MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – As we continue to pick up more snow this month, trail grooming is an important task to attend to. This need is especially true to NTN, clearing the ways for fat tire snowbikers across roughly 26 miles of trail as often as possible.
“In the wintertime, we do a lot of trail maintenance, so people can have fun,” said Jeni Kilpela, community outreach coordinator for NTN. “We get out there after every storm as much as we can, our team is pretty responsive when we get a lot of snow.”
On Tuesday evening, Reiboldt Ride’s annual SnowBike Grooming Fundraiser was held at Rippling River Resort, where every dollar raised helps cover the costs of NTN’s trail maintenance. The event kicks off with a group ride through the south trails, followed by a celebration with local raffles and prizes, where each dollar is matched up to $10,000 by an anonymous donor.
“It’s a really fun night, a great way to celebrate. Everybody comes together and is just excited for what’s to come,” said Kilpela. “We put this all towards buying new machines, paying for gas, oil, the insurance, and payments for staff who go out and groom.”
This winter, NTN says its trails are off to a great start, hoping to see even more improvements as the season progresses.
“The first snow gave us a great base, and we were able to go clean it all up,” said Kilpela. “Right now, it’s completely groomed and it looks fantastic, but it is a little thin. As we get a bit more snow, it’s just going to build a better base, and I think we’re going to have a really good winter on fat bikes.”
Donations for NTN’s trail grooming services can be made at noquetrails.org under the Singletrack Fund option, and will remain open online until Friday, December 12.
