SNOW+MORE SNOW =Great

[guts]

The snow God showed up in this area over the last three days. From approximately Crane to the Falls and West. Here at Kabetogama, Voyageurs National Park, we have measured over 12" of new snow. This new stuff, added to the existing base, puts us at an over all base of near 30". The rain in hindsight last week, actually helped our conditions after this new snow.

Land trails are the best ever, the lake trails are shaping up again, where we did have slush. Some lake trails being groomed, should have a report soon on that.

Temps are delightful, yesterday a high of 17 and this morning -7, now sunny and +3 good weekend forecast.

Come see us, you won't be sorry, guts

[Tyler23]

gezz must be nice, i bet we got a soild 1/4 inch last night! hold on im going to have to get a mountain sled to handle all this snow

[kdawg]

Maybe 1/2 inch. I came home for lunch today... at least 5 or 6 sled tracks in the ditch. Now that's hard-core! I did have to laugh. Not that I begrudge someone from taking out their sled with only a slight dusting... I, myself would just feel a little silly doing it.

[Black_Bay]

SHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to be in Ash River next weekend and I don't want a ton of traffic.

[Central Bassman]

I'm on my way up!!! J/K I would love to but can't!!

[let it snow]

From the Ash River - Kab Snowdrifters Trail Report

ARROWHEAD STATE TRAIL - thanks to the MN DNR

2/18/09: With the recent snowfall and cooler temperatures trails are in good condition. Groomers will be out again this coming weekend, as needed. Riders can expect to encounter some icy stretches. High traffic areas and corners may have bare spots. Riders should beware that mid-season conditions can change day to day. Stay to the right and slow down in the corners. Some trail segments are being used as logging roads. Trail conditions are likely to be very poor where there is active logging. Use extra caution if you see logging activity. Lake conditions are variable with reports of slush, and frozen ruts.

ASH RIVER/KABETOGAMA AREA - thanks to VTSI

2/19/09: If you aren’t up here this weekend we will be having all the fun!

Nine inches of new snow in the last 24 hours, my wife got stuck in the driveway with a 4X4 Trailblazer. Several people have emailed and asked if the warm-up hurt us like the rest of the state? The trails along the Border are perfect. They were near perfect over Presidents Day and actually the lakes in Voyageurs Park are now near perfect as the slush that existed off the groomed trails is now frozen. Trails and lakes are near perfect and temps are to be perfect for snowmobiling this coming week and weekend, Friday +14, Saturday +14 and Sunday +19 for highs. Come and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Grooming tractors will be running twice this week, conditions permitting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, after dark.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS AREA - thanks to Int'l Voyageurs Snowmobile Club

2/18/2009: Yesterday's forecast for "scattered snow showers" turned into almost 8" of new snow! We are pretty much back to where we started before the melt down seven days ago. Groomers did not run yesterday, but will be out the rest of the week fine tuning the trails for the weekend. Land trails will be in excellent or close to excellent condition. Plenty of new snow to make things nice. Lake conditions have greatly improved! Most of the hard crusty stuff is now buried under the new snow. Lakes are in good to very good condition. Have a great weekend!

CRANE LAKE AREA - thanks to Crane Lake Visitor & Tourism Bureau

2/16/09: The holiday weekend riders had plenty to say about the trails. By and large the majority of the comments were that trails were in great shape. Groomer's were out in force to lay out the trails riders were ripping up. Since the warm up we have had an additional 5 inches of fresh snow, a welcome addition for lube! Lakes have tightened up again and the fresh snow will make for a softer ride. Midweek riding is fantastic, with less traffic and freshly groomed trails. Don't forget about the Crane Lake Challenge (previously Hyper Viper) snowmobile speed run March 7th, right here in Crane Lake. Over 45 classes and a one lunger shootout!! Call early for room reservations!

VOYAGEURS NAT'L PARK UPDATE

2/12/2009: All snowmobile trails in Voyageurs National Park are open and staked. Riding conditions on the staked trails will continue to improve with the forecast of snow throughout the coming weekend. Trail grooming may occur tomorrow if adequate snowfall is received. The Rainy Lake Ice Road has been temporarily closed as unseasonably warm temperatures have created areas of deep slush and marginal ice.

Please remember that the snowmobile speed limit within Voyageurs National Park is 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages.

Snowmobile Trails

International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked

Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River – Open, Staked & Groomed

Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open & Staked

Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Open & Staked

Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open & Staked

East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open & Staked

[let it snow]

ARROWHEAD STATE TRAIL - thanks to the MN DNR

2/24/09: Trail conditions remain good to very good. Groomers will be out again this coming weekend, as needed. Riders can expect to encounter some icy stretches. High traffic areas and corners may have bare spots. Riders should beware that mid-season conditions can change day to day. Stay to the right and slow down in the corners. Some trail segments are being used as logging roads. Trail conditions are likely to be very poor where there is active logging. Use extra caution if you see logging activity. Lake conditions are variable with reports of slush and frozen ruts.

ASH RIVER/KABETOGAMA AREA - thanks to VTSI

2/25/09: Trail system, both land and lake are exceptional. Temps this week and this coming weekend will present excellent riding conditions along the border area.

If you missed last weekend then this is your chance! The trails along the Border are perfect. Lakes in Voyageurs Park are now near perfect as the slush that existed off the groomed trails is now frozen. On land trails and lakes are near perfect and temps are to be perfect for snowmobiling this coming week and weekend, partly cloudy, Thursday +11, Friday +9, Saturday +11 and Sunday +11 for highs. As well, the next week looks great right thru the weekend with highs in the 20’s and lows around zero. Come and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Grooming tractors will be running twice this week, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, after dark.

INTERNATIONAL FALLS AREA - thanks to Int'l Voyageurs Snowmobile Club

2/25/2009: 2+" of new snow last night, steady cold temps all week and the groomers have been out. Things are looking great for this weekend! Land trails continue to stay in excellent condition. We had a lot of traffic last weekend but groomers have thing looking good as always. A special Thank You to all the groomer operators who put it some long, late hours. The lake trails just get better every time it snows. Plenty of fluff making things pretty smooth. Slush can still be found in few spots but overall not a problem. Days are getting longer, get out and enjoy while it's good. Ride Safe.

CRANE LAKE AREA - thanks to Crane Lake Visitor & Tourism Bureau

2/16/09: The holiday weekend riders had plenty to say about the trails. By and large the majority of the comments were that trails were in great shape. Groomer's were out in force to lay out the trails riders were ripping up. Since the warm up we have had an additional 5 inches of fresh snow, a welcome addition for lube! Lakes have tightened up again and the fresh snow will make for a softer ride. Midweek riding is fantastic, with less traffic and freshly groomed trails. Don't forget about the Crane Lake Challenge (previously Hyper Viper) snowmobile speed run March 7th, right here in Crane Lake. Over 45 classes and a one lunger shootout!! Call early for room reservations!

VOYAGEURS NAT'L PARK

2/20/2009: All snowmobile trails in Voyageurs National Park are open and staked. The lake trails are in good condition with the addition of 4-6 inches of new snow. Trail grooming is occurring on the overland portages in those areas with sufficient ice to support the groomer. The Rainy Lake Ice Road is now open to Rainy Lake City and is in good condition.

Please remember that the snowmobile speed limit within Voyageurs National Park is 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages.

Snowmobile Trails in the park

International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked

Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River – Open, Staked & Groomed

Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open & Staked

Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Open & Staked

Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open & Staked

East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open & Staked