Sault Ste. Marie Trail Report – 02/17
SAULT STE. MARIE UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association – 02/17 2/17 9 pm update- It undoubtedly has made the foundation much more solid, and mitigated the water hole situation, but it’s not great, and the only solution is simply more snow. The worst part is about 1/4 mile just west of where you cross 6 mile. Take it easy and you’ll be just fine. We panned slowly and methodically as to not further disturb them. We had two trees that were leaners and needed to be cut. Our battery operated Milwaukee saws that we bought with funds from the MISORVA Miracle Million grant are awesome and made quick work of those. Otherwise, it was pretty uneventful on our way to Brimley. We stopped at The Cozy Inn in Brimley and were so graciously treated to a meal! Amazing folks there and we are so appreciative of their unwavering support! Please support them! On the return trip, I took the wheel, and it started snowing really hard! I personally love grooming in heavy snow! The drag is pretty finicky, especially on lake effect snow, so it was tracking a little weird in spots, but still smoothed the surface out nicely. We got back around 7:30 and needed to plow the parking lot at the groomer barn as there was easily 3” of new snow. And it’s still coming down! Woo hoo! Oh! And we only saw 10 sleds! Where is everyone?? Let’s hope it keeps up overnight, and things will onlly improve! PS- first debbie downer in the comments owes me lunch😉 <> <> Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Facebook Page <> Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association Trail Report on MSA <> WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Northwest lake effect snow this evening turns to the north late tonight and continues into Thursday while generally weakening by the afternoon hours. Watch out for heavy lake effect snow and blowing snow across the north wind snow belts tonight into Thursday morning! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaNorthwest lake effect snow this evening turns to the north late tonight and continues into Thursday while generally weakening by the afternoon hours. Watch out for heavy lake effect snow and blowing snow across the north wind snow belts tonight into Thursday morning! #906wx #miwx WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Northwest lake effect snow ramps up behind the Clipper low today before slowly transitioning to north wind lake effect snow tonight and Thursday. Watch out for blowing snow over the northern U.P. the next couple of days and for rapidly deteriorating travel conditions! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaNorthwest lake effect snow ramps up behind the Clipper low today before slowly transitioning to north wind lake effect snow tonight and Thursday. Watch out for blowing snow over the northern U.P. the next couple of days and for rapidly deteriorating travel conditions! #906wx #miwx Damien Whitmore Nick Dozek Brian Kennedy WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A Clipper bringing snowfall tonight is followed by lake effect snowfall over the northwest wind snow belts Wednesday. The lake effect snow shifts to the north by Thursday. Watch out for blowing snow and rapidly deteriorating conditions over the next couple of days! #miweather #keweenaw #westernup #marquette #munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaA Clipper bringing snowfall tonight is followed by lake effect snowfall over the northwest wind snow belts Wednesday. The lake effect snow shifts to the north by Thursday. Watch out for blowing snow and rapidly deteriorating conditions over the next couple of days! #906wx #miwx SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 12/3 evening update. Someday I would love to be there from here.(Illinois sucks) WEATHER UPDATE via 9&10 News >> Clipper and lake effect snow on the way tonight through Thursday morning. Snow amounts could stack up quickly for areas of the U.P. through the Northwest Lower Peninsula thanks to this clipper and gusty Southwest winds. Snow totals are tonight though Thursday morning. #miweather #gaylord #cadillac #traversecity #petoskey #soo #newberryClipper and lake effect snow on the way tonight through Thursday morning. Snow amounts could stack up quickly for areas of the U.P. through the Northwest Lower Peninsula thanks to this clipper and gusty Southwest winds. Snow totals are tonight though Thursday morning. Craig Smith SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 12/3 update- <> Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links <>
Today, groomer Jay and I hit trail 8 from the Soo to Brimley for the very first time this season. That statement in itself is a testament to this crazy winter. As we left the Soo around 12:30, we were both questioning whether it was worth it or not, as it was thin, but decided to carry on since we needed to at least check for any downed trees or other hazards. The more west we went, the better it got. As I said in the video earlier, the only “bad” part is that the big chunks of slag rock that were placed here over the summer are getting pulled up as sleds roll over it.
That’s all for now! Ride safe, right right, ride sober, and snow dance your 🍑 off, it’s working! ❄️❄️❄️Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook
Brimley Bill was out again today doing what he can to pack trails in the Bay Mills area. We are getting a lot of questions on conditions, and the best I can tell ya is to watch this page. Any of our trails to our south in the swampy areas and the city should be considered unrideable and unsafe. Wet as heck and honestly dangerous, in my opinion. Avoid them! I have not heard how it is around the airport in Kinross, so I’d love a report if any locals have been out there. 472 out of Kinross west to 480 into the Spile Dam will also be very wet.
Basically, trail 8 from the Soo to Raco and 889 are the only really rideable trails. The forest service roads in Raco/Strongs/Bay Mills have good snow if you want to play off trail. More snow on the way tonight into Thursday.
The bad trails mentioned simply need more time and more cold. Nothing more we can do in there yet, that we haven’t already done.
So for the positive, here’s Bill’s report-
“I ran the Mission Hill route again today. I have not groomed the courtesy trail to the Bay Mills Casino yet. Until the ground freezes up better there is too much risk of getting stuck.
There are still water holes on trail 889 between Tower Road and Plantation Road. The smaller ones are starting to fill in, but there are still a few larger ones that need more cold temps to freeze. All in all the Mission Hill and Raco areas are looking pretty good for December 3rd.”
If you are riding to and from Bay Mills Resort & Casino, please stay on the shoulder of the road to and from 889, the trail may not be safe yet. It’s a pretty short stretch, so shouldn’t be too rough on your equipment.
Enjoy the pics and video!
Thank you Bill and all of our volunteers!!!❄️❄️❄️ #soo #snowphotos
🚨🚨Please, PLEASE take this warning seriously! 🚨🚨
The city trails as well as 49 all the way down to Kinross are full of water and slush. They ARE NOT rideable. Do not even attempt it!
The good news is that Steve and Chris made it in just the Tucker (no drag) from the Soo all the way to Kinross on trail 49 to assess and clear trees and other hazards. This means they made it over the redecked bridge at the Beaver Pond! Yay! They widened it as much as possible so the edges are set and now it has a chance to freeze. There are land owners in there that do not want sleds attempting it yet. This is for your safety! Please do not attempt it! You will not make it on a sled and tow companies will not be able to get you you. It’s a looooong cold, wet walk to get help.
We will update when we get in there again. More cold and snow is on the way, but we really just need cold now.
Thanks all! #soo #snowphotos