Neil Hill (left) of the Straits Area Snowmobile Club performs a courtesy sound check on snowmobiles owned by Pat and Timm Sandborn of Rockford Saturday, January 10. A new state law regulating the noise emission of sleds sets a limit of 88 decibels. The Sandborn snowmobiles both tested in the acceptable range, at 75 and 77 decibels. Trail grooming began at 5 a.m. Saturday, January 10, and about three hours later a snow-covered field off Borland Road came to life as Straits Area Snowmobile Club members cleared the snow, built a campfire, prepared hot beverages and food, and posted signs along nearby trails inviting recreational snowmobilers to take a break and enjoy the first trail stop of the season.

The event drew about 60 trail riders.

The stop serves as a gathering place for snowmobilers, giving them an opportunity to talk about their sleds, trail conditions, and favorite spots. Club members answer questions and give tours of the club's two trail groomers. The food is free.

New this year, club member Neil Hill offered to test snowmobile noise levels. The courtesy service was in response to a state law enacted last March that restricts snowmobile engine noise to no more than 88 decibels. Michigan snowmobile owners in violation of the new law can be fined between $100 and $250.

Smoke rises from the campfire as snowmobilers gather at the first trail stop of the year. Sponsored by the Straits Area Snowmobile Club, the trail stop was two miles north of Worth Road where Borland Road intersects with the Burma Grade. The event gave snowmobilers a chance to enjoy hot dogs and hot beverages while talking about trail conditions and trail riding plans for the day. Most of the sleds tested Saturday passed, said Mr. Hill, although a few were slightly higher than the acceptable level. The St. Ignace Police Department donated use of its sound meter and club members hope to borrow it again for the club's Saturday, February 14, poker run and adventure race.

Taking advantage of the free sound test were Pat and Timm Sandborn of Rockford. The couple came up to take part in the poker run being offered that day by the Driftwood Restaurant. They said they hope to be back for the March poker run organized by Timmy Lee's Pub.

St. Ignace residents Quentin Goudreau (left) and Ken Hardy kick up snow with their machines as they zoom toward the trail stop Saturday. They had traveled from St. Ignace to Moran and were heading to Trout Lake next. "The trails are perfect," said Mr. Hardy. "They don't get any smoother." "It's lots of fun, the trails are great, and people are so nice," said Mrs. Sandborn.

For the sound test on their snowmobiles, Mr. Hill placed the meter four feet above the ground and at a measured distance of 13 feet from the snowmobile's exhaust. With the machine in place, Mr. Sandborn opened the throttle until the machine reached at least 3,750 revolutions per minute, which was held for four seconds to get a reading. The test showed the couple's machines are in compliance, said Mr. Hill.

Stock snowmobiles are expected to pass under the new law, said Mr. Hill. Machines with after-market exhaust systems that give the sleds more power likely will violate the sound restriction. The law was designed, said Mr. Hill, to help the state keep some of its trails on private property, get new trails, and reduce the number of complaints regarding louder machines.

Kathy and Kevin Gnagey of Pigeon park their sleds near the trail groomer Saturday. The couple, who drive to the Upper Peninsula about four times each winter to snowmobile, got engaged on the trail two years ago in February. "The trails are nice," said Mrs. Gnagey, "and people are friendly." The couple also help the Straits Area Snowmobile Club members clear brush from the trails in October each year. Hours before snowmobilers began arriving at the trail stop, Keith Grogan of St. Ignace was out grooming trails.

The temperature was minus-8 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mr. Grogan has been a groomer since the club started in 1992. He grooms trails five days a week, covering about 65 miles a day. His normal route begins in Brevort and includes Trout Lake, Rexton, and the Cut River area.

"I just like being out here in the woods," he said.

James Clifton (right) of London, Ohio, purchased a vacation house near Moran seven years ago. The central location was a main reason he chose the area. Traveling the trails from Moran, Mr. Clifton, his son, Cory (center), and friend Mike Maddux are able to head in any direction, including north to Tahquamenon Falls or east to the Cedarville area. The group drives up almost every weekend through the winter to enjoy the trails. "The people have been great in this area," said Mr. Clifton, adding he appreciates the work of the snowmobile club. He sees a lot of wildlife, including deer and rabbit. This year, he said, he has seen more rabbits than usual.

"The nature out here is beautiful. This is kind of a boring road," he said, traveling north on Borland Road from Worth Road. "You get back in the woods on the other trails and there's a lot of trees. It's a tighter forest. The trees are all loaded with snow. It's pretty neat. It's a lot of fun."

Club President Jim DeKeyser said Saturday's trail stop gives snowmobile riders the opportunity take a closer look at the grooming equipment and learn about the club and the trails. Some riders now travel from downstate to volunteer to help maintain the trails, he said.

Snowmobile trail groomer Keith Grogan is seen in the rearview mirror while driving the John Deere grooming tractor north on Borland Road around noon. When he arrived at 5 a.m. Saturday to begin preparing the snowy pathway that leads to the trail stop location, the temperature was -8 degrees. Fortunately, the cab of the $140,000 machine is heated. Some of the more frequent riders appreciate the local northern trail system with its wide path, said Mr. DeKeyser. One rider from the Bay City area returned eight times last year to help with grooming.

The club has a contract with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to groom 101 miles of trails. Each season, the club grooms an accumulated total of more than 10,000 miles of trails, said Mr. DeKeyser.

In addition to grooming, the contract with the DNR includes clearing trails and making sure signs meet state requirements. That work usually is done over two weekends in October.

About 15 downstate people who ride the trails in the winter come back in the fall to help club members with the work.

"They love the trails because the trails are nice," said club member Timmy Lee of St. Ignace, "and they appreciate it, so they come help us."

The club's two John Deere tractors each cost about $140,000. They are fully equipped with a front blade and a drag attached to the rear. The front blade cuts through the moguls created by snowmobiles and the drag levels the trail, filling in the dips with snow.

This year, the club is seeing fewer moguls on the trails. Mr. DeKeyser reasons better winter conditions and fewer riders are the reasons trails are staying in better condition.

Saturday's poker run attendance was the lowest recorded, with 25 registrants, said Mr. Hill.

"Our previous low was 38," he said, "and that day it was raining."

He estimates so far this season the club is seeing about 25% fewer snowmobiles, which he attributes to poor economic conditions. Also, more snow downstate this winter has led many riders to travel trails closer to home, said Mr. Hill.

The club has had an increase in volunteers for trail grooming this year and is in the process of training new drivers. Now Mr. Hill and Mr. DeKeyser would like to see more community involvement and more local people join the organization. Increased membership would make it possible to offer more special events.

Now, say the men, the club has five groomers, five local members, and other members from outside the area.