Revitalized snowmobile trail club seeking more members

BESSEMER — The Gogebic Range Trail Authority is seeking new members to assist with trail work and to fill in as snowmobile trail groomers, according to the president of the organization.

Steve Hamilton, of Wakefield, said Friday the club is no longer doing business as the Western Upper Peninsula Snowshakers and has returned to the GRTA name that had been used for the previous 40 years.

In a news release, Hamilton said the club will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Black River Lodge in Ironwood Township and people interesting in keeping the snowmobile trails operating may attend to offer their support.

Hamilton said the club recently received more than $250,000 in funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ snowmobile trail program. He said the funds will be used for major grooming equipment repairs, constructing a bridge on Trail 160 in north Ironwood that was damaged by the July 11-12 storm, beaver abatement near Marenisco and trail work in the Indianhead Mountain and Wakefield areas.

“The Michigan DNR and GRTA have maintained constant communication to address these major concerns for the upcoming snowmobile season, but it will not be enough,” Hamilton said, saying community support is needed.

The GRTA “is actively seeking new members to help with upcoming trail improvement work to fill critical groomer operator positions and help with fund-raising events,” he said.

“The GRTA needs immediate community membership and support from Gogebic County residents to insure the backbone of the local economy not only survives, but thrives,” he said.

The club grooms trails throughout the county that connect with other systems.

“The GRTA has worked to provide its membership with funding and the resources required to operate an elite trail grooming program, but the GRTA needs groomer operators and volunteers to see the mission through,” he said.

Hamilton said an entirely new GRTA board of directors was elected earlier this year and within 90 days, it paid off two-thirds of the organization’s debt.