Trail Reports

January 3, 2021

01/03/2021 Trail Report

Trail report 1/3/2021 It was great seeing all the Snowmobilers enjoying our trails. Even I got to put on some miles on my sled. At least we all got a good ride for the New Year Weekend! As you can expect our trails took a big hit over the weekend. Groomers were out last night to try to get trails cleaned up with not much success. We are sad to say we are suspending grooming operations until we get more snow. Plain and simple we need more snow. If you must ride please use extreme caution as conditions are poor and can change very rapidly. Please stay on trails. RIDE RIGHT, RIDE SAFE! Trail Managers, Don Schneider and Bill Lemke.
January 1, 2021

Trails are Open!

Trails opened at 8am 01/01/2021.

We have been out packing trails and swamps. Reports from our dedicated groomer operators is that the trails are in very early conditions. If your out riding please be very cautious as conditions can change instantly. Take it easy and enjoy the ride. And try to tread lightly, your only helping the trails if you do. Have fun and be safe!
Trails manager Don Schneider.

December 30, 2020

Getting Ready to Open Trails

All groomers are out packing trails. Snow totals range from 7 inches in Arbor Vitae to almost 12 further north. I will put out a full trail report soon when all our trails have been packed.
Trails manager, Don Schneider
December 30, 2020

Vilas County Snowmobile Trails To Open Friday January 1st, 2021 at 8 a.m.

Vilas County Forestry director Al Murray issued a press release Wednesday announcing the county’s snowmobile trail system, including all state funded trails and club funded trails, will open for the season on Friday Jan 1 at 8 a.m.
“The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance confirmed opening conditions for the trails to be ready on Friday,” Murray said. “All eleven snowmobile trail clubs and hundreds of volunteers have worked diligently over the last month and a half to ensure that trails are safe and ready for use. Mother nature has delayed our goals of early opening of trails with lack of snow and the amount snow currently limits the quality of the trail base in some areas.”
He cautioned snowmobile operators should be aware snow conditions vary across Vilas County.
“Trail condition changes with changes in snow conditions,” Murray said. “Riders may contact local trail clubs, trail sponsors or chambers of commerce in areas that you intend to ride. Reasonable speeds should be maintained due to changing trail conditions and limited snow.”
Lake and ice conditions, he said, are also questionable at this point.
“Riders should be familiar with their locations before entering onto lakes,” Murray said. “We hope you enjoy our trails for the 2020-2021 snowmobile season and hope that you support our clubs and businesses. Please ride safe and thank you for supporting the economy of Vilas County.”
As of noon Wednesday, no decision had been made regarding the opening of Oneida County’s snowmobile trail system for the season.
December 27, 2020

A Quick Update: Trails Still Closed

We have had a number of inquiries regarding trails opening. Unfortunately there is not enough snow yet to properly prepare the trails or open them. We need a lot more snow for that to happen since we have very little on the ground currently. We are hoping to get snow this week but have no idea how much will fall. However the good news is it has been cold, which means marshes and other waterways are freezing. We all want to get those sleds out and ride. We will update you as conditions change and when the trails will open on our Cross Country Cruisers website and on Facebook.  So for now, we all need to do the snow dance and send lots of prayers for snow.

Think Lots of Snow!!!!!

December 4, 2020

Trail Report from our Fall Trail Manager Don Schneider

All of our trails have been inspected by Oneida and Vilas Counties and we passed with flying colors!! Just a few things to address and we’re good to go! All trails will be inspected by me weekly until trails are open.

Our new multi saw worked great but very tough on our John Deere with all the debris falling from 15 feet high. With some modifications it will be resolved. It was a big learning experience.

A big thank you to the maintenance crew for getting the John Deere cleaned up after the brushing. I think my butt is still sore from all the time I spent in that machine. It was used on every mile of our trails system. I as well as many others busted our butts to get our trails in the best “WORLD CLASS” conditions for the upcoming season.

I would like to thank the CCC’S board for having faith in me to take on this position. I would also like to thank the following for their dedication to help me in all the work we did this fall brushing season:

Tom Mix, Jeanne Parrish, Bill Lemke, Jim Ebert, Greg and Judy Pauli, Craig and Jessica Pacyna, Bruce Henke, Dave and Sherry Clairmore, Barbi Carlson,  Steve and Deb Wolfe, Glenn Speich, Tom Whipperfurth, Doug Wendlandt, Dick Mickle, Tom and Lisa, Jeff and Kelly Bobbie, Patti and Berry owners of Stingrays for providing free lunches after a long day brushing, Rich Nichols, Dick Jenks and Sue and Greg Slominski from Slo’s Pub for their contributions to the club and catering our annual groomer operators meeting. If I forgot any others that helped, I apologize and your efforts are much appreciated and are not unnoticed. These folks need a huge hand of applause for their efforts.

I will have trail reports every week once the trails open with straight talk from our groomer operators themselves.

Have a Very Merry Christmas! Think Snow! Stay Healthy!

Don Schneider