Well had to ride one last time from the house - Took a vacation day on Friday 02/06/2009 and the trails were PERFECT
Sobieski/Chase towards Oconto Falls - Oconto Falls already had there gates closed on Friday morning - Why ??? I have no idea as it never really got warm warm on Friday and plenty of snow , a day early in my book , but hay thats there call , but in hindsight everyone around Oconto Falls trail system stayed open on Friday - Honestly couldnt figure that one out but there loss

Well turned around and headed towards Lakewood - Trails were AWESOME - Got off the RR Grade and headed towards Crooked Lake and then over to Waubee Lake and then back home
About 160 miles - Couldnt have been any better - White and flat and slow traffic

Southern Oconto / Chase / Krakow / Oconto Falls all were closed or either closing Sat AM at 6:00 - I can see alot more closing , days ahead
RAIN and 50 degrees - Can you say OUCH - It was fun while it lasted , but looking at these same trails from the road on Sat/Sun - Brown and mud and ugly , and its only going to get worse

Few pictures in the fields are only a few miles from the house on Friday's ride towards Lakewood

Sat - Chute Pond Drags were a swamp - Only had half the sleds compared to last year as i was told by the organizers , still a blast though

Looks great Scott. We had to stay home this weekend kids stuff at school. But will be heading up next weekend for my dad's bday so hopefully it stays a little colder up there and maybe we get more snow as we need it bad. What a bummer after a great start to the season.

I can maybe see the snow in the woods holding up - But honestly rain and forties to near 50 next week is really going to take its toll
And no new snow in sight ??? This Jan thaw is a month late !!!

Hope your Dad has a wonderfull Birthday !!!

I havent been to the U.P. in over a month , but that might change really quick

Yup, I guess it is back to the UP for us also. I have the stickers this year so might as well use them.

Oconto Falls - Chase/Sobieski - Lena - Chute Pond - Gillett - Bagley-Brazeau trails are closed until further notice

was in tomahawk this last weekend and after seeing how they were deteriorating on saturday, i am all but certain, that 50 and rain will wipe them all out. hopefully this last weekend wasn't the last wisconsin sledding i will do this season =( . at least there is snow in MI.

Hey Bee, did you come right by the gas station in crooked lake on Friday? I was there putting gas in my sled, and i'm pretty sure i saw you and the wife come through the parking lot. Boy those trails were nice on friday yet. What a shame it's possibly over already.

trails around here are in not bad of shape.. need 4 plus to get back into it but the base in most areas is still there.. Rain and 50 degrees doesn't affect me at all.. Whole month of march left and usually 2 big snow storms in the month.. the past has marked 15 inches in storms

Yep , that was definetly us - We kind of just cruised through the parking lot of the gas station , i didnt know if she wanted to stop or not at "The Pines" for a break Damn , you should of grabbed me and said "Lets Ride" - I saw a bunch of guys sitting there by the pumps , All Polaris Sleds ???

Was a great day and trails were awesome to say the least - Next time your riding send me a message or email

Might bee awhile around here - Just got done raining OUCH

Scott

after last nights rain and todays high and tomorrow rains.. i say 6 maybe 8 to get us back into it and it has to be heavy wet snow

We did the same on friday. My wife got done working at noon and I quit early. Me, my wife , and a buddy left from the house here in Lakewood1 We headed up to Towsend and back down to Chute Pond. From there we headed to Crooked Lake and back up to Lakewood. What a blast!!!! The trails were eperfect and the temps were awsome. Saturday and Sunday several hundred sleds passed the house and the trails are shot! Mike from the PInes has been helping us at work on and off for the last couple weeks. He grooms for the Iron Snowshoe and the trails were closed 7:00 am Saturday. Sure wouldn't have known it by the traffic this weekend! www.4upnorth.com trail report in Lakewood says no closure as of yet, but after rain last night and 50 today they'll have to!
Later boys, Jason

Going to be a boring weekend this weekend up there. We will be there for my dad's 69 birthday so looks like my son will get more miles than me this weekend on the lake with his Z120 as long is it not to wet.

It'll take a lot more than 6-8 to get trails in this area open again. All the melting plus rain, now ditches are running and hay feilds are wet with standing water. Hate to say it but "Stick a fork in it" the trails in this area won't reopen this spring.

mps

Yep, that was us. We filled up and then went over to the pines for a break oursleves. That was as far north as we went. My buddy i was riding with had to get home early so we couldn't go further north. Looks like it could be a while before we ride again. I don't live to far from you, so next time i ride(hopefully this season yet) i'll shoot you a pm. I love riding right from home.

Watch the news catboy, you were done a long time ago, just like everyone else, sorry, I think it sucks too.

give it a week of cold weather... I will be just like late last year.. Warm up came through had mini lakes all over the place.. Took a few days of cold weather, and some snow and they were open but dangerous.. Those mini lakes will help out the base when it freezes.. Give it time.. Plus March is a unpredictable month, could be warm and melt or could lay some big snow on us.. Hell last year April 26th i had a dusty of snow fall, which is my b-day thats why I remembered it.. Right now there is lots of places that have a good 4-5 inches of snow and a ice base left on the trail.. By the roads and where the sun beats all day is where its the worst right now..

I guarantee you that if we get 8 inches of wet snow they would open them.. (key thing is it has to freeze up)
Now if i see the next 2 weeks forecast and they say above freezing temps and rain then I will stick my fork in it.. until then im sticking with this.. YOU GUYS GIVE UP TOO EASY.. Do your snow dances

I was done 5 days ago.. Were ganna play december all over again... It was 56 here and 70 in chicago today and your down that way.. Things change between you and me likes its night and day.. you guys got 12 plus inches of snow and I maybe seen 3 out of that storm if any earlier this year.. Pure rain here freezing rain up north.. Rain in the lower parts of the rockies.. feet of snow in the upper parts.. Same thing here just dont have the elevation... When you get rain doesnt mean i do.. when you get tornadoes doesnt mean I do.. when you get snow doesn't mean I do..

you guys cant be too hardcore .... giving up already ??? whats up with that ???

Well , will it bee enough is the question of the day ???

Winter Storm Watch
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREEN BAY WI
327 PM CST MON FEB 16 2009

...WINTER RETURNS BY WEDNESDAY...

.WINTER WILL MAKE A RETURN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY WITH
THE POTENTIAL OF HEAVY SNOW. LATER WEDNESDAY...INCREASING WINDS
WILL PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THAT SNOW.

WIZ020>022-030-031-035>040-045-048>050-073-074-170500-
/O.NEW.KGRB.WS.A.0002.090218T0000Z-090219T0000Z/
MENOMINEE-NORTHERN OCONTO-DOOR-MARATHON-SHAWANO-WOOD-PORTAGE-
WAUPACA-OUTAGAMIE-BROWN-KEWAUNEE-WAUSHARA-WINNEBAGO-CALUMET-
MANITOWOC-SOUTHERN MARINETTE-SOUTHERN OCONTO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KESHENA...STURGEON BAY...WAUSAU...
WISCONSIN RAPIDS...STEVENS POINT...APPLETON...GREEN BAY...
ALGOMA...WAUTOMA...OSHKOSH...CHILTON...TWO RIVERS...CRIVITZ
327 PM CST MON FEB 16 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREEN BAY HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF AROUND 6 INCHES IS POSSIBLE OVER MUCH OF
CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON. LATER WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO
30 MPH FROM THE NORTH WHICH WILL PRODUCE BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF
THE NEW SNOW.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND BLOWING SNOW THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.

I hope so! We just got home and yes my son got more miles than me this weekend! We build a new bench at the garage and I rode 3 miles on the lake with him and they he rode the rest of the weekend on the lake! And love doing donuts! And of course some morons on the closed trails! Where is the DNR when you need them! So, very cold this morning before we left so they all welcome snow!

Drove in a Blizzard , heading up to Ishpeming MI early Thursday - Trails were awesome , then watched the UP200 Sled Dogs on Friday night - 1' - 2' of fresh snow Marquette down to Gwinn

Drove home early Sat AM , in a Blizzard , Eastern Wi - Hell i didnt even know we were supposed to get snow on Saturday , so that was a pleasant surprise

So whats the first thing i doo - Yep , check , the trails are all open in Southern Oconto County , unload the sleds from the trailer - And put in 150 miles from the house
Wife thinks i am nuts , load them up , unload them , blah blah blah


Lots of fresh snow , but whatever base was left (Survived the rain and 50 degree weather) especially in the plowed fields was solid ice with blowing snow on top - Those plowed fields were a little iffy until the groomers can hopefully work with them again - Hay fields were awesome - RR Grade heading up to Chute Pond/Mountain was awesome (Man there was some serious rollers in there , and if you were flying , serious air time around the Gillett area)

Trails in the woods were nice HOWEVER VERY VERY VERY ICY BASE UNDER ALL THAT FRESH SNOW - Lots of sharp corners getting washed out - Didnt help that my ski carbides are worn out

Overall not to shabby and no way in hell did i think the trails around here would open again after our brief summer in February - Not as nice as they were a few weeks ago , but hopefully some more snow this week ???

Saturday Pictures

I rode Shawano County up to Neva Corners (just north of Antigo) trails were good from what we ran into.. Little snow maybe a few inches and it doesn't take much to get to the base which is ice like posted above. Langlade county had snow on them but still could see ice off to the sides.. I would ride them as much as possible as a warm up maybe coming through again but freezing rain is likely.. I would of went up today but the sled decided it wanted to break yesterday.. Ill try later this week. In though all in all it was a good ride. good amounts of snow, but there are some spots where you could see the groomer shouldn't of groomed but hes just doing his job. Put on over 200 miles

Here are some pics of the Mountain Bay. Now that I think about it I wish I would of took more pictures of different areas..

Bring it on !!!!!!!!!!!

This would bee awesome on top of our base - Fingers crossed


334 PM CST TUE FEB 24 2009

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREEN BAY HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

HEAVY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON...AND
CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY NIGHT BEFORE DIMINISHING. ACCUMULATIONS OF
6 TO 10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE...ALONG WITH SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING
OF THE SNOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE

I just saw that on the news! Great news, heading up Friday for the weekend.

thats all fine and good, but we like the REALLY deep stuff,LOL !!!!!!!!!!

Lucky sob@! Glad you guys had fun.

Can you say THUNDERSNOW

Sitting at the airport in Green Bay were i work - Just incredible - 10 diversions from Northwest/Delta from when Minny shut down earlier
Honestly i cant remember the last time it snowed this hard and fast WOW

Easy 4" already in a few hours , and still have hours to go looking at the radar

OCONTO COUNTY IS GETTING NAILED - I should take some pictures of my driveway in the morning , if i make it home from work tonight OUCH

Trails will bee awesome this weekend - You might actually see and feel moguls i would think

Damn i need to call in sick tomorrow

Scott

Awesome report! I drove in all rain today from Rockford IL! That would have been a lot of snow and still raining here in Hartford, makes me sick. But, happy the snow is going north. I already have off tomorrow and next thursday and Friday! So, we are heading up tomorrow am! Let me know if you guys make it up that way! Or if you will go up next weekend also!

You look like you have the flu bug from here

Frank , looks to bee around 5"-6" in most places - Maybe a few areas north/east around 6" or more - It ended pretty quick , i thought for sure we would of gotten hit by some wrap around snow , but that fizzled out very fast

Now its the wind blowing everything around - Cold weather will keep it around for the weekend , trails should bee awesome

I have one sled down - I toasted a mag side motor mount last weekend on my 700 - Vibrates like a , well vibrator to say the least - New motor mount should of been here by now - Better bee here tomorrow as i have the old one pressed out of the bulkhead already - Always something with my sled now (6,000 miles) - My wifes 600 is flawless

If you guys want to hookup for a ride this weekend let me know what your plans are

Scott

You want the deep stuff - I got the deep stuff - You just stay down south and bee quiet HA HA HA

You should trailer up and ride Oconto County with us !!!! Its not the 4' of fluff of the U.P., but hay its white and looks like snow

Maybe you should ride a little easyer like your wife does and you would'nt break stuff !!! ha ha LOL...... No i was suppose to go to crystal falls this weekend, and that got changed to the 7th, and then the follwing weekend, we are doin a father -son ride in munising, me and conner, and my buddy mike and his son justin! He just got his permit and has'nt been trail riding yet, so that should be interesting................ O h and conner broke a shock, and lost a resivoir out of his skid so i gotta fix that now too

Anyone gonna be up this weekend?

I can ride from the house in Chase/Sobieski or trailer to Lakewood to save time (RR Grades)

You gonna ride ??? I was going to call Frank and see what his plans were on Saturday

Let me know if you want to ride

Scott

I just shot Frank a pm to see what their plans are. I would be down for sure. My wife and I were gonna meet up with some people from another site but our baby sitter called today and is sick. My mom has to work at The Pines for a vintage run tomorrow ,over 200 sleds expected. BUT, dad said he'ld take the kids, just not over night. I can bring the girls down to Crooked Lake about 9:00. Then mama and I would be ready to go! Let me know. I live right on the trail!

Hi Guys, wow trails are great we did a short ride after lunch! Very good shape. Chute Pond hasn't groomed but all others have so far! My guess for tomorrow a ride to Sams for Pizza with the kids but they may ride with my parents in the truck. Leaving cabin about 10am so we can eat early before lunch rush.

Change of plans no one wants pizza I guess my parents had it twice this week already so Muligans for lunch is now the plan they say.

Hey Frank I'm gonna meet Scott and Julie in town at 10:00. I'll take them on a small loop and meet you for lunch! We'll have to put some miles on after dinner.

Great ride today we hope Keri is feeling better. Here are shots from yesterday and today! Thanks again and we'll have to get together again! Just got back in the house we had to change skis for Nick so he could ride some tonight!

one more, not sure if we are riding tomorrow. I have to bring some sleds over to the garage cause sister and neice are done for the year so want to get them over there before the roads get really bad, and maybe a blast to Loana and then back to cabin for lunch! We usually make a big lunch here and start the fryer to make fries and zucchni!

Keri and I had a blast today. We put on some good miles, and it was nice meeting you guys. Stay tuned for the Picker Picture! I didn't realize she was that close to that big tree!She's a little sore ,but she'll be fine. We've all been there ,but the first one always is the worst! Look forward to ridein' with you guys again!

Yup, first one sticks with you for a while. And glad she is only a little sore, Patty was saying she looked like Keri was pretty high off the ground. And I saw that big tree there also glad she went right of it. Yes, we need to ride again! Maybe have the kids meet and do a small ride one day also.

For sure we'll have to do that! By the way, thanks for the pic of the Polaris hood up at your folks! If memory serves me right though ,someone had kittens today too!

That is why I took that photo and Scott wasn't happy when I took it as he was doing maintenance he said. Keri should blame her incindent on that new belt!

photos from Jason:

Ok frank i'll bite, "hey scott your supose to do maintenance before you ride " ,LOL Anyway looks like you guys had a good ride!!!!

Well , it didnt help - Because shortly there after , i was picking chunks of my belt out of the clutches , footrest/engine , that belt was totally destroyed , and when it went , bang bang bang at about 70/80 mph - Sounded like it was coming through the hood - Honestly first belt i have blown on these Crossfires , due to old age of belt or clutch alignment out of whack from replacing that motor mount Friday night ??? Can take a few minutes to replace on the DD Secondaries also - Will check things over this week

Just so happened at the same time they were looking for wood for there next building project


I need to apologize that we didnt get turned around right away , we were both wondering what the hell was going on especially after seeing one sled after another on that trail - That time on the trail was very heavy with traffic - By the time i got Julie turned around Frank was on his way back , and i told him to head back to see what was going on , and then i started my spring cleaning project Literally was about 30 pieces from the top cogs

I am glad she is ok , that is the main thing that no one got hurt and i hope she is feeling better today - Probably a little sore


Yes the trails were awesome and a nice ride - We also had a great time/Jason Keri thanx for meeting up with us/And we will definetly bee hooking up again - Beautifull weather , trails had plenty of snow , and we still managed around 100 miles - Traffic was getting heavy though later - Wish we could of rode a little more , but i got so damn tired sitting at Franks parents house in the aft - I think it was a combo of the heat , and the fact i was up till 2am Friday night - Then on the way home we stopped for Broasted Chicken to go , at some bar in Suring - Went home , shower / ate and i think i was passed out on the couch 10 minutes later

Frank/Jason let me know whats going on next Saturday - Guys ride , i can leave Julie at home if you guys head north
Looking at the weather high 30s/40 starting Thursday straight through the weekend with either snow/rain
So Frank keep in touch and let me know your plans / Weather
Peace Scott

Yep , the trails were great weren't they? Specially in the morning! I clocked a 133 miles but that included my side trip back to motorsports to get a belt for mama! The worst part was I was gonna pick one up sat. morning and I didn't. Keri really enjoyed your wives being along. She is usually stuck rideing with all the boys. She's a little sore this morning but it's all good. She got back on that horse after it bucked her! No-one needs to feel bad about not bein' there. I think with her minimal miles of seat time ,less than a 1000 total in 2 1/2 seasons, she may have been rideing a little over her head. The worst part was that the corner was a long sweeping corner and she never should have blew that one. Oh well, I just told her the last time I did something like that the sled had to get towed back and put on the trailer. She's ready to go again and I'ld give her a pat on the back ,but I might get smoked!
I'll let you know about snow conditions as the week progresses.

What a great weekend!! We got a late start yesterday after piecing the boys sled back together from his little "incident" with a tree a month ago. We started out from the White Potato area Saturday at 1 in the afternoon, headed north up the pipeline to Parkway/W for gas, headed north past High Falls and Caldron Falls, then west to Lakewood, then took the rr bed back down to Mountain, then east back home. Put on 120 miles yesterday and another 70 this morning. The trails for the most part were in great condition. A little rough in a few spots, but very ridable. Some of the corners were getting a little icy.

We had a few scary encounters in the twisties in the woods. I sure wish the young punks wouldn't use the trail system for their persoal racetrack. I am going to start signaling one more sled with my middle finger with these folks!!

Racked up 230 miles for the weekend, 80 Saturday, 150 on Sunday, as good as the trails were on Sat. they were way better on Sunday. We hit Langlade, Marinette, Forest, Florence and Oconto County. I don't know what the deal is, but Sunday has been the day for me this winter, it seems everybody is in such a hurry to go home on Sunday. We saw very little traffic today and the trails were mint.

Glad she is doing well, thanks for the voice mail today! Sorry, we didn't text you today got very busy, Nick broke his other ski this morning then we had to run the sleds to the garage cause looks like roads will be bear soon so wanted them over there now other wise we have to trailer them 2 miles, kind of pain. Then finally Patty and I took a ride and like snoughnut said much better today, way less people and colder so corners much better. And we stayed to let the kids play as they have off tomorrow.

We'll have to get together for more rides. Maybe not this season but next season for sure. Great group I think! Now the leader just has to pay better attention next time, really sorry not like me but wow that trail was awesome.



X2!