Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
GILE, WIS., had received two feet of snow as of Wednesday morning, with more snow arriving later in the day.
HURLEY - There was quite a bit of interest across the country in the Gogebic Range's snowstorm that ended early Wednesday morning, then later rekindled.
Up to two feet of snow fell across the Gogebic Range, whipped into drifts by strong winds.
Hurley Chamber of Commerce Director Dorrene O'Donnell said she posted a video of the snowfall on Facebook Tuesday and it had received 24,376 hits, with 227 shares, as of Wednesday morning.
"I just went outside (Tuesday) and took a minute-long video of the snow," she said.
O'Donnell told the Hurley City Council Tuesday while it's too early for snowmobiling and skiing, the interest in the Hurley area is encouraging.
Iron County, Wis., snowmobile trails open on Dec. 1, although there's ample snow now. O'Donnell said the Dec. 1 opener is set for a variety of reasons, including landowner easements don't kick in until then.
Also, if the trails opened earlier, there would be a conflict with hunting season and they can't be groomed when the base is wet and soft. The heavy snow acts as insulation against freezing.
Another factor is water crossings on trails aren't frozen.
O'Donnell said Wednesday quite a few people have indicated they'd like to come to Hurley to snowmobile now, but she's telling them "they'll have to wait."
They can test their machines on private property, if available to them.
Hurley street superintendent Mark Bluse said his crew handled the first major snowfall well. He said the reason the streets were so slippery is that the wet streets froze overnight Tuesday and that left the heavy snow on top of ice.
The Ironwood Public Safety Department received numerous reports of vehicles stuck in the ditch Tuesday night, with wreckers dispatched. Three more overnight parking citations were issued Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
The IPSD received a 3:40 a.m. Wednesday complaint from a North Curry Street resident who complained that the city crew plowed more snow into her driveway than at other houses in the neighborhood. She insisted officers view the snowbank, but it was gone when they arrived because she had shoveled.
ABR trails open
ABR Trails, near Ironwood's Norrie Park, planned to open today for cross country skiing.
A large crew groomed throughout the storm and from 30 to 40 kilometers of trails were expected to be open, offering some spectacular winter scenery along the Montreal River.
The base was forming well and the trails were described as in "mid-winter" condition.
Indianhead Mountain, near Wakefield, which had been making snow prior to the storm, reported 30 inches in the past week, but wasn't open.
Big Powderhorn Mountain, near Bessemer, reported a similar total.
