Mushing Boot Camp comes to Baldwin!

Here's a photo from our trails on private land - I thought I would include a spring view of the B team to show what our trails look like to anyone who hasn't been here. We are hosting a Mushing Boot Camp the first weekend of October (Thurs. through Sunday noon.) Go to www.mushingbootcamp.com to sign up!





Here are some photos from our impromptu trail work session last Friday and Saturday.

Many thanks to Ed Setterington and his friend, Jake for the work they did last weekend on the Sweetwater Challenge trails. We opened up another mile of new trail to the west and improved the overly challenging section of trail to the East.

The photo with the 3 amigos includes Rick and is taken on the east side of the far east wetland, looking west.

The photo where you can barely see people is taken on the newly opened trail, there's a couple of serious hills in that section - you can see many miles to the south from the highest hill.

St. Patrick's Day - no green but still some white!

The photos below show what conditions were like this past weekend. Patty and I ran three and four dog teams Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I was able to get out last night and this morning for a couple of short runs with the "border mutts."

The first two photos I call "the Good."









...the Bad...(right)






...the Ugly (packed ice for trail)...




....behind the lodge...(right)




From one season into another - Patty coming in the "start chute."

Great Coverage of the SWC #2

Howard Meyerson, Outdoor Editor of the Grand Rapids Press took some great video and photos at the MiDD event last weekend. There are several interviews too.

Here's the link to entire article, video and photos online:

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2009/03/mushers_go_the_distance_on_swe.html

This should also be in the print version of the Grand Rapids Press today.

It's nice to have some good news today - it's raining and 40 degrees - pretty depressing to see all of that wonderful snow wither away.

Sweetwater Challenge #2 A Success!

Mother Nature was kind to us this past weekend - sunny skies, cold temperatures and hard, fast trails. The parking lot was icy but the trails were not. Here are some photos - I've been having fits getting them resized and renamed - I may add more later. We had 13 teams on the trail both days, with teams from IL., WI. and Delaware in addition to Michigan teams. Check out the 3 dog skijorer!

Conditions Look Good for the SWC #2

I checked out the trail near the house and the driveway and took a drive on 32nd St. this a.m. I think everything is going to be good for the weekend. It's only supposed to get colder as the weekend goes on. It's snowing lightly right now (9:45 a.m.) but we aren't supposed to get much accumulation.

We didn't get the freezing rain overnight, we got a dusting of snow instead. 32nd St. is dusted over with snow and there's ice underneath but not glare ice - very driveable with a little caution. The sanding that Donnie did yesterday on the hills on our driveway is still partially visible and it's rough where he did that too so getting in our drive should be okay.

YakTrax or some other type of traction for your boots will be a good idea in the parking/staging area, as you can imagine, after all the rain we got yesterday. We will be using snowmobiles to get you to the start area, if desired.

The area where I measured the trail still had 6 inches of packed snow on it and it is set up but not rock hard or icy. Rick is going to rough it up with a scraper attachment on the drag just to be sure the surface will have some grip as it sets up overnight.

We are going to be at Government Lake Lodge (M37 - 1.5 miles north of downtown Baldwin) for supper tonight - about 8 p.m. - if you care to join us. Order from the menu, pay your own tab. We will be in the basement.

Drivers' meeting is at 9:00 tomorrow morning - first team out at 11:00 a.m.

You can leave a message at our home phone: 231-745-3614 We won't be by the phone much.

Forecast and Photos, Pre-SWC #2

From 9 & 10 News Forecast as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday:

"First off, we are looking at the potential for some rain/freezing rain/mix late afternoon along and south of M-55. This threat will increase through much of the evening hours before it changes over to snow from west to east overnight. Total snow accumulations in this area (on top of the freezing rain/mix) will be around 2"-4". If we stay "warm" enough where the freezing rain/mix sticks around longer, snow amounts will be less. If some colder air gets into this system quicker...even by a couple of hours, even parts of our central counties could see heavier snow totals.

It will be colder and windy for Friday afternoon with partly cloudy skies with only a few snowshowers expected.

A quiet weekend is in store with cooler than normal temperatures with partly cloudy skies and only a few light snowshowers possible. "

The photos below show:

1. A ruler (19" in length - 7 inches in the snow pack - could be deeper, I didn't pound it in with a hammer 'cuz I didn't have one at the time.)

2. A shot to the west of gate showing the snow in woods and the trail.

3. A shot looking east where the trail crosses the driveway.

4. A shot of the "big hill" showing that it has been heavily sanded (THANK YOU, DONNIE!)

Trail Conditions for Sweetwater Challenge #2

I'll try to post a photo or two tomorrow. We have LOTS of snow. We got 12 inches of snow while I was in the UP. We had a great base prior to that and Rick spent the weekend grooming the new snow fall.

Had some rain today and 36 degrees but it's done raining.

We are on a line between 1 - 4 inches and 5 - 10 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow night.

Trail conditions should be good for the weekend. Saturday looks to be sunny and mid-20s.