Just road 7 from waters north and the trail has been groomed. Still a bit choppy but very rideable. A few more passes it should be sweet!

Word on the forum at Hard Core Sledder is that the Gaylord Groomer is out grooming...

I think the groomers are out RIGHT NOW. Notice how i said 'i think'. that's what my dad just said. so we'll see. jerry beatie(owner of sled shed) helped to get things straightened out.

Click Here to view post at HCS

We just got into Gaylord late this afternoon and took a quick ride up to Topinabee and back. Gaylord trails are still horribly rough. I'm assuming it will take several passes of the groomer to get things right. Once you hit the Indian River trails, smooth sailing.

Letter from the Bureau has also just gone out, so looks the the groomer sighting is true....

Hello Snowmobiling Friends,

We sincerely apologize to our many snowmobiling visitors and friends regarding the current trails conditions and reporting. We were informed last Friday December 11 that grooming was scheduled to begin that day. It was not until Monday, December 14 that we learned that did not happen.

Over the weekend, a slight warm-up and heavy usage made the trail conditions poor. Please be aware that we had no base and warm ground under the newly fallen snow; this did not help conditions. We have only had significant snow for less than a week! We learned late Monday morning that there was a paperwork holdup and grooming did not begin for that reason. Like many of you we contacted the DNR and those involved and the problem was resolved. This is not any single person or organizations fault.

We have learned this afternoon that all of the paperwork issues have been resolved and that grooming is scheduled to begin this evening Tuesday, December 15. We will carefully monitor this situation and make sure that groomi ng is well underway before the weekend!

We greatly appreciate your patronage of the Gaylord Area. You are very important to us. There is simply no reason for us to purposefully relay false information. We have been doing this far too long. Please be patient while we get the trails in good riding condition. Please stay posted to the site for the most current trail and grooming conditions.

Thank you again for your outstanding patronage of the Gaylord Area!

Paul M. Beachnau, Executive Director
Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau
Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce
101 W. Main Street
Gaylord, Michigan 49735
989-732-6333

I agree Gaylord needs to get there shit together. 20" of snow and no grooming? I'll just keep my money for the UP.

It's the way it has been for years looks like the have'nt learned anything. I told them 2 years ago at the Novi snowmobile show that they would'nt see me back again. U.P. here I come. Duane

Awaiting for word of the Groomers out on the trails... Reports are they would be out today... if anyone has a photo or word of the groomers on the trail please post them here...

HERE is the latest report from the council page: (Grooming is unknown at this time!)

Gaylord Trail Report
Gaylord Area Snowmobile Trials Council
Updated: 12/15/2009
Base: 0 inches
Snowfall Past 24 hours: 2 inches
Last Grooming: Grooming is unknown at this time!

Current Trail Conditions: Fair

The trails are open. We received 1 - 2 inches of new snow last night. Chance of more snow in the coming week. Snow ranges any where from 10 - 17 inches in and around the Gaylord area!

i rode up there sunday and saw a john deere and a new holland groomer parked on the south end of ostego lake on trail 7. had 5 in of snow sitting on them. havent been used. we paid 35 for a trail sticker kinda pissed me off

Here is some info from the Hardcore Sledder Forum on the Gaylord Grooming situation:

SLEDCONTACT --- Let me set the record straight here! And I do know what's going on! I am the local contact for the club.

The "New Club" organized late this past summer. and are truely putting in hours of their own time to make this work. But remember these people all have other jobs and can't do it all. They needed to physically contact every landowner that the trail crosses and get a signed lease, Set up contracts for their equipment, Brush and sign 101 miles of trail, and put together the nessesary paperwork for their grant agreement. This only scratches the surface of what goes on.
Anyways, as the club was getting leases they protect the landowners with insurance and themselves for that matter. Last friday afternoon the Railroad Co. noticed that they had not recieved a insurance binder and said they would call the police for tresspassing if the club groomed.
I had to make a decission to not allow the club to groom due to NO insurance to the land owners. I'm sure this was an oversite on their part, and doesn't help the users of the trail but these guys are truely trying to make it work. The program is set up for reimbursements and not up-front money so they need to take this out of their pocket first and to my understanding didn't have that money to get it last week.
As you can see its not because they haven't been paid, Not equipment, Not because they didn't want too, They just couldn't put it together for this weekend and I am sure they will be up and running this week.

Click Here For Hardcore Sledder Posting

If anyone has any information on what if really going on with the grooming, please post it here. -- Thanks

Here is the latest from RAY'S RETREAT - We have been on the phone all day talking with the DNR and Tourism Bureau. It was very discouraging what we were hearing this morning. However, Mike just got off the phone with Tourism Bureau who has stated they were be releasing money to get the grooming operation up and running. We are told they will begin grooming THIS week.

Good News.!!! we’ll keep you informed of the conditions.