Vilas County

[hermie]

The one thing that is hurting the snow pack is a lot of the trails are brown this year. As we all know with the sun angle not being in our favor anymore it can be 10 degrees and the brown snow will melt the white will be just fine. I will say so far the beginning of March is looking good for us winter fans but we are going to need some more snow.

 

[garageguy]

Well that was 60 years ago.

 

[pclark]

It was only 30 degrees today and some areas look like they took a hit. The grade 17 down to Lake Tomahawk was down to gravel pretty much all the way down. Big crowd in Lake Tomahawk for their fundraiser. It looks like north of Minocqua faired better, lots of sleds everywhere, 38 on Sunday, 40+ on Monday, will advise on how things look after Monday.

 

[hermie]

I will be surprised if the trails survive this week. I. The woods some will but overall I think they are going to take a beating.

 

[goofy600]

I can tell you for a fact Lando and Conover took a beating today. Lead a group of military vets and active members on a ride from Cisco chain down to VFW in Lando then to Bauer’s Dam and Burnt Bridge then back to Cisco lake. They were beat by the time we got back. But all worth it just to get them out.

 

[pclark]

Not much to report this morning. It’s already 40 degrees at 8am and full sun. Sunday it was sunny as well and trails in and around town are mud, water holes, snirt brown at best. In the woods it’s better.

 

[whitedust]

Not much to report this morning. It’s already 40 degrees at 8am and full sun. Sunday it was sunny as well and trails in and around town are mud, water holes, snirt brown at best. In the woods it’s better.

I don’t think Vilas will close until we are well into March. They go to adventure riding which means good luck trails are bare to if we get a blizzard would it be worth it to groom timed to April 1. We were lucky to get what we got this season state wide for WI.

 

[Tuck]

well not what we were wanting for this coming weekend. Still it was better than last year. May need to find a spot to trailer to and play in the woods for this trip and hope there is more snow to fall yet somewhere this season. If not time at the cabin is still good times.

 

[old abe]

Not much to report this morning. It’s already 40 degrees at 8am and full sun. Sunday it was sunny as well and trails in and around town are mud, water holes, snirt brown at best. In the woods it’s better.

Hmmmm? Well pclark, perhaps now fishing for Crappies, and Bluegill, eh! Maybe a Walleye? I'm hungry already! Forget the mud.

 

[pclark]

Well, had to go into town today and here is what things looked like. Pretty bad news, it’s 47 and full sun most of the day. Far Lady is really tuned up and we have 3 more days of this yet to come, we would have to get a couple a heavy snowfalls to make it rideable again. There is still a 3-4” ice base but that is getting sun now as well so it doesn’t look good. That unfortunately, is todays report.

 

[IOWASLEDDER]

OUCH

 

[Tuck]

not sure ouch is strong enough for that view.

 

[euphoric1]

UUUUGH!! that sucks and very unfortunate!! Venture north and I were supposed to be up there this week, pulled plug late last week looking at forecast. Was going to reach out to you Paul to see if wanted to hook up for ride or dinner with us. Now looking line next year.

 

[pclark]

UUUUGH!! that sucks and very unfortunate!! Venture north and I were supposed to be up there this week, pulled plug late last week looking at forecast. Was going to reach out to you Paul to see if wanted to hook up for ride or dinner with us. Now looking line next year.

It’s not looking good Brian, I’ll send some pics as the week progresses but Vilas should close temporarily as well, there’s really no point in keeping open right now.

 

[goofy600]

Just north of the border is the same, just drove through Watersmeet and the pictures would be very similar.

 

[dfattack]

I’m planning on heading up either way this weekend/early next week for about a week to check on the house and really was hoping go get some seat time in. Now I’m not sure about the seat time part

 

[racerx]

Problem I noticed is all the brown areas are absorbing more of the sun, thus the trail ice base is getting hit harder than the packed white areas (not much of the white around anyway)

 

[pclark]

Our trails were brown all season.

 

[hermie]

Our trails were brown all season.

Unfortunately this is true. No wet heavy snow equal brown trails. We have gotten nothing but powdery snow since January. We had some wet snow in December but melted with the rain.

 

[SledTL]

Our trails were brown all season.

I know there is really nothing the area can do but that has been the case every time I have ridden up there in the last 4-5 years. Get home and have to hose off the sleds. IMO its really a turn off to ride there anymore and look for other places to go now. Way too much traffic for the tight trails and the constant grooming just churns it up like a rototiller.