MOUNTAIN, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Taking to the trails on snowmobiles is regular part of a Wisconsin winter, but 2024 has been far from typical.
Warm temperatures have melted trails, forcing many snowmobile clubs to adjust.
With nearly 500 miles of trails, and typically about three months to ride, snowmobilers in Oconto County say they are still feeling the impact of this season’s warm weather.
“The thoughts on it? I don’t think a weather man would want to hear my comments, but it’s just not a friendly year,” said Mike Heindl, Chute Pond Snowmobile Club director.
“No, we have years like this. Not many. I’ve been sledding for 43 years. This is the first year, I have zero miles on my sled. My new sled,” said Nancy Heindl, Chute Pond Snowmobile Club member.
“We were open for a week, and we were able to groom. But then, because of the lack of snow, we had to close the trails. And it was just too much dirt coming up from the grooming process. It was not worth somebody to damage their sled on the trails,” said Deb Uhlenbrauck, Chute Pond Snowmobile Club president.
Uhlenbrauck says the group had to cancel its vintage snowmobile ride on Friday, but Saturday’s “Blast from the Past” fundraiser went on. She says there was food, and raffles. A 1982 Polaris Cutlass is the top raffle prize. And there was a vintage snowmobile show.
“Last year, we had 177 sleds registered. I myself, I would love to see over 100. That would probably bring about 200 people in,” said Uhlenbrauck.
Uhlenbrauck says the “Blast From the Past” is the club’s largest fundraiser of the year. She says money goes toward equipment upgrades, and trail grooming expenses.
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