Well I was just up on the iron range and the trails are garbage after this weekend. With rain forecast for this week it looks like the sledding season is over....all to soon

I know, it blows. I only got out about 8 times this season.


Im about ready to move to Wyoming so I can have a REAL season

its still early to call it, we still have the rest of february and some of march, dont fret about it

I just got home from grooming our clubs trail and it doesn't look bad at all, No dirt or snirt showing after a groom job on it.. corners were blown out as usual with berms now they are flat and smooth... I have a feeling that if they are forcasting rain that some of it may be snow for us up here. It's 15 degrees here right now so it is not that warm out but today was too warm... Pray for more snow and the season will be longer for sure.. Most of our trail has a good 6-10 inch base on it so lots of riding yet to go..

Not sure where on the Range you were riding, but I was up there on Saturday and Sunday ( and every weekend). Yes the main trails were a bit beat by Saturday afternoon. but what do you expect for a warm weekend? We found excellent riding on both Saturday and Sunday. Just stay off trails the like Taconite and ride sthe spur trails and some of the other loops.
Winter is NOT over.

I am south of Eveleth towards Cotton with our trail and it was real nice yesterday and after grooming last night it was real nice

I thought about it, and I hope you're right. I just remembered that I bought my sled last year in the beginning of February, and I got a good month and a half of riding in.

So hopefully it snows some more and cools down so we can get som emore riding in...

They are forcasting colder weather by Wed. night and the rain turning to snow then, the wet snow conditions after grooming last night will do nothing but make the trails base last longer now that the trail is all smooth and with it being wet the stuff should set up hard when it cools down Wed...I would say we will be riding until mid march at least and if we do get more snow should be able to ride until april if we are lucky

It is not over till I go back to work in april

u dont need snow to ride keep that in mind

I was up the taconite trail, sure the spur loops through the woods still have snow but after this rain it is going to be really tough to get around without studs in your track. Lets hope for another snow storm.

Yes, the rain is going to really make a mess of things.

Trailhawk, how much of a beating did the snow take?

It settled a lot and is very wet, with even puddles showing in my driveway right now but there is still snow everywhere I look out my windows, they are saying it will cool down this afternoon so it should start firming up everything again tonight and they say snow also for tonight, but it will be ICY big time, if you don't have studs it would be a scary ride.. and a slide melter and motor over heater for sure without studs..

I agree with Dan, winter isn't over till I go back to work in April,, gotta love being laid off from work 4 months a year

Grand Rapids, MN. I stopped to check out the trail near my home this AM. If you are lucky it's snirt. Mostly dirt. Might as well hope for spring so I can go boating. Sledding is done.

Any snow reports from Ely, Tower, or Grand Marais? IS there a base left up there.

I was on the phone with a buddy who lives in Tower a couple hours ago and he gets his firewood from a pile on the other side of the trail behind his house and he said it was all white yet and told me they got more freezing rain than just rain up that way, God I hope so because we are riding to Ely Friday morning from my front door for the weekend..He said the snow settled a lot but seemed pretty good yet on the part of the trail he rides on anyway...

snowing right now-forecast 2-4 inches for today. Things will be alright after the groomer gets out.

Ya been snowing here since 9 this morning and still coming down,not real heavy but coming down none the less any snow right now is better than no snow

14 day trend show temps below freezing, but no major snow accumulations.

F-it, I think I'm gonna drive and hour north of Thunder Bay next weekend.... theres gotta be snow up there.

How bad did the lakes get with the rain and warm temps? Would riding Vermillion or Voyagers still be an option at all? I usually sqeak out a ride or two on the lakes at seasons end.

If I can't get the bike out, I'm not going to give up on winter yet!

Most of the Lakes and rivers are going to have water on top of them as far as what I have seen locally anyway all the llittle creeks and bigger ditches have water flowing on top so it all runs to the bigger rivers like the St. Louis I know has a good amount of water on top of the ice now and it is flowing to a point .. My buddy lives south of me on a small lake and he said it was all yellow looking from his living room window so it must be quite wet... I know there is plenty of Ice under the water but still have to get across it and if someone doesn't know how to ride water they will be in trouble

im running the whitey and the st louis saturday... going to be a great ride in all the water

I just chcked the weather.com and it says this.

SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES IS EXPECTED WITH 4 TO 6 INCHES IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE MINNESOTA ARROWHEAD THROUGH NOON FRIDAY. SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED INCLUDE ORR... CRANE LAKE... ELY... TWO HARBORS... SILVER BAY... FINLAND... GRAND MARAIS... GRAND PORTAGE AND THE GUNFLINT TRAIL.

Hey guys, I was out yesterday and put on 250 miles. Rode from Virginia down to pequayn and up to Isabella to babbit and back to Virginia. Groomers were out and the trails were good. Winter is far from over. Was -10 this morning here in Virginia. Hope for some more snow. Boondocking and powder swimming is definitely over but trail riding is far from over. Don't give up yet. This is the best winter I can remeber in quite a while!

Interesting you say this for that side of the range. Here is the latest from the other side.





2- 13 - 2009

Three days of rain and warm temperatures have eroded the trail base. Trails are now in POOR condition; some are not recommended for riding while others are still rideable. Some clubs have likely halted grooming until temperatures drop and new snow arrives. We currently have 14-16 inches of snow on the ground - down quite a bit from what we had a few weeks ago because of the recent warm temperatures.

See specific trail reports below.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back with us often. This page is updated frequently during the season with honest snow conditions.

Always remember that 85% of Minnesota snowmobile and ski trails are maintained by volunteers. Be courteous and don't forget to thank them for keeping the trails open for you to enjoy.

DNR Maintained Trail Reports - Updated Thursdays

Taconite Trail - Northeast out of Grand Rapids toward Ely:
Condition: POOR Base: 1-4 inches
Last Reported Grooming: Not until more snow arrives

Bear Lake Trail - Nashwauk Area NE of Grand Rapids:
Condition: POOR Base: 1-4 inches
Last Reported Grooming: Not until more snow arrives

Scenic State Park Trail - Bigfork:
Condition: POOR Base: 1-4 inches
Last Reported Grooming: Not until more snow arrives

Tim Corey Trail:
Condition: POOR Base: 1-4 inches
Last Reported Grooming: Not until more snow arrives

Circle L&T Trails:
Condition: POOR Base: 1-4 inches
Last Reported Grooming: not until more snow arrives

Well, I'm just telling you what I rode and where I rode. The trail from Isabella to Babbitt was rough and we ran into the groomer there. So we had 45 miles of rough riding for the 250 we put on, I would say that is pretty good. The Yukon from Brimson to Isabella was pristine. Not a bump on it. Some water in spots. It was just as good as last week I read the DNR page and reports as you did and thought it was going to be a rough day, but it was great.

Frank

I got home last night from my trip to the Ely area and we put on 400 miles this weekend on the nicest trails I have seen in a long time.. The Iron Ore trail from Tower south was in great shape as was the Orphan trail from there to the Laurentian trail to Giants ridge.. The Taconite from sand lake area to tower and Ely was in nice shape as well with very minimul bare spots with the exceptioon of a few icy corners, which is normal.. All in all wher we rode between Babbitt and Isabela and Ely and Tower the trails were nice and freshly groomed both on Friday and on Sunday night again..

Same experience I had, no one wants to believe though. Oh well more for you and me. I live in Virginia and ride your clubs trail a lot as my sled is stored at my Dads on Bodas Road. Just want to say thanks for the great trail and the great upkeep you guys do. That is a great trail with tons of fun powder spots as well.

Frank

I aven't been south towards Cotton yet since last Sunday when I groomed, How was the trail holding up down that way off the powerline ? Just wondering when I should go out and groom again...

I am going to go out tomorrow night and ride to Cotton. I will shoot you a line on the forum here and let you know how it is.

Cool I'll wait for your report on the conditions before I haul the groomer back from town then, Thanks

hey fella, my plans fell through and I am unable to ride tonight. Pretty darn cold so I am not too upset. Sorry I couldn't give you the report.

Frank

Thats OK I heard our trail is good till Monday, I'm grooming then

well you just gotta find where the snow is. Here's a secret, I was just up towards the end of the gunflint and darn was there alot of POW.
waist deep for sure. If i wouldn't have been laker fishing i would of probly totalled my sled up there lol ... Winter will be here till April so yeah.

Everybody has their favorite trails and places to sled. I ride on the iron range and the trails are in fair condition on the western end of the range (barely rideable in some places). It has nothing to do with "bit-chin", some of us just plain can't spend the money to drive all over the state.

I just groomed our clubs trail from highway 37 south towards Cotton last night and I will say this, there is plenty of snow on the trail and it is very smooth.. The drag was full of snow the entire trip so there is no lack of snow out that way, one bad spot on the power line where they did some logging but the rest was perfect.. Up north towards Cook and Tower the Taconite was a little thin on snow last Sat. and the corners were a little icy but still ridable.. Hopefully we get some more to prolong the season some into the end of March

I hear ya buddy. But if you can make it to virginia. Everything to the east is in great condtion, and that isn't too far to trailer or ride. Where are you located?

From my house it only takes me maybe 1/2 hour to get to Biwabik running the lakes from 53 to Sparta and then on the trail to the east I go... Next year the link from 37 north to Eveleth will be finished and groomed, we met with the City of Eveleth on Tuesday to discuss where we are going along the golf course,, Should have it mostly cleared out by spring I hope along the route

That is awesome to hear!! I rode to Alborn yesterday and then to floodwood and back. I was the first track on a groomed trail for over one hundred miles. I put on 175 miles and didn't see another sled all day. This was one of the best rides of the year for me!!

I was out all day yesterday, before anybody else was out. Ditches where I was at were in GREAT condition, tons of snow. Lots of snow dumped into the ditches by the plows. Fields were a little hit-and-miss with the drifts, but there was 6" of fresh powder everywhere, and some drifts were as deep as 2-3ft

Ran another 150 miles today on the river, down to Floodwood and back up to Cotton and then the trail back north.. Absolutely perfect conditions and fresh snow everywhere we went.. It just doesn't get any better than this for riding conditions up here...

I headed up to the cabin ( Chisholm) this weekend with intentionns to ride. But...... the kill switch on my wife's sled went to h*ll and I could not start the sled. Fixed now. Back up Thursday night, so hopefully the conditions hold out.

I'm no expert, but I always thought you could just take the switch out and bypass it by splicing the wires together?

I thought so too, but no luck. Took the switch apart this week and cleaned it and it works fine now. I'm heading back up north tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully one more weekend of riding, but the temps look warm. Worst case I ride vermillion one day and Voyagers another day.

Weird with the switch.



Lucky you, you get to go riding in the fun places. All the places I ride are all dirt now, and even the trails outside my parent's place in Brainerd is not worth riding.

I'm not sure I won't have dirt by the time I get up there. Heading up there in a few minutes, but the temps look warm and the rain looks like it may be happening. Might be ice fishing with a 12 pack instead!