topnotch

Yes, it's an old logging road. Haven't ridden it but I've heard it was trail to groom because it was nice and flat. So I'd imagine it's sweet.

And if the clubs aren't allowed to prep the next 14 days it be much longer until the north is ready to have trails.. We should find out this afternoon

It's not so much that we need snow it's that we need to be able to pack the snow and wet areas we do have. A 2 week shut down puts us very far back, as 2 weeks from now we would have had rideable trails, now we would need to re check everything. It's shutting down the prep work that will really hurt.

10" in Noelville. No frost in the ground...

Yes that's the case, not just you.

Only in a groomer.

In the French River things are looking pretty bleak. We maybe have 3-4 inches but it's mostly gone now, aside from a thick layer of ice from early in December. It was 2 degrees and above for the last 30 hours or so. If I didn't know it was January I'd guess it was early April. I couldn't even guess when we might be able to pack trails even with an Argo again, lots of water everywhere from all the melt. Unless a drastic change in the forecast January isn't happening. It needs to get super cold up here. My suggestion is look for riding north of North Bay/Sudbury. It's really sucks because a month ago it looked like we'd be in great shape up here with early cold and not much snow, pretty dry in the bush to.

Your last sentence is what I'd like to confirm as well, so in previous winters and during the off season the GRCA doesn't have insurance at all to cover people who might walk through the parks? Although I guess their parks are closed in winter( I don't think they have winter walking trails?) so I'd be considered trespassing if someone were to get hurt? If it wasn't for the sled trails maybe you can't access the park really anyway. It's an unfortunate situation but I understand the parties involved not wanting that extra liability.

Agree. Manitoba sure has lots of sleds but not many bought passes. Making the penalty $1000 would be fine, people will learn.

"Butler said the reasons for the fee change are a lack of volunteers and an increase in maintenance costs." Makes sense to me.

In the French River.. This weekend might be pushing it, everything needs to re freeze and I suspect the trails will be 100% ice because there isn't really new snow in the forecast. I also wouldn't even consider going on a lake up here. All the road crossings are completely bare as well. Assuming you have to work Monday... but I'd wait till Sunday to hear some reports from people that ventured out or check trails, with some new snow next weekend might be do able. Just my two cents