Latest Conditions

Conditions range from fair to good. The skate lane is mostly good with some early season thin spots that can easily be skied around. Tracks were set but they have spots where the grass is visible, yet avoidable. There is a stretch with icy water as it crosses the marsh on Bluebird. It can be traversed, but is sloppy. Overall pretty good for early season skiing.

The chalet will open 7 days a week beginning on December 15th from 8am to 6pm.

MECCA Trails has picked up 3″ to 4″ of light snow over the past week. This amount of snow has not significantly changed the trail conditions which are rated as fair. The compacted base is approximately 2″ to 3″. Skiers will encounter a few areas of very light snow coverage.

Today the area east of the Little Turtle Flowage which includes Deer, Moose, Homestead and Osprey Loops has been rolled and combed. Classical tracks have not been set because of the limited snow base. Wetlands have been rolled and combed and are skiable. The Chalet will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the next two weeks.

Special Note – Bluebird Trail which traverses the flowage area has running water over a short section and is not passable for skiers. Bluebird provides access to Otter, Birch and Voss Lake Trails and they will not be groomed until the water issue is solved. To access these trails park at the Little Turtle Flowage Lot. The ski club is working with the DNR to remedy the issue.

Mercer received approximately five to six inches of snow today adding to the three inches of snow on the ground currently. Trails are open for skiing and snowshoeing; however, both activities are rated as marginal.  Trail users should be aware of early season conditions such as low snow depth and wetlands not completely frozen resulting in a “soft” surface.  Additionally, the statewide muzzleloader season is open from Monday, November 28th to Wednesday, December 7th on lands which encompass the MECCA Trail System.  Trail users should wear blaze orange or bright colored clothing.

Grooming operations will be limited until wetlands become frozen to support equipment along with a grooming moratorium on DNR lands until the end of the muzzleloader season.  Long range forecast looks promising with cold temps at night and chances of interment light snowfalls.

Over the past few days the Mercer Area has received a series of light snowfalls coupled with freezing temperatures. Currently we have approximately five inches plus of snow on the ground – just what we want!

However, the Wisconsin Deer Gun Hunting Season opens on Saturday, November 19^th and closes on Sunday, November 27^th. The public lands (Iron County Forest and WI DNR) which the MECCA Trail System traverses are open to hunting; therefore, during this period there will not be any grooming of ski trails. After this period, grooming of ski trails will commence as conditions dictate.  Also, we are monitoring closely the four wetlands the ski trail system crosses to determine if they are frozen enough to support grooming equipment and skiers.

Now is the perfect time to hike at MECCA. MECCA has a variety of hiking trails through upland forests and wetlands. Download our new hiking map and hit the trails! Hunting and trapping is permitted along the trails so please keep dogs leashed.

There is a lot of snow on the ground at MECCA Trails, with more in the forecast.  While grooming operations have been suspended for the season, backcountry skiers might enjoy exploring the trails.  The snow/ice storm has put down tree limbs, we probably won’t do any trail maintenance and cleanup for a number of weeks.

What a great winter season we enjoyed with record snowfalls and more grooming events than ever.  We suspended grooming activities last week due to warm weather.  The winter storm this week has dropped tree limbs on the trails and our cleanup will be delayed until the spring melt.  Our friends at WinMan in Manitowish Waters and Wolverine Nordic in Ironwood are working hard to take advantage of the late season snow.  Check out their reports, you can still get some spring skiing!

Grooming activities have been suspended for the season.  There is still snow on the trails, but warm weather has the base melting.  When it gets below freezing at night trails are icy in the morning.

Groomers were out on Tuesday morning.  The skate lanes were combed and tracks were holding nicely.  Spring skiing conditions mean with warm daytime temps the surface will be soft (or very soft if it doesn’t get below freezing at night).  If it gets below freezing at night the surface conditions in the morning can be fast and icy.  Sometimes there is a “window” of a few hours where conditions are wonderful.

SPRING SKIING – GAME ON!

Groomers were out early this morning.  Tracks were reset and the skate lane is combed.  Watch the temps this week, as the morning skiing may be fast & icy with afternoon surface conditions softening.