Snowshoe Hike

Photo by Mike Ziemke

Good Trail

Fat biking is great to Dog Lake, but soft to Mist Lake and in Harrison.

Underdown ski trails are all tracked.  Harrison is great for back country skiing with tracks to 16 lakes.
All Underdown snowshoe trails have prominent tracks.

A Weekend for Skis and Snowshoes

Underdown got over 4 inches of new snow this week.  Ski trails are all tracked.  Snowshoe trails all have tracks.

Underdown snowshoe hike: 10AM Saturday
Harrison snowshoe hike: 10AM Sunday at the lake on the left side of Turtle Lake Road about 4.8 miles north of J.  If you hit the north end of Beaver Trail Road you've gone a bit too far.

Good Stuff All Around

Underdown  got 4 inches of snow on Friday.  Ski trails are all tracked.  Snowshoe trails all have tracks.  Trails A and Z are well established.   Bogs could still use a bit more snow, but conditions look good for a fat bike race to Dog Lake in 2 weeks.

Harrison has solid tracks to 14 lakes - a bit tough on a fat bike now but rideableish.  Conditions will improve over the next few days.  Great for back country ski and snowshoe.

Beaver Trail Perfect Day

One Inch

Underdown got an inch of new snow this week.  The red and green ski trails were groomed Friday.

Snowshoe trails are best on boots right now.

Beaver trail is best for bikes right now, and it has been back country skied.

Underdown Snowshoe Hike

Saturday February 2nd at 10AM
Underdown Main Parking Lot

Hike from one hour to four.
Fire and refreshments.

Ice Conditions

Snowshoes: Not worth it
Skis: Impossible
Book Hiking: Nice
Bikes:

• Harrison: Marginal snow on land and clean ice on lakes 
• Underdown: Good trails, clean ice on lakes, lumpy bogs

Good Conditions

The Underdown ski trails have tracks set.  Snowshoe trails are well established to the Big Bog and fair to Dog Lake.  I rode a regular bike with 2.2" studs and did some hiking up hills, but it wasn't terrible.  There are rumors of wolves around Mist Lake.  I don't know about that, but there were some canine tracks around Dog Lake tonight that couldn't be explained any other way.

The Beaver Trail area in Harrison Hills will be a bit rough on a fat bike, but a worthwhile challenge.  I'll try Bradley Park tomorrow.

Powder

Underdown country has 3 inches of beautiful powder.  Ski trails have been skied in, but we'll probably have to wait until Friday for grooming.  Snowshoe trails all have tracks with solid lakes and improving tread across bogs.  Fat bike conditions are fair at best, but improving through next weekend.
The Beaver Trail in Harrison Hills has some cool routes for snowshoeing and back-country skiing.

Snow

The Underdown got 4 inches of new snow.  The green ski trail is dragged, but not tracked yet.  Snowshoe trails all have tracks and signs.  Bike riding conditions will be poor for a while except for A&Z and the lakes which are frozen solid.  Bogs need a lot more snow.  Tomorrow will be a day to check the lakes on the Beaver Trail backcountry in the Harrison Hills.

Snowbound in the Underdown

10AM  The solo race will follow as much as the snowshoe trail system as conditions permit,  hopefully past Dog Lake counter-clockwise all the way to Mist Lake for 8 miles of snow single-track.  This is the race for series points.

1PM The 3-person team relay will run for 3 hours on trails A & Z  for 2 funky miles of snow single-track.

$15 will get you into either race or both. 

ENTRY FORM Print a copy and bring it along if you want, or fill one out in the cold on race day.

Amenities: 

• Fire and miles of unique trails over hills, bogs, and lakes.  There may be more, but this event is really all about the trails.  
• Feel free to bring your favorite number plate or we can assign you a circular one.
• Guided group ride of the Beaver Trail back country Saturday night or Sunday morning.  Either way.

While you're in the area, visit our map sponsors.
For snacks: Prairie Pines Country Store on the north end of Gleason  at 17 and X
For burgers and pizza: Lighthouse Bar and Grill south of Gleason on X

Trail conditions.

Maps here.

Wisconsin State Fat-Bike Series Race Series

May

Saddle Switchback

Ghost Ride

 5PM Saturday, October 27

Poker Run

Capture the Flag

Spooks

New Trail

Beverage

Fire

WANTED

A Wausau rider to show up early to hide the flag

Loser pours

Bring your extra items to give away as Poker Run prizes.

So far we have an Ergon saddle and gourds.

 10 AM Calling All Cordless Drills

70 foot  boardwalk to be built on the Saddle switchback 

Ride Hemlock Hill

Trail CC is done except for the last climb.  Steve, Paul, Beth and Randy came out in the rain and got a lot done this weekend.  Monday afternoon and Saturday morning look like good times to come out and help finish it up.

Leaves are still coming down, but we'll get rid of them in a week or so.

New Trail Day

Please come on out to build a funky new third mile of trail.  This will be your last chance to build new trail in the Underdown for at least 5 years so don't miss out.

Come any time on October 13th and 14th and work as long as you want.  I'll be there the whole time with a good collection of digging tools.

Drive or walk in on the trail X double track from Loop Road and climb the Saddle hill on trail XX and C.  See trail CC in red on the map below.

Be prepared to be scared on the October 27th Ghost Ride at 5PM. This is your chance to ride the new trail in the dark and win an Ergon titanium saddle and other fabulous prizes.  Start saving your used goodies to add to the poker run pot.

Support Our Map Sponsors

Lincoln County: Always something to do

Knight Lake Serenity: Quiet cabins just south of the Underdown

Red Eye Brewing: Wausau

Rib Mountain Cycles: Wausau

TC Teardrops: Super sleek campers

Bikes N Boards: Rhinelander

Giant: Fast machines

Changing Gears Pedal and Paddle: Tomahawk

Builer's Cyclery and Fitness: Wausua

Rhinelander Area Silent Trails Association

CoVantage Credit Union

 

Prairie Pines Country Store: Gleason

St. Stephen's United Church of Christ: Merrill

The Lighthouse Bar & Grill: Gleason

Uniquely Schotz: Quilts, beads and fiber adventures Irma

Subway: Merrill, Tomahawk, Antigo

Merrill Veterinary Clinic

Mel's Trading Post: Rhinelander

Tomahawk Surplus Store

BURGR 2013

Bill Underdown's Roubaix-style Group Ride will start and finish at the Lighthouse Bar & Grill next year.  The course will measure 95.5 miles including 66.2 miles on gravel.

Ice Age Trail Fall Hike

Saturday, September 22, 2012

10 A.M.

Northwoods Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will have there Fall Color Hike in the beautiful rolling hardwoods in the Harrison Hills  of Lincoln County.  Hike will be approximately 2 ½ to 3 miles in length.  Cookies and refreshments will be served.

Public is invited

Meet at the Recreational parking lot on Highway B

Time:  10.A.M.

Bring water

Directions:  Take Highway 64 East of Merrill to Highway l7. Go north 19 miles on Highway 17 to Highway B.  Turn right(west) on B.  Go 1 mile to the Ice Age Trail Trail-head at the Recreational Parking Lot.  Follow Ice Age Trail Event signs.

Any questions Contact Ruby Jaecks  brjaecks@airrun.net or 715-443-3586