Langlade, Oneida, Vilas trail conditions.

[indy_500]

Just completed a backpack trip with the Woman up to Eagle River. We left antigo Saturday around 11am, took the shortest route along hwy 45 up to Pelican lake, and then swung west, stayed shy of Rhinelander and up through Sugar camp. Was 100 miles this way. Everything was soft but in decent shape. Snow coverage was good, until we were coming into Eagle River in town from the west side. There was literally NO SNOW in town. They are in big trouble with the temps the next few days if they don’t dump truck snow into town. Left ER this morning and headed south to three lakes, Monico, and back. This was the shortest route that followed 45 most of the way, took 70 miles. Crazy part is, the last 35 to Antigo from Pelican lake was better than the first 35 miles leaving ER. The best trails we rode all weekend were summit lake, elcho, to pelican lake. There is zero evidence of a warmup, no sunburnt spots, even the roads are all still snow covered, which is not how eagle river area was. All in all a super fun trip and glad we made it! Not sure the highly trafficked areas along southern vilas will survive the temps the next few days and rain, unless Thursdays storm pulls through.

 

[r/l groomer]

Just completed a backpack trip with the Woman up to Eagle River. We left antigo Saturday around 11am, took the shortest route along hwy 45 up to Pelican lake, and then swung west, stayed shy of Rhinelander and up through Sugar camp. Was 100 miles this way. Everything was soft but in decent shape. Snow coverage was good, until we were coming into Eagle River in town from the west side. There was literally NO SNOW in town. They are in big trouble with the temps the next few days if they don’t dump truck snow into town. Left ER this morning and headed south to three lakes, Monico, and back. This was the shortest route that followed 45 most of the way, took 70 miles. Crazy part is, the last 35 to Antigo from Pelican lake was better than the first 35 miles leaving ER. The best trails we rode all weekend were summit lake, elcho, to pelican lake. There is zero evidence of a warmup, no sunburnt spots, even the roads are all still snow covered, which is not how eagle river area was. All in all a super fun trip and glad we made it! Not sure the highly trafficked areas along southern vilas will survive the temps the next few days and rain, unless Thursdays storm pulls through.

Glad you had fun.
Yesterday we stayed west, trails were awesome!
Harrison was the best but, least traffic.
Friday was in the area you came back and great also.
Was Eagle River busy?

 

[indy_500]

Glad you had fun.
Yesterday we stayed west, trails were awesome!
Harrison was the best but, least traffic.
Friday was in the area you came back and great also.
Was Eagle River busy?

Eagle River was swamped with sleds! Seemed like 75% of the sleds we saw were rentals from Trackside up there, along with the east side of Rhinelander seemed like 75% of the sleds we were running across was a rental from Schoeders.

 

[Hoosier]

Glad to hear things were good this past week. With the rain coming in and then the snow later in the week, I think it's likely we won't go up this coming weekend. Family who lives up in that area year-round (north of ER) said they've never seen as many sleds out as they have this season, and they only ride during the week. People like to talk about the sport dying but it seems like there are more people out riding all the time...

 

[whitedust]

Vilas trail updates difficult to find on official sites so that usually means the news is bad to worse with warm up and rain. Idk why they just don’t own up so appropriate plans can be made? Then again that’s why I come to JD to get the truth.

 

[Hoosier]

Vilas trail updates difficult to find on official sites so that usually means the news is bad to worse with warm up and rain. Idk why they just don’t own up so appropriate plans can be made? Then again that’s why I come to JD to get the truth.

There's usually an update on the snowtracks site too. Unfortunate how quickly the conditions seem to be deteriorating. I should have taken my kids up after Christmas or over MLK day, but President's day worked best for our schedules...

 

[whitedust]

There's usually an update on the snowtracks site too. Unfortunate how quickly the conditions seem to be deteriorating. I should have taken my kids up after Christmas or over MLK day, but President's day worked best for our schedules...

Last I checked Snowtracks has gone silent throughout the county. No doubt in my mind why. Very unfortunate for peeps that don’t stay on top of things. Information is ancient history since warm up so totally bogus now.

 

[timo]

Glad to hear things were good this past week. With the rain coming in and then the snow later in the week, I think it's likely we won't go up this coming weekend. Family who lives up in that area year-round (north of ER) said they've never seen as many sleds out as they have this season, and they only ride during the week. People like to talk about the sport dying but it seems like there are more people out riding all the time...

It all has to do with the fact there isn’t any snow anywhere,, except half of Minnesota and a third of Wisconsin.
Terrible year out East as well.

 

[Highflyer]

Last I checked Snowtracks has gone silent throughout the county. No doubt in my mind why. Very unfortunate for peeps that don’t stay on top of things. Information is ancient history since warm up so totally bogus now.

I think it has more to do with not knowing what to expect after Monday/ Tuesday. Nobody can predict exactly how much damage will be caused by the rain.

 

[whitedust]

I think it has more to do with not knowing what to expect after Monday/ Tuesday. Nobody can predict exactly how much damage will be caused by the rain.

I agree that’s probably the motivation but peeps that travel up on old good to excellent conditions are going to be pissed. Just say conditions have deteriorated with warm up can’t get out to rate until after rain and warm up is over. But saying nothing and leaving week old or more good to excellent trail conditions is very misleading.

 

[SledTL]

I agree that’s probably the motivation but peeps that travel up on old good to excellent conditions are going to be pissed. Just say conditions have deteriorated with warm up can’t get out to rate until after rain and warm up is over. But saying nothing and leaving week old or more good to excellent trail conditions is very misleading.

IMO facebook clubs have been posting pics and thats what I use more than anything. That and a big MN sledders group has people riding all over. Can see pictures from anywhere on the daily basis and know what is going on. Snowtracks reminds me when you had to call a restaurant or hotel to get an answer on conditions (old).

 

[Hoosier]

Eagle River updates regularly on snowtracks. I haven't looked at many of the others.

Agree it's a relic of the past at this point.

 

[Highflyer]

I agree that’s probably the motivation but peeps that travel up on old good to excellent conditions are going to be pissed. Just say conditions have deteriorated with warm up can’t get out to rate until after rain and warm up is over. But saying nothing and leaving week old or more good to excellent trail conditions is very misleading.

I understand your point. I just struggle to have sympathy for the 50% of the population that are dumb and can't see the weather conditions themselves. I'm going up this weekend regardless and follow the conditions more than most. even I have no idea what to expect after todays warm temps/rain. It's really a wait and see come tomorrow morning.

 

[Highflyer]

IMO facebook clubs have been posting pics and thats what I use more than anything. That and a big MN sledders group has people riding all over. Can see pictures from anywhere on the daily basis and know what is going on. Snowtracks reminds me when you had to call a restaurant or hotel to get an answer on conditions (old).

Exactly. Like calling the old 800 numbers. I'm not a Facebook guy but even I can look on the clubs facebooks pages. Best info is right there.

 

[Hoosier]

IMO facebook clubs have been posting pics and thats what I use more than anything. That and a big MN sledders group has people riding all over. Can see pictures from anywhere on the daily basis and know what is going on. Snowtracks reminds me when you had to call a restaurant or hotel to get an answer on conditions (old).

I remember the snowgoer vacation guide was the best source available. That's how we ended up taking our first trip to the Keeweenaw. Found an ad for the northgate motel. I think it's called trailside lodge now?

 

[rph130]

Vilas trail updates difficult to find on official sites so that usually means the news is bad to worse with warm up and rain. Idk why they just don’t own up so appropriate plans can be made? Then again that’s why I come to JD to get the truth.

Here is the truth from NW Vilas, (Presque Isle). 40s here yesterday and Sunday with pretty much full sunshine. 42 predicted today with sunshine right now and rain starting around 4pm. There were riders out yesterday and from what they were saying is the trails are deteriorating quickly. There are still good trails where the sun has not beaten them up too bad but with tonight's rain, that will probably change. Also, no snow left on any road crossings and Dietz's gas station in Manitowish Waters has no snow left in lot so good luck trying to navigate the pavement for gas.

 

[Tim in Indiana]

I went from PI thru BJ to Minocqua and back thru MW on Monday in a car, not riding. I saw lots of bare, muddy ground on the sun exposed portion of the trails. The closer I got to Minocqua the worse it was. The trails in the shade or the woods looked flat but icy and pretty brown.

Any pavement is bare except a few places in the shade which have a thin ice coat.

I a high of 44 on Monday afternoon and it was full sun all day. It is 34 with hazy sun in PI right now, it was 34 when I went to bed and 32 when I got up around 7 so I'm not sure it was below freezing overnight.

As rph130 said above if we get much rain it will get worse.

 

[whitedust]

Here is the truth from NW Vilas, (Presque Isle). 40s here yesterday and Sunday with pretty much full sunshine. 42 predicted today with sunshine right now and rain starting around 4pm. There were riders out yesterday and from what they were saying is the trails are deteriorating quickly. There are still good trails where the sun has not beaten them up too bad but with tonight's rain, that will probably change. Also, no snow left on any road crossings and Dietz's gas station in Manitowish Waters has no snow left in lot so good luck trying to navigate the pavement for gas.

Lando rates Poor today going into rain and more warm temps. Could be an early end have to wait and see what a crazy warm winter!

 

[old abe]

I agree that’s probably the motivation but peeps that travel up on old good to excellent conditions are going to be pissed. Just say conditions have deteriorated with warm up can’t get out to rate until after rain and warm up is over. But saying nothing and leaving week old or more good to excellent trail conditions is very misleading.

Yeah, well, as they say, "Be prepared, or be pissed off", eh!

 

[whitedust]

Yeah, well, as they say, "Be prepared, or be pissed off", eh!

Lando lifted the fog for me but pretty sure it was bad throughout Vilas. The rest is BS south of Lando so back to waiting for a weather change and more snow for me. A February melt down has happened before but usually can make it into beginning of March. Crazy warm winter.