SAULT STE. MARIE UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association – 01/05
1/5/25 8:30 PM update Run down of where we are at. Like all of you, I’m a rider too and I try my best to give you accurate info. I realize everyone has a different perspective of what is good and bad. I feel like I’m pretty fair, and often times more critical of our trails because I want to be as honest as possible. So here we go-
The Soo definitely got the most out of the lake effect snow event from Thursday to this morning. Not as much west or south of us on our trail system.
Trail 8 from the Soo to Raco gets thinner as you head west to about a mile or two west of Irish Line, then sees a bit more coverage as you approach the 480 intersection. Open areas saw snow get blown off the trail, and our operators use the blade as best they can to pull snow in from the sides. There are some thin areas, most notably just west of 6 Mile where those doggone slag rocks are popping up for about 100 feet. I stop and toss them off when I see them. We’ll try to pick the drag up in that section to keep them from pulling up. More snow will bury them back up. 8 on the powerline to Ranger Rd had more snow on it than I expected and is great.
889 is also great.
Met some of our other volunteers for a ride today coming from Kinross. They took 472 to 480 to 8 and they said it was good. A few ruts left from some wheeled vehicles during the warm up. Nothing major.
Rider reports from 49 south of M80 and the 494 loop reported both as excellent.
The city trails, with the exception of 449 and the now closed Kewadin trail are also in good shape. Pete is out there now, and will have a report for us that I’ll share.
I’m going to pin the post about 449 and the Kewadin Trail for easy reference.
49 from Alberta Ln south of the DonDee Lanes (great food!) remains ungroomed. Lots of wet spots still. The cold weather should do the trick and allow it to freeze up nicely. We’ll run it as soon as it makes sense to do so. It is ungroomed from there to Gaines Hwy in Kinross. Sleds have been riding it, but you need to know it’s at your own risk, and is likely very rough. Overall, we could use more snow to freshen up most areas, but things overall are good with some fair areas, and some excellent areas!
I hope that helps! Ride safe! ❄️❄️❄️
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1/5/25 Good morning all!
Brimley Bill headed out very early this morning in the Bay Mills and Raco area on part of 480, the powerline, and 889. Here’s his report-
“I groomed the Powerline and the Mission Hill Loop early this morning. There’s still some wind, but not as strong as yesterday. Open areas still have some drifting.
I was able smooth out all the chatter from traffic and drifts. I got out early enough so that the trail had some time to set up before any sled traffic.
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Quiet weather is expected today as highs climb into the 40s with increasing clouds through the day. A cold front will bring light showers to the area tonight, with a wintry mix of precipitation types possible, but not much snow or ice accumulation is expected as lows fall near 30. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaQuiet weather is expected today as highs climb into the 40s with increasing clouds through the day. A cold front will bring light showers to the area tonight, with a wintry mix of precipitation types possible, but not much snow or ice accumulation is expected as lows fall near 30. ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A breezy day is expected today, with westerly gusts to 30 mph expected and a few gusts to 45 mph along the Great Lakes, but otherwise expect showers and fog to clear out in the morning and breaks in the clouds this evening through Friday. Light showers return to the forecast for Saturday. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaA breezy day is expected today, with westerly gusts to 30 mph expected and a few gusts to 45 mph along the Great Lakes, but otherwise expect showers and fog to clear out in the morning and breaks in the clouds this evening through Friday. Light showers return to the forecast for Saturday. ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> A wintry mix of freezing drizzle and snow/sleet is expected. Warming temperatures into this evening will change the wintry mix into rain by this evening. Widespread strong southeast gusts to 25 to 35 mph are expected into tonight. Gusts of 40 to 45 mph are possible on the Keweenaw and the eastern sections of the U.P. Light lake effect snow showers are possible for the northwest wind snowbelts on Thursday. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaA wintry mix of freezing drizzle and snow/sleet is expected. Warming temperatures into this evening will change the wintry mix into rain by this evening. Widespread strong southeast gusts to 25 to 35 mph are expected into tonight. Gusts of 40 to 45 mph are possible on the Keweenaw and the eastern sections of the U.P. Light lake effect snow showers are possible for the northwest wind snowbelts on Thursday. ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Snow this morning may create sloppy road conditions for the AM commute. Warming temperatures today will change snow to freezing rain/sleet this afternoon, and then to rain by this evening. Widespread strong southeast gusts to 35 mph expected today. 40 to 45 mph possible in the Keweenaw Peninsula and eastern UP. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaSnow this morning may create sloppy road conditions for the AM commute. Warming temperatures today will change snow to freezing rain/sleet this afternoon, and then to rain by this evening. Widespread strong southeast gusts to 35 mph expected today. 40 to 45 mph possible in the Keweenaw Peninsula and eastern UP. ... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan >> Sunny skies this morning give way to clouds and snow by tonight as another winter weather system heads into Upper Michigan. Continue to monitor the forecast for any changes, and prepare for changes in travel plans, especially in the south central. #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaSunny skies this morning give way to clouds and snow by tonight as another winter weather system heads into Upper Michigan. Continue to monitor the forecast for any changes, and prepare for changes in travel plans, especially in the south central. #906wx #miwx ... See MoreSee Less
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/31/25 A couple of our volunteers, Lane and Dennis, made it out for an 180 mile ride from the Pickford area all the way to Cut River and places in between today, even up trail 49 from Kinross! They definitely encountered some low hanging branches, but no major downed trees and they were surprised how well the trails have held up! Love to see our hard working volunteers out enjoying themselves on this last official day of an amazing season! Are you done riding for the season? Where was your last ride? #soo #snowphotos... See MoreSee Less
WEATHER UPDATE via US National Weather Service Marquette Michigan >> Clear skies are expected overnight. Lows tonight will fall into the single digits over the interior western sections of Upper Michigan. Power outages caused be the ice storm continue over portions of south-central Upper Michigan and may last through the night. Remember to be safe with any type of space heaters and have a working carbon monoxide detector. Please consider checking on your neighbors! #miweather #keweenaw#westernup#marquette#munising #seney #newberry #soo #straitsareaClear skies are expected overnight. Lows tonight will fall into the single digits over the interior western sections of Upper Michigan. Power outages caused be the ice storm continue over portions of south-central Upper Michigan and may last through the night. Remember to be safe with any type of space heaters and have a working carbon monoxide detector. Please consider checking on your neighbors! #906wx #MIwx ... See MoreSee Less
SAULT STE. MARIE AREA UPDATE via Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association >> 3/31/25 Last day of the official season, and oh what a season it has been! We did see significant icing last night, followed by about 2” of snow. I’m sure the trails are icy under the snow. It looks like areas to our northwest such as Paradise and Pine Stump got mostly snow. I would imagine that there are low hanging and broken branches and downed trees in spots, but we were very fortunate based on what I have seen in the Gaylord and Alpena areas. Please keep your eye on those clubs pages. They may need some assistance in the coming weeks. I’ll share if I hear of anything. We got very lucky here. If you’re out and about getting those last rides in, please be safe! Remember, trails on public lands do not close, but will not be groomed. After today, please be mindful of where you are riding to be sure you are not trespassing. We will get gates closed as soon as we can on private property. Ride safe! Thank you to all who have visited our area and supported or local businesses, to all of our members, donors, our volunteers, and especially the landowners who so graciously allow access on their property! We appreciate you all! Thank you for helping make it a great season!! #soo #snowphotos3/31/25
Last day of the official season, and oh what a season it has been!
We did see significant icing last night, followed by about 2” of snow. I’m sure the trails are icy under the snow. It looks like areas to our northwest such as Paradise and Pine Stump got mostly snow. I would imagine that there are low hanging and broken branches and downed trees in spots, but we were very fortunate based on what I have seen in the Gaylord and Alpena areas.
Please keep your eye on those clubs pages. They may need some assistance in the coming weeks. I’ll share if I hear of anything.
We got very lucky here. If you’re out and about getting those last rides in, please be safe!
Remember, trails on public lands do not close, but will not be groomed. After today, please be mindful of where you are riding to be sure you are not trespassing. We will get gates closed as soon as we can on private property.
Ride safe! Thank you to all who have visited our area and supported or local businesses, to all of our members, donors, our volunteers, and especially the landowners who so graciously allow access on their property! We appreciate you all!
Thank you for helping make it a great season!! ... See MoreSee Less