How Is Lube Snow After The Weekend Thaw?

[whitedust]

Boots on the ground say lube snow is scarce in Vilas today. What are riders experiencing Eagle River to Sidnaw. I’d like to ride all next week but WI buds say not good no lube for hyfax and cooling. JD forecasts not showing much snow at all. Maybe repeated grooming can break up hardpack for lube? What are riders seeing out there?
Thanks,
Pete

 

[JimAndros]

Pete,
I just spent 2 days in Burnett, Douglas & Washburn counties.
8 from Webb Lake east to Wild Rivers Trail had lots of shirt. By today, Webster, Danbury, Northern Burnett & Southern Douglas was all groomed to good or better with an average of VG. Lube is fine but road routes are bare & lakes are rough, frozen slush & almost no lube.

- - - Updated - - -

Snirt, not shirt. Damn auto correct.....

 

[xcr440]

Scratchers. Problem solved.

 

[snobuilder]

scratchers deployed on Monday.... Sundays mashed potatoes was groomed hard and flat....even into the afternoon. Your results may vary.

 

[united]

I think you are running some type of Ice Ripper on that Enduro. Those studs should help quite a bit.

 

[whitedust]

I think you are running some type of Ice Ripper on that Enduro. Those studs should help quite a bit.

Thanks I’m not worried about traction with or without ice riper track and none of my ice rippers made up for lack of lube snow to hyfax and heat exchangers for cooling. Scratchers would work but none of us have scratchers too late for that accessory now and not just me others included don’t have them. We need some loose snow fallen or groomed to ride all day.

 

[Attak man]

It was bad monday from Watersmeet south...trails were hard, and getting icy...very snirty in and around towns (got worse as we headed south)...VERY LITTLE LUBE...we had sleds over heating, and slides were wearing quick.

 

[whitedust]

It was bad monday from Watersmeet south...trails were hard, and getting icy...very snirty in and around towns (got worse as we headed south)...VERY LITTLE LUBE...we had sleds over heating, and slides were wearing quick.

Thanks Bryan that’s what my boots on the ground in Vilas are saying too. Sure groomed flat but old dry snow is a HUGE problem without fresh snow for hyfax lube and cooling. I’m hoping groomers can do something to help. A couple inches of fresh would help a lot too but not seeing that either. Depressing I’m not going to over heat or burn up my hyfax on big miles rides. I haven’t pulled the plug yet but getting very close to writing off weekend and all next week.

 

[xcr440]

Thanks I’m not worried about traction with or without ice riper track and none of my ice rippers made up for lack of lube snow to hyfax and heat exchangers for cooling. Scratchers would work but none of us have scratchers too late for that accessory now and not just me others included don’t have them. We need some loose snow fallen or groomed to ride all day.

Too late?!? Put it on your off season schedule then. They really do work. A good set can be had for <$100 and takes about 20-30 minutes to install depending on what type you get. FWIW - you could order a set today and have them installed before noon tomorrow if you are motivated to ride!

Nothing worse than not being able to ride hard smooth flat trails when they are staring at you!

 

[old abe]

Thanks Bryan that’s what my boots on the ground in Vilas are saying too. Sure groomed flat but old dry snow is a HUGE problem without fresh snow for hyfax lube and cooling. I’m hoping groomers can do something to help. A couple inches of fresh would help a lot too but not seeing that either. Depressing I’m not going to over heat or burn up my hyfax on big miles rides. I haven’t pulled the plug yet but getting very close to writing off weekend and all next week.

Pete, I can honestly tell you the Doo tunnel scratchers with replaceable carbide tips work really good. My riding bud has them, and also able to backup by design. Or the Trail Blizzer by Qualipieces Canada is the very best cable scratcher period. They both work! Worries gone.

 

[whitedust]

Too late?!? Put it on your off season schedule then. They really do work. A good set can be had for <$100 and takes about 20-30 minutes to install depending on what type you get. FWIW - you could order a set today and have them installed before noon tomorrow if you are motivated to ride!

Nothing worse than not being able to ride hard smooth flat trails when they are staring at you!

I have considered scratchers in the past but buds don’t want them so it’s not my decision to demand buds buy scratchers too. They live in Vilas so wait out these type of conditions until fresh snow falls. I’m in southern WI now so depend on them as riding buds to call it for me. Their opinion means a lot to me but so do JD condition reports. Currently reports are very dry snow today way below zero last night didn’t help. I wish conditions were better but not coming in so far.

 

[wisco-mb]

I based out of Hurley, S-Wed. Left today. Trails were flat and icey. Scratchers are a must to ride, especially in morning. The trails that get little more traffic & sun, were better. Buddy's Indy 850 had no issues with no scratchers. Rode around Presque Isle, Winchester, Boulder loop yesterday. Awesome trails! Temps on road runs crept up, so had to monitor them. Went with OTP ski mounted scratchers. Performed very well. Only complaint is they tended to flip towards front when catching air over the hills

 

[przes1]

Duraflex scratchers take 20 minutes top to put on. Work to good as people behind are letting you know how much they are throwing

 

[whitedust]

Please let’s not discuss scratchers I’m totally convinced they work that was not the question I was asking. I’m looking for current lube conditions for hyfax and cooling snow for heat exchangers in Vilas and the UP. 2 buds tried to ride from Saint to Lando sure trails were flat, hardpaked , icy and super dry. Both overheated and had to stop limped home and are parked until fresh snow falls. They turned back no fun factor without lube. I’m hopeful groomers can help or new snow falls so still hoping for condition reports for a lube change. Current conditions are exactly as Attackman has indicated burning hyfax and overheating is common for liquid cooled sleds.

 

[scoot]

Heading up next week, trying to decide whether to take the truck/sleds and ride for a day or two, or just take the car and do other stuff. I'll watch the weather but I'm guessing the Villas parking lots, gas stations and road trails are down to bare pavement too?

 

[1fujifilm]

Heading up next week, trying to decide whether to take the truck/sleds and ride for a day or two, or just take the car and do other stuff. I'll watch the weather but I'm guessing the Villas parking lots, gas stations and road trails are down to bare pavement too?

Trackside in Eagle River, WI parking lot cam..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYxTajEdBAc
I would bring the sleds and ride north, probably fine once you get past the snirt 10 miles out.

Bear

 

[snobuilder]

Please let’s not discuss scratchers I’m totally convinced they work that was not the question I was asking. I’m looking for current lube conditions for hyfax and cooling snow for heat exchangers in Vilas and the UP. 2 buds tried to ride from Saint to Lando sure trails were flat, hardpaked , icy and super dry. Both overheated and had to stop limped home and are parked until fresh snow falls. They turned back no fun factor without lube. I’m hopeful groomers can help or new snow falls so still hoping for condition reports for a lube change. Current conditions are exactly as Attackman has indicated burning hyfax and overheating is common for liquid cooled sleds.

What you and your buddies need are a set a scratchers.
Or have enough sense to dip into some fresh snow every couple miles to cool sled and hyfax.
Not complicated at all.

 

[whitedust]

We can avoid snirt not worried about that. Vilas Boots on ground couldn’t get lube for cooling yesterday trail sides are very hard too below zero at night so trails set up but thaw made everything rock hard. ER formal trail report downgraded to fair due to hard ice lack of lube which jives with what local buds that are parked see. Scratchers are a no go we need lube. Again I can’t make buds buy scratchers not in cards.

 

[xcr440]

Well, this is not a Vilas report, but driving on Hwy 29 across Sconnie yesterday to Wausau, almost every single trail looked to be freshly groomed. I hate driving past trails that look like that!!

But again, looked very hard, and unless you had scratchers, might as well stay home and keep wishing for fresh snow. Looks like JD is thinking Sunday its in the cards for central/southern Sconnie.

 

[indy_500]

I think you guys are making a deal out of nothing like usual.. texted my buddy who lives in st Germain and he has ridden the past 3 nights. Said the trails are flat and fast and has had zero cooling issues and wouldn’t understand why anyone would unless you had a long track