Walworth, Waukesha, Racine, & Kenosha Counties SE WI
- Thread starter ryanslyne
- Start date
SledTL
Active member
How much snow fell in kenosha area? The local weather said 3.8 up in lake villa. With the cold this week it only has to be a few inches away from opening enough to mess around. Weather channel says snow friday as well!?! Don't want to jinx but I go back to school on sunday and have such a big itch to ride.
I am hopeful that the rock hard base, cold, snow that fell and an inch or two more possible that that should be enough to open the trails up. Cross your fingers!
John's forecast text has us in 1-4" tonight. News this morning said 1-2", then another chance by the end of the week. In the Text forecast he said this could be a 3-6" event before the weekend. If that is the case I would imagine that will get us going for the first time this year. We will have to wait and see. I am loading up tomorrow and heading north to play in the lake effect for the 2nd half of this week and weekend. Hopefully when I get back trails will be open. We will have to wait and see.
RS
RS
ridindirty800
Active member
about 2-3" in Elkhorn last night of fluff. Woke up this a.m and the wind has blown my driveway clean. I am sure the wind blew the fluff off most open areas. Hopefully we get some snow later this week that has some moisture to it. I did notice that in Southern Waukesha Co in Eagle that they had groomed overnight.
SledTL
Active member
Not digging the forecast anymore...hope that the weather people are wrong as usual.
Not sure what numbers you are calling to hear open? Both the Walworth and the Kenosha County snow phone messages indicate trails are closed today (just called @ 10;15 AM 1/12), hopefully they will open on the weekend. Also Twin Runners club website has a "status" box and it shows closed.
Kenosha is open they just havent updated the sites yet. Probably gonna head out this afternoon.
https://www.facebook.com/PrairieRidersSnowmobileClub is where I saw the info.
https://www.facebook.com/PrairieRidersSnowmobileClub is where I saw the info.
I am not sure about west - but Racine east of 94 has a decent base and some fresh snow. Not enough to fill in chisel plowed fields, but that's what you get early on...
snobuilder
Well-known member
Couldn't help myself,.....been brappin a local ditchline that keeps drifting over....Only a 1/4 mile or so but it's a fix for now!
- - - Updated - - -
Seems to me that before the internet and Co. hotlines most trail riders went by the guidelines of frost in the ground topped by at least 4" of snow = open trails. When did that change?
- - - Updated - - -
Seems to me that before the internet and Co. hotlines most trail riders went by the guidelines of frost in the ground topped by at least 4" of snow = open trails. When did that change?
snobuilder
Well-known member
did a little research and found my answer plus something else I was unaware of in 3rd question down taken from the WI snowmobile handbook.
1-
Q Is there an official dates which trails open and close?
A Trail openings and closings are determined at the county level. Landownereasements usually dictate the earliest and latest the trails can openand close. Normally, these easements run from December 1st throughMarch 31st. Each county usually has a “trail hotline” number that providesthe most recent status of their trails.
2-
Q I know I can ride the ditch, 10 feet from a county or state highway andcompletely off the road along town roads. What if the ditch is to steep ornarrow to ride on, can I then go on the road for a short distance?
A No, you must abide by these distances at all time except when crossinga bridge, culvert or railroad right-of-way and after yielding to all vehiculartraffic first.
3-
Q Can I legally ride the ditch (as described above) when the rest of thetrails are closed? Even if there is a marked trail in the ditch?
A Yes, you may ride the ditch at anytime and even if there is a markedtrail there.
1-
Q Is there an official dates which trails open and close?
A Trail openings and closings are determined at the county level. Landownereasements usually dictate the earliest and latest the trails can openand close. Normally, these easements run from December 1st throughMarch 31st. Each county usually has a “trail hotline” number that providesthe most recent status of their trails.
2-
Q I know I can ride the ditch, 10 feet from a county or state highway andcompletely off the road along town roads. What if the ditch is to steep ornarrow to ride on, can I then go on the road for a short distance?
A No, you must abide by these distances at all time except when crossinga bridge, culvert or railroad right-of-way and after yielding to all vehiculartraffic first.
3-
Q Can I legally ride the ditch (as described above) when the rest of thetrails are closed? Even if there is a marked trail in the ditch?
A Yes, you may ride the ditch at anytime and even if there is a markedtrail there.
ridindirty800
Active member
For all the years I can remember snowmobiling (about 23) it been below 32 degrees and at least 6" of snow before trails can open. I can also say most of the trails in Walworth co are in fields and they blew right down the hard 2-3" of ice/snow from last storm and all the chisel plowed fields are half bare with all the stops showing. And in today's world it is a lot harder to get and keep snowmobile trails on private property and you have to error on the side of caution when opening trails. Just have to wait until we get another good snow, my guess is another 4-6" at least to open trails.