Grooming Reports
Grooming reports for the Vasa Pathway and Leelanau Trail are emailed to badge holders. They are also made available within 1-2 business days on this page. Get your Grooming Badge to have reports emailed directly to you. Also check out this Facebook page that is all about Vasa Conditions with posts from real-time users. Feel free to follow, share and encourage others!
Grooming updates for the Winter Sport Singletrack can be found on the Northern Michigan Mountain Biking Association website. Grooming updates for Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail can be found on Friends of Sleeping Bear website.
2024-2025 Grooming Reports
Report: #9
Date: December 21, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Happy Winter Solstice Badgers!
It’s 20 degrees on this, the shortest day of the year. Groomers John and Glen are finishing up a lap around the Vasa trail system this morning to compress the few inches of airy snow that has fallen throughout the region over the last two days.
The guys are reporting between an inch or two of crusty base coverage remaining in most segments after the recent warm spell. Some areas however, namely the bottom of Anita Hill and some areas near the trailhead, have no remaining base and will have only very minimal coverage from the most recent snowfall, given its fluffy nature. So, enjoy the trails, but as usual keep a lookout for thin spots.
Well, as our corner of the earth begins to tilt back toward the Sun, it’s only daylight-positive from here on out! (Ok, until June, of course. But let us not allow thoughts of summer to poison our winter spirit, we’re just getting started!) Hope you can get atop your skis today and savor this day that comes but once a year, a sacred day for the People of the Snow. Winter has truly begun!
Report: Leelanau Trail Grooming Report # 8
Date: 12/20/24
Time: 2:30 pm
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Whole trail rolled with skirt and the sun is out. Have at it one and all!
North Section
Pete rolled with skirt from Suttons Bay to Shady Lane. This is your best shot for skate skiing today.
South Section
Thad groomed with the roller and skirt from Shady Lane to DeYoung. Good skate skiing for now.
Shady Lane
Not enough snow to groom. Snow Shoeing still a good option.
Parallel Trail – no report
The Snow Joke of the Day:
Why don’t hyenas get sick in the winter?
Because laughter is the the best medicine!
Report: Grooming Report
Date: December 20, 2024
Time: 11:45 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Morning Badgers,
As we eagerly await enough snow accumulation to get back into full grooming gear, we’re excited to share details about our next Vasa Open House! Mark your calendar for January 11, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Vasa Pathway Bartlett Road Trailhead. Join us for cookies, hot cocoa, and great community time. TART Trails staff, groomers, and volunteers will be there chatting all things trails and keeping the winter stoke high.
Stay tuned for updates as the snow continues to fall. Hopefully, the Leelanau Trail, Muncie Lakes Pathway, and Vasa Pathway groomers will be back in action soon. Until then, let it SNOW!
Report: The Warmup Continues
Date: December 18, 2024
Time: 4:15 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Afternoon Badgers,
The weather isn’t cooperating this week, and the current conditions at the trailhead are preventing the grooming team from continuing their work. However, better snow coverage can still be found throughout the trail network.
The cooler temperatures should help preserve the trail’s existing base. Let’s hope for more snow soon so grooming can resume!
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report: Sunday Warmup
Date: December 15, 2024
Time: 9:45 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Morning Badgers,
With temperatures in the region pushing above freezing early this morning, a warming trend that appears likely to continue through Tuesday, we’ve had to hit pause on grooming again for the coming days.
Hope you got to enjoy some trail magic the past few days; the northern Michigan woods were reverberating with a joyous winter chorus of snowflakes and ski bases working together in sweet silent harmony. With any luck, the predicted cloud cover will help mitigate the effects of warmer temps over the next few days, and a possible injection of new snow mid-week could set us up nicely for what looks like a more extended cold snap. We shall see…
Report: #8
Date: December 14, 2024
Time: 9:15 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Happy Saturday Badgers,
A crisp 11 degrees as Groomer John is finishing up a skate lane renovation on the entire Vasa system right now. With no new snow existing tracks will be left in place, and are skiing well!
And just as a reminder, we hope to see your smiling faces at the trailhead as we celebrate the joys of winter on the trails at today’s TART grooming open house, 10am-1pm. You can be assured of ample fuel for your outing (coooookies!).
Report: #8
Date: December 14, 2024
Time: 9:15 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Happy Saturday Badgers,
A crisp 11 degrees as Groomer John is finishing up a skate lane renovation on the entire Vasa system right now. With no new snow existing tracks will be left in place, and are skiing well!
And just as a reminder, we hope to see your smiling faces at the trailhead as we celebrate the joys of winter on the trails at today’s TART grooming open house, 10am-1pm. You can be assured of ample fuel for your outing (coooookies!).
Report: Leelanau Trail Grooming Report # 6
Date: 12/13/24
Time: 4:00 pm
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
North Section
Had equipment issues and did not groom today. Last groomed yesterday with roller and skirt. Weather permitting, will groom tomorrow morning.
South Section
Thad helped with north sled issues then groomed with the Ginzu from Shady Lane to DeYoung. Nice corduroy and classic tracks.
Shady Lane
Andy rolled with the skirt the vineyard trails.
Parallel Trail – no report
The Snow Joke of the Day:
What did the big striped hat say to the warm wooly scarf?
You just hang around while I go on a head!
Report: Muncie Lakes Pathway Grooming Report #4
Date: December 13, 2024
Time: 4:10 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
Groomer Mike rolled the entire Muncie Lakes Pathway loop today. The trail is in excellent condition and should make for some fantastic skiing.
Get out there and enjoy the weekend!
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #7
Date: December 13, 2024
Time: 9:30 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Trail report just in from Groomers John and Brandon: 17 degrees at The Rock, and they are setting new classic tracks and skate lane corduroy where e’er they go.
5k, 10k loops are complete and they’ll be rounding out the 25k shortly. Hope you’ve got your storage wax scraped by now, (Woops, better get on that…) cause it’s time to hit the trails!
Report: Muncie Lakes Pathway Grooming Report #3
Date: December 12, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
The eight inches of very fluffy new snow, combined with the sandy ground, made grooming challenging today. The team got stuck twice and had to use a tractor to pull the sled out. Due to the risk to the grooming crew, further grooming attempts have been suspended for the day.
We’re hopeful that the snow will compact overnight and the ground will freeze, creating better conditions for grooming tomorrow morning.
Report: Leelanau Trail Grooming Report # 5
Date: 12/12/24
Time: 2:00 pm
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Nice to be back in snow business!
North Section
Michael rolled with skirt down from Suttons Bay to Shady Lane and back. Nice corduroy for skate skiing.
South Section
Jeff Z heading out this afternoon to roll from Shady Lane to DeYoung and back.
Shady Lane
Andy hopes to roll after Jeff is back,
Parallel Trail – no report
The Snow Joke of the Day:
What’s the scariest part of owing Santa money?
He snows where you live!
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #6
Date: December 12, 2024
Time: 8:10 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Morning Badgers!
It’s 16 degrees and snowing, Groomers Chad and John are compacting the ~6” of new snow that fell throughout the night. 5k and 10k loops are packed, and they’re working their way around the 25k now.
Report: Vasa Open House
Date: December 11, 2024
Time: 6:30 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good evening Badgers,
As we eagerly await the winter storm to blanket the pathway with fresh snow, we’re excited to invite you to our first Vasa Open House of the season, happening this Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Bartlett road trailhead.
TART Trails staff, groomers, and volunteers will be on hand to chat about winter trails while offering hot cocoa and homemade cookies to those enjoying the outdoors.
Be sure to stop by and say hello—whether before or after your ski!
Report: Still Watching
Date: December 11, 2024
Time: 8:20 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Morning Badgers,
After some trail scouting early this morning we decided to that trail firmness, temperature, and new snow accumulation weren’t quite sufficient for us to get back to grooming at the moment.
We’ll be watching the predicted snowfall later today and tonight, and hopefully we’ll be back into it tomorrow.
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report: Hitting Pause
Date: December 9, 2024
Time: 12:25 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Well, when the weather turns warm and wet, like it has been since Saturday afternoon, best you can do is park your gear and slip into your snow dancing shoes. Too bad, it really felt like we were getting into our wintertime grooming and skiing groove there.
Looking like more winter weather headed our way through the middle of the week though. Once it gets cold enough for the trail to firm up and we get enough new snow on the surface, we’ll be back to base building and ski grooming. Will keep you posted!
Report: Leelanau Trail Grooming Report # 4
Date: 12/7/24
Time: 1:30 pm
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
North Section
Groomed yesterday. Decided to hold off today as temperature already 40 degrees F.
South Section
Jeff Z groomed early with the Ginzu setting classic tracks and a nice corduroy from Shady Lane to DeYoung and back.
Shady Lane
Groomed yesterday.
Parallel Trail – no report
The Snow Joke of the Day:
How do you make a snowman’s bed?
Fresh sheet of ice and a thick blanket of snow!
You at least might want some glider and heaven forbid klister?
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #5
Date: December 7, 2024
Time: 7:00 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good morning! And a fine Saturday to you! 20 degrees and a dusting of new snow at The Wall now.
Groomers Mike and James are making their way around the 25k loop now, having completed the 5k and 10k loops. Setting new classic tracks and skate lane corduroy everywhere. Looks like a warmup later so get out and enjoy early if you can.
Report: Leelanau Trail Grooming Report # 3
Date: 12/6/24
Time: 2:00 pm
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
North Section
RK rolled w/ skirt (corduroy) this morning Suttons Bay to Shady Lane. RK then helped Pete set up the Ginzu for corduroy and track setting. Pete used the Ginzu from Suttons Bay to the first Center Highway crossing. However, ran out of juice and Ginzu would not work. So Center Highway to Shady Lane does not have classic tracks. However, doesn’t get much better than this!
South Section
Steve rolled with skirt from Shady Lane to DeYoung and back. Some drifted areas to watch out for.
Shady Lane
Andy rolled with skirt the Shady Lane Vineyards for cross-country skiing this afternoon. There is a separate loop trail for snow shoers.
Parallel Trail – no report
The Snow Joke of the Day:
When does sledding make you laugh?
When it’s hill-arious!
Is it time for greatest hits? I’ve been reporting jokes since at least 2021 and have tried not to duplicate a joke. So if you have a favorite that I may or may not have used, email it to Jonny and he can pass it on to me for a future report.
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #4
Date: December 6, 2024
Time: 7:00 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Happy Friday y’all! Groomers Glen and Brandon kept right on roll, roll, rolling away into the nighttime hours yesterday, before tagging Groomers Dave and Chad in for the early morning shift.
They have set tracks and skate lane corduroy on the 5k and 10k loops, and are working their way around the remainder of the 25k loop now. Enjoy!
Report: Leelanau Trail Grooming Report # 2
Date: 12/5/24
Time: 3:30 pm
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available he
North Section
Michael rolled this morning Suttons Bay to Shady Lane.
South Section
Thad just finished rolling from Shady Lane to DeYoung and back.
Shady Lane
Andy rolled the Shady Lane Vineyards for cross-country skiing this morning. He also groomed a separate loop trail for snow shoers.
Parallel Trail waiting for more snow!
The Snow Joke of the Day:
What do you call a cat that lives in an igloo?
An Eski-mew!
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #3
Date: December 5, 2024
Time: 3:20 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
Groomer Glen has been plugging away this afternoon. Headwaters has been rolled with corduroy. He is currently doing the same on the 10k loop, and plans to continue on to the 25k.
Report: Muncie Lakes Pathway Grooming Report #3
Date: December 5, 2024
Time: 11:15 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
Groomer Steve has just finished rolling the Muncie Lakes Pathway, and Groomer Jim is now setting tracks. Please note that the River Loop (signs 8–10) will not be groomed until we can remove a downed tree blocking the path.
Stay tuned for further updates!
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #3 Preview
Date: December 5, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
The December Snow Sprites must finally have been appeased after these past few years of spiteful withholding. They have certainly smiled their favor down upon Northern Michigan with reports of up to an additional foot of snow overnight. We are feeling very blessed this week!
Of course, all that snow in such a short time can pose certain dilemmas (as evidenced by this week’s school closures, for one). While we are of course eager to continue preparing all this snow on the Vasa ski trail, we have had to postpone this morning’s activities in the interest of groomer safety. We’re looking at this evening to get the next crew out to continue rolling and packing all that new fluffy white stuff. Will keep you posted! In the meantime, go jump in a snow drift and make a snow angel!
Report: #2 Update
Date: December 4, 2024
Time: 12:20 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Afternoon Badgers,
First of all, we’d like to extend a warm winter welcome to our newest additions to the TART Vasa Trail Grooming Crew, Brandon Galinis and Randy Smith! Their enthusiasm for stepping in and working to facilitate the magic of winter on the Vasa trail is greatly appreciated! If you see those guys around town, or on the trail, throw an extra high five their way.
Groomers James and “Rookie Randy” (sorry, couldn’t resist the alliteration), rolled and set corduroy on the Headwaters loop and the 2k Hill area before temperature and snow conditions would not permit further grooming. Skiing may be a bit sticky but should be very nice, not to mention it is simply gorgeous out here right now! We’ll carry on when the temps drop.
Report: #2
Date: December 4, 2024
Time: 8:30 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Morning Badgers!
Snow day to you! 28 degrees and a few more inches of snow overnight, with a snowy outlook for the next 24 hours or so. We plan to pack snow throughout the day today and into tomorrow morning to keep up with the accumulation. Should set us up for some nice skiing later in the week.
Will keep you posted!
Report: Muncie Lakes Pathway Grooming Report #2
Date: December 3, 2024
Time: 8:50 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
The Muncie Lakes Groomers have had a busy day rolling the entire pathway and setting tracks. The recent snowfall has provided excellent coverage across the entire Muncie Lakes Pathway.
Weather reports indicate colder temperatures and more snow in the forecast, which should set us up nicely for the weekend. The crew plans to set fresh tracks daily through Friday to ensure great skiing conditions.
Stay tuned for further updates!
Report: Leelanau Trail Grooming Report # 1
Date: 12/3/24
Time: 1 pm
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
The skinny report:
Well, some early snow, yeah! Jeff Z. rolled the south section from Shady Lane to DeYoung. Andy following with grooming the Shady Lane vineyards. RK groomed the north section from Suttons Bay to Fort. Pete to finish up this afternoon from Fort to Shady Lane.
North Section
RK jumped in, found the roller, and groomed from Center Highway near Fort Road to Suttons Bay and back. Pete to follow up this afternoon and roll the rest to Shady Lane.
South Section
Jeff Z. rolled from Shady Lane to DeYoung and back.
Shady Lane
Andy groomed the Shady Lane Vineyards for cross-country skiing. He also groomed a separate loop trail for snow shoers.
Parallel Trail waiting for more snow!
The Snow Joke of the Day:
Why did the polar bear get glasses? To improve his ice-sight!
Background
Happy New Grooming Season, some early white stuff, yeah! We really did not start grooming last season until January 11, 2024!
First – Thank you all again for purchasing groomer badges that help pay for maintenance and operations (repairs, gas & lube, etc.).
We are again grooming the Leelanau Trail this winter from the DeYoung property to Suttons Bay. We break up the grooming to North & South Sections. The North Crew will groom between Suttons Bay and Fort Road, and weather/snow permitting to the Shady Lane Parking Lot. The South Crew will groom between the Shady Lane Parking Lot and weather/snow permitting to the DeYoung Property.
Chad Jordan and the Northern Michigan Mountain Bike Association (NMMBA) will again be grooming a parallel 3-foot trail for fat biking in the winter. The trail parallels the Leelanau Trail from Suttons Bay to north of Fort Road. The trail is not all “off-road,” so please stay out of classic ski tracks. Fat tire users – recommended tire pressure is 4 to 5 psi. Please consider waiting for temperatures below freezing to minimize rutting the skate lanes.
Andy Fles (Vineyard Manager at Shady Lane Cellars) will be grooming the vineyard again. He is also setting up a separate groomed trail loop for snowshoers, so they stay out of the ski grooms.
For walkers and dog owners, remember the Village of Suttons Bay plows the trail from the marina north to Dumas Road.
We will be consolidating the grooming report into four sections: North Section, South Section, Shady Lane Vineyard Trails, and the Fat Bike Trail, hoping to keep down the number of emails.
Take Care,
Pete Ostrowski
Report: Muncie Lakes Pathway Grooming Report #1
Date: December 3, 2024
Time: 11:45 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
Groomers Steve and John have been hard at work this morning, making two passes with the roller. Now, John is preparing to set tracks, and the Muncie Lakes Pathway will soon be ready for skiing!
The snow keeps falling, so stay tuned for more updates as conditions evolve.
Enjoy the trails and happy skiing!
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #2
Date: December 3, 2024
Time: 9:20AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers,
The gift of snow keeps on giving! Groomer Dave and John just finished rolling and packing the entire trail early this morning. Starting at 3 AM, most sections of the trail were rolled and skirted twice.
The wet, heavy snow from the past two days has made for slow progress, with numerous branches and a few trees down along the pathway.
The team will continue grooming through the morning, and we’ll provide more updates as they come.
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #1 Update
Date: December 2, 2024
Time: 3:45 PM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Good Afternoon Badgers!
Groomer John was able to complete a roll of the 5k and 10k loops today before conditions made further progress impractical.
Still snowing so we’ll be back at it tomorrow!
Cheers,
Vasa Trail Groomers
Report: Vasa Pathway Grooming Report #1: Preview
Date: December 2, 2024
Time: 10:50 AM
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers!
What a treat to behold a snowy landscape here in northern Michigan as we cross the threshold into December.
Varied accounts of potentially significant additional snow accumulations throughout the Vasa vicinity overnight have inspired the Vasa grooming crew to attempt a roll of the trail system today. If we find that the snow depth is sufficient to proceed without interacting too much with the still unfrozen ground beneath, we hope to be able to knock the air out of the snow and start building that base we need for a long and slide-y season of XC skiing! Here’s hoping it keeps up, so stay tuned!
Cheers,
Vasa Trail Groomers
Report: Welcome to the Winter Grooming Season!
Date: December 1, 2024
NWS Forecast here
Trail Reports available here
Greetings Badgers!
As the first snow accumulates on our area trails we’re thrilled to announce that today marks the official start of another Winter Grooming Season! We’re incredibly grateful for your support of our winter grooming efforts—your generosity makes it all possible.
We’re also looking forward to a season packed with exciting winter events. We hope to see many of you at our yet to be scheduled Vasa Open Houses, where you can warm up with hot cocoa & cookies and meet the grooming team and celebrate the season we all cherish. Also, mark your calendars for Winter Trails Day at Timber Ridge Resort on January 18—a fun-filled day for everyone to enjoy the beauty of winter on skis, snowshoes, or fat bikes. And of course, we’re looking ahead to the 2025 North American Vasa in February where we’ll get to showcase the groomers’ work to visitors from across the region who will come to test their mettle and enjoy the camaraderie of the festival of races.
In the meantime, the Vasa, Muncie and Leelanau Trail groomer teams are prepped and ready to provide that winter trail magic that we have been dreaming about since spring. Just this morning, Vasa groomers were out scouting trail conditions and report that the ground is not quite yet frozen and there is not yet enough snow to groom but they are keeping a close eye on things and will keep you posted as conditions change.
Stay tuned for grooming updates all winter long and cheers to another season on snow.