Jan 8th Trail Report

Good morning from Lake Gogebic where another great weekend is on the books!!! Last week we had about 24” or so inches of fresh powder on the North Shore of Lake Gogebic and last night we got a dusting of about 1”. This weekend there was a lot of traffic out on the trails, but the trails held up well and those of you who are still in the area or heading up today should have some good riding. All three groomers were out this weekend and they did the best they could considering the number of riders and Groomers were out last night. Guests leaving town on Sunday had a lot of good things to say about the trails and “mint” was all one guest had to say as he was packing up his gear on Sunday. Couple challenge spots – but nothing extreme. The good new is (and there is always good news) that our Groomers are on top if it and they know what they are doing. We have to trust their judgement and when they tell us something – we need to listen.

We’ll see our sub-zero temperature rise the beginning of this week and while we may even hit the freezing mark on Tues/Wed – we don’t imagine there will be any significant damage to trails. Groomers will continue to head out daily and should be able to keep the trails in good shape in spite of the “predicted” mid-week warmup. Temps will drop back to single digits and below by Thursday. There is also the potential for a pretty big winter storm later this week. John Dee is forecasting 8-12” of snow between January 10-14, with the potential for some more system and lake effect snows beyond that into the 3rd week of January. While we encourage everyone to keep their fingers and toes crossed – we do not recommend doing so while out on the trails!

Lake travel has picked up and Bergland Bay has about 11-12 inches of ice with some slush holes and everyone is encouraged to drive with caution. As you go into the big lake the ice seems solid from Porcupine Point down past the East Shore. Lake travel has not produced any incidents – but always use caution and keep a lookout for other snowmobilers and ice fisherman out there with their shacks.

Overall trails are in good to excellent condition – especially considering all the traffic over the past few days. There is definitely more snow on the North End and conditions are reported to be better on the North end of the lake than on the South end where snow is thinner.

Here’s where we stand as of today and we will update Wednesday night:

Corridor 1 & 8 above Berland is holding up well with all the traffic.
Trail 1 to White Pine is in good or excellent condition.
Trail 13 North is in good condition; Trail 13 South to Trail 2 has not been groomed as there is not enough snow.
Trail 8 West to Ewen is reported to be in good condition – and will be better once the groomers go through it after the weekend.
A reminder our groomer broke thru mud last week on Trail 8 west of Bergland – and that trail is not recommended for good travel right now.
Trail 1 from Gogebic Lodge to Marenisco, Forest road to Marenisco, Trail 2 out of Marenisco and Trail 1 to Presque Isle. Trails are groomed and reported to be in good to very good condition with a few thin spots near Marenisco.
Trail 102 has been groomed and is in good condition.

While many of you are seasoned riders, there are a lot of snowmobilers and ice fishermen up here right now it’s best to err on the side of caution. Before heading out on the trails – make sure you are prepared and that you have a general plan for your day (understanding that sometimes the best plans are no plans 😊.) Dress in layers and cover all exposed areas. Check the weather conditions, pull out a map, and review the reports. Make sure you have enough fuel and plan where your next fuel stop is going to be before you leave. Make sure your phone is charged – and keep in mind that cell service may be sketchy in some areas. Pack a couple waters and some snacks. Let someone where you’re staying know what your plans might be. With all the visitors in the area, lunch and dinner times are very busy at the restaurants and taverns. It might be worth your while to ride during peak meal times and then you can dine after the rush!

This is Mary Beth from the Walleye Lodge on Lake Gogebic wishing all of you a great week and lots of snow!!!! Let’s hope Mother Nature gets real herself in a tizzy and sends us a lot of LES!!! Hope to see you soon!

If you have anything comments, please let us know!

<>

Gogebic Area Grooming –

<>

Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce –

<>

Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook –

<>

Postings From Regional Pages On Facebook

<>

Visit Lake Gogebic Website >>>>

<>

Latest Trail Reports – Quick Links

<>