Trail conditionsNOTE! Our Facebook page is updated as-it-happens.
For most recent updates, see https://www.facebook.com/VTSIGrooms |
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The Turtle Mounds on the Bill Morgan Trail at Ash River have been groomed. In addition, the Park has opened & staked from Ash River to Crane Lake on the Green Trail. This section is not yet groomed, so watch for rough areas with snow drifts, as well as slush near Hoist Bay and Ingersol Cove. The Green Trail is groomed Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Ash River with a few rough patches on the lake. Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) is also open (not groomed).  A view of Kabetogama between Kec's Kove and Sandy Point. Courtesy Michelle DeBord Dompier. For the latest updates, check our area Facebook feeds and websites:
Land trails are in generally good condition. Active logging is happening in a couple areas - please always be alert and respectful around the logging trucks and equipment!
Orr area: The Landing Spur north to the Orr South spur will get its initial groom before this coming weekend. Other trails are groomed. Crane Lake/Buyck area: As previously reported there is active logging on the Crane Lake to Arrowhead link near Marion Lake Rd. All trails are open and groomed, except in the sections where ice conditions are still challenging for the groomers. Kabetogama/Ash River area: All trails are groomed, including the Ray Spur. Be alert for active logging that continues near the Peterson Bay Trail and the north end of the Tone Dawg Trail. International Falls area: Trails are open and mostly groomed (except those same areas near beaver ponds and water, that are open but not yet ready for heavy grooming equipment). Volunteers recently helped pack down the trail from Black River Road at Loman to the Northern Connection Trail; some cold weather will be needed to get that area groomed. In Voyageurs National Park: The Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) is staked & groomed, and the Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) is now open but not groomed. Portages are groomed and generally nice, but the lakes remain rough. Park staff are regularly checking ice quality and thickness so they can stake and groom more as soon as it's safe to do so. The DNR reports that almost the entire Arrowhead is groomed and in fair condition and that conditions have improved quite a bit over the past week. There are still a few thin ice patches and rough spots, though. Continue to monitor websites and posts for the latest conditions. Overall, the trails are beautiful and riding conditions are good. Get up here and ride in Voyageur Country! Trail maps are available at our sponsoring area businesses. We look forward to seeing you! For the latest updates, check our area Facebook feeds and websites:
Just after this was posted, a fresh update was received on a couple other area hazards.
The Arrowhead link from Crane Lake has a segment with logging/trucking going on. There is also a short piece (300 yards) ungroomed due to the beaver pond. There is a short piece just north of Trails end resort (1 mile) on the Crane Lake/Buyck trail that remains ungroomed because of ice. That hazard will hopefully be fixed and groomed tonight. Vermilion Bridge Trail will also be groomed tonight. No further grooming is planned for Crane Lake/Buyck area until after the weekend. In the Kabetogama area please use caution on the Peterson Bay Trail and the north end of Tone Dawg Trail as active logging is happening in this area. Please be sure to give trucks and logging equipment space. Thanks and have fun this weekend! Our area trails are shaping up nicely. Swamps, ponds, creeks, rivers and the Turtle Mounds have enough base for snowmobiles, but not yet solid enough for groomers so are being worked from both sides throughout the system. Be careful in those areas.
Orr area: The Orr North and South spurs are open and groomed, as is the Orr/Buyck/Crane Lake trail. The DNR is reporting the Landing Spur north to the Orr South still has brush and down trees, but they are hoping to get that cleared and packed before this weekend. From Blackduck trail shelter to the Orr South spur there are many swamps are being groomed from both sides. Crane Lake/Buyck area: Voyageurs South trail was groomed last week from Crane Lake to Buyck and the Arrowhead, and the Vermilion Bridge trail has also been groomed. The Crane Lake groomer is dragging the Voyageur North trail between Crane Lake and Ash River, as well as the Arrowhead link today. Kabetogama/Ash River area: All trails are open. The VTSI groomer is dragging the Bill Morgan, Arrowhead to 3K and all local Kab/Ash River trails, ending with the Ray Spur if there's time. International Falls area: The trail is groomed and officially open to the Junction. One pass has been made to Littlefork and the Arrowhead all the way to the 3K. Just east of the Galvin line (where the groomer got stuck earlier) riders should use the North side of the Beaver pond as an alternate route until that area is fixed up. The Arrowhead just east of Hwy 53 is groomed to both sides of the beaver pond. The Hagerman has been groomed to the Rat Root River. East end trails are also groomed, and grooming is heading to Big Falls today. Saturday the I Falls club is trying to get as many people as possible to go from Loman to the Northern Connection to hopefully get things packed in so it can start to freeze. In Voyageurs National Park: The only trail staked and officially open in the Park is the Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail). Portages are groomed and nice, but the lake is rough going with frozen slush pockets (some deep spots) and frozen wind drifts to watch for. Most of the slush is covered by a hard snow crust in Black Bay and on the main part of Kabetogama. Sullivan Bay still has deep slush throughout the whole bay but is starting to freeze up where it has been driven on. Come up to Voyageur Country, enjoy the beautiful scenery with frosted trees and blue skies, and stop by our sponsoring area businesses when you're in the area. They have printed trail maps, too! For the latest updates, check our area Facebook feeds and websites:
Ride safely and have fun! This week has brought a mix of success and challenge with trail grooming. Crane Lake south to the Arrowhead is open and groomed, and both the Orr North and Orr South spurs are open. DNR has advised that the Orr South Spur south to the Landing Spur is bad for brush and down trees, so be careful there! The Crane Lake to Ash River trail is packed by snowmobiles but not yet groomed. The Voyageur Link from the Crane/Ash River trail to the Arrowhead has also been packed by snowmobiles with one wet spot on that stretch to watch for. Volunteers cleared trail and packed swamps from the road in Kabetogama to the 3k and all of the Tone Dawg on Dec. 20 (thank you much!). No trails on the Kab area have been dragged due to some issues with the groomer that are being worked on today. We may hopefully be able to drag some of these trails yet this weekend.
The DNR reports that trails continue to be rough in many spots. The very northern part of the Arrowhead Trail is closed due to a groomer going through the ice in a swampy area near International Falls. This trail segment is groomed by the International Voyageurs snowmobile club; monitor their website (http://www.ridetheborders.com/trail-report.html) along with the DNR site (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snow_depth/index.html) for updates - conditions have been rapidly changing! Along the Arrowhead, grooming will be done where swamps and ice thickness allow. In some areas water is open or can be heard below the ice. More clearing is being done in areas where trees and brush from the heavy snow is blocking the corridor. In Voyageurs National Park, only one snowmobile trail (Green Trail - Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama to Ash River) is staked and groomed, except in Sullivan Bay due to slush. There is a staked detour around the beaver pond between Kab and Black Bay. Be very alert and expect areas of deep slush if off the staked trails on lake surfaces. Conditions in the Park are at https://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/conditions.htm It's warm and it's early season. Enjoy the views but watch for hazards as we get the season going. Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year filled with many outdoor adventures! The heavy snow, followed by cold and wind, has created challenges on area trails. Be sure to regularly check conditions in the Park at Alerts & Conditions - Voyageurs National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov). Currently the only staked trail is the Black Bay - Kab, primarily due to the need for rerouting around the beaver pond that has been causing many issues.
We also saw a shared article on Facebook about Why the Trails Weren’t Open | Snowtech Magazine. It's a good read. VTSI is a non-profit and trail clearing is handled by generous folks who volunteer their time and equipment to help ensure our area trails are safe for both riders AND the grooming equipment! If you enjoy the trails and are available early season to help with clearing, please try to volunteer. Many hands make light(er) work for all. Lots of camaraderie and the feeling you've done something good to kick the season off. During the season while you ride if you see a hazard please help fix what you can (smaller branches on the trail, signs that get tipped that you can push back upright), and let us know about those and any larger issues you see - the best way is Facebook Messenger or to your resort who will relay info. It is gorgeous up here! Today the sun is sparkling over the snow with blue skies. We are all looking forward to a fun sledding season! Happy Holidays to all, and be safe while you ride! The Park has not yet officially opened any trails, and is closing the Black Bay portage on the (green) Kab West Trail. There is open water at the big beaver pond and dangerous conditions there now. It's early season - be careful out there while you enjoy the trails!
A huge Thank You! to all the hardy folks that came out in the chilly weather Saturday to help clear the trails. Your hard work is much appreciated. Shout-outs also go to Kec's Kove and the Echo Trail Tavern for some very tasty burgers!
Trails are not yet groomed, but if you do go out and can carefully try to help pack swampy areas it would be appreciated. Snow is in the forecast for next week - so here's hoping we're off to the start of a great snowmobiling season! At the last meeting elections were held. After many (many) years Tim Watson and Jim Janssen have retired as officers of VTSI. Please welcome our new Trail Administrator Chuck Bibeau, and our new officers and board members!
Officers
Mark your calendars. Get your gear ready (even if it's just gloves!). Questions? Contact Tim Watson for Kabetogama area, Nikki Johnson for Buyck, or Scott Sanborn for Crane Lake. See you then!
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