Snow Report

Underdown ski trails are all tracked including some of Loop Road. To avoid the brush on the east side, I recommend the Red Trail with the shortcut across the hollow or the Blue Trail with a detour coming home.
Snowshoe trails have tracks all the way around. There is some seepy slush on the lakes, but nothing to worry about.
No trails are viable on any kind of bike tonight, but the Big Bog loop could be good on a fat bike by Sunday.

No Shortage of Snow Now

About 5 inches fell Monday so there will be no more rocks to worry about on the ski trails. All ski trails were tracked today, and snowshoe trails will have tracks by the weekend. Fat biking will not be viable for a while.

Fat Bike Rally

Be careful out there.

Fat Bike Rally Saturday

It sounds like a big group is getting together for a ride at noon Saturday. I took the bike out tonight with 30 pounds in the Nokians and was able to ride fine. With 6 layers and the covers on the riding boots I was able to work up a sweat and ice up the eyelashes.
Last night I hiked across Mist Lake and was blind for a few minutes in a short snow storm so my path won't be too direct. Only about an inch of new powder fell. Riding out that far will have some great trail and some trudges. The Dog Lake Loop is great for riding now. The Bumpy Bog will be technical, but mostly ridable.

All Set

37 hikers came out today so all of the trails have a solid tread. Green, Red, and Blue ski trails all have a fresh track.

OK

I took a ride on trail Z tonight. Climbs were too soft for the 2.2" studs, but the fat biker seemed to have been floating fine. I rode around Loop Road instead of more trail. It has had truck traffic and was a fun little ride. I might try again when things freeze up.
If it doesn't snow, there will be no need for snowshoes other that crust hiking. Trails have some exposed patches.
Green and Red ski trails are tracked and icy. The blue trail just had work on the base.

Not Bad

Ski trails are a little icy, but have less dirt than I expected. Snowshoe trails have good tracks, and one fat bike ventured out at least to the Big Bog. Bogs will be lumpy until we get more snow.

Trails Tracked

The Red and Green ski trails were tracked this week. Hopefully the snow won't all melt, and we'll have something for the snowshoe hike.

Some Snow

Signs and tracks are on the snowshoe trails. Ski trails aren't groomed yet, but could be this week.

Hikers should come to the Ice Age Trail snowshoe hike at the Underdown on Saturday, January 14th at 10AM. Racers should check out the Snowshoe Hare.

Riding Lakes.wmv

Try some frozen lakes until the snow flies. Harrison is in great shape for riding with or without studs. Those are Nokian tires.

Snowshoes and Fat Bikes

Sometime around Christmas the trails will be knocked in and signed. Of course, keep bikes and snowshoes off of the ski trails.

The Ice Age Trail snowshoe hike is scheduled for January 14th. January 21st is tentatively scheduled as a fat bike group ride if conditions cooperate.

Hogsback Cross Attack Photos

Right here.

It was a fun time!

This Looks Fun!

Ghost Ride

5PM Saturday October 29th

• Spooks
• Capture the flag or something
• Night Polo
• Poker Run

Poker Run prizes so far:

• Red Eye gift card
• Cross Attack entry
• Photos from seenbyjordan
• 1 fat tire
• Anything you want to give away

Trail Updates Done

Beth and Paul came out to help finish the new cutoff from trail U to T. Time to ride it. All that is left is to clear off the leaves. All trails should be clean by next weekend.

Oktoberfest Open

Beth, Paul, Brian, Steve, Kurt, Ben, and Andrea came out to rebuild Oktoberfest better than ever. Beth, Paul, and Steve were back today to extend the Homestead trail while Kurt, Ben, and Andrea were out riding in the leaves. Head out and ride the new stuff.

Next Saturday morning I'll be back out to finish the new U to T cutoff that is about half done now.

Phil Schaefer Memorial Dedication

The Northwoods Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance is honoring Phil Schaefer for his tirelss efforts in the development of the miles of cross county ski trails in the Underdown Recreation Area in Lincoln County and for his volunteer work on the Ice Age Trail. The Aldo Leopold style bench has been placed along the Ice Age Trail overlooking beautiful Mist Lake. The dedication will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m at the bench site. The Schaefer family will be presented a commorative plaque honoring Phil. The dedication site is one half mile from the Mist Lake Access parking lot and will require a half hour hike on a fairly level logging road. Plan to be at the parking lot at 9:30 a.m.. The Mist Lake access road leaves Horn Lake road. For detailed directions contact Tom Goltz at 715-675-6743 or Chris Schotz at 715-873-4113. The public is invited to share in the memories of Phil's contributions.

Tomahawk CycloCross November 12th

Hogsback Cross Attack

November 12, 2011

Bradley Park - Tomahawk

Registration starting at 8am with racing at 10am

Register with form attached to this email or link at the website

www.hogsbackcx.blogspot.com

Trail Building Season

•Come on out and help with some fun projects.

•October 8th:

•

• Octoberfest clean-up with some sweet new switchbacks
• Re-route trail T connector from U with some cool rollers
• Berm up trail U in the clear cut

•Drive to Underdown Lake in the morning: From 17 take Heineman Road west to Horn Lake Road (not marked unfortunately) and then the Underdown Lake access road. We'll be there early and all morning. Bring rakes and your favorite McLeod\mattock type tool.

•

•October 9th:

•

• Extend trail J past the Homestead with about 10 more turns & berms.

•Take the east end of Loop Road from Copper Lake Road. Bring rakes and your favorite McLeod\Mattock type tool.

•

•October 29th 5PM:

•

• Ghost Ride
• Rhinelander vs. Wausau Capture the Flag or something like that
• Night Polo
• Spooks

Work Together

The Underdown Horse Club recently opened a difficult trail for themselves near White Lightning (Trail I) and a trail they call the Moonshine Trail near the homestead (Trail J). With my cooperation they pulled up signs and moved the Moonshine Trail to a new route off of the bike trail. I actually helped build horse trail today, but it is a lot easier that re-building bike trail and I felt that both groups should have a chance to pass the historic Underdown homestead.

99% of horse riders respect the bike trails and are embarrassed when a horse does damage to a bike trail. I am equally embarrassed when bikers don't use their heads. Because both user groups have separate trail systems so it is rare that you will see a horse out in the woods, but make sure that you slow way down and greet them when you see a horse on a road. I don't want to hear any more about bikers blowing by little girls on ponies in the parking lot.

On October 8th we'll still be cleaning and berming on Oktoberfest starting at Underdown Lake in the morning whenever you can get there, but on October 9th there will be work to do by the homestead. On that morning you will have the opportunity to extend the Homestead Trail another hundred yards or so to a safer exit, plus we'll be doing erosion prevention between White Lightning and the Homestead.