Western U.P. Vacation Blogs

The trails are in great condition, the days are longer, and the powder is building up again.  This past weekend the trails were the busiest of the season, but there is still plenty of room for you and your buddies.   Although there is no gas in Silver City, and White Pine Mobil plans to close,  good news the Konteka restaurant in White Pine is going to have a 24/7 pump available in about 2 weeks or less.  If you like to ride in loops and buzz around in the powder, this will be a very welcome addition when making a loop to the Porkies out of Wakefield.   Ride hard and maybe we'll see you on the trail.

Me STUCK!

Sturgon River Country North of Sidnaw

The trails are great and off trails the powder is deep and challanging.  The following are pictures from the Wakefield area of powder.  The hills and gorge pictures are from the Sturgeon River gorge near Sidnaw.  Traveled 224 miles Friday and locally around 100 on Sunday.

 

Having traveling a total of 269.8 miles today, I have to say that the condtions are perfect.   Started in Wakefield at 9 am. today, traveled to Silver City, Ontonagon, Greenland, Twin Lakes for lunch and back through Rockland, Bergland and home to Wakefield, arriving at 4:30 p.m. .   Trails  were all excellent and the traffic was light.  Took an hour break, then went off trail riding to Little Girls Point and back home in Wakefield at 8:30 pm.  I keep forgetting my camera, but the scenery has been outstainding and I will be posting some of our adventures soon. 

Fresh Powder at Indianhead Ski Resort... Both terrain parks open!  With over 8" during the last two days, the hill is excellent condition. Both terrain parks are open and the boarders are catching big air with soft landings... Optimal conditions are here, now!

Walleye are being caught on Lake Gogebic in 4-6 feet.  Ice is decent but care is required. Keep bait at the bottom.

Trail 11N has been groomed.  Be careful as some of the signs are not up.  With the cold days we've had  the trail should be in good shape  after Thursday.  This too, is one of my favorite trails scenic, fast, and not boring. I'll be out this Friday with the warmer weather.  Predictions of snow each day for a total of 12 inches the next 4 days.  Get a good ride in before Xmas -I will.

12-14-08  My cousin Steve and I took a ride Friday.  We sure are getting the ingredients for a great snowmobile season, snow and cold weather.  We left from my house near Indianhead Mountain/ Indianhead Valley and because of the closure of trial 11 N due to water not frozen in the swamp, we had to make our way through back country trails (Snow up to your butt) to trail 102 that goes from Bergland to the south Boundary Road trail to Silver City.  This trail is the best trail in the western U.P.  because it receives the most snow, has little standing water, and is groomed to perfection by the Lake Gogebic Trail Groomers.  I could ride this one all day back and forth, but we continued from Bergland to Rockland on trail 13, another deep snow trail that again was groomed well until we got to the Superior Trails club trail.  They must be having problems since they normally are groomed as well as Lake Gogebic Trails.

The Gogebic Range Trail Authority has done an excellent job on the old rail grade trails (2) between Ironwood and Marenisco if you are interested in that kind of riding.  I prefer the trails with curves, hills, trees etc.    The groomer operator told me that he is going to try and make it through the swamp tommorrow with the groomer on 11N .  The club with the help of our trail permit fees will be spending $80,000 on this trail this summer to get the water off of the trail. 

If you didn't get a chance to see the snowcross and Slednecks exibition in Ironwood this past weekend, you missed a great time.  The weather was great and the show was outstanding.

I hate to give safety advice on a blog, but watch the groomed trails for rocks and sticks this time of year.   Also don't be a dumb ass and take a break at the bottom of a hill or on a blind corner.  You and I will have a lot to lose if my 800 Renegade runs into you.   

 

 

12-07-08   My friend Mark and I went for our first snowmobile ride today.  We combined our ride with on and off trail riding.   Our 100 mile ride started at Indianhead Mountain, to Bergland and back.  It sure was nice to get back on our Ski Doo Renegades again. The best groomed trail is trail 102, groomed by Lake Gogebic groomers.  A trip from Indianhead Valley to Rockland would be a good ride.
Take 11 (when our guys finally get around to grooming it and turn south on 102 to Bergland, then 13 to Rockland.  This is the snow belt and a ride in higher ground, believe me. Snow at Silver City, Ontonagon  is non-existent.
Also there is no longer gas at Silver City so beware of that.  With this route
everyone should be able to make it.  These are the areas with the most snow and the least water. 

12-08-08  Called the trail boss at Gogebic Range Trail Authority and told him about the water on north trail 11. Said that they will be freezing and grooming it sometime this week.   That should make the trip to Bergland or Rockland a lot more enjoyable.

John Cox

Hello,

Welcome to Western U.P. Vacation. I would like to thank you for visiting our site. Feel free to look around. All though right now the site lacks content, I am working rigorously to get the site populated with Business directory listings, pictures, videos, area reports (ski hills, XC skiing, and snowmobile trails for now), a forum that you can comment on your trip to the U.P. or possible make some suggestion on how the people and businesses of the Western U.P. could make it a more enjoyable vacation, and blogs from some locals that get out and enjoy the Western U.P. of Michigan.

So for now here is what is going on outside, IT'S SNOWING. Things are looking good for an early start to the winter season.

Indianhead is set to open on Nov. 28th. For the first few weeks they will only be open certain day. Check there site for detail www.indianheadmtn.com.

Powder Horn Mountain is projected to open on December 12th. www.bigpowderhorn.net

This year the ISOC National SnoCross Series comes to Ironwood. Mt. Zion will be the stage for the second race of the season. For more information go to: http://www.isocracing.com/ironwoodinfo.aspx

The Gogebic Range Trail authority has been out prepping the trails for the season. Cutting branches, leveling the ground, removing fallen trees, and putting up signs.