Januarary 10, 2005 More News

Wellston Businesses Affected By Weather By NIKKI MEZESKE  Staff Writer  Monday Januarary 10, 2005  Manisitee News Advocate

MANISTEE --- After a brief recess from winter, it looks as though the snow is back, and that could mean good news for businesses in Manistee County, but only if it stays. Unfortunately, with the current weather forecast, the odds are not looking good.      Certain communities, Wellston in particular, heavily rely on snowmobile tourism during the winter months.  ³It¹s (snowmobile tourism) 99 percent of the winter business,² explained Tanya Brancheau, President of Wellston Tourist Association. ³For the lodging facilities especially, but it effects all of the businesses in the area.²     Granted they still have the locals who help support them, but the affects of the lack of snowmobile tourism is still felt.  Brancheau said that after the first snow in December the  lodging line was busy and it looked like business was picking up, but as soon as the snow left so did their optimism.     The lodging facilities have had little to no business since the snow has been gone, she said. And the rest of the businesses have seen a major decrease as well.     However, this isn¹t much different from what they were seeing last year, as they did not begin grooming the trails until mid January.   In order for the trails to be groomed they need about six inches of snow for a good base, and then it needs to stay.     The groomers are in charge of packing the snow on the trails to smooth them out and to fill in the holes, giving snow mobilers a smooth ride.  Such appeal these well groomed trails hold, that they see tourists from southern Michigan and even as far as Indiana and Ohio.  I would say that we have great trails and they really  keep up on grooming them, Brancheau said.  In fact they groom about 60 miles a day.      In addition to the trails being well groomed, they offer a wide variety for avid snowmobilers. There are different types of trails they can ride, depending on whether they want straight always, curving trails or a lot of inclines and declines. Not to mention northern Michigan in known for it¹s good quality snow, recent weeks aside.     Despite the switches in weather, Brancheau said they hope to see the snow stick and not melt away this time or at least return quickly.  Of course I¹m not a meteorologist, and even the meteorologists don¹t know for sure, she said. But it looks like we will be getting some more snow, we just hope it¹s enough.