OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The sights and sounds fill the air in the Northwoods, as the snowmobile season gets underway.
“This is my first ride of the year, and I’m really looking to throw some snow around with some new friends,” says Russ Larson, New London.
Dozens of riders took the trails Friday morning around Townsend.
Conditions are reported to be good, but with a weekend warm-up on the way, that could change.
For months, Larson has been waiting for the season to start.
“This is a big deal for me. I bought this snowmobile in the spring, and I picked it up on my birthday in August. And I’ve been just looking at it. Waiting, dying to ride it since I picked it up,” he says.
Larson’s wait ended Friday morning. Snowmobile trails in Northern Oconto County are open.
“We may be a few days earlier than we were last year, but we’re pretty much on par, I think,” says Gary Wagner, Red Arrow Snowmobile-ATV Club President.
Wagner says crews from The U.S. Forest Service, Oconto County, and club volunteers have been working for five months clearing trees and brush from the July 19 storm which raced through the area. Two December snowstorms gave members the chance to work on the snowmobile routes.
“We’ve been out grooming all week and like I said, there’s a terrific base out there. They’re smooth like glass right now. They really are,” says Wagner.
There are about 480 miles of snowmobile trails in Oconto County. The Red Arrow club maintains about 60 of those miles. Club leaders say the storm damage will keep a small trail section closed this season, but most of the routes are open for business.
“If you go snowmobiling during the day, there really is no speed limit, so there’s a thrill factor there. But you also have to take into consideration the people you’re riding with, and safety,” says Larson.
