February 10, 2009
All Northwoods Passage Trails are open.
Trails are in fair to poor condition. Warm weather and rain has taken it's toll on them.
Groomers ran Monday, but now nothing can be done until it gets colder and we get some snow.
The forecast is for warm weather for the next couple of days. All we can hope for is to keep some base on the trails and then get new snow..
Watch the signs and follow marked trails.
Thanks for supporting our trails and think snow.
See a story about the Northwoods Passage Snowmobile Club grooming efforts in the Tomahawk Leader's winter NorthCountry Style entertainment section on stands now.
**KNIGHT OWLS SNOWMOBILE CLUB: Feb. 9 status -
Average snowcover for the area: 16"
Trails still have held up well. A few bare spots, some icy corners. Trails in heavy traffic areas are still good. Trails in Harrison area are very good. NO ATV'S WHEN TEMP. IS ABOVE 28. Stay on marked trails.
***ONEIDA COUNTY SNOWMOBILE UPDATE:
Hodag Sno-Trails Club
Date of Report: February 9, 2009
Trail Conditions: Good
Snow Cover: 6-10 inches
Area Report: The dreaded February warm-up is upon us. The trails came through the weekend okay. There is some snirt visible in the exposed corners and hills. In the wooods, everything is still good.
We will be grooming when we can, depending on evening teperatures.
If I wasn't working during the week, I would still want to go out and take a ride.
Please keep an eye out for the groomers. Most of the grooming is done in the evening, but there are times they are out during the day.
Let's all do our part and stay on the marked trails. The lakes are all marked with orange barrels. Come on up and enjoy the ride.
***PRICE COUNTY
SNOWMOBILE & WINTER ATV TRAIL REPORT... Feb. 10, 2009
Price County snowmobile trail conditions have deteriorated due to rain and wind last evening. The high is predicted to be in the mid 40s today with a slight chance for precipitation. Beginning Wednesday the highs will be near 30 with lows in the mid to upper 20s. The trail condition will be determined at that time.
Visitor Comments
I was up to Phillips last weekend and rode a lot of the trails across the county, my compliments to the clubs ... especially the volunteers who run the groomers. The trails were perfect, even the roughest parts were really good. I'll be back! M. Kramer 1-28-09
Every year, some friends and I gather at my parents' house on Long Lake to enjoy a weekend of snowmobiling. Even though it was a little cold Friday and Saturday, we enjoyed a great weekend on the trails. We hit northern, western, and central Price County. The trails were in wonderful condition...the best we have ever experienced in our five years and 150+ miles of riding each trip we take up here. M. Johnson 1-27-09
We stayed in Phillips last weekend and rode snowmobiles from Friday thru Sunday � starting out rather cold but it was worth it for the wonderful the trails and people we met. We travel around 3 hours a couple time a year to come to this area for the snowmobiling and we haven�t been disappointed yet with how great your trails are. Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!! J. Leeman 1-26-09
Price County�s nine cross-country ski trails are in excellent to very good condition. Trails have a good base and are regularly groomed. To view a detailed grooming report by individual ski trail, visit the Price County website at
www.pricecountywi.net***LINCOLN COUNTY
(Winter ATV trails close when the temperature is above 28 degrees F.)
Enjoy!
Tomahawk Leader
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
**Wednesday, Feb. 4-Saturday, Feb. 7 - Northern Trails is having their annual poker run. It ends Feb 7th at Walleye Lodge at 7 p.m. Starting points are Moran's Landing on Swamp Lake, Prarie Rapids, Willow Wood, Willows End, Willow Haven, Little Rice Resort, Bearskin Inn, Boomba Bar. For more info call Joaan at Walleye Lodge at 715- 453-5090
**Saturday, Feb. 7 - Vintage snowmobile race in Merrill. The Devil�s Creek Stump Jumpers Snowmobile Club in Merrill is holding its first Vintage Snowmobile Show and Ride along with a chili feed and hotdog meal Feb. 7 at Schult�s Country Inn, W5931 Church Ave., Merrill. Spectator admission is free. Registration for snowmobiles starts at 9 a.m. and costs $5 per sled. The chili feed starts at 11 am.; Awards for 14 classes of snowmobiles 1984 and older starts at 2 p.m. followed by a trail ride at 3:30 p.m. Stay for music with a DJ after the show, plus enjoy door prizes, raffles and a swap area. For more information, visit
www.devilscreek.org.
****Friday-Saturday, Feb. 20 and 21 - Second Annual Cruizin' for the Cause. Visit 14 Arbor Vitae and Woodruff locations on snowmobile or other vehicle for a chance at cash prizes. $10 per card fee includes a spaghetti feed and live music beginning at 5 PM on the 21st. All proceeds benefit Angel on My Shoulder. Call 715-614-0334 for further information or cards.
**** Harshaw Wanderers Snowmobile Club is having a brat and burger cookout at Swamp Lake on Feb. 28th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit Northern Trails and Northwoods Passage.
****Saturday, Feb. 28 - Somo Fish and Game Club's annual ice fisheree on Somo Lake. Come by snowmobile and enjoy the day of fun! Information: 715-493-1656.
400 MILES OF TRAILS
The Tomahawk area in Lincoln and Oneida counties has more than 400 miles of trails maintained by the Knight Owls Snowmobile Club, Northern Trails Unlimited Snowmobile Club and Northwoods Passage Snowmobile Club. For up-to-date Lincoln County trail conditions, log on to
www.co.lincoln.wi.us or call 715-536-0327.
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More info about LINCOLN COUNTY TRAILS
The Tomahawk area has some 400 miles of trails, maintained by the Knight Owls, Northwoods Passage, Northwoods Riders and Northern Trails Unlimited clubs. For more information, contact the Lincoln County Forestry Department at 715-536-0327.
ONEIDA COUNTY TRAILS
Oneida County 1,000 miles of groomed trails connect the area with all of northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Trails flow through highland hardwoods, pine forests, low lying bogs filled with spruce and tamarack, and wide open spaces of frozen lakes and farmers' fields.
There are 10 grooming clubs in the county. They are Bo-Boens of St. Germain, Cross Country Cruisers of Minocqua, Sugar Camp Snowmobile Club, Willow Region Sports Club for the western Willow area, Northern Trails Unlimited, Inc. for north of Tomahawk, Northwoods Passage for Tomahawk to Rhinelander and west of town, Three Lakes Snowmobile Club, Hodag Snowmobile Club which grooms Rhinelander and south to Langlade County, Forest Riders of Minocqua which grooms west of Minocqua to Price County and New Tom Slo Fleas which does the grooming in the Lake Tomahawk area.
For more information, contact the snowmobile or ATV club located within the area that you plan to ride (Oneida County Snowmobile Council, President Steve "Fuzzy" Moran, 715-453-3324; Oneida County ATV Association President Dennis Laddusire, 715-282-5320) or contact the Oneida County Forestry Departmen, Forest Director John Bilogan at 715-369-6140.
PRICE COUNTY TRAILS
Price County, Wisconsin, was rated one of the 10 best places to ride by supertrax international magazine - November 2003. With 500 miles of meticulously groomed trails, there are many unique ways to enjoy a snowmobile adventure in Price County.
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Nighttime speed limit
The Department of Natural Resources reminds people of a fairly new law involving a night-time speed limit of 55 mph. The main goal is to keep people from overriding their headlights. The law went into effect a year ago, and the DNR says wardens and police are more likely to write tickets for violations than issue warnings. Depending on one's speed, the ticket can range from $180 to $300.
High Ratings
SnowGoer, the world's #1 snowmobile magazine, announced the 2003 Snow Time Tourism Awards in its March 2004 publication. These prestigous awards are voted on by SnowGoer magazine readers across North America. The results are wonderful news for those who know the beauty, convenience and fun available in the Northwoods! Wisconsin's Northwoods was ranked #1 for "Best Area Catering to Families." It ranked #3 for "Best Overall Snowmobile Area" and for "Area Most Likely to Visit in the Future." Our beautiful Northwoods also ranked #3, tied with Ontario, Canada, in "Best Trail Riding" category. Come join us!
Lots To Offer, But Be Patient
Wisconsin ranks among the top three states in the country offering the most miles of snowmobile trails to the public. Private landowners allow riders on about 90 percent of those 22,000 miles of trail. The Department of Natural Resources urges riders to respect the relationship between snowmobile clubs and landowners. Since it takes time to groom and prepare trails after a snowfall, riders should temper their enthusiasm and wait until a trail system has been officially opened. Riding beforehand jeopardizes future opportunities.
Rules of the Road
'Rules of road' for snowmobilers ... When to report an accident ...
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers a few reminders for riders.
While riding along state numbered and county lettered highways, snowmobilers must be at least 10 feet from the paved portion of the roadway. Along town roads, snowmobiles may operate on the shoulder. However, no portion of the snowmobile may be on the roadway, whether it's paved or gravel.
Prior to operation, one's snowmobile must display valid registration (if received) or one must have a validated registration form. Registration forms can be validated at any DNR Service Center. New machines are validated at the dealership.
As always, riders are reminded to ask permission first before operating on private property.
The DNR further notes that a "reportable" snowmobile accident is any accident, regardless of the number of snowmobiles involved, which results in a fatality or an injury that requires medical treatment by a physician. Wisconsin law requires every snowmobile operator involved in a "reportable" accident to report it without delay to law enforcement officials. In addition, within 10 days of an accident, the operator must submit a written report on Form 4100-174 to the DNR. Forms are available from DNR offices, local snowmobile patrols and sheriff's Departments. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements is punishable by a penalty up to $326.
State Law
State law requires anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1985, who wishes to operate a snowmobile in Wisconsin to have a certificate of completion of a snowmobile safety course. Information is posted on the DNR web site:
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/enforcement/safety/upcoming.htm.
Thousands Take To The Trails
Each year thousands of snowmobilers take to the trails that Wisconsin has to offer. In 2000 there were 214,331 registered snowmobiles in the state with an additional 43,537 non-residents purchasing a required trail pass.
Last updated: February 10, 2009
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/snow.htmhttp://www.traveltomahawk.com/snowmobilereport/index.php
