It's official! The Bays are frozen and it's been one of the coldest winters on record! It's also been a landmark year for cross-country skiing in Northern Michigan. We're still grooming the trails and hope that you are all enjoying the long winter! After all, it's Northern Michigan and you must have a winter hobby, like cross-country skiing, to get you out and about to reflect on what a beautiful, serene time of year it is. With more daylight every day, we are nearing the end of our grooming season- so get out and enjoy it while you still can!
March Grooming Reports
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #80-2
3-29-2009
Roger and I groomed portions of the Vasa Trail using the snowmobiles and Ginzu's. We groomed the 5K Headwaters Loop and then went backwards on the 25K out to the abandoned oil well site between the 10 and 11K posts (see attached map portions in dark blue were groomed today). We turned around there and went back to the trailhead setting Classic tracks. The snow was very wet and we were having a hard time turning the snowmobiles. The skis would slide across the trail and eventually would dig down to whatever was beneath the new snow (dirt, ice or corn snow). We were not able to mix the new snow in with the old base because when we lowered the tines on the Ginzu's to contact the snow they would immediately clog up. The Headwaters Trail was in pretty good shape except on some of the turns where the skis dug in. The best skiing tomorrow will be on the flat straight sheltered areas between the trailhead and the oil well site. If the temperature drops overnight as predicted and the snow sets up the skiing should be excellent tomorrow morning on most of the trail that we groomed today. If you ski tomorrow and are skating please respect the Classic tracks. The Classic skiers have not had good tracks for quite some time. If you are Classic skiing the tracks are deep and well formed and should set up overnight. Use caution on the downhills and at the Holiday Hills Rd. crossing. Our 4WD buddy has been out and has left deep ruts at the crossing. Hopefully they will not use the trail overnight or the next few days.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #80
3-29-2009
Roger and I will attempt to groom at least part of the Vasa Trail this afternoon starting about 2:00PM if the snowfall quits by then. The amount we groom will depend on how the snow reacts. Some of the problems we anticipate will be new snow over bare ground on some portions of the trail, wet snow, temperatures around freezing, and possibly downed trees from the wind. We will start on the 5K Headwaters Trail and will do the entire loop before moving on to the 11k loop if we are successful with the 5K loop.
If the weather forecast is correct this snow will probably not last very long since they are predicting temperatures back in the 50's for Tuesday. The best skiing (if we are able to groom) will most likely be this afternoon and tomorrow morning. I will send out another report later today with the results of the grooming and what portions of the trail were groomed.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #79
3-21-2009
With up to 2 inches of new snow on the Vasa Trail this morning I was able to groom the entire trail with good results. The temperature were just below freezing overnight and the trail did not get super hard so that I was able to mix the old snow with the existing base and take most of the rough spots out. I will be grooming again in the morning for what very well may be the final time this season. The forecast for next week calls for warm temperatures, some rain and above freezing temperatures overnight. The best skiing next week will be after the trail has softened if we have an overnight freeze. If you ski be careful especially on the downhill's.
I will start grooming at 6:30AM and the portions of the trail that I groom will depend on the results. I will probably groom only the portions mentioned in yesterdays grooming report and the best skiing will most likely be from The Rock to the 18K post.
Plan to attend the TART Spring Fling on Tuesday March 24th from 4-6pm at Right Brain Brewery and raise a toast to the fabulous winter, our dedicated trail grooming team and look forward for many great projects slated for this spring/summer. Join us to celebrate TART, connect with trail friends and rub shoulders with TART board members & staff. The event is meant to be fun and hopefully, we'll raise a few bucks too. A donation jar will be floating around.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #78
3-20-2009
With freezing temperatures predicted for tonight I will groom the Vasa Trail tomorrow morning starting at 6:30AM using the snowmobile and Ginzu. I will not be grooming some parts of the trail. The first hill from the trailhead has some bare spots so use caution in that area. I will be starting on the 5K Headwaters Trail and will make two passes on that loop. I will then go out to the 11K loop and make at least one pass on that loop. Because of the hills on the 25K loop I will not be grooming from the 4K post to the 12K post. The hills are becoming so glazed that the snowmobile will not make it up them with the Ginzu tines engaged with the base which does nothing to improve the skiing. I will also not be grooming Jack Pine Valley for the same reason. I will make 2 passes from the point where the 11K loop rejoins the 25K loop back to the 12K post by The Rock. Skiers should use caution on all of the downhill's as some bare spots, hard ice and tire tracks exist. The Classic tracks are very shallow and icy but there is nothing we can do without new snow. Temperatures are predicted to warm a bit tomorrow and some skiers may want to wait until the trail softens a bit before skiing. The best skiing will probably be between The Rock and the power lines at the 18K post. Rock skis are recommended.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #77
3-18-2009
The temperature is supposed to fall below freezing tonight. If that happens as predicted I will groom the Vasa Trail starting at 6:30AM using the snowmobile and Ginzu. I will leave the existing Classic tracks and touch up the skating lane. Without new snow and the well packed base it will be impossible to set tracks that are as good as the existing ones. I plan to start on the 5K Headwaters Trail, 11K loop and finish on the 25K loop.
Plan to attend the TART Spring Fling on Tuesday March 24th from 4-6pm at Right Brain Brewery and raise a toast to the fabulous winter, our dedicated trail grooming team and look forward for many great projects slated for this spring/summer. Join us to celebrate TART, connect with trail friends and rub shoulders with TART board members & staff. The event is meant to be fun and hopefully, we'll raise a few bucks too. A donation jar will be floating around.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #76
3-14-2009
Paul will start grooming the Vasa Trail with the Snowmobile and Ginzu in the morning at 6:00AM. He will just touch up the skating lane and leave the existing Classic tracks. He will start on the 5K Headwaters Trail, 11K loop and finish on the 25K loop. If it warms up too quickly he may just groom the 5 and 10K loops. The best skiing will be early before it warms up.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #75
3-14-2009
Paul started grooming the Vasa Trail this morning at 6:00 AM. He will be using the snowmobile and Ginzu to touch up the skating lane. He will be leaving the existing Classic tracks. He has completed the 5K Headwaters Trail and the 11K loop and is now grooming the 25K loop.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #74
3-12-2009
Paul will start grooming the Vasa Trail with the LMC tomorrow (Friday) morning at 5:00AM. He will be doing a normal groom starting with the 5K Headwaters Trail, 11K loop and finish on the 25K loop. He will reset Classic tracks on all loops. The skiing should be very good this weekend.
After the latest wind storm there were three large trees down on the Vasa trail that required a chain saw to cut up and remove. There were also many branches and other debris littering the trail that required removal before we could get the groomer by. This lengthened the time required for the groom but the results were very good.
Jim
TART Trails Leelanau Grooming Report #73
3-12-2009
The Leelanau Trail is being groomed today. Dave is using the snowmobile with a Ginzu Groomer attached and is setting tracks and grooming for skating.
Have fun out there!
Missy
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #72
3/11/2008
Temperatures remained above freezing until around 6:00AM this morning. Since then they have fallen rapidly and the wind has picked up. I will start grooming the Vasa Trail with the LMC this morning starting at 9:00AM. The delay was to allow the trail to firm up after the warm weather and to wait until it gets light because of the high probability of trees being down due to the wind. Operating a chain saw in the dark is much more dangerous. I will start on the 5K Headwaters loop, 11K lop and finish on the 25K loop. I will reset Classic tracks on all loops.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #71
3-9-2009
Winter is still here! Glen will be grooming the Vasa Trail this morning. He will try using the LMC first but depending how the snow acts he may need to switch to the snowmobiles. He reports 10 inches of new snow at the Vasa Trailhead. Since it has been warm the past couple of days and the snow started out as rain the base is still soft. He will start on the 5K Headwaters Trail and see how it goes. If you plan on skiing today it would be best to wait as long as possible before you start or you may be skiing in deep snow.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #70
3-7-2009
Roger will be doing a touch up groom with the snowmobile and Ginzu tomorrow morning (Sunday) starting at 7:00AM. He will run the Ginzu over the skating lane and leave the existing Classic tracks. He will start on the 5K loop, 11K loop and finish on the 25K loop. He will not be grooming the 3K Meadows Trail. The forecast calls for temperatures to fall below freezing tonight before warming up to 38 tomorrow. The best skiing will probably be early in the day.
Check us out on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_29imSUko0 The video shows the equipment we use on the Vasa and Leelanau Trails as well as some footage from inside the groomer during a groom and some trail photos.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report # 69
3-4-2009
I will be grooming with the LMC tonight after the temperature falls below freezing. I will start on the 5K Headwaters Trail then move to the 11K loop and finish on the 25K loop. I will do my best to reset Classic tracks on all loops. The weather forecast does not look promising and this may be the last time we will be able to groom with the LMC for a while. If the temperatures fall below freezing at night we may be able to do a touch up groom with the snowmobiles and Ginzu's as long as we retain our base. The best skiing will most likely be early tomorrow with the trail getting softer later in the day. We will keep the equipment ready and when the weather cooperates we will groom when possible.
Jim
TART Trails Vasa Grooming Report #68
3-3-2009
Paul has finished grooming the 5K Headwaters Trail and the 11K loop with the snowmobile and Ginzu this morning. He is going to return to the barn and have a cup of coffee and warm up a little bit before he heads out to groom the 25K loop. The temperature was -8 when he started. He is leaving the existing Classic tracks and touching up the skating lane. With no new snow and the temperatures remaining very cold it would be very hard to reset the Classic tracks as good as they are now. It would require tilling deep into the rock hard base with the LMC tiller. The snow that would be tilled up would be very fine and cold and would not reform well. Using the Ginzu will remove the frozen skate marks and leave enough loose snow to make the skating lane better.
Jim