Vilas County

[lofsfire]

It’s funny, my old club in southern Wisconsin would have opened with the snow we have. I think Vilas will open pretty soon, just my opinion, but, it won’t be pretty out there until we get a couple of nice storms with heavy snowfall.

I went to Cadillac this weekend It was thin but more than enough to keep the sleds cool and not ruining anything. And enough to keep the trails covered even with the traffic... It was definitely light traffic though comparatively to what it would have been during a normal year... Saturday night the bars were definitely packed though... They were standing room only and you were lucky to grab a seat.

 

[hermie]

I think Iron county could use more snow but it's mid January and trails haven't been open for almost 2 years. At this point I don't think they can keep waiting for perfect conditions. The good part there should be good frost in the ground. In the end there are a lot of different businesses that help the club and they would like to see a return on there investments with the clubs. I think the trails that hung on to there base will be fine the ones that didn't won't hold up for long. I know people think because the trails get worn down due to not as much snow as we would like think they will be trashed for the whole season. Normally any wear and tear on the trails is fixed with one good snow. Don't believe me check out the trails north of Bergland. They were getting pretty thin now a few good snows they look pretty good to me.

 

[pclark]

which club did you belong to in southern wisconsin?

We were part of Waukesha County, I was trail master for the Dousman, WI club. We had about 14 miles of trail to take care of. Down there if there was frost in the ground, 6” of snow, and the temp was below 32 degrees the trails usually opened. It was a little different because they divided the county into 3 separate regions I think called it. There were some great years and some really bad years but it seemed like it was easier to open the county unlike Vilas where the whole county opens or it doesn’t, pretty black and white.

 

[timo]

We were part of Waukesha County, I was trail master for the Dousman, WI club. We had about 14 miles of trail to take care of. Down there if there was frost in the ground, 6” of snow, and the temp was below 32 degrees the trails usually opened. It was a little different because they divided the county into 3 separate regions I think called it. There were some great years and some really bad years but it seemed like it was easier to open the county unlike Vilas where the whole county opens or it doesn’t, pretty black and white.

I agree.
Here in Washington Co. we can get a 8 inch snowfall and the 3 previous day it was 45 degrees and they'll open the trails. I'm not complaining but it's not really enjoyable.

 

[SledTL]

Idk Paul info about opening Vilas is tight now not saying anything. Maybe they are waiting to get closer to the weekend to capitalize on MLK weekend. Trails won’t hold up to traffic that’s for sure. In my 16 years of living in Vilas once open Vilas never shut down trails until end of season too much red tape to start and stop. Whatever happens hopefully good for business.

Black Oak Inn posted a pretty pissed off comment on the frosty club post last night. I dont blame them, but everything that I have seen from around the midwest wont last more than 2-3 sleds except select locations in the UP. 5" of fluff hardly covers up tree roots.

 

[pclark]

Black Oak Inn posted a pretty pissed off comment on the frosty club post last night. I dont blame them, but everything that I have seen from around the midwest wont last more than 2-3 sleds except select locations in the UP. 5" of fluff hardly covers up tree roots.

What was said and what was posted?

 

[whitedust]

Black Oak Inn posted a pretty pissed off comment on the frosty club post last night. I dont blame them, but everything that I have seen from around the midwest wont last more than 2-3 sleds except select locations in the UP. 5" of fluff hardly covers up tree roots.

Lando is the gateway to the UP and always has more snow than let’s say Eagle River. Living in Phelps we often had 20” more snow than Eagle River and Lando had more than us. I know there was a vote to separate Vilas into north and south zones which obviously stayed all or nothing. Why it failed Idk? Seems to be the obvious thing to do until Vilas gets back to a normal winter.

 

[SledTL]

What was said and what was posted?

BTW should be noted that I am not going either way, and know that tourism business is hard.
Club said we are panning trails and dont have enough snow yet, please stay off. Owner said my 4 kids thank you for potentially having to call it quits in a few weeks and not have a roof over our heads. Clubs down south open with 4", what is the deal with this place.

 

[pclark]

BTW should be noted that I am not going either way, and know that tourism business is hard.
Club said we are panning trails and dont have enough snow yet, please stay off. Owner said my 4 kids thank you for potentially having to call it quits in a few weeks and not have a roof over our heads. Clubs down south open with 4", what is the deal with this place.

So this was posted on Facebook, correct? I am not a member of facebook and probably won’t be of my own accord. First, I feel for the businesses here in the Northwoods that rely on the snowmobile business to carry them through the winter months. I have been involved with clubs and did a lot of the work involved with trails, what I will say is that I have seen for the most part that people respect the decisions of the county or the club on when, and where to open trails much better than in the past. I will also state that the people on this site speak the truth with regard to what happens here or in the Southern counties. Totally different areas, I don’t make a decision to open trails, I just offer to this site my opinion, period. The decision here as I understand it is based on input from all clubs, yea or ne to open or not, if all clubs agree then they move forward to open or not.

 

[hermie]

Yes Paul on the old hate book. What a lot of people don't realize who are not involved and just come up to ride and be the first ones to complain about bad trails. There are a lot of private landowners who allow trails to through there land and they expect the clubs to protect their land and not open trails when conditions don't allow. You are correct on Southern WI and Northern IL as far as that goes. If they got frost on the ground normally 6" is the number to open trails. I understand these businesses want the trails open so do the clubs and so does the snowmobilers but you have to protect the private landowners who are so gracious to let us use there land. There has been a lack of moisture since fall and unfortunately we are still in that pattern.

 

[pclark]

Yes Paul on the old hate book. What a lot of people don't realize who are not involved and just come up to ride and be the first ones to complain about bad trails. There are a lot of private landowners who allow trails to through there land and they expect the clubs to protect their land and not open trails when conditions don't allow. You are correct on Southern WI and Northern IL as far as that goes. If they got frost on the ground normally 6" is the number to open trails. I understand these businesses want the trails open so do the clubs and so does the snowmobilers but you have to protect the private landowners who are so gracious to let us use there land. There has been a lack of moisture since fall and unfortunately we are still in that pattern.

Totally in agreement with you Hermie.

 

[rph130]

I talked to a friend in Presque Isle this morning who lives on the trail and he told me the PI system has been panned/groomed, and talk is that Vilas will open Thursday. All we can do is hope and wait.

 

[attakman]

It's derby week...you can bet Vilas will open if the businesses have any say in it....thats a HUGE chunk of money miss out on if they stay closed...these guys don't care if it's thin...they'll ride dirt if they have to ...and let's be real here...that trail through eagle river gets pounded down to the rocks, mud, dirt and snirt EVERY year during derby week (no matter how much snow they have).

 

[picbn]

I've heard that trails in PI will be opening on Thursday. I've also heard that all of Vilas county does not have to open at the same time. For what it's worth.

 

[hermie]

I've heard that trails in PI will be opening on Thursday. I've also heard that all of Vilas county does not have to open at the same time. For what it's worth.

That would be a 1st if they do that. It has already been posted by the clubs that Vilas will open as 1 but maybe they have made a change. I personally belong to 3 different clubs in Vilas and if they have decided to do this they are keeping it to themselves. I can tell you from years past once 1 county opens like Iron the riders don't stay in Iron they will ride into Vilas county. The same thing will happen if northern half of Vilas opens people will ride into southern Vilas.

 

[hermie]

Looks like they are going to have a meeting tomorrow on trail conditions according to Boulder Junction clubs trail report. Will be interesting to see what happens. I am guessing about 70% they open 30% they don't. Personally love to see them open but the common sense part of me says we need another 4 to 6 inches before they should open them. We will see if the businesses can force there hand and open them. If it was mid December I would say 95% they wouldn't open them.

 

[XTEAM]

About 3” of new fresh here in MW. Skeeters rolled the trails this afternoon so with cold weather they should set up nice. It almost appears that something might give here? Businesses getting nervous, I would say if got another 3-4” they might consider opening. It’s definitely cold

Looks like they are going to have a meeting tomorrow on trail conditions according to Boulder Junction clubs trail report. Will be interesting to see what happens. I am guessing about 70% they open 30% they don't. Personally love to see them open but the common sense part of me says we need another 4 to 6 inches before they should open them. We will see if the businesses can force there hand and open them. If it was mid December I would say 95% they wouldn't open them.

Most people that care about there Sled’s in Vilas will either trailer to the UP to ride(that’s me) or leave them parked waiting for a big storm. Only people that will be out if Vilas opens will be rentals and some people for a quick run for a cold pop and some food

 

[goofy600]

Most people that care about there Sled’s in Vilas will either trailer to the UP to ride(that’s me) or leave them parked waiting for a big storm. Only people that will be out if Vilas opens will be rentals and some people for a quick run for a cold pop and some food

Or ones that live close to trailheads that can get them to Michigan but are stuck having to trailer.