What A Beautiful Day For The Vilas Opener!

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whitedust

Well-known member
Would have been oustanding if Vilas opened trails today 12-6. 27F...Bright sun, no wind, bluebird day. :D 6 more days till open 12-12 4PM might as welll be 7 days.. lol...& possible thaw next weekend JD please say "NO" to the thaw! As always just need to get thru Phelps & long gone in UP but have to get that far on lakes, roads , ditches & groomed trails. Fingers crossed!!!
 
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fusion

Guest
After such a great start to the winter season just 3-4 weeks ago, we've taken a very revolting turn. I sure hope this pattern changes before Christmas.
 
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nhra1000

Member
Shame the keep the trails closed for a couple guys muzzleloading.... Was just down in eagle river.... Dead.... Can only imagine how busy it would have been if the trails were open..... Something has to change.... If I owned a tourism business I'd be all over the phone just bitching...
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
nhra1000 said:
Shame the keep the trails closed for a couple guys muzzleloading.... Was just down in eagle river.... Dead.... Can only imagine how busy it would have been if the trails were open..... Something has to change.... If I owned a tourism business I'd be all over the phone just bitching...
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Yes maybe a few black powder hunters out there in Vilas but would be 1000s up here sledding & spending money including me. I didn't spend a dime today .lol Huge loss of revenue. Stranger yet early this week we were in Rhinelander not a trail groomed from Phelps to Rhinelander & was snowing hard no sleds, no groomers, no peeps on the roads or in shops easy time to Xmas shop but should have been riding.
 
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Swampy

Member
nhra1000 said:
Shame the keep the trails closed for a couple guys muzzleloading.... Was just down in eagle river.... Dead.... Can only imagine how busy it would have been if the trails were open..... Something has to change.... If I owned a tourism business I'd be all over the phone just bitching...
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Have you taken a walk in the swamps lately?? Bring your chest waiters!! Don't want to sound negative. I want the trails to open as bad as the next guy but if we get the warm up they're talking about, we're gonna loose just about everything we have so why waste the one-time payed panning run. Did you happen to see the Yama-sub on the Bergland bar website? Thats what it looks like in some areas. Just going to have to wait and see what happens.
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
Swampy said:
Have you taken a walk in the swamps lately?? Bring your chest waiters!! Don't want to sound negative. I want the trails to open as bad as the next guy but if we get the warm up they're talking about, we're gonna loose just about everything we have so why waste the one-time payed panning run. Did you happen to see the Yama-sub on the Bergland bar website? Thats what it looks like in some areas. Just going to have to wait and see what happens.
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We are talking "Vilas" Swampy not Tomahawk. But none the less if in 40s on Dec 12,13,& 14 I'll be sitting not riding in those warm conditions just not worth it for me to tear up the trails for opener & will wait for colder temps. No use imo to burn down the base at this point in the season. I'm VERY disaapointed but out of my control just have to wait...:(
 
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kevinj

Member
I would be interested to learn more about the "sanctioning" of the Vilas County Trails. The annual report is that all 11 clubs need to have their trails inspected which takes anywhere from 8-11 days. They cannot start this until after the gun hunt which ends on 11/30 (Of course you won't do it before the hunt in case hunters damage or remove signs - there are a few bad apples same as snowmobilers). So that takes us to about the 10th to 12th. I am guessing that this "sanctioning" has not been around forever and trails would open Dec 1st and if there was snow you could ride. I wonder if something happened that changed the rules and the trails now require a sanctioning. My father-in-law is a board member on a club in Vilas. I will see if he can talk to the members who have been around much longer than him to see what and when things changed. I know all counties are different - Thank god the majority of counties don't require a 12-inch groomed base before trails can open (there are a couple like that).
 
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groomerdriver

New member
whitedust said:
......just not worth it for me to tear up the trails for opener & will wait for colder temps. No use imo to burn down the base at this point in the season.....(
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Oh there will be "others" out there ripping the sheet outta the trails. Why not you Pete? You like "adventures" don't you? ;)
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
kevinj said:
I would be interested to learn more about the "sanctioning" of the Vilas County Trails. The annual report is that all 11 clubs need to have their trails inspected which takes anywhere from 8-11 days. They cannot start this until after the gun hunt which ends on 11/30 (Of course you won't do it before the hunt in case hunters damage or remove signs - there are a few bad apples same as snowmobilers). So that takes us to about the 10th to 12th. I am guessing that this "sanctioning" has not been around forever and trails would open Dec 1st and if there was snow you could ride. I wonder if something happened that changed the rules and the trails now require a sanctioning. My father-in-law is a board member on a club in Vilas. I will see if he can talk to the members who have been around much longer than him to see what and when things changed. I know all counties are different - Thank god the majority of counties don't require a 12-inch groomed base before trails can open (there are a couple like that).
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Dale Mayo has been inspecting Vilas trails as of last week not sure what his specfic requirements are but don't think snow trail base depth has anything to do with it. lol I think it is more of saftey thing stop signs up, trails marked trails panned , downed trees cleaned up. Dale can keep Vilas town trails closed he did it to Phelps last year when they were asleep at the wheel did not accomodate him with a sled for his inspection so all of Vilas opened except Phelps. It is what it is & Vilas Clubs do a great job getting trails ready. With 40s & rain forecasted for open on Dec 12th it will be interesting to see if trails open on 12th or wait for colder temps say Tuesdayish the 16th. Since it is all about the money I would think Vilas trails will open the 12th even if it is 60 degrees.lol Crying shame we missed all of November but deer hunters deserve their time in the woods too. To me just have to wait for colder temps rather not burn down trails just because we can. :(
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
groomerdriver said:
Oh there will be "others" out there ripping the sheet outta the trails. Why not you Pete? You like "adventures" don't you? ;)
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Better to wait for colder temps imo trails will last longer & be better over long haul. With that being said others can & will do whatever they choose to do. I get it some riders will come up ,have time off, paid to be here & they are going to ride & have the right to ride if county says have at it. I have seen it all in Vilas 55 degrees & rentals going out in monsoon laughable to me but when money can be made & peeps ready to pay it is going to happen.
 
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kevinj

Member
I agree with them waiting at least until after the 40+ weekend in store. Sure there will be sleds up there this weekend if opened, but will this one weekend make up for the holidays if they are completely ruined. I think if they stay closed, they at least have a shot at starting x-mas week. If open this weekend they will definitely not make it based on no other snow in forecast. Plus the "light snow events" john is talking about will need 2 or 3 of them to get our of hand and go 4+ each. We can hope in one hand and ___ in the other and see what fills up first!!!
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
kevinj said:
I agree with them waiting at least until after the 40+ weekend in store. Sure there will be sleds up there this weekend if opened, but will this one weekend make up for the holidays if they are completely ruined. I think if they stay closed, they at least have a shot at starting x-mas week. If open this weekend they will definitely not make it based on no other snow in forecast. Plus the "light snow events" john is talking about will need 2 or 3 of them to get our of hand and go 4+ each. We can hope in one hand and ___ in the other and see what fills up first!!!
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Yes much more important imo to delay opener with 40s & rain & you are right it would give biz a much better shot at improved trails for Xmas week. Have to see what they do?...but in the past once an opener date is targeted done deal.
 
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