Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Volunteers from the Aurora Club and Gogebic Range Trail Authority work on developing a new trail in the city of Ironwood that will connect Trail 2 to the area around the Aurora Club, Manny's and the Norrie Club. From left, are April Feltz, Joe Rimkus, Steve Hamilton, Jeff Behrendt, Ellis Larsen and Jim Martell.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood - Work on developing a motorized trail loop in the city of Ironwood continued with a recent work event featuring volunteers from the Gogebic Range Trail Authority and the Aurora Club.
The group worked mostly in Miners Memorial Heritage Park, maintaining some existing trail and building a bit of new trail.
"We had to clean it out to make (the trail) a little wider so the groomer can go through," said Leslee Hein, the secretary for the GRTA and Aurora Club boards. "A bunch of us got together with chainsaws and basically widened the path."
The work between Ironwood's Lorenson Field and the Aurora Club connects the club to the trail system and is part of a larger effort to develop a looped trail in the city to provide access from Trail 2 near the AmericInn on U.S. 2 to the areas around the Aurora Club, Manny's and the Norrie Club.
Hein said the trail, which is intended for year-round use, will provide multiple benefits.
"With this project, we're hoping ... it will offer our ORV riders more trail experience and (a chance) to see our beautiful town of Ironwood," Hein said. "But also hopefully attract customers to the two clubs and, of course, Manny's."
She said that now that the trail has been completed to the Aurora Club, it will begin to be maintained and signed and eventually added to area trail maps.
The current plan is to groom the trail to the Aurora Club parking lot once the region gets its next snowfall, according to Hein.
She said the Aurora Club hopes the trail access will not only introduce the club to potential members among both the local and visiting snowmobile communities, as well as provide more exposure for the club's rental hall.
