Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
STEVE NASI, of Hurley, snowmobiles along Trail 17 in Hurley as light snow falls Thursday afternoon. With winter finally in full effect, Big Snow Country is geared up for a fun-filled holiday weekend.
By TOM STANKARD
With snow in the forecast during Martin Luther King Day weekend, snowmobilers, skiers and snowboarders are expected to visit Iron and Gogebic counties to hit the trails and slopes.
For today, the National Weather Service predicts it will be cloudy with light snow likely, with accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. The highs will be from 24 to 26 degrees. The chance of snow is 70 percent.
On Saturday, it will be colder and cloudy, with snow likely. The highs will be 5 to 7, with a 70 percent chance of snow.
Then on Sunday and on Martin Luther King Day, it will be mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow. The highs will be around zero.
As the "snow capital of Wisconsin," Rita Franzoi, of the Hurley Chamber of Commerce, said Iron County features more than 500 miles of the best trails in Wisconsin and better weather conditions are attracting more snowmobilers to the area.
According to the White Thunder Riders, based in Oma, Franzoi said 95 percent of the area's trails are "good" or "very good." She said Trail 13 South is considered to be "fair" and Trail 7 is still closed.
In Mercer, Tina Brunell, Mercer Chamber of Commerce executive director, said the town is a popular snowmobile "hub.
"We are an outdoor destination with access to many snowmobile trails," she said.
Brunell said as of Thursday, groomers had been out and all the trails were open and in good condition, with 4 to 7 inches of snow cover.
The chamber said to use caution on Trail 12B because that section is soft, making it "rough."
During the weekend, snowmobilers and skiers are expected to fill up motel rooms.
At Days Inn in Hurley, staff member Taylor Kasieta said the inn is completely booked for the weekend.
With snow in the forecast, ski resorts in Gogebic County are also expecting more people.
At Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort, near Bessemer, Caroline Watts, a mountain information staff member, said there are at least 23 downhill trails open today and six lifts. There is a 16- to 33-inch base, with more 15 inches of new snow.
At Indianhead Mountain Resort, near Wakefield, on Thursday there were 13 trails and four lifts open, according to the website. There was a 16- to 33-inch snow base. So far, there has been 48 inches of snow.
