Trails conditions north of Houghton bridge

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69CRUZR

Member
Just wondering what you guys are seeing for trail conditions north of the bridge? Been UP here since Christmas day, staying in Rockland. Snow levels haven't been the issue as many of you might think, it's that I literally think the groomers must be on strike. It's AWFUL in many areas. You would think the biggest week of the year would warrant the biggest grooming effort of the year but what do I know....we've been staying south as we had a couple novice riders with in the early part of the week and wanted to avoid all the traffic, but our usual veteran group gets here tonight and I'm wondering if we should just trailer north of the bridge and ride up there all day?

So what do you guys think? Is the grooming effort any better from Hancock to Copper Harbor? I've been doing this week long trip up here for many years and have never seen 3.5 foot deep whoops for MILES between Rockland, Greenland, Mass, 109 down to sidnaw, bla bla bla.

Should we trailer to north of the bridge and ride up there? Or is it just as bad up there? I know it's high traffic, but I've been here this week for years and never seen the trails like this.
 
J

jablc89

New member
Trails are great north of houghton . Groomers have been doing a good job . Of course it gets pretty rough after 5 pm
 
6

69CRUZR

Member
Ok thanks for the heads up. I know things deteriorate after sundown, but this is a whole new level of bad I'm talking about.
 
P

POLARISDAN

New member
man..sorry to hear about the ruf stuff UP there..even tho uve been there that week before, its still a risky week..tons of sleds and only so many groomer hours..

i can pretty much guarantee that when i get there next week it will be a night and day difference, literally, even if i have to ride at night..

its just to many people there with only snow in northern mn, nd and upper wisco..

dont know what else to say, except you cant bash the groomers
 
6

69CRUZR

Member
Busy week or not, I wish I could feel like that. If it's been 3+days since grooming that is not acceptable on the busiest week of the year. I've been here 5 nights and ran into 1 groomer on the trail the entire time...other years I've hit groomers 5 times in a night! Last year there was no snow anywhere but here, this year there is at least options but it's definitely still busy. Regardless, I know no other way but to explain the grooming effort as an embarrassment. Hate on me as you will, but I'm not just an unhappy person, I have previous years to compare to. These are the type of trails that have you never come back.
 
1

1fujifilm

Well-known member
POLARISDAN said:
man..sorry to hear about the ruf stuff UP there..even tho uve been there that week before, its still a risky week..tons of sleds and only so many groomer hours..

i can pretty much guarantee that when i get there next week it will be a night and day difference, literally, even if i have to ride at night..

its just to many people there with only snow in northern mn, nd and upper wisco..

dont know what else to say, except you cant bash the groomers
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Very true, X-Mas week; fuggeddaboutit.

P.M.'ed you PolarisDan
 
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POLARISDAN

New member
69CRUZR said:
Busy week or not, I wish I could feel like that. If it's been 3+days since grooming that is not acceptable on the busiest week of the year. I've been here 5 nights and ran into 1 groomer on the trail the entire time...other years I've hit groomers 5 times in a night! Last year there was no snow anywhere but here, this year there is at least options but it's definitely still busy. Regardless, I know no other way but to explain the grooming effort as an embarrassment. Hate on me as you will, but I'm not just an unhappy person, I have previous years to compare to. These are the type of trails that have you never come back.
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really dont know..im sure someone that does will chime.in..but that is my area and i know the patterns very well..and although there is some daytime grooming, it at night that its done..for example, 12 is every 3 days..3 is 10 at night every night, never very often between mass and greenland..its just the same pattern every year, and we ride 90% bump free, as anybody who rides with me can attest..but we start later and end later..and we only ride non holiday, midweeek(mostly)

so if anybody else has a thought if somethings being done different..would be interested to hear about it..
 
T

tomx

Member
they don't call it **** week for nothin. Polarisdan maybe we'll see you at Henry's Jan 9-11 at the end of our ride and the beginning of yours
 
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POLARISDAN

New member
tomx said:
they don't call it **** week for nothin. Polarisdan maybe we'll see you at Henry's Jan 9-11 at the end of our ride and the beginning of yours
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sweeper and harski will be UP on the 8th..so we will be banging the 9th thru 11th..henrys will be in the wheelhouse for sure..where u staying?
 
T

tomx

Member
In Rockland. If you remember last year I met you at Henry's but unfortunately our riding schedules didn't mesh but maybe I'll see ya.
 
Z

zimmer1310

Member
just got back from there with 3 kids and 3 adults. stayed in Mass, Twin Lakes and Calumet. not breaking news but best time to ride is morning and nights. take a nap in the afternoon. we rode Thursday night from Rockland to Bruce and back home by midnight and didn't see a sled on 3 for over three hours. only thing we saw was the groomer that night. north of the bridge was 80-20 to the good. first trip for the kids to Copper Harbor after leaving from TL in the morning and stayed in Calumet. Saw two groomers north of the bridge but had a few bumps also. builds character in all of us.
 
S

skidoo_derue

New member
zimmer1310 said:
just got back from there with 3 kids and 3 adults. stayed in Mass, Twin Lakes and Calumet. not breaking news but best time to ride is morning and nights. take a nap in the afternoon. we rode Thursday night from Rockland to Bruce and back home by midnight and didn't see a sled on 3 for over three hours. only thing we saw was the groomer that night. north of the bridge was 80-20 to the good. first trip for the kids to Copper Harbor after leaving from TL in the morning and stayed in Calumet. Saw two groomers north of the bridge but had a few bumps also. builds character in all of us.
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I was up over the weekend trails were pretty good did anyone see the 3 sleds that had burnt to the ground ?
 
1

1fujifilm

Well-known member
skidoo_derue said:
I was up over the weekend trails were pretty good did anyone see the 3 sleds that had burnt to the ground ?
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I saw one sled on 3 north of Ahmeek toasted to the point that one ski was all that was recognizable.

Plenty of snow, a little warm at 35 degrees today. Rode 17 from Hancock to Brockway, then 3 back south. Tried 124 to Gay but open water about two miles in had me turning back for 3.

Bear
 
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POLARISDAN

New member
zimmer1310 said:
just got back from there with 3 kids and 3 adults. stayed in Mass, Twin Lakes and Calumet. not breaking news but best time to ride is morning and nights. take a nap in the afternoon. we rode Thursday night from Rockland to Bruce and back home by midnight and didn't see a sled on 3 for over three hours. only thing we saw was the groomer that night. north of the bridge was 80-20 to the good. first trip for the kids to Copper Harbor after leaving from TL in the morning and stayed in Calumet. Saw two groomers north of the bridge but had a few bumps also. builds character in all of us.
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u get it..even with kids..im impressed
 
C

confusion_900

Member
I'm here with my 2 Daughters (17 / 15) we rode 3S out of Houghton on Mon and had groomed trails all the way to Mass and looked to be nice even S of that yet , we took the 13 loop from the S and the first 10 mil was bad due to all the wet areas which the groomer can't get through yet but the rest of the 13 N was great , the ride home on 3N was still in great shape , going up into Copper today and I don't seen why it shouldn't be good , no one is here
 
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