600_RMK_144
Active member
All great info, thank you! If you make that trip Thurs/ Fri, please post an update out here of how the snow is holding. I'm planning to head up this w/e and you could give me a good idea if it's worth the drive.
NE Iowa Conditions?
- Thread starter jedoyle
- Start date
All great info, thank you! If you make that trip Thurs/ Fri, please post an update out here of how the snow is holding. I'm planning to head up this w/e and you could give me a good idea if it's worth the drive.
Groomer is running in Fayette county today(go Kohlie go) and hopefully tomorrow. Check out northern Fayette county, run through Volga Lake park is aways nice and the trails up from West Union to Clermont are always good. We're gonna take a short hop tonight in southern Fayette Co. and this weekend looks to be very promising. Nice not to be teeth chattering cold for once.
Hey question for you guys -> if coming from Cedar Rapids could we drive to Volga Lake Park and unload there? If so, from there we could head north up through West Union toward Cresco and/or Decorah. That might not be too bad assuming the warm-up doesn't mess with our plans. They are calling for some rain on Friday around CR.
JE-
If you are familiar with Volga Lake drive right down by the Lake and boat ramps, plenty of parking for trailer/truck. When coming up HWY 150 just north of Fayette a couple miles you'll see a sign on east side of road for VLSP, follow road about 2 miles to "T" intersection and hang a left towards lake, another mile or so and you're there. Trails criss-cross all over through park and you can shoot directly North to West Union and get to Cresco-Decorah areas from there. You can easily spend an hour just running every trail in VLSP for shins and grins, or head out directly to West Union.
If you are familiar with Volga Lake drive right down by the Lake and boat ramps, plenty of parking for trailer/truck. When coming up HWY 150 just north of Fayette a couple miles you'll see a sign on east side of road for VLSP, follow road about 2 miles to "T" intersection and hang a left towards lake, another mile or so and you're there. Trails criss-cross all over through park and you can shoot directly North to West Union and get to Cresco-Decorah areas from there. You can easily spend an hour just running every trail in VLSP for shins and grins, or head out directly to West Union.
600_RMK_144
Active member
Cool. Probably pass ya'll on the trail. If you see some crazy guy riding the IA trails on a long track with his boy up front, you'll know it's me 
600_RMK_144
Active member
If my research is accurate, I should unload at the loading docks by the dam on the SE corner of Volga Lake and head north from there. Assuming there is a trail to hook up with near the loading docks.
600_RMK_144
Active member
Making sure all his gear fits. He asked if we could leave tonight.
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We just logged a 98.9 mile loop tonight starting in southern Fayette county, up through towns of Fayette, Volga Lake park, West Union, Hawkeye, Westgate, Oran, Fairbank and back to Oelwein. First off, scads of snow even down here, best riding of the season for sure. That being said, there is considerably more snow the further north we got. I would say its a function of how far you want to trailer and start riding. Anything above HWY 3 is just fine to very good, above HWY 93 is even better and the closer we got to HWY 18 even better than that. I'm sure the closer you get to HWY 9 is most excellent. Even with a bit of a warm up and drizzly mix tomorrow Saturday looks to be the fantastic.
600_RMK_144
Active member
Great update, thank you! Given this info, I think we'll head on up to Cresco and head north from there. Looking forward to it - Loading up tonight and heading out in the morning. Thanks again!
Looks like he is all set!
600_RMK_144
Active member
Had the most epic day of riding ever with this guy over the weekend. No deep powder, no freshly groomed trails (although they were great), no break-neck speeds and no beers afterword to BS (Red Bull on the ride home as he told me his favorite parts from the day). Still the best time I’ve ever had on a sled. It was his first time out and I think he’s hooked. Every time we’d stop, he’d ask why. Only thing that could make it better would be getting to go out once he’s on his own sled. Not sure about that, seems pretty nerve wrecking to think about to be honest. For now, I’ll keep him upfront with me.
600 _RMK -
I just completed my first trip with my boys (15, 14) and it too was epic. We rented a cabin close to Drummond, WI and rode 300 miles in 3 days. The trails were excellent, the sleds ran great, the boys rode responsible, and we made it home safe. I've waited a long time for this day, and we had a blast!!
I just completed my first trip with my boys (15, 14) and it too was epic. We rented a cabin close to Drummond, WI and rode 300 miles in 3 days. The trails were excellent, the sleds ran great, the boys rode responsible, and we made it home safe. I've waited a long time for this day, and we had a blast!!
Sonsaditches
Member
I am about 20 miles north of Mason City and we had about a foot give or take. Don't think they had as much east of here but still pretty good shot. Go to John Dee homepage and click on current conditions. Shows where the snow fell very accurately.
Sonsaditches, thanks for reply. That leads me to my next question, how's the trail system around Osage? Would you recommend this area to some "out of staters" looking to ride?