 
WELLSTON-If you look at a snowmobile trail map of
Michigan, it is very obvious that the Manistee National Forest has the
highest concentrations of groomed trails in the Lower Peninsula - trails
that are a big tourist draw to the Wellston area.
"Wellston would be a ghost town this time of
year if it wasn't for the snowmobilers," said Bruce Beger, owner of the
Wellston Party Mart and chairman of the trail grooming committee of the
Wellston Area Tourist Association (W.A.T.A.). "Five hundred sleds an hour
use the trails on an average weekend."
The organization contracts with the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources to groom the trails, so that visitors have
a smooth ride through the area.
One of two John Deere, four-wheel drive
tractors pulling grooming sleds operated by W.A.T.A. cover each mile of
the trail system, three times a week at a minimum.
For that service the state pays them $3 a mile.
Five volunteer W.A.T.A. members covered 834
miles during December, totaling 167 man hours.
"I often hear from people that we have
the smoothest trails they've been on," said Dan Funk, owner of the Pine
Creek Lodge and W.A.T.A. volunteer.
"Our trails have what many trails don't have,"
said Funk.
"An interconnection to four other counties."
Funk often grooms the eastern end of the trail
system and feels it has the most spectacular scenery of any area.
"The Udell Hills Trail is unique and beautiful,"
he said. "Nothing can compare with the double loop. From the Upper #2 loop,
I can see Manistee. At night, when it's all lit up, it's a great sight."
The impact on the local economy by snowmobiles
cannot be over-estimated, said Funk.
"When I buy something locally this time of year,
I'm buying it with snowmobile dollars," said Funk.
"Most people just don't realize what impact
the snowmobilers have on the Wellston economy," said Beger.
Gary Gregory of Wellston is one of the volunteer
drivers. While he isn't necessarily a snowmobile enthusiast, but finds
the solitude of the forest while he's out grooming the trails to be enjoyable,
and the job challenging.
"There is really a lot to grooming the trails,"
Gregory said. "You don't just drop the sled and drag it along. You are
constantly adjusting the height of the sled to get the snow to go under
it smoothly."
But Gregory still finds time on his long sojourn
through the winter woods to admire nature.
"Deer will stand off the side and watch you
go by. I saw a coyote, yesterday."
Gregory also feels a sense of accomplishment,
when it's done right," said Gregory.
W.A.T.A. operates an Internet Website which
provides trail reports and a schedule of all the Wellston activities at:
www.wellstonmichigan.com. |
|
