After a late start, snowmobile season is in full swing!
Hayward, Wisconsin
Reprint of article published in the Sawyer County Record, Jan, 2023
The December storm tried its best to take us down, but our snowmobile community refused to tap out. Clubs, volunteers, and contractors quickly assembled to clear trails-most came wielding chainsaws, some brought excavators, and some showed up with nothing more than fierce determination.
After one of the most damaging storms we’ve seen in years, it took them only 11 days to open our trail system. Anyone, who got a first-hand look at the devastation, would agree that this was an amazing achievement!
Mother Nature continued with her shenanigans though; when she realized that we won that first battle, she pulled out one of her most effective winter weapons- warmth. With a devilish gleam, she watched as our groomers struggled to whip soft mushy snow into a solid trail base, and she even grinned when ice fishermen’s ATVs started breaking through slush laden lakes. I hope someone pays the weather bill so we can go back to just plain ole cold and snow for a while.
Club reports indicate that as of last weekend, all remaining storm damaged trails are cleared, groomed, open and ready to ride. Snowmobilers rapidly flocked to Sawyer County for the ‘white gold rush’. Businesses, resorts, and restaurants welcomed the sudden rush of revenue.
Club rides and events are now in full swing; Birchwood Bobcats held their annual open house last weekend; our Alliance mascot, Sawyer, was there and told me they had a great turnout! Sno-Trails put on a fundraising poker run and bonfire last Saturday, the Relic Riders’ annual vintage 100-mile challenge run is this Thursday, followed by the Winter Huskies’ Winter Sno-Xtravaganza, this coming weekend in Winter. Keep up with snowmobile events by visiting the Sawyer County Snowmobile ATV Alliance Facebook page.
Our Alliance purchased trail counters to collect data on motorized sports trail usage and before the storm I moved them from the ATV trails to the snowmobile trails. I got a late start snowmobiling myself and this past weekend was my first opportunity to check the counters, and I found a few of them buried under deep, drifted snow. It took me 80 miles and several hours just to check and rescue half of the counters, the others will have to wait until later in the week.
I rode with a few different groups this past weekend and our travels took us through most of the county’s northern and central trails. The winding trails proved to be just as beautiful as I expected them to be- many of the trees were still adorned with light snow which sparkled in the sunlight. It was like riding through a Christmas post card!
The deep snow on the trails is a blessing to see – we have such a great trail base this year!
Alongside the trails, the snow is even deeper and hungry for company- I was behind one rider this weekend who was hugging the outer edge of the trail, when suddenly his ski caught the deep snow. In a split second he was dragged off and buried in waist deep, wet snow. Pulling a sled out cannot be done gracefully and always involves a comical series of mumbling, grunting, and falling down. There are sheepish grins and lame excuses concocted after we get a stuck sled freed-excellent fodder for future good-natured ribbing.
The groomers, still fighting warm temperatures, are doing their best to keep trails flat, but the constant sled traffic makes it a difficult task, especially over a busy weekend. Rider’s habits contribute to the weekly buildup of moguls- you don’t have to hit it so hard after every stop sign or corner folks!
Some of the lakes are still rough to ride; the Chippewa Flowage, and many of the larger lakes, has areas of frozen drifted snow which can send throttle-heavy riders slightly airborne. There is still a thick layer of slush on most lakes I rode – and going off the lake trail will drag you into a quagmire.
We have the snow, and we have a great trail system, now, if Mother Nature cooperates and gives us some consistent cold weather, we’ll will be in for a magnificent season of riding.