Show Notes
Wisconsin is the birthplace of snowmobiling and continues to offer some of the best snowmobiling opportunities you are likely to find, especially in the northern part of the state. Eagle River is the Snowmobile Capital of the World and host of the Amsoil World Championship Snowmobile Derby. On this episode, Kim Emerson, Executive Director of the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, sheds light on the mecca of snowmobiling. With more than 200,000 registered snowmobiles hitting Wisconsin's 25,000 miles of groomed trails each winter across the state, safety is an important part of the ride. DNR Warden April Dombrowski has tips on how to ride smart from the start. Listen in and discover why Wisconsin is where it’s at when it comes to snowmobiling.
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TRANSCRIPT
Announcer: [
00:00:00] Welcome to Wisconsin DNR's Wild Wisconsin - Off The Record podcast. Information straight from the source.
Katie Grant: [
00:00:13] Welcome back to another episode of Wild Wisconsin - Off The Record. I'm your host DNR's digital media coordinator, Katie Grant. When it gets cold outside and the snow starts to fall, you might start to hear a familiar noise.
Snowmobiles .
At Wisconsin DNR we just finished celebrating International Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Week. With over 18,000 miles of funded snowmobile trails in Wisconsin, we think it's an important topic to talk about.
Northern Wisconsin is a haven for snowmobiles. I mean, what we think of as a snowmobile today was actually invented by Carl Elliason in Sayner, Wisconsin back in the 1920s. So it was kind of meant to be.
But beyond that legacy, Northern Wisconsin gets a lot of snow. According to the Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce, thye average 65 inches of snow per year.
Less than 30 miles away is the "Snowmobile Capital of the World" -- Eagle River. I called Kim Emerson from the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce to learn more about snowmobiling in the area.
Kim Emerson: [
00:01:26] I am the Executive Director of the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.
Katie Grant: [
00:01:31] Fantastic. So Eagle River is known as kind of being the "Snowmobile Capital of the World." Why is that?
Kim Emerson: [
00:01:39] Well, we are the "Snowmobile Capital of the World." We've got spectacular snowmobile trails here. And with all of that and how well they're groomed, and the many people who are aware of our trail systems, that's how we can be the "Snowmobile Capital of the World."
And what about the Eagle River area? What makes it such an attractive place for snowmobiling and even other vacations throughout the entire year?
Kim Emerson: [
00:02:06] Sure. Eagle River area as an as a family destination, it's a four season family destination. There are activities for everyone... for any type of activity that they like to do.
Uh, for instance, during the winter, we have our snowmobile trails. We've got over 600 miles of groomed trails right here in the Vilas County area. And then of course, so we're, we're seated right here next to the Nicolet National Forest. We have lots of county acreage of, um, County Forest. And we also have the Wisconsin American Legion Forest as well.
The other thing we're known for is our chain of 28 lakes. And so that offers all kinds of activities during the summer. So if you hike, bike, snowmobile, fish, uh, we have it here in Eagle River area.
Katie Grant: [
00:02:58] Absolutely. So by your estimates, how many people visit the area every year in the winter for snowmobiling or other outdoor winter activities?
Kim Emerson: [
00:03:09] Well, I would say, um, winter activities is our second busiest season of the year. I would say there are, oh, I, I would gather close to...During the whole winter months, probably over a hundred thousand people.
Kim Emerson: [
00:03:27] It's a great activity area. Snowmobiling alone brings in over $40 million, uh, to the Vilas County area from December through March.
Katie Grant: [
00:03:39] Wow. That's a lot. How....How are trail conditions so far this year?
Kim Emerson: [
00:03:44] Trail conditions are in good shape. This year we've had some really good snow. Other parts of our state, unfortunately have not had snow. So if you are interested in snowmobiling, Eagle River is the place to be. Uh, we do... If you go to EagleRiver.org, we update our trail conditions continually. Uh, by
8:30 every morning. So for the most up to date reports, EagleRiver.org.
Katie Grant: [
00:04:10] Fantastic. So what are some snowmobiling must do's in the area? Is there like a specific trail or a place to go eat while you're out or if you come up there, what do you have to make sure you do.
Kim Emerson: [
00:04:24] Well, right here in Eagle River, again, we've got over 600 miles of snowmobile trail that you can enjoy. Uh, they do connect many different businesses. And, uh, for instance, you can go to, uh, you can snowmobile for breakfast, you can snowmobile for lunch, dinner. It's a great opportunity. There are so many different wonderful restaurants. It's hard to name them all.
Katie Grant: [
00:04:49] Now, before we go any further, we need to give a huge shout out to all of the volunteers and snowmobile clubs throughout the state who work to make sure these trails are maintained.
The DNR also offers grants to these clubs to help make their work possible. The grants are funded by things like snowmobile registrations, the state trail pass program, and a small portion of the state's gas tax.
These grants are used to fix things like old trails and bridges, to build new bridges and even to add new miles to already existing trails. There's plenty of snowmobile fun to be had, but our goal is to make sure that you do it safely and responsibly. That's why I sat down with Warden April Dombrowski. So sit back and listen in.
April Dombrowski: [
00:05:34] So I'm the section chief, uh, with the Recreation, Safety and Outdoors Skill Section within the Bureau of Law Enforcement here at DNR.
Katie Grant: [
00:05:42] So what all does that cover?
April Dombrowski: [
00:05:43] That in encom...encompasses a lot. So I oversee, um, our safety programs as it relates to boats, snowmobile, ATV, um, hunter education, off-highway motorcycles...
Um, but then it also incorporates other, R3 programs, so the "Learn to Hunt," um, "Fish for Food," the shooting ranges, those type of things. So, um, a lot that covers, um, wwithin the recreational side of, of our program.
Katie Grant: [
00:06:10] All the fun stuff.
April Dombrowski: [
00:06:11] All the fun stuff. But then there's, so there's the educational component of, of, uh, um, those disciplines, but then there's also the enforcement side of those disciplines.
Katie Grant: [
00:06:20] Absolutely. What? Well, first of all, how long have you been here with the DNR?
April Dombrowski: [
00:06:25] I've been with the DNR in this, in this capacity with the Bureau of Law Enforcement for 22 years, and I've been in my current position, uh, for five years.
Katie Grant: [
00:06:34] Okay. And what got you interested in this world of becoming a warden?
April Dombrowski: [
00:06:40] Sure. Um, good question. I've always been, uh, really connected to the outdoors growing up, whether it was fishing, camping, hunting, mountain biking, ATV, snowmobiling, those type of things. But as far as, uh, becoming a conservation warden, it was really... I was inspired at a young age. I'm at the age of 15, um, I was actually working for the DNR in their youth conservation camps.
They no longer exist. Um, but, uh, that was my first job. And, and, um, it was a summer job, uh, basically working in the parks, ah trail maintenance, fish habitat, uh, planting a lot of trees. And that's really where I was able to, uh, grow, um, into my interest of the, of the, uh, natural resources and, and what we have here in Wisconsin.
Fantastic. So you're here today because January is International Snowmobile Safety and Awareness Month. Why is talking about this so important here in Wisconsin?
April Dombrowski: [
00:07:38] This is very important in Wisconsin because we're a unique state in the fact that we have a snowmobile season, and depending on where you are in the state of Wisconsin, you can have a long season or you can have a very short or a short season.
We kind of have that magic belt of where the snow falls within a given season. So, um, it's very important, um, because obviously, you know, I believe snowmobile safety is important, um, because the, the people, uh, deserve, uh, to have a safe and enjoyable experience while they're out recreating, um, you know, on our landscape, whether it's, you know, on our trails or on our waterways.
April Dombrowski: [
00:08:15] So, uh, Wisconsin is also the birthplace for this tradition that we have of snowmobiling. Um, and it involves friends and families, uh, being able to do this activity outside together. Uh, we do have a number of miles of trail, like probably over 25,000 miles of the trail.
April Dombrowski: [
00:08:35] Not to mention all, all our frozen bodies of water, uh, during this time of year.
So it's just very important that, you know, people that are out there recreating, uh, they have that opportunity to enjoy it, to have those experiences and then being able to do it safely.
Katie Grant: [
00:08:49] Right, right. When we're talking snowmobile safety...What are the most important things that people should keep in mind when they're out snowmobiling?
April Dombrowski: [
00:09:00] So when people are out snowmobiling, uh, really what it comes down to a couple of categories I like to categorize, um, kind of, uh, uh, where, where people need to be thinking when they go out and doing that activity. Um, really being able to ride within your capabilities. And when I say that, it's operating at safe speeds, not only that the operator can handle, but what the terrain provides them.
Um, the terrain is different when it, when you go from a groomed trail to a frozen body of water and all of a sudden it's glare ice. The snowmobile responds differently to those conditions. Um, and then also knowing the capabilities of the machine. Um, we have many different machines out there, many different year models, and they all handle differently.
So it's being able to, uh, ride within the machine's capability, just as the user. Uh, this also includes ah riding at night versus daytime operation. When you're riding at night, you know, you got to slow down because you gotta be able to see and respond to any hazards that, that come out in front of you.
And, um, you know, what, what, what we gotta be cautious on is that we're not overriding our headlamps. We override our headlamps, um, obviously that, that, uh, um, can end in just not being able to properly identify those hazards.
April Dombrowski: [
00:10:17] Um, it's also, uh, important for snowmobilers uh, again, not to, um, really just, um, you know, being cognizant of, of other operators out on the trails.
So, um, just being cognizant of the space that you're taking on those trails.
Katie Grant: [
00:10:34] Okay. Yeah. Playing nice with everyone out there.
April Dombrowski: [
00:10:36] Playing nice with ev--. It's a big playground, but we all got to play nice together. The other thing is really riding responsibly, and that is, I talked a little bit before about our trails and our groomed trails. It's staying on the marked trails. Um, there's a number of miles of trails that landowners open up their properties so that the, the trails can go through the property and really respecting those landowners and staying on the trails um in accordance with the signs. Um being courteous and safe when operating in a group.
And then always remember to, you know, if you're following somebody, maintain a following distance that you're going to be able to respond and react if that snowmobiler in front of you has to make a sudden stop. Um, the other thing with, trail conditions is, um, you know, a snowmobiler in front of you can, can, uh, kick up, you know, snow dust and, and kinda, um, interfere with your vision of what you can see, um, at any given time.
So just being cognizant of those things. Um, and then as I mentioned before, you know, really just staying to the right most side of the trail because there's other users out on the trail, you know, that may be going the opposite direction of you and in obviously, being courteous to that space.
April Dombrowski: [
00:11:48] So, and then the other thing is really just practicing zero alcohol, uh, which is a personal choice, uh, to refrain from drinking any alcoholic beverages, um, until you're done operating, you know, your snowmobile for the evening.
Um, whether that's going back to a hotel or a lodge, resort, you know, back to your residence, those types of things. Um, and then, uh you know, with more snowmobile traffic on the trails the last thing we want um to do is to, um, you know, have that, have your reaction time slowed down because of, um, you know, because of, of those beverages that, that you may have taken, uh, prior to, you know, to, uh, being done for the night.
April Dombrowski: [
00:12:26] Um, and then the other thing is really, um, talks about that equipment. Uh, winter provides a uniqueness in the fact that, you know, the weather conditions can change. I mean, you got to dress for the conditions. So the most important thing is, you know, wearing that helmet, you know, protecting your head.
Um, and then also, um protecting, you know, the other parts of your body from the elements. Um, you never know snowmobile goes down and you're standing out in the cold and you didn't anticipate that that's what you're going to be doing. Um, and then obviously if operating on a frozen body of water, wearing a life jacket, um, in case you would happen to find yourself in open water.
Um, and that obviously helps with that flotation. And then also really, um, you don't go alone. Um, typically snowmobilers will go with friends, family, they'll have a partner with them. And that's always good to have that extra companion out there on the trails with you.
Katie Grant: [
00:13:15] Yeah. Yeah. So let's kind of shift gears a tiny bit. Uh, you mentioned riding on ice. Um, tell me a little bit about staying safe on the ice, whether you're on a snowmobile or out ice fishing, or even just going for a walk.
April Dombrowski: [
00:13:34] Sure. Um, and, and there's a number of recreationalists that utilize the frozen, uh, waterways during the wintertime, whether it be a snowmobiler, a fat bike rider, cross country skier.
There's a lot of activities, ice fishing, you mentioned. Um, and really just keep it in mind that when you're out on those frozen bodies of water, uh, that, that brings another set of hazards. Um, and the best advice to follow is no matter what the month, what the temperature is, um, just consider all ice as unpredict...predictable.
Because when you're in that, that element in the environment there's a lot of changing factors in the ice condition. And it can be, you know, four inches in one spot and then all of a sudden you have it really thin in another spot. And, and you know, obviously that can, um, uh, you know, have its own issues in it in itself.
So. When we talk about ice and just the arm predictability, um, just, just being on a snowmobile too, I mentioned it a little while ago as far as, you know, uh, it, it presents challenges from going from a groomed trail to now you're on ice conditions. There could be cracks or heaves in the ice that all of a sudden throws you off a little bit.
Um, the steering, the braking, um, and the overall control of the machine, um, it just changes its characteristics um, when you are go from groom trail to to ice conditions.
Um, another thing is some lakes and rivers, um, you know, have, have notorious bad spots, whether it's a spring is there, um, a current runs through there, those type of things.
So when that energy is still running through that system, um, you know, the ice ain't going to be as solid as maybe in a spot, um, that, that, uh, you know, is frozen up in a little bit harder.
April Dombrowski: [
00:15:22] Um, so really using a high degree of caution while traveling on ice, um, and checking the ice conditions with, with the local, um, the, the local individuals that have that particular knowledge of that body of water. And that could come from bait shops, fishing clubs, I mentioned snowmobile clubs before. Um, and then if there's any local Outfitters that have a connection to that body of water, um, whether that be a sportsman's, um, you know, store or, or a bait shop type of thing.
Um, they usually have those daily reports coming in, um, if not hourly reports coming in because the customers are coming in and out and those conditions change. And then as mentioned with ice, you know, making sure to either carry or wear a life jacket, um, have a cell phone. Handheld spikes are really good because if you would happen to fall through, um, some ice, uh, they just provide you some leverage and grip to get back up to a more solid surface.
Um, if that would happen. And then again, um, riding with a companion is always. I'm good. And then the other thing is, if you're, if you're unfamiliar with the conditions, um, you should maybe think about, do I need to be out there now? Do, is it, is it, do I need to be out there in the evening hours? Those types of things.
So that unfamiliarity, um, really needs to be in check when, when venturing out on, on those frozen bodies of water.
Katie Grant: [
00:16:45] Yeah. So in Wisconsin and a lot of states, we have required Hunter Safety courses that you have to take. Is there something like that for snowmobiling and what are the requirements to need to take that?
April Dombrowski: [
00:16:58] Sure, yeah. All, all riders, um, at least the age of 12 and born on or after January 1st of 1985 are required to complete a Snowmobile Safety course before they can legally operate. Um, so really what that means is, uh, anybody turning 35 this year, um, has to have that snowmobile safety certification. Um.
Riders ages 16 and older, they can complete a course over the internet. So we have internet options for them to be able to take that course and get their certification that way. Uh, those that are under the age of 16, uh, we'll typically have courses set up around the state, and that'll be like a in-classroom, in-person with our volunteer instructors, uh, teaching... teaching that course.
Katie Grant: [
00:17:46] Right. And I assume it's just a like one day, several hour type thing, or is it a fairly long process?
April Dombrowski: [
00:17:52] No, it's not a long process. Um, typically, you know, courses can take place in about two days or two evenings. Um, whether it's a Friday evening, Saturday or breaking it up through the weekend type of thing, maybe a couple hours a evening, a night.
Um, but it's really not uh, a long drawn-out process. It's just a, a familiarity for snowmobile safety and ethics, uh, for those, um, for those individuals coming in, um, requiring that certification. It provides awareness and really just a, a kind of a a starting point of where everybody, you know, kinda has that base knowledge, but then really the true experiences, um, come from then, you know, taking the rides out on the trail and learning things from friends and family, you know, as they continue to grow.
Just like, just like an automobile, you know, um, you, you, you gain experiences the more time you're behind the wheel. Right?
April Dombrowski: [
00:18:48] So, and then as far as information on safety classes, you know, we have them posted throughout the state. And, um, you know, we try to have them in every county, but, uh, we really rely on our volunteer instructors, uh, to perform, uh, and kind of, um, meet, meet the demand of our students.
But if anybody is looking for more information on a snowmobile safety course, they can simply visit our website at www.DNR.wi.gov and then really just the typing in a keyword of "snowmobile safety." Um, and that'll get them to the homepage and they'll find a lot of information, um, that they can navigate, um, and learn not only what safety courses are in their area, but also safety tips, regulations, um, just that, um, information as they enter that snowmobile world.
Katie Grant: [
00:19:42] Yeah. And if you're interested in becoming a volunteer, I assume there's information on that there too.
April Dombrowski: [
00:19:47] Yep. There's information there on that. And then obviously part of our program is, uh, working with our volunteer instructors and providing those, uh, the training and the materials to be able to go out and conduct courses accordingly.
Katie Grant: [
00:20:00] Perfect. Anything else that you think we should know about snowmobiling in Wisconsin?
April Dombrowski: [
00:20:06] A snowmobiling in Wisconsin is, it's really a great time. I mean, my family comes from, um snowmobiling there's again, a lot of great memories and great stories, uh, with that activity. But you know, at the DNR here in Wisconsin, we really just want everybody to be safe -- being able to enjoy that experience in the outdoors and really create, continue to create those, those memories with friends and family. Um, I think common sense is the greatest ally in preventing ah snowmobile and ice related, um, incidents. Um, and this really includes checking and ice conditions and riding responsibly, uh, when venturing out on our trails and frozen water bodies.
So I guess I'd like to end with just, um, everybody to happy trails and, uh, um, have a great winter season.
Katie Grant: [
00:20:54] Yeah. Stay safe out there.
Katie Grant: [
00:20:56] There is still plenty of winter left, so as you head out to enjoy it, keep these tips in mind and do it safely. We'd love to hear about your snowmobiling adventures.
Email us to share your stories -- DNRpodcast@wisconsin.gov
Thanks for listening.