Update: 3 PM
(3/10/2010)
+1 at post. I just got off the trails and I have to say they are very good. Some would say awesome, but I wouldn’t go there yet. All trails have had multiple passes and are hard and flat for the most part. I went from Nepisiguit to Serpentine and the trails and weather were great. Seen Alyre and he is booked solid for the weekend as is Mark at Gov. Awesome weather for sledding. Lots of traffic today with the lodge yard filled with trailers. Our mussels and wings are on for Saturday (see events for details) The supper is booked solid for tonight’s meal.
Will update tonight.
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Tuesday 10 pm
(3/9/2010)
From Happy Valley Miramichi NB. 52 North was groomed last night and is in good shape. As per this time of year, use caution as some places develop soft spots/holes due to the warm weather. Happy Trails!
Nepisiquit club. Multiple pass on our trail system so far this week. Trails should stand stronger this week as last weeks snowstorm is well pack from the weekend incredible traffic.
Claude Doucet Fun Run on Sole Leather Lake is canceled due to poor ice condition. There is about a foot of water & slush on the lake . Plan B . There will be a cookout at Nine Mile East Shelter this weekend on Saturday march 13 starting at noon. Music & lots of food . This event will be organized by the gang from east Bathurst .All... profits will be going to our trail system. Everyone is welcome.
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Mar 9, Tuesday, Club #1, 6.00 AM
(3/9/2010)
- 6 in Bathurst and -8 in the high ground. We got a lot of grooming in last night and the units are still on the trail at post. We spent all night between the Lodge and Nine Mile Shelter on 23 with 2 passes. That groomer will be out again tonight on another section of trail. The other groomer went to Serpentine from Rogers Lake at 11 AM on the 23 and is on its way back to Gov for a rest. It will spend the next two nights grooming out of Governors with multiple passes on the Serpentine, Piston Alley and TV Tower trails.
Track Our Groomers
Johnny “Lightning” will be doing the trail report updates. I’m off to Serpentine today to see Alyre. You can also check the Governors site as well. Rocking good time at Nine Mile Shelter this Saturday. Ck “Events” page for details.
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Surf & Turf This Saturday
(3/8/2010)
There has been a change of plans on the Mussel & Wings at Red Brook Shelter. The event has been moved to Nine Mile Shelter at the 22/23 intersection. Go to our Events Calender for all info. This is always a great time especially when the East Side boys are involved. All monies raised go right back into the trails. Lets get out there and support the club. What more can you ask for; great weather, great trails, good food, good music. It was a blast last year.
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Update: 4.30 PM
(3/8/2010)
Well I have to reassess my opinion of the trails from Bathurst and the Lodge. I was on the groomer from East Bathurst this morning to the Lodge. I would have to say it is probably our best trail except for a few doables. And I was speaking with the Deons from NS at the Lodge. They came up from the Host in Bathurst and said that trail was almost perfect.
The other unit was taken over by a fresh operator this morning and it just arrived at Governors and may leave for Serpentine. Read this mornings post on our plan for that area.
It is +3 and overcast in Bathurst with -7 for tonight. Both units will be on the trails. Track Our Groomers
Looks like another great week shaping up.
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Update: 7 AM
(3/8/2010)
I was just looking at the groomer progress. The new unit turned at the 301 on trail 22 and is about 3 hours from Rogers Lake. I'm uncertain what the temp is there but here in Bathurst is +2. I just got off the phone with Alyre (Serpentine). He had a good week and a good weekend and thanks everyone for their support. I reassured him that the trail into his place will be groomed shortly. He said it was -5 at Serp.??
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Mar 8, Monday, Club #1, 6.00 AM
(3/8/2010)
+3 in Bathurst. Both groomers were out again last night. We ran the groomer from Bathurst to East Bathurst on 19 and turned near the Rec Center in Rough Waters. The trails to Bathurst from the Lodge are not great but very doable with some minor issues. If these daytime temps don’t turn around, well need I say more. The other unit was out to retrieve our broken drag from last week. At the same time he has groomed the 507 and Trail 22 from Rogers Lake to the 301/22 intersection. This groomer with an operator will be moved to Governors for three days to base grooming out of there. It is an experiment to try and get the trails back to some normalcy. They are in a mess of moguls after the heavy weekend. There is great snow from the lodge up towards Serpentine. Groomers: Note that any daytime grooming is on hold until we get more favorable temps. Nighttime grooming is our only option for now.
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Update:12.30PM
(3/7/2010)
+4 and climbing in Bathurst. We were just out with the groomer patching up some bear spots from the Atlantic Host out towards Nepisiguit. There was three spots and are now very doable. If these temps keep up this week, trailering out of Bathurst may be the only option to get to some good sledding. We have drop off locations listed at the bottom of our maps page.
We will start our regrooming tonight for the coming week.
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Mar 7, Sunday, Club #1, 6.00 AM
(3/7/2010)
-3 in Bathurst. –6 in the high ground.
Both groomers were out again last night.
Trails groomed: TV Tower, Governors to Rogers Lake, Rogers Lake to Bathurst. There was unbelievable traffic yesterday. All lodges were full, especially Island Lake. Most of our trails were moguled at days end to say the least. Not one person complained as they understand that with the traffic and the recent big snow is the reason for the moguled trails. Groomers:
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Mar 5, Friday, Club #1, 6.00 AM
(3/5/2010)
-7 in Bathurst, -10 in the High Ground. All trails are groomed up and most with multiple passes. There will be heavy traffic on the trails this weekend so I’m not sure how the trails will hold. There is not a room to be had at any of the lodges and the Hotels are booked as well. The groomers will be out, but they will not be able to address all the trails needs. Some of the operators are also in need of some deserved rest after running these past few days. All trails are deemed good as there has already been steady traffic in the system. The drills have been moved out on the Trail 22 and the plowed area will need some tender loven when we are able to get to it. When riding this weekend, please use extra caution and stay on YOUR side of the trail.
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Update: 8.30 AM Trail 22: Drillers out today
(3/4/2010)
Good news: The four Km stetch of trail that was plowed up by a diamond drilling firm will be moving their equipment out today. I just spoke to my operator. He is on that site right now and he will continue to the 22/301 intersection and turn there, then head back to Rogers Lake and call it a day. He has been on the trail since Wenesday morning at 5 AM. Consider Trail 22 back to normal in that area.
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Update: 6:30 AM
(3/4/2010)
1st groomer left Gov heading down Piston Alley at around 4.30 after resting. 2nd groomer has turned at the end of 503 and is heading back to Nepisiguit on Trail 23.
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Mar 4, Thursday, Club #1, 6.00 AM
(3/4/2010)
-2 in Bathurst. We are back on track with the groomers with one groomer over the 503 TV Tower and the other resting at Gov overnight as he was quite bushed coming from his Serpentine run. He’ll be on the move as soon as Mark muster’s him some breakfast. The only trail not done is the 22 from the 507/22 intersection to the 22/301 intersection (21Km). We were waiting on the Drilling outfit to leave, as they had a 4Km stretch plowed up. We may have to pull the trigger on that trail and get it done regardless of when they are going to pull out. This section is very passable, but use caution in that 4 Km stretch.
Some tidbit info on other areas: Riley Brook into Serpentine, good snow; Doaktown into Serpentine, very good snow; Balmoral, Trail 22 excellent; Chaleur Trails, excellent; Trail 52 from the Miramichi to Nepisiguit, done yesterday; Campbellton March 3rd HCS website.
Read last nights post
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Back to Normal in the North
(3/1/2010)
We are in for some great snowmobiling, at least for a few weeks, here in the North. Campbellton, Bathurst, Miramichi all received some good snow over the weekend. It is on the damp side, but once we get it groomed, we should have some great snowmobiling. It is a little hard to groom, but with a little patience and work, we'll get it done. The trail from the Host out to the rail bed on trail 19 towards the lodge was worked early this morning and is now flat and hard. The other groomer was down today as we had to run to Tracadie for a bogey wheel. Once we get it on tonight, we'll have it back on the trail early tomorrow morning. The other groomer will try making it down to East Bathurst in the morning. There is some lingering water on a section of that trail.
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Five Year History of Grooming Start-up
(12/23/2009)
I was looking back at my files and dug up this info:
Here is a brief history of grooming status over the last 5 years.
Year 08-09 Start-up Dec 16 and never looked back.
Year 07-08 Start-up Dec 15 and never looked back.
Year 06-07 Preped Trails on Jan 15 and started Jan 19.
Year 05-06 Dec 25 50 cm storm and started on 26 and 27.
Year 04-05 Start-up Dec 17, Melt down with warm weather and 50mm of
rain on Dec 24. Never got any better and closed the trails Jan 3
due to ice and not enough snow cover. Started back up on Jan 10.
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