Trails ready; snow needed

Published Wednesday, November 30, 2005
By ANDY HILL (Globe Associate Editor )

If you can't go snowmobiling on Thursday -- the opening day of the Michigan snowmobile season -- it won't be because the members of the Gogebic Range Trail Authority (GRTA) were asleep at the switch.

This morning's cold temperatures and beautiful powder snow won't be enough to put the region's snowmobile trails into riding condition as the season begins.

What looked like a promising opener was derailed with Monday's 45 degree temperatures and heavy, warm rains.

"We were going to start rolling trails so that it would freeze underneath for a good base. Obviously this warm weather got us goofed up," said Steve Thomas, chairman of the GRTA. "We're going to have to wait for some cold weather and snow so that we can compact the trails. Otherwise, the ground stays thawed."

Ironwood Daily Globe