December 5, 2019 Grooming Report
This is the Pine Plantation! See below regarding work bees and how you can help and be a hero.
Forestville: At press time Andy and crew had cleared and roll packed trails to 17k and was track setting on the Noque’ and Animoosh. The Bombi tracks are still in very good shape so have been left in place where extant.
Saux Head: Tim and John took care in clearing out fallen trees on the Plunge. Then they dragged, groomed and set track the entire trail system. The trail is in very good skiing condition.
Big Bay Pathway: Sven and crew are still working on clearing trails from the storms. See below for how you can help.
Fit Strip: Not groomed yet.
Snow Bike South Trails: Mt Mqt loop & chapel spur groomed, still soft but improving. 2-3 psi.
“Jeep trail” descent icy or slushy in places, depending on temp.
Snowcross course groomed for Saturday, includes part of grom near trailhead. Soft but improving.
West of M553 is a lumberyard. Main loop is 80% clear of trees, will be cleared and first grooming pass done Thursday.
Greywalls, enchantment, oak hill and old camp ridge have not had eyes on them yet. If you know the winter routes, especially Greywalls, please lend a hand by pulling tree tops out of snow to spring up, and/or clearing trees or branches that are down or hanging low. Every single branch or tree moved helps our groomers open the trail sooner. Thanks for your help!
Snow Bike North Trails: Roxin reports that most of the North trail system remains too soft to bike. Foot traffic and snow shoe traffic is welcome and will help pack the trails. I expect them to be more firm by the weekend.
Equipment and Facilities Update: If you have been to Forestville for the early November skiing you will have seen lots going on. We are expanding the trail head and will be done soon. We plan to be open before Christmas. New grooming equipment has been purchased for both skiing and snow bike grooming. We will detail equipment and trail head facilities over the next few weeks.
Way Too Long Grooming Report: Now is your chance to be a hero. This week and weekend we need everyone that has some extra time to help get the remainder of the trails open. As you can see in the picture above, it is slow going on some sections. If you can pull your own crew together to start from the NTN 510 Trailhead, you might just reach trail hero status. There are four scheduled volunteer events planned starting Friday including two at Forestville and two at Big Bay:
Work Bees:
Friday, December 6, 9am: Meet at Forestville Trailhead
Saturday, December 7, 10am: Meet at Forestville Trailhead
Saturday, December 7, 11am: Meet at Big Bay Pathway Trailhead
Sunday, December 8, 1pm: Meet at Big Bay Pathway Trailhead
Anytime: Head out and snowshoe pack the singletrack!
Tools Needed:
Come with a large stick, cutting tools, and your enthusiasm. If you have a snowmobile and can help transport and sled pack the trail with us…bonus points! Otherwise dress warm, bring some snowshoes (or use ours) and we will shuttle people to work sites.
As they say, many hands make light work but it also means more km of trail cleared
Sondo
NON-GROOMING INFORMATION: I like to start with the trunk followed by an ear. Then one typically takes on a shoulder and next a leg. Before you know it you have eaten an elephant. So, don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. A couple of decades ago a small group of young people set about to make Marquette County a year round silent sports destination. Mountain biking was only on old two tracks or deer trails and cross country skiing was ungroomed. One put on ski boots in the car and trail access was in jeopardy because there was no organized silent sport voice.
Fast forward 20 years to find over 65 miles of single track, 35 miles of snow bike125k of Nordic ski trails. NTN works with land owners, governmental units and the community to license, build, sign, insure and groom these trails. We have grooming equipment, trail head facilities and an organization that is a positive force in the community.
Members, sponsors, volunteers and staff should be proud of what has been accomplished and what you are doing.
To learn more about the NTN, to join, volunteer, become a sponsor or make a comment, please visit www.noquetrails.org .
Sondo