there to konteka we took as much road as possible, we would've dropped cash at the hoop and some of the other pit stops on the lake, but instead spent our money at stubbs and konteka..no more bergland for this cat!!!
Whitenytro
New member
buddys and I stayed at the timbers this weekend and put on 250 miles.... north of the lake is better. we didn't venture south of the lake but did go towards bruce crossing and up to twin lake area and around. we found a detour for 13 because we heard there was logging.... found acouple different ways to go thanks to my GPS which I thankfully updated the day before. around the lake has way less snow then north of the lake. wish I could remember the trail numbers better. we saw groomers out. the lady at the timbers told us that one of the gogebic area groomers had gone through some ice but was ok thankfully. I think with more snow they will have really good trails.
Is trail 1 or trail 13 passable all the way around the lake yet?
I remember when I used to bring the wife to lake gogebic, and ride 1 down then 13 up then 8 back over to 1 and repeat. She would think we were 100 miles from the cabin. We never went more than 10-15 miles away.
I wouldn't dare bring her that way now, Be safe on the trails around gogebic.
I remember when I used to bring the wife to lake gogebic, and ride 1 down then 13 up then 8 back over to 1 and repeat. She would think we were 100 miles from the cabin. We never went more than 10-15 miles away.
I wouldn't dare bring her that way now, Be safe on the trails around gogebic.
favoritos
Well-known member
Stayed on the north end of the lake this past week. Rode to Copper Harbor, Watersmeet via Wakefield side, Silver City, Ontonagan, and various trails in between. GRTA, on the west end has really stepped up their game. The Keweenaw club did quite well even with a groomer down right on the trail. Ontonagon did pretty good except for water holes on 12. Watersmeet did excellent with the snow available. Combined club grooming on 2 was pretty good except for low snow/rocks that even started north of Marinesco this year.
Bergland area was the oasis of rough right in the middle. Miss the groomer guy with the long white beard. Got in behind the groomer on 8W as they headed west with the front blade. They did break down the tops and improve it quite a bit until the water hole. Looks like they got the groomer out before sinking out of sight. Trail 8E was OK, but low snow prevailed heading east toward Bruce. Keeping the grooming current could have made it pretty good. Rode 102 behind groomer part way up to south boundry. Amazing how fast 102 was fixed with a simple groom. Trail 1 was OK, but heavy traffic and late groom in the woods were a factor. Trail 13 to Rockland was a bummer. Better snow than most years at this time. They could have made it fantastic by staying ahead with grooming.
There is a problem around Gogebic. Low snow is not the issue on the north end. The grooming reports do not reflect the true trail conditions around there as well. We saw reports saying trails were good around Bergland. ? The Keweenaw, Ontonagon, and GRTA reports are quite accurate if not even overly pessimistic. Thunder Riders reports were dead accurate.
I don't mind some rough trails. I get the water issues, especially on 8E.(BTW, no need to run shoulder of M28 now.) It is part of life. But tell it truthfully. North Gogebic area has snow and some very nice equipment, I hope they go out and use it.
Bergland area was the oasis of rough right in the middle. Miss the groomer guy with the long white beard. Got in behind the groomer on 8W as they headed west with the front blade. They did break down the tops and improve it quite a bit until the water hole. Looks like they got the groomer out before sinking out of sight. Trail 8E was OK, but low snow prevailed heading east toward Bruce. Keeping the grooming current could have made it pretty good. Rode 102 behind groomer part way up to south boundry. Amazing how fast 102 was fixed with a simple groom. Trail 1 was OK, but heavy traffic and late groom in the woods were a factor. Trail 13 to Rockland was a bummer. Better snow than most years at this time. They could have made it fantastic by staying ahead with grooming.
There is a problem around Gogebic. Low snow is not the issue on the north end. The grooming reports do not reflect the true trail conditions around there as well. We saw reports saying trails were good around Bergland. ? The Keweenaw, Ontonagon, and GRTA reports are quite accurate if not even overly pessimistic. Thunder Riders reports were dead accurate.
I don't mind some rough trails. I get the water issues, especially on 8E.(BTW, no need to run shoulder of M28 now.) It is part of life. But tell it truthfully. North Gogebic area has snow and some very nice equipment, I hope they go out and use it.
powderburner
New member
I've experienced the same thing up there. Used to go to Bergland every year. I think it really went to **** about five or six years ago. Last year I had enough and didn't even go. Didn't miss it so didn't go this year either. I have no plans to return.
Winter Warlock
Member
thanks, nice report!
Tom is a straight shooter. He is no bs!!! I know he wants to see this get done. Tom knows it did not have to be as it has been for too many years now. If they don't accomplish improving the trail conditions, please don't blame him. He is a true snowmobilers friend!!! They, the club, have a very big job ahead to do for sure, for sure. Be patient, and give them some time to accomplish this. They are the only way to get it back in shape. Reluctantly, I have to say we have heard this too many times before. But, Tom brings new optimism on my thinking!!!
harvest1121
Well-known member
Going to ride the area next Tuesday so I will see seems they have snow and cold.
D
Deleted member 10829
Guest
I will be up there Sunday through Thursday and will give an honest report.
gade-thrasher
New member
Looking forward to some first hand experience with the area. Does anyone know if anything has changed around Gogebic within the last week? My understanding is 13N is closed, 13S is ungroomed/unbrushed, 100 is closed, west side conditions are bad. Can anyone confirm? We have a reservation at the Root Cellar in 2 weeks. May still be able to bail on that reservation. Thanks.
Haha, that's great! I'm sure my wife would be the same way. I guess it doesn't really matter, if they're having a good time.
gade-thrasher
New member
Snowbandit
New member
As much as it pains me to say we are going to be forced through Gogebic tomorrow and Friday to get north of Bergland to the good stuff . Anyone know how to get on the lake at the south from Presque Isle up trail 1? Seems like everything is closed ? Any help would be great . Our plan is to run lane all the way north from south. Can’t go via ironwood as 8 is still not passable as it was dec 15. Just sucks they can’t get 11n open so we wi riders can bypass the whole area
harvest1121
Well-known member
You can take 1 to 2 east for about a mile get your phone or gps and take Stage Coach road just depends on the road if plowed but brings you to the bottom of the lake