Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE TRAILS are staying closed because lack of snow and cold. Facing west on Trail 2, in Ironwood, the bare spots and water are visible, but change is in the air.
By IAN MINIELLY
Officially, the date has come and gone in Michigan for the snowmobile trails to open for local riders and visitors. Wisconsin's official date is Dec. 15, so there is still time for the snow to accumulate by opening day.
In the Lake Gogebic area, a new trail groomer has been received. Only two were purchased by the state and they received one of them. Almost 1,000 man hours were put into brushing the trails for the first time in three years.
The Sno Valley Riders Snowmobile Club around Bruce Crossing and Ewen is keeping its trail gates locked to keep trucks off the trails. Everyone is waiting for the temperatures and snow to drop on the Michigan side of the border.
Trail 160 is closed until bridge repairs are completed.
Trail 2 near Indianhead Mountain is being worked on.
Trail 8 just needs snow.
Trail 11 N/S is closed for the season.
The Hurley Chamber of Commerce is fielding calls from people all around the midwest inquiring about the trail conditions and the snow. Thursday saw a caller from Missouri and the callers all have the same interest. How are conditions and when does the area anticipate snow?
The Iron County Forestry Department contracted with local Wisconsin trail clubs to clear brush and prepare the trails with signage.
The White Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club in Hurley has two new Holland tractors and a new Tucker SnoCat for grooming Wisconsin trails.
The Mercer Sno-Goers spent October clearing trails that had grown wild with the wet spring and summer and recently have been out putting up signage along the trails and intersections.
The work is done or nearing completion.
