BOULDERJUNCTION WI

LAKE CONDITIONS

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Current Ice Status: The "Slush Factor" & Lake Travel

The biggest story this week isn't the fish—it's the travel. That heavy snowfall on top of relatively fresh ice has pushed the weight down, forcing water up through cracks and creating a "layer cake" of slush.

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• Travel Warning: Reports are confirming up to 12 inches of slush in many areas.

• Snowmobiles/ATVs: Use extreme caution. Machines are getting bogged down easily. If you aren't on a packed, frozen trail, you're at high risk of getting stuck.

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• The "Freeze-Down": With temperatures staying well below freezing this week (lows near -3°F), some of that slush may begin to crust over, but it will likely create "honeycomb" ice that is treacherous to walk on and even worse for tires.

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Lake Crossings & Slush Alert

While the land trails are generally open, the lakes are a different story. The "layer cake" of slush you're seeing is causing clubs to be extremely cautious with marking.

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• Marker Status: Most Boulder Junction and Eagle River area lake trails are NOT yet fully marked. Specifically, major crossings like Eagle Lake and Catfish Lake were reported as unmarked as of late this week.

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• The Slush Trap: With 12" of slush reported, even marked trails are risky. Once a few sleds go through, they churn up the water, making the "trail" a deep trench of freezing soup.

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• New Safety Tech: Look for the new flashing beacon lights at some lake access points. The Vilas County Snowmobile Alliance just invested in these red, white, and green beacons to help with night visibility and to indicate safer entry/exit points—but they don't change the fact that the ice surface is a mess.

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• Ice Heaves: A large ice heave has been reported on North Twin Lake (near Conover). Use extreme caution if you are venturing that way, as the heavy snow and slush can hide these ridges.

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Trail Conditions: Boulder Junction

• Overall Condition: Fair to Good.

• Base: 6–10 inches (Groomed).

• Grooming Update: Groomers have been active on 15N, 15S, 8E, 8W, and 2W.

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• Early Season Hazards: Expect some "snirt" (snow/dirt mix) and forest debris in areas where the heavy Thanksgiving and recent storms brought down branches.

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• Airport Spur Warning: If you use the Boulder Junction airport spur, stay strictly to the edge of the runway. There has been damage to the runway itself, and the club is at risk of losing access if riders stray.