The Muddy Angle

Not muddy anymore.

Start Time - June 30, 2012

10AM: 10 hour
12PM: Single Speed State Championship
1PM: 6 Hour
2PM: Junior (unless they all want to race at 3)
3PM: 3 Hour

 14 Mile Loop:
10 Hour Solo
10 Hour Duo
6 Hour Solo
Single Speed State Championship (2 laps)

 7 Mile Loop:
10 Hour Team
6 Hour Duo
3 Hour Solo
Junior (up to 3 hours)

 All loops are about 2 miles shorter than last year so we'll see more of each other.

Amenities

Camping is available on site. Register for a fee, probably $10. No need for reservations.
We'll cover trail passes, but let us know if you have a season pass so we don't pay double.
Gleason has the closest store. There is a convenience store, but I recommend Prairie Pines Country Store on the north end of town for fresh and bulk food plus ice cream.
Thanks to our sponsors for after race prizes and refreshment: Red Eye, Bikes N Boards, Mel's Trading Post, Rib Mountain Cycles, Sprocketz, and Builer's.

Thundertown in the Underdown

The 2010 Thunderdown Cup found a home at the Red Eye in Wausau, and the 2011 model is on display at Bikes N Boards in Rhinelander so I commissioned artist Blane Graeber to create this model that will travel to the most recent winning town - that is unless we have a new winner. The word is that the tough guys from Duluth are making a strong run at the Cup. Madison is having fantasies about it. The Thunderdown Cup goes on display in the town that turns in the most miles at the Thunderdown. Get your rosters turned in by 3PM on race day. The neutral local and arbitrator will again be Steve Engel.

BURGR

Spring Wildflower Hike in Harrison

NORTHWOODS CHAPTER ICE AGE TRAIL ALLIANCE SPRING WILDFLOWER HIKE Saturday, May 12, 2012 10:00 A.M. Northwoods Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance will conducting their annual Spring Wildflower Hike in the beautiful hills and rolling hardwoods of the Harrison Hills in Lincoln County. Terrain will be moderately difficult because of a few steeper hills. Bring a lunch and water to have on the trail. Meet at the Ice Age Trail head on Turtle Lake Road Directions: Take Highway 51 to County Road J at Irma-Go east on J- 5 miles to Turtle Lake Road. Go north 2 ½ miles on Turtle Lake Road to trail head. Or from the East-Take Hwy 17 to County Road J at Bloomville. Go west on County Road J to Turtle Lake Road (follow Ice Age Trail Event signs) Any questions contact Ruby Jaecks brjaecks@airrun.net or 715-443-3586

Nay

Even though the trails are pretty well dried out, we'll have to wait until they open on May 1st for the sake of harmony with other user groups. It won't be long.
When you do get out there you'll find 3 new bridges installed this spring around the Hollow. If you haven't been there since the last race you'll find some big changes near the Homestead and Oktoberfest.

Thunderdown to Host Single Speed Championship

On Your Own

I went out and retrieved the snowshoe signs while there still was a trail. Snowshoe hiking will be nice in freezing weather, but lakes are getting very sketchy and warm weather is ahead. Ski trails will be ice or slush from now on. Biking may have to wait until the May 1st opening.

Bikes Can Go Anywhere

Get Out There

I got out on snowshoes in the new snow tonight. Things were pretty and pretty deep. All lakes had slush that could be felt if not seen. I took baby steps to leave a causeway that should be solid by Sunday. Saw 3 otter scoots, and my light died on the saddle hill before Dog Lake so I never got to Mist Lake. I must have forgot to charge it after the last ride. I'm sure the slush on the lakes farther out is at least as soft as the lakes I crossed. I was half way back before a nice half moon lit things up, but I wasn't about to head back out by then. As it was, the Dog Lake loop took over 3 hours tonight. Got the car unstuck just as the fuel light came on. Must remember to park pointed downhill.

Buckets of Snow

Snowshoe trails will get tracks today or Thursday, Ski trails probably Friday.

Fat bikes should go to Levis this weekend and try back in a week.

No Blizzard Yet, but Mist Lake has Sprung a Leak

Maybe the blizzard will come Wednesday.
The slush is back on Mist Lake. You won't drown, but you will be wading over most of the lake.

Ski trails: Very good with some potential for icing
Snowshoe trails: Boot hike until the blizzard. Avoid Mist Lake until a good freeze.
Bikes: Great to Dog Lake. Fine to Mist Lake with drifting and a narrowing tread across open areas, but I don't recommend it unless you want to drag your bike through mush across the lake.

Snow Report

An inch or two of new snow this week
Green ski trail groomed - others mostly skied in
Fat bikes have made it at least to the big bog and back
More snow soon

It's Coming!

Mist Lake Ride

2 Inches of Powder

Ski trails have powder in the track, but should be skied in by now. Snowshoe trails have tracks all the way around. An eagle was hanging out at Mist Lake.

A fat bike has already been out to Mist Lake today. Conditions should be even better Sunday morning.

Ride Mist Lake

Conditions were even better that during the group ride last month so I was able to ride the Mist Lake loop with minimal dabs. Going fast, that's 1:15 of single track on snow.

Inch of New Snow

Ski trails are groomed. Snowshoe trails all have tracks, and there is no more slush on the lakes.
Fat Bike Conditions
Big Bog Loop: perfect
Dog Lake: fine
Mist Lake: difficult, but worth an attempt

BearPaw put on a fun bike race today. Next year's Underdown fat bike rally should have some kind of "race."

Little Icy

Ski Trails: Groomed Thursday,a bit icy but good
Snowshoe Trails: Pretty, tracks all the way around. Boot hike when frozen. Snowshoe when melty.

Riding:
Mist Lake Loop: Too soft
Dog Lake Loop: Good riding, soft or icy in spots
Big Bog Loop: Nice ride, rode the whole Bumpy Bog - fun
A & Z: Plush
Snowmobile trails: Good riding when frozen, Planning a Harrison expedition tomorrow morning
Prairie River east fork: Ice was unpredictable by Dudley. I knew I'd get soaked eventually so I turned around pretty quick, but found a nice ride on the river from Town Hall Road to Prairie Forks, but not quite all the way to Axen Road.