Heading to Mercer Friday.

[egras]

This is the same crap the last 15+ years from this area. Quit giving them a break. Do a lot of sleds roll through their area? Yes. But if you are saying it is Wed. pm and trails have not been fixed from the weekend? This is why the Mercer trails suck when they finally do get snow-they don't take care of the trails when the snow is thin. They will gladly take your business while the trails are thin but not maintain them. I avoid Mercer like the plague and every once in a while I stumble upon the area-only to realize why I avoid the area like the plague. It is not the traffic either that is the problem. When you hit the limits of the Mercer club, trails become 100% better. Did the same traffic not continue once they hit the line? Bunch of B.S.

Also-many clubs pay their groomers. And many of the "volunteer" groomers are business owners who benefit from the business that snowmobiling generates. So that crap can quit too. I visit areas (and dump my money) in areas that provide trails to the best of their ability. This is not Mercer.

 

[ridindirty800]

I have not been to Mercer this year, but go at least 2 times a year. I will be there next wed-sun. All the years I have been there I have not noticed that bad of trails. We do not ride the grade much either as that gets hits hard. I think the trick is to stay off the main trails and ride some of the smaller loop trails to connect where you want to go. Just be happy you are riding and not working or something else.

 

[Ski-Doo66]

Thanks to all. Be safe and have fun. Talk to you all on Tuesday. I will report the condition then.

 

[junior]

Hopefully they get the snow that is expected and things will be good after that. If forecast is true, anywhere up there should be best it has been all year

 

[groomerdriver]

Anybody know if Mercer groomer drivers are paid or volunteer? I thought that they were volunteer but that may have changed.

 

[markshop]

Anybody know if Mercer groomer drivers are paid or volunteer? I thought that they were volunteer but that may have changed.

all volunteer. I was up there the two last weekends you need to know where to ride to stay off the beaten trails.

 

[Cirrus_Driver]

Uh-huh, the old "you have to know where to ride"...I rode every single trail in that county for 10+ years. 19B was usually good because nobody rode it to the dead end at Fisher Lake. So what - that's a 2 mile trail.
Ride Vilas County - Eagle River Sno-Eagles - those boys know how to groom trails. No comparison - Mercer not in the same league.

 

[groomerdriver]

Ride Vilas County - Eagle River Sno-Eagles - those boys know how to groom trails. No comparison - Mercer not in the same league.

They (ER) are paid correct? St. Germain's are paid. Pay me to groom?.....I'd be in one 20 hours a day if I could.

 

[RHFD547]

Our group was in the Mercer area last weekend and yes, some of the trails were rough and thin. I spoke with the trail boss of the Mercer-Sno-Goers on Monday while at S & S Sportstore in Mercer. He informed me that a drag got broken while grooming trail 12 Friday night, and they only had one groomer going. He also told me that the Mercer-Sno-Goers are in charge of 240 miles of trails, not 25 like some of the clubs in Vilas County who can groom every mile twice a day. They are waiting for the swamps on 12B and 19B to freeze up since they have already buried a tractor three times. I must admit, that while I was riding the moguls I was as mad as anyone, but after a lengthy discussion with him, I now better understand their situation. It seems as though their area is comprised of more miles than they are capable of maintaining to everyone's expectations. He stated that nobody wants the groomers out running more than him, because the more hours on the tractors equals more money from the state of Wisconsin. One should also take into consideration that the riding habits of some contribute to their dilemma.

 

[nhra1000]

all volunteer. I was up there the two last weekends you need to know where to ride to stay off the beaten trails.

lol

 

[parker]

Got here today. They have new snow !
Freshened up the trails very very nicely. Just what they needed.
Be safe out there.

 

[Attak man]

Some of you need to quit being so self righteous about the "CLUBS"...and "volunteers"...guys like me have volunteered to break trails, mark lakes, pack swamps and brushed trails for the past 25 years...At one point I belonged to 3 clubs here, and one in Michigan.....that doesn't give me or anybody the right to be nasty to another rider who spends their hard earned money coming up here and who is upset about trails or situations they encountered....We have all been there, and we have all done that. I get just as irritated as the next guy when trails are awful....we had that happen last year near Bessemer/Wakefield...all 3 groomers were broke down..it was horrid...but we sucked it up and rode it out...that's what you do.

Nobody likes to hear people bitch about their clubs trails, or their favorite area...but sometimes people need to vent...and I do believe this is the proper forum for that is it not?? Plus...people can let other people know..."hey this clubs groomer's are down"..."the trails are rough, and will be until they get it fixed"...etc....I kinda like that info....don't you??

I have to admit....while I hate whiner's as much as the next guy...I learn a lot more about an area from complaints on here (and who/ where to avoid)..than the "sunshine and unicorns" trail posts.

Again...I have been riding this area for 36 years, and have lived here for 25...and that Mercer area is not one of my favorites...and some of the observations on here are spot on...I have avoided that area for the last 15 years as much as possible....IMO..there are too many other areas that are far better.
Please...continue to support the clubs...volunteer if you can...stop being a "I'm with the club" snowmobile snob..we all need to ride together...opinions don't hurt anybody

 

[rehm70]

We were inside the Great Northern on the night of the 18th, the grade from the southern part of town was rough when we came in......around 9pm the groomer goes by headed south. We chill for another hour or so, and head out, back to Minocqua. The trail was still rough behind the groomer!
Down towards the bridge, we come upon the groomer headed back north.
STILL ROUGH!
It seemed that the drag wasn't cutting the bumps, it was only set to ride the top.
It was frustrating to say the least, but when we crossed the Mercer boundry, the trail turned to glass.

Seems as though things could be improved as far as the groomer operation.

That's just what we encountered, not trying to be negative.

 

[sledder01]

I ride Mercer quite a BIT---I have watched them Groom Trails--and like said here earlier---Once you leave the mercer trail system--going North or South---Trails will Improve. The groomers I watched seem to travel much faster than the groomers I see in other areas---not sure why the groom that fast but--the trails around Mercer always seem rough...Just my experience--we have owned a place in mercer since 1968--long before a trail system---I love it up there---But there is better riding nearby--So I mostly just take the grade NORTH and branch off from there---I am almost 100% satisfied with the grooming and trails in those areas...We are just north of town and I seldom even head south to the town of Mercer---STAY NORTH and you will be pleased..

 

[markshop]

lol

Trail 8 is almost always good

 

[groomerdriver]

It seemed that the drag wasn't cutting the bumps, it was only set to ride the top.
Seems as though things could be improved as far as the groomer operation.

Very common "problem" in many places. You need to cut the moguls completely out then re-lay the snow out smooth.

Also, going too fast is another problem. Grooming at 10 mph is not the right way to do it.

 

[jmvette427]

10/12 inches powder fluff 1/28 , 3-4 inches 1/29 , rode trails 10, 17, 12a last nite had been freshly groomed but that being said with warm temps and a Gazillion sleds dont shoot the trail boss !

 

[markshop]

10/12 inches powder fluff 1/28 , 3-4 inches 1/29 , rode trails 10, 17, 12a last nite had been freshly groomed but that being said with warm temps and a Gazillion sleds dont shoot the trail boss !

Most of that is now melted 43 and sunny. I parked sleds

 

[timo]

i would think with the sun and warm today and more 40 degrees tomorrow the trails in wisconsin will be toast with the exception of the snowbelt areas in Ashland co.
looks like this storm coming will be a good one for northern wisconsin.
local weather guys here have the north woods for 8-15 inches across all of northern wis. They had Wausau at 15+

 

[Ski-Doo66]

Just returned home. Friday the trails were in pretty decent condition the grade was very good 15a good 3-13 good saw groomer three times Friday. Saturday was 40 and do not need to talk about the condition, but had fun in the a.m. Thanks to all who post it was a great help. Go up to Houghton 11-16 should be good. Thanks again.