Just last week, Jim Bigler was waiting for winter to begin the snowmobile season.
Now, the president of the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club says Mother Nature has thrown a curve ball with rain that was followed by snow last weekend.
“The trails are not frozen,” he said this week. “There is snow and then slush underneath. A groomer busted through.”
Bigler said a warm up just prior to the Dec. 8 club trail clearing day forced cancellation of the event and groomers had planned last weekend to pack the trail in anticipation of forecast snow.
But, that’s not the way it happened, said Bigler and now it’s a waiting game for the slush to freeze and another layer of snow to fall on trails.
The club maintains 134 miles of groomed trails in the International Falls and Rainy Lake area of northern Minnesota. The club posts trail reports at http://www.ridetheborder.com/trail-report.html
While Bigler said he’s sure Ol’ Man Winter will bring the needed white stuff for the lengthy season, he said he’s hoping trail conditions are excellent for a new event to Borderland, the Minnesota United Snowmobiles Association Fifth Annual Veterans Appreciation Ride, planned for Jan. 12 in International Falls.
“We need the cold weather and snow,” he said. “There are bogs we have to cross with beaver areas in the Rat Root (River). We want to make sure its safe while they’re out there grooming and getting things ready.”
The Mn USA vets ride is offered to all veterans who wish to snowmobile for the day. The event provides a night’s lodging and meals to participating vets and can supply sleds, helmets, and clothing if needed.
Preregistration is required by contacting Mn USA at 866-811-7669 or emailing veteransride@mnsnowmobiler.org.
Bigler said the vets event will offer short and long rides and lunch. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2948 will provide supper.
The event also offers a chance to showcase the area’s trails to newcomers.
“We’ve been bragging about our trails, but if they’re not open, there won’t be much to brag about.”
Last year’s event held in western Minnesota was canceled due to the lack of snow.
“Now, we’re just patiently waiting for snow,” Bigler said.
The club is also gearing up for the 2013 Radar Run for Cancer, scheduled for Feb. 16 at Thunderbird Lodge.
Bigler also noted that the club is offering for sale a new style of sweatshirt, which features on the back a map of the entire trail system.
He said members and nonmembers may purchase them and can get information from club members or the website at www.ridetheborder.com.
“It’s good advertising for the whole area and the club and that’s why we do it,” he said of the sweatshirt sales.
Meanwhile, Bigler said new members are always welcome and more information about the club and how to join is on the website.
The club meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Almost Lindy’s banquet room.
VNP conditions
Voyageurs National Park officials are monitoring ice conditions on area lakes and have opened to snowmobiling the green trail from Frank’s Bay of Rainy Lake east to Ash River.
“Conditions are coming along, but there is still a lot of variability of ice on the bigger lakes – Rainy and Namakan,” he said.
He advised no snowmobile travel outside the staked trails.
“We will continue to check ice depths to see if we have enough to continue staking trails,” he said. Ice conditions have not allowed VNP staff to stake trails on the east ends of Rainy and Namakan lakes.
“The problem is with the snow cover insulating ice and the temperatures moderating, so we’re not making a lot of ice right now,” he added.
Remus said people are using snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles to fish many places on Rainy Lake’s Black Bay and on Kabetogama Lake.
But, he stressed, there is not enough ice yet for cars and pickup trucks. “That will come with time,” he said, urging patience.
Snowmobilers may encounter VNP work crews on the Chain of Lakes Trail in January as staff brushes and improves area trails, said Remus.
“If you’re out and it’s January on the weekdays, be a little cautious because there will be crews working,” he said.
Remus said snowmobilers should also be aware of pressure ridges, which he said have been popping up on Kabetogama Lake.
Meanwhile, he said the Echo Bay Cross-Country Ski Trail is packed and open, but not in the best condition.
“It’s marginal and that’s because we just don’t have a ton of snow, yet,” he said.
Remus said winter trail condition updates will be posted on the park’s website at www.nps.gov.
