Snowpackers earn DNR grant
ST. HELEN- Winter’s here and there is finally enough snow to bring out the sleds in force. The Friday caravan of trucks and trailers hauling one, two or six snow mobiles starts to crowd I-75 about noon. Sun or snow, everyone is pushing north to enjoy riding the snow-covered forest trails.
Fifty-six miles of Michigan’s snowmobile trails lie between St. Helen and Houghton Lake and are watched over and maintained by the St. Helen Snow Packer’s, one of Michigan’s oldest snowmobile clubs.
The Snow Packers are designated as “Trail Grant Holders” by Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources and receive annual funding to maintain the trails within their jurisdiction. This year the Snow Packers were awarded an additional $10,000. grant to cover the cost of major trail rehabilitation.
The normal responsibilities required under the funding include signage installation, (911 emergency locator numbers), brush removal, trail grooming and maintenance and similar activities. According to Scott Nestle, Snow Packers President, “the additional funding will allow the Club to correct some serious problems with the trails”. There are several major holes and wash outs and culverts that need to be repaired or even replaced. In many spots the trail surface has worn down to the stabilizing fabric that supports the trail composition. Replacing these sections is like starting over from the beginning.
All the work is done by volunteers. The Club has around 100 members but, as with most organizations, most of the work is done by a few.
Ray Wlosinski, Snow Packers Vice President, said that they are “spending the winter planning the projects so they will be ready to start first thing in the spring”. Some heavy equipment, (dump trucks and dozers), will be required. Scott indicated that most of that is, or will be, available. What they really need are volunteers to man the rakes and shovels.
Come spring, don’t assume the season is over. All the trails are available throughout the non-snow season as ORV Trails. When the snow has melted the trails still provide some fantastic touring opportunities through some of Michigan’s premiere rustic areas.
Volunteers, that’s what’s needed in the spring. Now is the time to sign up so the Snow Packers have an idea what they have to work with. For more information on the St. Helen Snow Packers and what they need, type into your search engine “St. Helen Snow Packers” to reach their website.
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