Hey, I've heard rumors that the grumers have stopped for the season up at the two harbors/silver bay, is that true? I was up there on Wednesday and it was great, but it was warm today and all the riders the past few days...trail would probably be pretty bumpy.
Has anyone been up there since wednesday? I'm planning on going up with a few friends tomorrow, but don't want to waste my time if it's crap.

Also, I was thinking about going south because they got all that snow, but it was 40 there today and there were probably a million riders. Anyone know how those trails are?

I have to get one more ride in! Then it's back to VA for school where it's almost beach weather!

Rich

plenty of snow from Duluth north , they will be grooming till the 1st

Heard that the Gooseberry falls erea was Awesome... DNR says its in excellent condition with a 12" base. Going this weekend!!!

I got back yesterday from the Grand Marias area and there was plenty of snow up there on sat. Two harbors looked a little thin though. The North shore trail from finland to Grand Marais was good and the Gunflint was good on Friday.

We dropped off in Duluth today at the Martin Rd drop. The parking lot was terrible but the trails where pretty good with the exeption of the turn off to Two Harbors. That trail was nothing but mud and bumps. We where able to tack on almost 200 miles today and mostly nice trails. Only a few of the corners on the State Trail where dirt.

On the way back to the truck, some clown on a Polaris happened to be coming through a corner on my side of the trail. I managed to dodge the idiot but got stuck over the berm in some thick snow. It sucked me right into a tree and banged the front end up pretty good. Everything is twisted and broken around the bumper and air box area. My ECU case also got wiped out. It still ran and I managed to get it back to the truck but it wasn't running very good. Thankfully I was able to abandon ship before the sled struck said tree... It could have been worse...

I live in Hermantown and avoid the North Shore like a bad infection on the weekends. You can't really judge the snow conditions by what you find along the North Shore road as your generaly too close to the lake. As most of you know you have to get inland another mile or so. That's why Twin Harbors looked thin and the trail to twin harbors was in bad shape. Because the Hermantown trail is closed, I've been trailering the five miles to the Martin road lot myself quite a bit this year. Once you get to the first intersection where North takes you to Twin Harbors, I head West to the resivor lakes, Alborn and beyound, a lot less traffic with fantastic trails.

That said, Saturday I rode from the garage on a solo ride and played around Duluth, as long as your over the hill and away from the lake, conditions are still great. Still 1 - 1.5 feet on the ground, plus I saw two sleds the whole day. Any open hill with a southern exposure is toast though, did a few dirt hill climbs, can't complain though, it was March 19 afterall.

A park about 1 mile from home:



Millions of years ago, this would of been Lake Superior's shore line:



An old railroad tunnel:



Standard overlook:



Ok, enough with the sidetrail stuff, how does the groomed trails look? I couldn't believe the excellant condition, not one bit of snirt except by the roads.



Different trail, same result:



The long and short of it is, that as of Saturday, conditions are still ridable anywhere in the arrowhead region. I may be done as I won't be riding Easter weekend, after that...who knows...been eyeing the motorcycles a bit lately.

Zorpa, I know for a fact I didn't run into you, but I might have seen you. How many were in your group?

Pigboy- Nice pics! We were somewhat in your neighborhood on Sunday. Rode from Cotton to the North Shore Trail and then went south into Duluth area. The trails were actually very nice through there. Filled up on gas and then rode the North Shore Trail north towards to Two Harbors. Kind of felt the trail out. We had a deadline to meet though so we turned around at the Pequewan lake trail and headed back. Lunched at the Eagles Nest before heading back. At Fish Lake we took the little trail that runs behind the work farm and into Twig. That trail was barely traveled, smooth and fast. Found a huge gravel pit hll to play on for a while and then headed back to Cotton. Temps were high and trails were mushy and watery in a lot of spots. Still enough to go riding, but I think we're done for the season. Thought we were done last weekend but snuck this one in.

We rode on Saturday, it was myself and my husband, Greenpickle and his fiance and my husbands uncle we rode from
Hermantown unloaded at Starvin Marvins and went up to the Eagles Nest rode Fish Lake stopped at Cloquet River Inn for lunch up to Canyon and took off up to Cotton and back .
Trails were pretty good, some mud here and there but all in all not bad.
Riding the Power Lines was AWESOME!!

I am just happy I was able to get one last ride in before the season is over.. Can't wait to do it again next year.!!!!!

Those power lines outside of Canyon are lots of fun. Good speeds with lots of gentle rollers to get that weightlessness feeling that we all love so much. ONe bad spot in the middle though. The dip is too sharp for the groomer and all the snow gets piled up creating a real bad launch angle. I hit it doing 70-80mph and launched straight up and down. Came down real funky bottoming out both the rear then the front, the whole time doing a ragdoll impresenation trying to hang on.

That aside, the Alborn club always does such a great job grooming their trails!

hey pigboy i see they groomed the standard overlook trail finally. when ripperd and i where up there the ruts were 2-3feet deep.

two harbors and north on the state trail was awsome just the corners were getting a little pushed out and hilled up but a good groomer can fix some of that.

going again this thursday.

PolarisFan, those powerlines from Cloquet River Inn to Canyon are my fiance's favorite run from all the places he's been! On Sunday we were going to head north but I convinced him to head south to try that run one more time before the year was done. I've seen them fresh groomed and they are awesome! Lots of weightlessness that Pigboy talks about and good air too as long as you're on your side of the trail! I've also seen them really bad. And had a close encounter once with a dog sled team parked at the bottom of one of those hills on my side!

I think I know exactly what you're talking about! I got tossed good last weekend on one of them, but was straight on. Same place yesterday fiance hit it and came off completely crooked in the air, not to say anything for the landing. Thank god for brakes 'cause I used 'em. :doh:

:div20: :beerchug: :div20:

Head towards izabella. still got good riding there.

We had four of us. My F7 with the yellow accents, another F7 with red accents and windshield, a black ZR 800, and an older Ski Doo Mach. By seen me, you mean after my crash? If so, that's kind of embarasing. :doh:

I actually think prior to the crash.

We were in that hilly section north of the intersection coming from Alborn and between the Pequewan Lake Trail heading south. I remember two F7s and counted four sleds heading north. We had a green F6 leading followed by red XC. If it was you guys you were cruisin. One of the F7s was a short ways out in front of the other sleds.

Rode yesterday, left from the state trail parking lot N of Two Harbors and went to Finland and Isabella. The trails around SB, Finland and Isabella were in good shape. The Yukon is in good shape except for the three places where there has been logging. I fyou ride the Yukon, you will go through some dirt/mud but nothing that you can't get through. Put on 150 miles and I would say all but about 7 miles were great. Just an FYI.

Thanks for the info. We will probably be going this weekend Thurs to Sat. Does anyone know which nights the groomers are out?

Twilight, where to now? I heard the trails are going down in condition. Gooseberry falls went from Excellent to Good.

We will probably go to the N.shore. Silver Bay area. My BIL (Mr. Ladysummit800) is going with some guys to the UP this weekend but, I am not welcome cuz I am a girl. I feel shitty about it. I don't have a problem keeping up with the guys on the trail and after going to Revelstoke I don't think there's anything in MI that I wouldn't climb. I don't know what the problem would be, Chris and I would get our own room and drive ourselves with our trailer. Sorry I am going off about it.

My DH and I will probably go by our selves cuz we don't know anyone else who can go. We would rather ride with a group because then if anyone gets stuck someone is there to help out. We like to go off trail as much as possible but, with only the 2 of us it makes it kind of hard. I am really hoping to get one more ride in this season and the arrowhead is the closest to drive to from Zimmerman. I'm also thinking that if we go early the trails will be in decient condition.

Silver Bay? Sweet. Me and my dad are heading up to silver bay friday. Staying overnight at silver bay friday and saturday night. Where are you headed?

Btw, Girl snowmobilers are awesome! If you drive slow, the guys should respect it.

Edit: After reading, your going alone??

Edit2: Trails should be in good condition. Not excellent, but good. Maybe we will see you somewhere on the trails

We aren't sure now where we are going. I think it will be just the two of us this weekend, we are waiting for a last minute guy to get back to us on if he will be going with. We are both nervous about going up there because the last 3x we've been there the trails were s**t with stutter bumps and moguls 95% of the trip. YUCK!
I'm not trying to toot my own horn but, I get teased by the guys I ride with about being "snow X woman" Some of the guys we ride with can't keep up with me. So I guess Toot,Toot. The only time I am slow is after 120 miles of 3 foot moguls, when everyone is slowing down cuz they are beat. LOL I really don't like beating the crap out of myself and my sled for a whole weekend!

I think their supposed to keep grooming up there until like April 1st? They will probably be groomed this weekend. Their reporting atleast a 4" base, so all looks well. Chances are they will groom friday night.

Yep, that was probably us with me out front. I do believe I remember you guys. I seen a couple green F6's but only remember the one XC through the day.

We normally keep a pretty good pace on the trails but always on the right side. To give the guy some credit, I guess I could have probably toned it down a notch or two also.

The speed didn't bother us...the trail was wide enough. We usually cruise along pretty good for me being a girl. Although MBBF would feel alot better if he could make me convert from a Polaris to an F6.

Interesting to find out it really is a small world and that we crossed paths!

I was talking to one my friends that was with me and he seems to remember you from the highway drive to the drop off. Did you happen to trailer in with a maroon colored chevy extended cab?

I have an F7 for sale if you want to convert. It's only slightly abused. :smilielol:

Actually, no we rode in from Cotton. Hit the North Shore rode south into Duluth and then headed back north on the trail. Doubled back and were headed south when I think we ran into you.

Thanks, but I think I'll pass on the F7 for now. Although I do LOVE his suspension on his Sno pro.