» 2007NEW SNOW: 1″
TRAIL REPORT:
We got about 5″ Friday night here south of Big Rapids. The groomer went through also-thanks Pere Marquette Snowmobile Club!
The trail was in good shape Sunday, then we got about an inch of new snow
Monday. Have a safe New Year!
Trails in West Branch on 12/30/07 were slightly congested with traffic but the trails are snow covered and in good condition. Snowfall on ground is approx. a foot and a half. Trails have ice under the snow so use caution on the corners.
Got about 1/2 inch of new snow last night!
Have fun and stay safe!!
My parents live in SW Michigan. I love to visit them… especially in the winter when I can go snowmobiling. Thank all of you for your current updates. It helps greatly when I need to trailer north in search of snow.
Keep up the great updates… and have a happy, healthy new year!
Snow and Weather: Recieved 6 inches of system snow last night.
Trail Report: Greetings Sledders,
Just another quick update. Mother nature blessed us with 6 inches of system snow last night.
Keith has been out in the big blue tractor all day after cleaning up around here this morning. Then someone else will be out most of the night. And tomorrow they start all over again.
The weather people are calling for lake effect for the next two days, than maybe another system coming through, followed by more lake effect. If you can get away for a couple days, now’s the time.
Ride Often and Please Be Safe. It will be icy in spots out there.
Keith, Sandy and The GirlsClick Here For Complete Report >>>
Overall Trail Conditions: Excellent
Latest Snow: 7 inches of new snow
Trail Report: December 29 2007 Snowmobile Trails We got 7 inches of new snow today . Trails are in great shape. I will take new pictures tomorrow in the a.m. – The pere Marquette trails are in excellent shape.
Jim
London, OH
Been staying at the Americinn Inn @ Calumet snowmobiling and the
trails are in great shape. Having a blast!! It has been snowing every
day.
This is # 45 (Falls Trail) right off M-123. Taken 12/26/07. Photo taken by Candace Chapman of Newberry.
Thanks Ben from Paradise for the shot of the Paradise groomer. TASA OWES A BIG THANKS AND A THUMBS UP TO THE PARADISE GROOMERS!!! During this past week, Paradise (with blessings from the DNR) took one of their groomers through that swampy area between CR 500 and the Falls on the TASA trail! Their equipment weighs a lot less than TASA’s so they were able to get in there and help set it up for TASA. Hopefully it will be set enough that TASA can start grooming this section ourselves this weekend.
SO ON BEHALF OF TASA AND EVERYONE WHO RAILS THE TRAILS; HATS OFF TO PARADISE!!!
TASA Groomers on the trail to Tahquamenon Falls…..
Groomer Dan heading out on #9 south towards Rexton and then on down to Cut River.
Photo Courtesy of Northcountry Campground and Cabins
TAKE A CHANCE TO WIN 2008 SKI-DOO MINI-Z-120
The Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Assoc is raffling off a new 2008 Mini-Z as part of a fund raiser during our Annual Fun Run and Rally on Jan. 26, 2008 at the Don Dee Lanes in Sault. Ste. Marie Mich.
Tickets are $5.00 for 8 chances to win. Not be present to win, but there is lots of fun at out Rally and Fun Run.
Email Rod at rdsanford@hotmail.com for tickets or send your check to Sault Ste Marie Snowmobile Assoc. P.O. Box 877, Sault Ste Marie, Mich. 49783..Go to www.sootrails.org and click on forum for more info on the Rally and Fun Run. – lic.R93478
Groomer Dan on Trail #45 – 12-11-07
Between the Brevort and Newberry on Wednesday before the trails were groomed. Photo courtesy of Steve.
This is a picture of the trails in the Mackinaw City area on Dec.6 2007 courtesy of the Flamingo Motel
Trail Report: December 5, 2007 noon
We still have no contract with the DNR but the groomers are out at our expense. By the end of the day all trails will have been packed at least once. Even if we aren’t getting reimbursed we need to insure they are groomed now or they may not be able to be repaired once we get a contract.
There is good snow levels on all trails 8-14 inches but no base yet. Some of the club trails are not open yet due to the earliness of the season. The downtown trail will not be open until after Christmas, there are still businesses open along where we normally groom. The trail going to Portage Avenue has a gate on it to keep cars out of the City Garage compost area, but you can get around it with your sled, it just keeps the cars out. The forecast is calling for continued cold temps and light snow right thru the weekend.
Remember this is early riding it best with some areas of unfrozen water and dirt under the snow. There are tree stumps, branches, and rough ground under our thin layer of snow, and little traction in some of the corners, so ride careful. We need to have some more snow on what we have now packed to be able to do real fulltime grooming.
Martin Cottle, Grooming Chairman
Sault Ste. Marie Snowmobile Association
We offer winter lodging at Clementz’s Northcountry Campground and Cabins and have trail access 1/16th of a mile south of us. Please visit our website at www.northcountrycampground.com. We still have openings through out the month of December.
I am also the trail reporter for the Eastern U.P. and Secretary for TASA. We have PLENTY of snow. We have started grooming our #9 North trail and hubby Groomer Dan is out on the South trail (headed to Cut River and Rexton).
Check out our website, email me at cclementz@lighthouse.net or call at 906-293-8562
We hope we can be a part of your plans!
Photo taken 12/5/07 Groomer Dan Clementz on the South TASA trail, making a swath so the guys could get in with a 4 WD truck to finish a few signs. The snow was so deep, even after going through with the groomer, that the 4WD truck got stuck. Luckily they had a strap and Groomer Dan could pull the truck out. It ended up with all 3 guys in the groomer to get to the area to sign (instead of trying the truck again!). Thanks to Buzz Medalis (one of TASA’s groomers) for the photo!
Posted December 4, 2007
Man, pregnant woman swim 50 yards for help after snowmobile goes through ice
Crystal Lindell of The Northwestern
A 22-year-old pregnant woman and a 29-year-old man were cold but otherwise unharmed when their snowmobile fell through the ice on the Wolf River early Sunday morning.
Jennifer Pliska of Stevens Point and Shaun Wenzel of Fremont had to swim about 50 yards to get help after their 2001 Ski Doo snowmobile went through the ice at 2:59 a.m. Sunday.
Pliska, who is six months pregnant, was taken to Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca, said Winnebago County Sheriff\’s Department Lieutenant Todd Christopherson.
\”They were driving on the Wolf River and fell through some thin ice,\” he said. \”The snowmobile is currently at the bottom of the Wolf River.\”
Pliska was listed at the driver of the snowmobile and Wenzel as the passenger, but the snowmobile was not registered to either user.
Paul Jenson, spokesman for Riverside Medical Center, said Pliska was treated and released from the hospital after the accident.
Christopherson said the ice is not thick enough for people to be using their snowmobiles on the water yet.
\”That\’s not a very good idea right now, especially on a river with the currents,\” he said. \”That\’s the last you place you want to be and even when the lakes freeze, the rivers are always the last to freeze.\”
Typically, ice should be at least 12 inches thick before people ride their snowmobiles on it, Christopherson said.
Crystal Lindell: (920) 426-6668 or kebert@thenorthwestern.com.
First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone for contacting my office this morning concerning the lack of snowmobile grooming in northern Michigan. It is through communications like yours that help my office respond to such matters.
I have been working with the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) and local clubs regarding yearly grant agreements between snowmobile clubs and the MDNR that provide for such things as reimbursement for local grooming.
This morning, after receiving your e-mails, I personally contacted the MDNR. Unfortunately, it has taken more than three week for the department to compose the new agreements pursuant to its meeting with MSA in early November where a compromise was reached.
I am afraid the MDNR doesn’t quite understand the urgency and importance that grooming provides to both tourism and the snowmobiling in northern Michigan. So, I have taken the liberty of sharing your sentiments with them as well as my own in order to remind the department how essential grooming services are us in the north.
In conveying our concerns and frustrations to the MDNR, it is my understanding that the department will be sending out grant agreements to local clubs tomorrow morning. Every club should have them within the next day or two. I would urge local clubs to review and sign the agreements as soon as possible.
According to the MSA, these agreements should now reflect the compromise reached back in November. In the interim, I am placing pressure on the department to allow the local clubs to begin grooming operations upon the signature of the local club.
I would encourage you to keep me aware of anything you might be hearing locally concerning this issue. I continue to stand ready and willing to assist local businesses, snowmobile groups and citizens that have any further concerns about this matter.
Thank you again for contacting me. I appreciate everyone bringing this to my attention and hope things will be expedited as a result of our pressure on the MDNR.
Sincerely,
Kevin
—————————————
Kevin A. Elsenheimer
State Representative
105th House District
Contact Information:
State Representative Kevin A. Elsenheimer
Michigan Legislature, 105th House District
PO Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
kevinelsenheimer@house.mi.gov
Toll Free: 1-877-536-4105
(517) 373-0829
Fax: (517) 373-1841
It has been very difficult to be excited about all of the snow (upwards of 3’ in places) with the lack of a grant looming over the heads of the clubs that groom the trails.
HOW many years has it been that we have waited and prayed for a start to the snowmobile season such as we have now??? ALL this snow, even on the south trail, and no grant in hand to allow us to groom! Oh, we COULD groom, but we don’t know if we would get reimbursed for it. Even snow plowing the staging areas is on hold until we have a grant number to assign to the bid tabulations sheet! There is a LOT of snow in the staging areas.
Some clubs have started grooming and hope that they get reimbursed for it. TASA will be making that decision in the next couple of days. In the meantime though, SUPPOSEDLY AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DNR HAS BEEN REACHED and grant sponsors (the clubs) are being directed by MSA to sign the grant and over night it to Lansing. The HOPE is that the clubs that have already started grooming (basically laying down the trail so they can get to the real business of grooming), will be able to be reimbursed for their efforts thus far but that is an “unknown” yet too.
If I receive more information today, I will post it on the message board and at www.thetrailblog.com. Keep your fingers crossed.
CATHY CLEMENTZ, SEC FOR TASA