Grooming February 16, 2020
Today’s report is brought to you by Blackrocks Brewery: The nice folks at Blackrocks are Title Sponsors of the Single Track trails in the NTN system. Half a lifetime ago NTN began grooming the last 24k of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon on a regular basis and sold “K” markers to Trail Builders with the hope that it would catch on. Selling 24 signs seemed a daunting task. Now we have many times that number of “K” groomed for skiing, biking and hiking. We have support from area businesses and individuals. It is awesome. We thank one Trail Builder or ST Sponsor each day. Getting pictures of each Trail Builder or ST Sponsor is a challenge given the need to use your nose or remove your glove to use the (phone) camera. If you have a TB or ST Sponsor picture you would like us to use, by all means send it our way (by hitting reply to the grooming report or sending it to the office). Without the support of folks like Blackrocks we would not have the excellent trails we have come to expect. If you see them, say thanks.
Trail Builder sections and Snow Bike trail sections are available. Please visit www.noquetrails.org and follow the links. You too can be feted in an up coming grooming report.
| Forestville: No grooming today. Cold temperatures and light traffic mean skiing should still be quite good but your feedback is always greatly appreciated. This is especially true if we did not groom.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TRAIL – First Priority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Way too Long Grooming Report:
Yesterday’s ride took me back a few years. If you are over the age of about 60 you may remember the popular 60s and early 70s tv show, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh Inn. At some point in every show the late Arte Johnson would ride a children’s tricycle and slowly fall over. When clipless pedals came to mountain biking several decades ago their use was more problematic. Grit would jam in the mechanism preventing consistent release. One would be stopped on a hill desperately attempting to twist out to put down a foot. Failing that, one would pull “an Arte Johnson”. One of the great things about getting a new toy like my new snow bike, is that you can get a whole new list of things to support the new toy. So, I just got winter bike boots. Riding any further than to the beer store without bike shoes is silly. So, I am greatly enjoying my new boots and pedals and can now hang with at least a few more folks as a result. So too can I identify with the late grate Arte Johnson on a few of the steep up hills.
Saux Head: Saux Head last reported grooming as of last Sunday. Some snow and drifting has occurred since then. The trails are all in mature timber so drifting would be minimal. If you do ski Saux Head please do let us know how it is.
.
Big Bay Pathway: Trails were last reported as groomed a week ago last Saturday. If you do ski Big Bay please let us know how you found the trails.
Fit Strip: Neil last reported grooming last Sunday. If you do ski the Fit Strip please let us know what you found.
Snow bike trails format comments:
You will note we are reporting the North ST trails as a split between Upper and Lower trails. I still get mixed up, especially when carrying “fat Elvis” (typically after 2 hours or if I am attempting to hang with anyone under the age of 60) so I may have some trails mis-categorized. I am completely lost as to the names of some South trails so they are listed as Mike reports them. I need to ride South more often but the approach from Grooming Report HQ is longer and along the cold lake shore (so I have to toughen up). Also, you will note, the key to reporting is current information rather than frequency of grooming. That is, with continued cold weather and occasional snow dusting, trails remain ideal for weeks on end. Last week I didn’t have any first hand input on North trails for six days but conditions remained unchanged. We kept the report unchanged as well and it was still accurate. However, as first hand knowledge gets less current it loses at least some of its accuracy. As such, we will endeavor to keep it current and will let you know what we know. Your input will be greatly appreciated. If either of you get out on the North or the South ST trails, please drop an email and we will update reporting accordingly.
Snow Bike North Trails: Last 1st ridden Comment:
Lower Trails
The Pines 2/14 Solid; a few slick spots
Penstock 2/14 Solid Excellent
Blue Herron 2/14 Solid Excellent
BLP Rocks 2/14 Solid Excellent
Collinsville 2/14 Solid Excellent
Upper Trail
Upper Blue Herron 2/14 Solid but a few drifts hid any soft edge and snow snakes
Silver Lead 2/14 Solid but a few drifts hid any soft edge and snow snakes
Peter’s Sandbox 2/14 Solid Excellent
Ramblin Man 2/10 Excellent as of the 10th
Wildcat 2/10 Excellent as of the 10th
South Trails: (I will attempt to clean up this format; sorry for the messy list)
Trail Segment Last Report Comments:
Mt Mqt (East) – firm 2/14
Har-Lang (BG Connector) – firm, drift zones 2/14
East Greywalls – firm, small drift zone 2/14
Main (Benson/Freak) – firm 2/14
West Greywalls – firm 2/14
Enchantment – firm, small drift zone 2/14
Oak Hill – mostly firm 2/14
Old Camp Ridge – closed (trees) 2/14
Shirleys – Firm 2/14
PPP – Need Information
Seppi – Snow shoe packed and hard. Good to bike but narrow
Bob’s Sled – closed (trees)
Eh Line – closed (trees)
Shirley’s – Packed w one snowmobile pass; a few “post holes” from trail worker. Use 3lb
IOHT to South Beach – UP 200 start Need Information
THE FORESTVILLE TRAIL HEAD CHALET IS OPEN! Chalet hours are 7 AM to 10 PM and rental equipment is available between 10 and 4. Come in and enjoy the fire and company.
To learn more about the NTN, to join, volunteer, become a sponsor or make a comment, please visit www.noquetrails.org .
Sondo