HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-12-26, Page 12Page 12 The Huron Expositor • Decem%er 26, 2007
Early snowfall good news for
Ben Forrest
A typical snowmobile season
lasts six to eight weeks in this part
of the country, and the past couple
of years have been decidedly aver-
age.
Substantial early snowfall in
2007 may extend the current sea-
son significantly, however — much
to the delight of local sledders.
"Hopefully we get upwards of 10
to 12 weeks this year, which would
be great," said Ken Hunsberger of
the Brussels -based B & W
Trailblazers snowmobile club last
week.
Although snow came before
Christmas last year, it disappeared
by Boxing Day, Hunsberger added
later.
Early snow has been a rarity of
late, however, according to Dave
Louwagie of a Mitchell -area club
known as the Ellice Swampers.
"It's not too often we can snow-
mobile . on trails between
Christmas and New Year's," he
said. "This is a bit of an exception."
Many local clubs report signifi-
cant decreases in the number of
trail permits sold in 2005 and
2006, and relatively, mild weather
shares at least some of the blame.
Hunsberger estimates sales
dipped 20 per cent the past couple
of years, while Louwagie and
Adrian Salverda of North Huron
Trail Grooming also report a con-
siderable dip.
Only the Seaforth area's Pine
Ridge Snowmobile Club reports
sales that remained static over the
same period.
"We took a pretty' big hit last
year," said Louwagie, suggesting
the cost of fuel may also have con-
tributed to the problem.
Sales have improved in some
areas this year, however, which is
good news for
local clubs, and
may also be a
boon to local
businesses.
Salverda links
increased traffic
on snowmobile
trails to
increased traffic
at restaurants,
motels and other
businesses.
In the past,
he said, Huron
County has
attracted sled-
ders from as far
away as
Haliburton and
the United
States who were
in search of
snow.
To meet the
demand, clubs
Seaforth Community
Medical Centre
Health & Wellness Centre of Excellence
Owned & Managed by
Seaforth Community Hospital Trust
28 Centennial Drive, Seaforth NOK 'WO
519-527-1770
Holiday Hours
Dec. 24th
Dec. 25th
Dec. 26th
Dec. 27th
Dec. 29th
Dec. 31st
8:30am to 12:00noon
closed
closed
closed
closed
8:30am to 3:OOpm
Jan. 1st closed
Ma,, all the joy the season brings be yours now and
in the coming year. Season's greetings from all of
us at the Seaforth Community Centre.
ocal snowmobilers
• Ben Forrest photos
Brett Williamson (left) and grandfather Ron Williamson of the Pine Ridge
Snowmobile Club braved the weather Dec. 20 to mark a Seaforth area snowmobile
trail with stakes. Thanks to early snow, the snowmobile season may be extended
two to four weeks this year.
are hard at work preparing trails,
some of which figure to be ready by
Monday.
The trails are typically marked
with stakes shortly after harvest,
and workers begin grooming them
as soon as they have enough snow
to do so.
Heavy precipitation in mid-
December led some to scramble
into action.
Hunsberger admitted none of the
Trailblazers anticipated so much
would come so soon.
"It's rather unusual, compared to
what we've had the last couple of
years," he said.
Preparing the trails usually
involves packing the snow down by
going over it with snowmobiles,
and by treating it with a groomer.
The grooming tractor used by the
Swampers has a "drag" with sta-
tionary blades that loosen the
snow, and a pan that packs it
down, said Louwagie.
Hunsberger described a similar
device employed in the Brussels
area.
"You can only groom at 10 km/h
or less," he said. "It's not very
fast."
Once the trails are prepared, the
weather has little impact on them,
according to Ron Williamson of the
Pine Ridge club.
"As long as you get good coverage
on them and they get cold and
frozen, they stay pretty good," he
said.
Ideal temperatures for trail
maintenance are five below freez-
ing during the day -15 at night,
said Louwagie.
At press time, conditions were
not ideal, but close.
Scoreboard
SHUFFLEBOARD
Dec. 19
Men's high: Cor DeCorte 5, Cecil Pepper, Frank Golding,
Gerry Martene, Hank Dorssers, Ken Preszcator, Ken
Lingelbach 3 wins..
Ladies' high: June Martene 4, Olave Little, Catherine
DeCorte, Joyce Pepper, Doris Muir 3 wins.
BOWLING
STAMES
THURSDAY
NIGHT
Deo. 13
Men's high single: Joe Dorssers 228
Men's high triple: Bob Dinsmore 591
Men over 200: Bob Dinsmore 211, 201, Dave McMaster 211,
Mike Beuerman 223, 205, Joe Dorssers 228.
Women's high single: Betty Small 202
Women's high triple: Betty Small 520
Standings: Optimists 41, Smith Const. 31, E.D. Smith 30,
MacDonald Auto 24.
Dec. 20
Men's high single: Mike Beuerman 306
Men's high triple: Mike Beuerman 663
Men over 200: Dave McMaster 205, Mike Beuerman 306.
Bruce Ungarian 202, Jesse Ladd 200, Bob Dinsmore 224, 233.
Men over 600: Mike Beuerman 663, Bob Dinsmore 643.
Women's high single: Betty Small 237
Women!. high triple: Betty Small 561
Optimists 44, Smith Construction 34, E.D. Smith
34, MacDonald Auto 28.