Snowmobile Trail Conditions

We took a pretty quick ride up to Rockland, MI today. The day started off around 11am with a ride up trail 1 to 100 then on to Lake Gogebic. We stopped in Bergland to gas up and then headed up trail 13 to Rockland. 13 was rough as usual, but had an occasional flat spot. We made it to Henrys Never Inn and had half a heifer. On the way back it was pretty much the same story. Trail 1 from Marinesco to Presque Isle was freshly groomed and that made for a sweet ride.

Distance: 157
Previous: 1,380
Season Total: 1,537

Our buddy Tom had to stay home on this trip, so all week we’ve been taking pictures with his hat and our sign of every place he could have gone this weekend. It’s been a lot of fun and the bar tenders love it.

We started off the morning heading north on trail 1 and then west on trail 2. Trail 1 was in excellent shape compared to the weekend! It was freshly groomed and there was very little ice in the corners. Trail 2 was good until we got closer to Wakefield and then it got pretty choppy. We stopped in to Bingos and grabbed a pizza and some drinks. While there, they told us their groomer was down for maintenance. That would explain the choppy ride on trail 2! After leaving Bingos we headed towards Bergland on trail 8 East. We made a quick stop at the Polaris dealer and then got gas in town. Then we headed north on trail 1 to Konteka in White Pine. Trail 1 was as smooth as glass! We grabbed some cheese curds and drinks and then headed back to lake Gogebic. Once we got on the lake we headed south to The Root Cellar for dinner and then crossed over to The Gogebic Lodge before jumping on traill 1 south. After we got on trail 1 south we crossed paths with the groomer and it was a perfectly smooth ride all the way back to Presque Isle.

Check out the trail videos:

Leaving Bergland, MI Trail 8 West to Trail 1 North
Snowmobile Trail Video (31 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (130 MB)

Bergland, MI Trail 1 North to White Pine, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (45 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (203 MB)

Distance: 145
Previous: 1,235
Season Total: 1,380

We started off the day by going to Skyview lodge and eating breakfast with the Presque Isle Sno Bunnies snowmobile club. After a great breakfast we headed out of town on trail 1 and then jumped on Lake Gogebic and rode north.

Check out the trail videos:

Trail 102 North from Bergland to Trail 11
Snowmobile Trail Video (91 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (433 MB)

Lake Gogebic Lodge to Hoop N Holler
Snowmobile Trail Video (31 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (161 MB)

We got off the lake at the Hoop N Holler and joined back up with trail 1 north. After turning on trail 102 the riding really improved. It looked like it had been freshly groomed and it was smooth sailing all the way to trail 11. We got on trail 11 and ran that in to Silver City. If at all possible DO NOT ride to Silver City. The trail through town were ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE at best! We barely made it through town and then headed south on trail 1. There wasn’t good snow until we got south of White Pine. Once we hit the snow again, the trails were awesome and we were on cruise control.

My sled had a “first” today. The factory belt finally let go. It “only” lasted 5,368 miles. Too bad they can’t make belts that last that long every time!

After we reached Bergland we got back on the lake and rode south to Lake Gogebic Lodge and then jumped back on trail 1. We rode trail 1 in to Marinesco and ate dinner at Bam Bam’s. After dinner we headed south on trail 1 back in to Presque Isle. Throughout the day we passed at least 4 groomers and the trails were incredibly improved over yesterday!

Distance: 152
Previous: 1,083
Season Total: 1,235

We took it easy today and only put on a few miles. My friends were pretty beat up after yesterday, so we took trail 6 West down to the Pea Patch and watched the Wisconsin, Illinois game. After the game was over we headed back East and took trail 11 North for a bit. It was absolutely HORRIBLE! We turned around and headed back to Winchester.

Distance: 67
Previous: 1,016
Season Total: 1,083

We started off the day by heading up trail 1 north through Marinesco and then up to Lake Gogebic. After getting to Gogebic Lodge we jumped on the lake and headed north to the Fisherman. Then we crossed the lake and ate lunch at The Root Cellar. After lunch we rode in to town and got gas. Then we headed East on trail 8 to Bruce Crossing. We hit trail 3 south and got a great ride. We stopped at Da Flowage Pub N Grub and had their fish fry. After dinner we headed south on trail 3 and hooked up with trail 2 West. After arriving in Watersmeet we gassed up and then joined back up with trail 2 West. We made a stop at Rogers bar to warm up and then headed West again. After a few miles on 2 West we crossed paths with the groomer and it was a sweet ride! We turned south on trail 1 and ran in to another groomer. 2 groomers in 30 minutes, awesome luck!

We just got a helmet cam this week, check out the videos!

Trail 6 East from Birch Lake Resort to Presque Isle, WI
Snowmobile Trail Video (194 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (42 MB)

Trail 1 North from Presque Isle, WI to trail 2 (part 1)
Snowmobile Trail Video (173 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (42 MB)

Trail 1 North from Presque Isle, WI to trail 2 (part 2)
Snowmobile Trail Video (133 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (30 MB)

Trail 2 West to Trail 1 North through Marinesco MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (324 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (74 MB)

Lake Gogebic from Root Cellar to Bergland, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (146 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (27 MB)

Trail 8 East from Bergland, MI to Bruce Crossing, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (134 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (30 MB)

Trail 3 South from Trail 8 towards Watersmeet, MI
Snowmobile Trail Video (208 MB)
Snowmobile Trail Video (46 MB)

Distance: 167
Previous: 849
Season Total: 1,016

My buddies were a little sore from the riding yesterday, so I decided to make it a little easier on them today. We headed out of Wisconsin and took trail 1 north to Michigan. Then we got on trail 2 and headed East. For those of you not familiar with trail 2, it is an old rail road grade and is typically very straight, long and flat (if it has been groomed). Luckily for my buddies it was fairly smooth and we were able to make some pretty good time. While riding trail 2, one of my buddies helmet shields lost a screw so that made for a very cold ride! We decided to stop in to Rogers bar to warm up and grab a pizza. They called the dealer for us in Watersmeet and found out they were open until 5pm. We headed over there and got the screw for the shield. Once everything was back to normal we decided to run down to Land O Lakes on trail 3.

We gassed up in Watersmeet and then cruised down to Gateway Lodge in Land O Lakes. After grabbing a quick dinner we headed back north on trail 3 and hooked up with trail 2 West. By this time, trail 2 had seen a lot of traffic and was pretty beat. We tried to ride the edges to stay out of the chop and it wasn’t too bad. The fun began when we got on trail 1 south. We passed the groomer and the trail was in excellent shape! A word of caution though……..there were a ton of icy corners earlier in the day, so be careful if this trail is not freshly groomed! Once we crossed back in to Wisconsin it was the same story. Pretty thin on snow and very bumpy. Hopefully they will get some more snow in this area so they can get the groomers out!

Distance: 122
Previous: 727
Season Total: 849

A few of my friends from high school met up this weekend and we hit the trails. Two of them have never ridden before and the other one rode last season.

Yesterday we got some fresh snow and the trails really needed it! The trails were in pretty good shape, especially once you crossed in to Michigan! We started off by heading up trail 1 to get some lunch at the Fisherman. Upon arriving at the Fisherman we met up with the Prairie Riders from Illinois and swapped a few stories of their week long trip. It sounded like it was an expensive one! Blown motors, busted suspensions, and demolished tracks. At least all of the riders are fine and only the sleds have to visit the shop! After leaving the Fisherman the snow really started to come down!

We ran in to town to get gas and then made a stop at the Polaris dealer in Bergland to pick up a few things. Then we hit trail 8 west and stopped in to Bingo’s to grab a pizza and a few drinks. We talked to a few riders in Bingos and they said trail 11 south was pretty rough.

We took trail 2 and then joined up with 11 south. They were right! We rode trail 11 for about two miles and then turned around! It looks like they aren’t able to get the groomer through there yet, so I doubt it will get groomed any time soon. Once we got back on trail 2, it was smooth sailing all the way back to trail 1 south. I was pretty surprised how good of condition trail 1 was in. Normally this stretch of trail can get pretty beat up due to the large volume of traffic and the narrow windy nature of this trail. Once we crossed into Wisconsin the trails weren’t very pretty. They have enough snow to ride, but it doesn’t look like there is enough to groom. If we got another foot of snow, that would really help!
Distance: 119
Previous: 608
Season Total: 727