3 minute read
Club News
by Ryan Huettl Many snowmobile clubs in Minnesota share portions of their GIA trails with ATV clubs during the summer months, with landowner permission. Rather than complain about each other, the Emily-Outing Snowbirds Snowmobile Club and the Over the Hills Gang ATV Club of Crow Wing and Cass counties in Minnesota have chosen to work together. The two clubs have developed a good working relationship. They now share chores, as simple as changing out each other’s signs throughout the City of Emily to avoid confusion for riders in the spring and fall. In an effort to understand concerns on both sides, a representative from each club attends the other’s monthly meetings whenever possible.
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The Over the Hills Gang even contacted the Emily-Outing Snowbirds this fall and asked if they had any trails that needed extra attention from them! As a result of that conversation, the Over the Hills Gang repaired shared sections of the Emily-Outing Snowbirds’ dangerously eroded and rutted trails. Several steep hills on the trail had eroded and left nothing but huge boulders that damaged the groomers and endangered the snowmobile riders. On particularly hazardous sections, their crew brought out their excavator and skid steer to reshape several steep hills and remove a gigantic boulder. That “rock” (shown in the photo) had been sticking up about a foot on the trail for three or four years. Of all the “rocks” so far, this was the biggest they’ve ever removed! The repairs made to the hills will make grooming much smoother and the trails safer and more enjoyable for riders.
With the “leaps and bounds” growth of ATVing and snowmobiling in our community, the sharing of trails is certain to expand. The two clubs plan to continue to find common ground and work together to benefit their community. Emily-Outing, Minn. has become a “Destination.”
THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE WEST
World Class Riding on: Buffalo Pass, Rabbits Ears, Gould, Rand, & Snowy Range.
Eden Prairie Snowdrifters Turn 50!
by Dave Lorence The 2021-2022 snowmobile season marks the 50th anniversary of the Eden Prairie Snowdrifters and Eden Prairie Snow Skippers’ merger. One of the original members of the club, Earl Sickmann, remains on our roster today, and shared some early club history.
When Earl joined the club in 1971, there were no trails in Eden Prairie. He was riding a ’72 Polaris “295” that year, and snowmobilers “rode where they wanted.” Swap meets were held in the Menards parking lot, and club meetings at the Eden Prairie Legion. Members met up on Sunday afternoons and rode from the Legion parking lot to such destinations such as Lions Tap or Dutch’s Resort on Lake Riley. There were sometimes 75 sleds in Dutch’s parking lot.
Earl was the Trail Chairman from 1975 to 1992, and establishing and maintaining trails took much work. Negotiations with landowners, Flying Cloud Airport and the City resulted in the development of 33 miles of trails. A yellow Cat-A-Gator and drag was purchased by the club to maintain the trails around Round Lake, near Edenvale Golf Course, past the airport, and to Lions Tap. A bridge was installed each fall near Miller Spring. Safety Training courses were offered to local youth.
The trails were closed Spring 1992, and since then, the Eden Prairie Snowdrifters have continued as a social club organizing monthly weekend trips to various destinations in the winter months, and gathering for picnics, golfing, go-carting and other activities in the summer. We also give back to the community by supporting PROP and Toys for Tots. Join us!
A collection of vintage Eden Prairie Snowdrifters patches.
Wisconsin's Favorite
Snowmobiling is a beloved winter pastime in Oconto County, thanks to 480 miles of groomed trails, which are maintained throughout the season by local clubs. A snowmobiling adventure here will take riders from open farmland in the south to deep secluded forestland in the north.
