Groomers are running, trails are flat and traffic is light. More snow is being predicted for the next 5 days. What a great early Christmas present!

We have at least six inches of snow on the ground. AuSable Valley Snowmobile Association groomers will begin grooming on Monday. More updates from the groomers after they come back from their runs.

According to the National Weather Service's map, we have 4-5 inches of snow on the ground. It is a heavy, wet snow. Groomers are not yet running. Firearm deer season runs until Nov.30 and the official start of the snowmobile season is December 1. Are people going to be riding? Probably. Are conditions going to be good? No. If you absolutely have to ride, please remember that hours of legal riding are limited due to the firearm deer season. From the DNR website..." A Person Shall Not Operate a Snowmobile In an area open to public hunting during the November 15-30 firearm deer season from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m."

The 2008/09 snowmobile maps are now available. If you weren't able to pick one up at the Novi Snowmobile Show, email visitor@grayling-mi.com and request one. (or more than one, depending on how many sleds you have) Please make sure to give me your name and complete postal mailing address; I do not have an email version of the map available. Also, be sure to sign up for our trail conditions email updates at our website, www.grayling-mi.com under "mailing lists". We get our information from our roving trail reporter/groomer driver, Keith, so they are as accurate and up-to-date as he can get!

The AuSable Valley Snowmobile Association members are hard at work prepping the trails in advance of the snow season. They have purchased a new groomer - our dedicated trail groomer driver/reporter and all-around good guy Keith, is going to send me a pic of it that I can put on our website. All I know is, the tracks are as high as I am tall! It is one huge piece of equipment and will hopefully work out well on grooming this winter. Plan on attending the Novi Snowmobile Show October 31-November 1...we'll see you then!

It's been a terrific snowmobile season; now we're headed for spring and summer! Take care, have a safe and fun summer!

There is still 10-12 inches of snow on the ground, but there is a heavy crust of ice overtop, and temperatures continue to be above freezing during the day. You could probably still get in some off-trail riding if you are familiar enough with the area. Otherwise, thanks for a great season and plan to visit us again when you can enjoy your favorite warm weather outdoor sport!

The trail system may or may not last through the weekend, looking at the weather report. There is still plenty of snow for off-trail riding.

The weather report is as follows: Today: A slight chance of rain and snow showers between 11am and 2pm, then a slight chance of rain showers after 2pm. Partly cloudy, with a high near 43. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Scattered snow showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: Scattered snow showers before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 36. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 8.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Monday Night: A chance of snow or rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Tuesday: A chance of snow or rain. Cloudy, with a high near 38.

Tuesday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 20.

Wednesday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34.

See the below weather report for thoughts on what is going to happen to the trails over the next week. Right now we still have plenty of snow and trails are rideable, although the grooming appears to be over for the season.

This Afternoon: Snow and freezing drizzle likely before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Friday: A chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Friday Night: A chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 13.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Monday Night: A chance of snow or rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Tuesday: A chance of snow or rain. Cloudy, with a high near 38.

Tuesday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 20.

Wednesday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

We still have lots of snow, but please check out this weather report and draw your own conclusions as to what trails will be like for the weekend. I'll update again on Thursday or Friday as I see what is going to happen.

Today: A 40 percent chance of snow showers after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Southwest wind between 10 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 23. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. North wind around 5 mph becoming south.

Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Thursday: A chance of rain before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 34.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Monday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.

Trail reporter/groomer driver, Keith, just called me from his other snow vehicle - his snowmobile! He was happy to be able to get out and actually ride for a change! His words are "nice, flat and tight, watch for ice south, enough snow for lube and cooling".

It was raining this morning (Monday), and it has changed over to snow. I'll have to update again later after we see how the weather shakes out.
Here's the forecast for the week...

This Afternoon: Periods of rain and snow, becoming all snow after 1pm. Temperature falling to around 29 by 5pm. West wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight: Scattered flurries before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values as low as -1. Northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 9. Northeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of snow after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. North wind around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26.

Thursday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11.

Friday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20.

Friday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 1.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 20.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.

Groomers are running and Keith, trail reporter/groomer driver extraordinaire, reports that trails are in good shape. There are icy spots and areas of snirt, but overall, conditions are holding up well. The weather forecast is as follows:
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 22. North wind between 10 and 15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Cloudy during the early evening, then becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 1. North wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -6. North wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 23.

Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 17.

Friday: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 32.

Friday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 14.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Sunday: A chance of snow or rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

So, according to this weather report, conditions look like they'll hold up well for the weekend. Unless conditions change drastically, I won't be updating again until next week - if any of you aren't heading north to ride, plan to visit the Outdoorama Show in Novi...stop and see us at our booth. Thurs.2-9:30, Fri.2-9:30, Sat.10-9, Sun.10-5.

Groomers are running. They report some icy spots due to the freezing rain we received last weekend. We did have a few inches of snowfall on top of that ice, however. It is going to be a beautiful weekend - if you get the chance, you will want to head up!
This Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. West wind around 5 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around -4.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values as low as -7. West wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 7. West wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 34. West wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Groomers are running, but due to the freezing rain we received on Sunday, trails will be very icy in spots until we get a significant snow cover. See below weather report...
Today: Periods of snow showers, mainly before 1pm. High near 16. Wind chill values as low as zero. South wind 5 to 15 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. Wind chill values as low as -8. West wind between 5 and 10 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: Snow showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 16. Wind chill values as low as -9. North wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -4. Wind chill values as low as -18. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 18. West wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 27.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 32.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34.