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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Change in the weather boosting trail conditions

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 1/30/25

REGIONAL— “Things are looking okay.” That’s the word from the Tower area trails supervisor Joe Majerus on the state of the snowmobile trail network in the area after a series …

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Change in the weather boosting trail conditions

Posted

REGIONAL— “Things are looking okay.” That’s the word from the Tower area trails supervisor Joe Majerus on the state of the snowmobile trail network in the area after a series of modest snowfalls that have added up over the past ten days.
The mild and relatively snowless first half of the winter had left most area hospitality businesses feeling gloomy over the possibility of a repeat of last year’s record warm conditions that kept snowmobiles in the garage all season long.
But a mid-January cold snap iced the swamps up good and tight and more regular snowfalls since the middle of the month have built up enough of a base to support trail grooming. That’s brought the whine of snowmobiles back to the area as sledders eager to hit the trails are testing the waters.
So far, so good, notes Majerus. “The trails were fairly busy this past weekend and I didn’t have any complaints on my answering machine on Monday, so that’s always good,” he said.
“It could be that after last year, people are just happy to be able to ride groomed trails even if they aren’t perfect.”
Majerus was speaking on Monday before the area picked up another one-to-three-inch snowfall on Tuesday. When added to the couple inches that fell this past weekend, the area has seen anywhere from three-to-five inches since the last DNR trail report, posted Jan. 24, which showed the Taconite and Arrowhead trails to be in poor condition.
Majerus said the state reports tend to be conservative in terms of conditions. “We don’t want to overpromise,” he said.
But after the additional snowfall since that report, Majerus said he expects improved conditions by this coming weekend. “We’ll be out grooming everything ahead of the weekend,” he said.
Best part of winter still ahead
For most winter recreation in the North Country, February is typically considered the peak time. The days are longer and brighter, and the temperatures tend to moderate, at least a smidge, from the depths of January. The President’s Day weekend, which falls Feb. 15-17 this year, is typically the busiest of the winter season, and the current extended forecast offers hope for good trails all around.
With the more frequent snow, the phones have been ringing again at the Ely Chamber of Commerce. “Over the last week or so, we’ve really seen an increase,” said Eva Sebesta, chamber executive director. She said she expects to see a big push of snowmobile activity this weekend and likely continuing as long as trail conditions hold.
Sebesta said it’s a nice turnaround from back in December, when the post-Christmas meltdown had everyone nervous. “Back then we were crying in our beers thinking we couldn’t possibly have two bad winters in a row.”
Now, after colder weather and more frequent snowfalls, the outlook is much improved. Sebesta said area ski trails are generally in very good condition and there is plenty of snow for dogsledders and snowshoers as well. “We do have a lot of the silent sports up here,” Sebesta noted.
Ely will also be hosting the WolfTrack Classic sled dog race, set for Feb. 23. That race, which had to be cancelled last year due to lack of snow, is looking like a much better bet this year.