Iffy season for snowmobile trails

BLACK CREEK - Area snowmobile trails have had an on-again off again strained relationship with the snow this winter. While this winter has been better than last, snowmobilers say it's been far from ideal.

"Up and down like a roller coaster!" exclaimed Gordon Spaulding, president of the Green Knights Snowmobile Club.

"It could be better. I mean, it'd be nice to have a month, month and a half of steady, open trails. That would be ideal," said Gary Timm, president of the Outagamie County Snowmobile Alliance.

In Outagamie County the trails were open for 9 days following late December snow.  Then there was warm up and a melt. Then about two weeks ago the trails opened again after another good snow. But after another nine days the pattern repeated.

"They were very good and then we got all the rain. So hopefully, maybe we'll get another shot," said Spaulding.

Snowmobilers told FOX 11 once February ends the season is pretty much over. So their fingers are crossed for a good blanket of snow in the next week or two.

However, "even if we get some snow it's iffy whether we open them," said Timm.

A big concern when it comes to opening the trails is that even if we do get enough snow there's a thick layer of ice hiding underneath.

"We want everybody to be safe. I mean we don't want to see people get injured or have fatalities," explained Timm.

And with icy and spotty trails, area enthusiasts are truly lamenting the lack of snow.  They told us they spent a lot of money on their sleds and can't even use them!

"I feel sorry for the people that can't ride...because you're talking 8 to 10 to 12 thousand dollars!" Spaulding.

So the only hope is to get their money's worth in the next few weeks.