Not Open

For obvious reasons the Underdown trails will be closed until further notice, probably a couple weeks depending on the weather.  Go wreck you bike somewhere else.

Summer Trail Opening

It just snowed 8 inches so all bets are off.
The normal opening date for summer time trails is May 1st, but keep conditions in mind.  Don't ride when it will wreck your bike or the trails.  Stay tuned.

Solid

Ski Trails: All tracked. Very firm but not icy YET.
Snowshoe Trails: Tracks all the way.  Very solid but chunky.
Fat Biking: Nothing we're supposed to ride is good to ride.

Beautiful

Ski Trails: All tracked Friday.

Snowshoe Trails:  All tracked, especially solid on the Big Bog loop.  No slush except for a bit on Mist Lake that could be frozen by now.  Map signs past Dog Lake have been removed because Spring is coming.

Fat Biking: Good to the Big Bog.  Marginal but improving to Dog Lake.
The surface is solid enough to float, but offers marginal grip.  I've never made so many snow angels.  The tread is so high and narrow across the bogs that one wrong move can bury you.  After diving off the trail on the Bumpy Bog the trail tread was almost to my waist as I was standing there.

So Much Snow

Ski trails were groomed on Friday.

Snowshoe trails have tracks to the Big Bog and minor slushing that should be solid by now.  Dog Lake would be a good hike for someone who wants to break trail, but don't go to Mist Lake unless you know the way and can deal with some slush.

There will be no fat biking in the Underdown for a week and maybe longer.

Snowbound Results

Chris Schotz :46
Gary Barden :47
Paul Wagner :51
Pat Blakeslee :53
Scott Trierweiler :55
Paul Kage :56
Jen Barden :57
Andrew Schiltz :58
Beth Wagner 1:02
David Mayer 1:03
Kevin Nowack 1:07
Butch Piontek 1:10
Luke Schuttenhelm 1:11
Nelson Wahlstrom 1:11
Karen Piontek 1:17
Rick Mueller 1:31

Photos are right here!

Race Conditions

Trails were perfect on Tuesday, and only a couple inches of powder fell on Thursday.  The Dog Lake loop has been dragged extensively since then so the race is definitely on.  Ski trails were all groomed Friday and grooming has been going on at Bradley Park for days.

The solo race runs counter-clockwise to Dog Lake at 10AM, and the 2-hour team race will run clockwise on trails A and Z at noon or whenever we get set to go again.    Pasta and sausage at halftime.

Snowbound in the Underdown

Saturday, February 15th
Solo race 10AM: Taking a ride to Dog Lake like last year.  Those trails are super, but the conditions to Mist Lake never came together.

Team relay 12PM: 3-person relays for 2 hours on trails A and Z  (Note the change in time and distance.)

Registration and Intergalactic Fat-Bike Championship Stage Race details here.

Snowshoe Hike Saturday 10AM

Guided hikes from one to four hours.  Fire and treats.

Ski trails: Great tracks
Snowshoe trails: Solid all the way
Fat biking: Great to Big Bog; pretty good to Dog Lake; possible to Mist Lake, but great by Saturday afternoon

Beautiful

Underdown got another 5 inches of snow this week so the base has nearly reached the seat of the benches.

Ski: Trails are all freshly tracked including a great skate lane down Loop Road
Snowshoe: Beautiful with no real slush problems
Fat Bike: Pretty good to the Big Bog.  Not ready to Dog Lake, but we're working on it

If You Don't Mind Cold

Ski Trails: Tracked today with a little powder on top
Snowshoe trails: Beautiful, dragged Wednesday all the way to Mist Lake

Fat biking:  Good on trail A and Z, but drifts get in the way on open areas beyond Loop Road.  Better to wait until Wednesday when the cold snap has passed.

Get Out There

Ski trails: All tracked
Snowshoe trails: Beautiful.  There was a lot of slush, especially on the way to Mist Lake, but it should be solid now that it's been exposed to the cold.

Fat biking:
Good to the Big Bog.  Possible to Dog Lake.  Not ready to Mist Lake, but next weekend looks good.
Sunny Vale was fabulous yesterday.  Bradley Park should be machine groomed, but the drifts can get out of hand on the point.

Snowed In

Underdown has 5 to 6 inches of new snow so it's just for trail breakers for a while.

Conditions for Now

Ski trails just tracked today.  Snowshoe trails all solid.

Fat Biking:
Great to Big Bog.  Good to Dog Lake.  80% ride-able to Mist Lake.
Washburn reported good.

3 Inches

The Friday snow looks beautiful.  Ski trails are skied in good.  Snowshoe trails are great with a lot of traffic.  Fat biking will be great Monday after the Sunday moisture freezes solid.

Best Conditions Yet

This would have been a great day for a race.  I rode the bog all the way from Mist Lake to Dog Lake without a dab.  A little snow tomorrow will slow things down, but at least the base is solid.

Great Conditions

Ski Trails: all groomed and tracked
Snowshoe Trails: Great. No more slush.

Fat Biking:

• Super. Finally solid. Rode trail Z clean for the first time ever tonight.
• Dog Lake: Very nice.  Traction finally.
• Mist Lake: Not bad. The Long Bog was tough.  No reason not to try it unless you're afraid of a little walking and a few coyotes.

• Bradley Park, Tomahawk: Ready to ride
• Washburn Lake, Rhinelander: Solid trail all the way around
• Hanson Lake, Rhinelander: Rumors of plenty of solid trail
• Sunnyvale Park, Wausau: Probably great too.  I'll find out tomorrow.

Underdown December 2013

Foggy and fun

Ski trails are all tracked including Loop Road.  Snowshoe trails are frosty and tracked.
The Big Bog loop is super for fat bikes, but the trail to Dog Lake was still too soft today.  We'll check back after the thaw-freeze.

Frosty

Paul and Pace

Andrew and Pat on the Big Bog

Paul on Heartbreak Ridge

Andrew and Beth on the Bumpy Bog

Tracked

Ski Trails: Machine tracked today
Snowshoe trails: Still beautiful

Fat Biking
A&Z: Really fun, actual traction!
Big Bog Loop: Solid but slippery
Dog Lake: Too much walking, but better by the weekend
Mist Lake: All hiking
Bradley Park: 80% ride-able, but 100% groomed