Mancelona this weekend??

[xc500mod]

I posted this under area conditions and info but didn't get any responses.

Did anyone ride northern lower michigan last weekend, or does anyone live up there to give me an honest trail report?

Was thinking of going up this weekend to try out my new sled!

We don't need perfect trails, we just need snow coverage. Was thinking of staying in mancelona and riding from there.

Let me know.

Thanks

 

[SnowScreamer]

I have not been in the area, and it seems in general there is a lack of lower peninsula talk on the Johndee forum. There are many resources for trail conditions in the lower. For starters the web cams on Johndee help give the audience a good idea of snowfall amounts. And if actual trail conditions are needed, try: http://www.fishweb.com/recreation/snowmobile/reports/snow-mancelona.html, and another from Frederic area, http://frederic-mi.com/category/trail-conditions/. Fishweb.com does a good job of having a broad area covered. It is always nice to know the conditions of the area to be able to plan trips with the maps at the dinner table before making the trek up north. Good luck.

 

[ragsled]

I was there last weekend and stayed in Waters, I rode from there to Alba on freshly groomed trails. Coming back I headed towards Grayling and Frederic via Starvation Lake, the trails were a little bumpy and not bad. Roads were getting a little bare but if you don't mind riding tilted 44 degrees they are ok. Groomers were out in several areas all day Saturday. Sunday morning went up to Lakes of the North and Setters (they have a cam on NCN) on freshly groomed untracked trails. They are supposed to be close to 40 a couple days this week and 45 Saturday, so conditions and grooming schedules can change quickly.

 

[miked]

I went to Mancelona last weekend...stayed at the Mancelona Motel. Rode up the grade for a bit and then up through Jordan Valley to Wolverine on Friday and it was GREAT. A little bumpy on the way up, but met a groomer on the way back..tons of snow, flat and fast. We were going to drop the grade down to Gaylord, but it was DIRT. Horrible. Don't know why...snow was plenty deep everywhere else?

Saturday, we ran south all the way to Grayling, where it got thin and icy with a few bare spots. We looped around to Starvation Lake...plenty of snow everywhere around the Hideaway. From there we tried to head up to Charlevoix, but got turned around due to lack of grooming and lack of snow on the roads. Went back over to Settings for dinner...trails were bumpy by then, but still PLENTY of snow.

I'd be a little concerned with the warmup...but make no mistake...there is a LOT of snow still on the ground and the groomers were doing a great job.

330 miles in a day and a half to end the season.