On Dec 17, 2019, at 9:31 AM, Keith Sowl <fksowl@...> wrote:

?

well, finally some tracks for island folks to ski. I have never seen the woods in such a state, as if the dozens and dozen broken off conifer limbs and tops weren't daunting enough, the woods has so much standing water all over that makes taking a 600 lb snowmobile even more death defying. Getting stuck is a real fear and possibility, and it happened a couple of times, but was able to free it with a little extra effort.

Because of that, after struggling in the crotch high snow for three days I decided to pull the plug while working back towards our old place and Ken and I broke through to the Music Camp parking lot.?

Unless someone breaks trail with snowshoes, my only trail related task over there will be to help Ken with the grooming. I feel bad about this, but like I said, I never have encountered such mayhem in the woods.

I have snowshoes, a small otter sled and machetes in the back of my old dodge plow truck in the school parking lot that people could borrow if they wished to go for a snowshoe. If one comes up to a tree needing a chain saw it could be left, and I would clean it up once I know that I am not going to bury the snowmobile. I think that there are probably not near as many trees down on the north end trail ,but Ken said the water is everywhere, so snowshoes will have to break the trail. If people got organized, sections of the north end trail could be done if a car was parked at a different trailhead. Example...leave a car on Schoolhouse at the Ruehl Harmon Trailhead and snowshoe to the Burroughs trailhead via big swamp or Buffalo Lodge and enjoy the splendor of the snow covered forest. Carry a machete to cut off the bent over sapling, pack some water and snacks and enjoy!!!

PS just to be clear, the snowshoeing is necessary to pack the snow so it will let the frost down to freeze everything. The north end trail will not see my snowmobile unless this is done and we actually get a week of cold weather. But with the weather forecast, snowshoeing out there will be a treat.

Merry Christmas everyone

On Mon, Dec 16, 2019 at 8:41 PM Bonnie Matuseski via Groups.Io <bjmatuseski=[email protected]> wrote:

Ken

You are the best.? Thank you for all your work.? Wish I were skiing on the Island now.

Bonnie

-----Original Message-----
From: Kenneth Myhre via Groups.Io <kenneth.myhre=[email protected]>
To: madelineislandxc <[email protected]>
Sent: Mon, Dec 16, 2019 5:58 pm
Subject: [madelineislandxc] Trail Report

Trail Report for 12/16/2019

Great news ... Most of the Backyard Trail is now open, packed, and groomed.? Thank you Keith Sowl for hours and hours of very hard work over the weekend and again today clearing so many trees off the trail.? There is only one Keith ... !? The section of the trail from Gip and Lauren's (still hard not to call it Keith and Carol's!) is not yet open.? Might be a good project for a snowshoe brigade to walk through there and clear trees off the trail?? There is a spur from Wayne's World road to the back of the music camp property that will work for now as an access point.

The Golf Course Trail is also freshly groomed, and now you can ski from the GCT (Golf Course Trail) to the BYT (Backyard Trail)!? From the clubhouse at the golf course, ski the left trail across holes 1, 3, 4, and 5 to the far corner of the course near Bob Hartzell's Fairway Suites on Hole 14.? There you will see a spur trail linking the golf course to Wayne's World road, and the BYT!? Be careful when crossing Mondamin, of course, but great to have this now available, open, and groomed.

Happy Trails,

Ken