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Increased use of snowmobile trails benefits local economy

ALPENA — Until the recent rain and warm temperatures, Alpena was enjoying an increase in the number of people utilizing local snowmobile trails. Now a fresh blanket of snow is needed to entice local and out-of-town riders to return to them.

There has been significant investment made by the City of Alpena and Alpena Snowdrifters Club to lure riders to the trials, especially people from out of town. The city used a Michigan Department of Natural Resource Trust Fund grant to build a trailhead with amenities and developed a trail in the city limits. The club is in charge of trail maintenance, working with the Michigan Snowmobile Association to promote snowmobiling and fund the needed projects to make it possible.

Snowdrifters trail coordinator Bob Eller said once Alpena received snow riders began to take advantage of it and there has been a lot of activity on the trails this year. He said that has stalled because of the weather the last week or so.

“Overall things we going a little better than the last few years until the thaw came,” he said. “There were a lot of sleds on the trails up until Monday.”

Eller said the percentage split for local riders and riders from out of town is about 50-50. He said riders from out of town add a boost to the local economy and aren’t scared to open their wallets. Eller said riders who decide to spend the night can spend $200-$300 for accommodations, fuel and food, while visitors who are only passing through spend about $75 for a quick bite to eat and to refuel.

Alpena isn’t recognized as a hotbed for snowmobilers like Gaylord, Sault Ste. Marie and other places. Eller said word is spreading, however, particularly about the easy access and good condition of the trails as well as a lower volume of traffic on the trails when compared to other parts of the state.

“When riders from out of town stop at the clubhouse that is one thing they say they are taking advantage of and enjoy,” Eller said.

The Michigan Snowmobile Association and clubs around the state receive little funding from the state. Eller said permit fees pretty much cover the cost for trail grooming equipment, trail maintenance and development and infrastructure improvements such as bridges along the trails.

“We are 100 percent funded by the users themselves,” Eller said.

There is a noticeable decline in the state in the number of people purchasing snowmobiles and as a result permit purchases are down. Eller said many people are buying all-terrain vehicles, which are not permitted on state trails, and as a result revenues for trail upkeep is shrinking.

“When permit sales go up, the more money we have to work with,” he said. “When they go down, well we don’t have as much money and can’t do as much.”

Trail conditions in Alpena are updated on the Alpena Snowdrifters Club website by Eller every day or two and all trail conditions in the state are available at the Michigan Snowmobile Association website. The data is provided by volunteers who are operating the groomers, Eller said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews. Read his blog, Upon Further Review … at www.thealpenanews.com.

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