Trees, branches fall over trails

BESSEMER — The Gogebic Range Trail Authority is seeking volunteers to assist in trail clean-up efforts.

The more than a foot of heavy snow that has fallen was accompanied by strong winds that downed many trees, making most of the trails impassable, according to GRTA trail boss Deb Fergus.

The club is asking people to volunteer to help clear the downed tree limbs, with 95 miles of impassable trails that need to be cleared about a month away from the traditional opener for snowmobiling.

People are being asked to go out on their own on the ungated trails and remove the trees and brush.

The opening of snowmobile season usually follows hunting season on the Gogebic Range so the clean-up efforts will continue throughout the month.

Gov. Scott Walker declared Nov. 6-10 as Wisconsin’s Winter Awareness Week, a week after the first snowstorm of the season.

Wind, waves and heavy snow caused flooding on U.S. 2 in Ashland, ripped up sections of Duluth’s Lakewalk, damaged road access to the mouth of the Brule River and caused two rollover accidents in Iron County. Black ice was a factor in both Iron County rollovers in which three area residents were injured.

In the past five years, Wisconsin has averaged 18,600 motor vehicle crashes during winter months, according to Ready Wisconsin. Many are caused by driving too fast for conditions.

Ready Wisconsin encourages motorists to be gentle with both the accelerator and brake, not to use cruise control in wintery conditions and not to be overconfident when driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

—Ralph Ansami