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Weekly Trail and Ice Report: 1/7/10

From the National Park Service, 1/7/2010:

Travel is very good on all of the major snowmobile trails in Voyageurs National Park.  Recent cold temperatures have minimized slush conditions.

The Purple Trail from the Rainy Lake Visitor Center to Kettle Falls on Rainy Lake is now open and staked as a result of improved ice conditions. In addition, efforts to open the Chain of Lakes Trail will soon begin, but is expected to be a slow process due to the clearing of downed trees and low hanging branches resulting from the heavy holiday snowfall.   A vehicle that broke through thin ice near Springer’s Point on Rainy Lake last week remains partially submerged and is marked with orange stakes. 

Travel is strongly discouraged anywhere in the park where “Thin Ice” signs are present.  Park staff continues to evaluate ice thickness in preparation for grooming operations in the near future.

Please remember that the snowmobile speed limit within Voyageurs National Park is 45 mph on frozen lake surfaces and 25 mph on all overland portages. Speed limit signs are posted at trailheads and overland portages.  Regular weekly winter trail conditions reports will be available on the Park website at www.nps.gov/voya.

Snowmobile Trails
International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) – Open & Staked
Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River – Open & Staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) – Open & Staked
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Not Open
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) – Open & Staked
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail) – Open & Staked

Rainy Lake Ice Road – CLOSED

Ski Trails
Echo Bay Ski Trail – Open & Packed
Black Bay Ski Trail – Open, Packed & Tracked
Tilson Connector Trail – Open, Packed & Tracked
KabAsh Trail – Open

Snowshoe Trails
Blind Ash Bay Trail – Open
Sullivan Bay Trail – Open
Oberholtzer Trail – Open

                                 REMEMBER
                     “STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE”
                         ORANGE IDENTIFIES HAZARD