Seasoned snowmobilers will wait for better conditions like at least 1 foot of packable snow before riding trails due to risks of damaging machines. Younger riders will go out in lighter snow. Snowmobile clubs maintain over 150 miles of trails in Bremer County and groomers pack down the snow when conditions allow to provide a smoother ride. Riders are urged to only ride marked trails and use caution.

1. by DOROTHY DE
SOUZA GUEDES
S
nowmobilers are
anxious to get out
and ride but
experienced rid-
ers say they will wait for
better conditions before
taking their machines to
the trails.
Seasoned snowmobilers
like Jeremy Happel, Denver,
who has been riding since
the 90s, will wait until there
is about a foot of packable
snow. Still, the light, pow-
dery snow that fell across
northeast Iowa this week
was enough to draw out
some younger snowmobil-
ers.
“We call them diehards
– the guys who just want to
ride,” Happel said.
And there are many
miles of snowmobile trail to
ride in Iowa. The loosely
connected snowmobile trail
system crisscrosses the
state. Happel is the trail
director of the Bremer
County Sno-Knights, a club
of riders and volunteers
who maintain 150 miles of
public snowmobile trail
throughout Bremer County.
“You can get on a snow-
mobile trail on the west
side of Waverly,” said Denny
Koehler, Waverly, Sno-
Knights president. “You can
ride clear up into Minnesota
following trails from one
club to the next.”
First, snow will need to
accumulate to at least a foot
deep before volunteers take
to the trails with special
machinery called a groom-
er, Happel said. Denver,
Cedar Falls and Waverly
share a Tucker Snowcap
groomer, machinery that
flattens out the trail to make
it less rough. Happel over-
sees the groomer operators
who must be state certified
to maintain a groomer
license. Groomers are pur-
chased by the Iowa
Department of Natural
Resources with money col-
lected for trail passes,
which cost $15. Other trail
maintenance costs include
diesel fuel for the groomers,
trail stakes and markers.
The IDNR provides trail sig-
nage.
Marked trails run in
roadside ditches and con-
tinue across fields where
there are written agree-
ments with landowners.
Come spring volunteers will
return to the trails to
retrieve the signage they
installed after farmers fin-
ished the fall harvest. This
has not been a normal win-
ter for snowmobilers. The
mid-November snow that
fell before all trails were
marked caught volunteers
off guard. Then it hit 60
degrees, said Happel.
Since then snowmobile
riders have been waiting for
colder weather, and snow-
fall, preferably wetter snow
that packs down. When the
snow is light and fluffy
snowmobiles pretty much
ride on the ground, said
Troy Sage, Waverly, past
president of the Sno-
Knights.
“It is definitely hard on
the machine. You need the
snow to settle to keep the
machine from banging on
frozen dirt,” Sage said.
Many marked trails lead
across fields that have been
chisel plowed, then frozen
solid, creating rough,
bumpy terrain. Deep,
packed snow on the trails
protects snowmobiles from
damage and make for a
more comfortable ride.
It is legal in Iowa to ride
snowmobiles in roadside
ditches, but not all ditches
are marked for culverts,
boulders and other hazards.
It is also legal to ride in the
median of four-lane state
highways, such as Highway
218 and Highway 20, but
only during daylight hours.
At night riders have to run
with traffic, said Happel.
“I just emphasize stay on
the marked trail. It’s safer,”
Happel said. “If you’re going
to ride, ride safe – and pray
for more snow so we can get
the groomers out.”
Iowa law requires snow-
mobiles to be registered,
licensed and insured.
Helmets aren’t required but
experienced riders typically
wear helmets for safety rea-
sons and for warmth. On a
weekend with good trail
conditions area restaurants
and bars near trails benefit
from groups of snowmobil-
ers, Happel said.
There are about 50 snow-
mobile clubs in Iowa that
work with the Iowa State
Snowmobile Association.
Affiliated clubs and organi-
zations are charged with
maintaining Iowa’s trail sys-
tem and work with the
IDNR. The state relies on
all-volunteer labor to mark
and groom trails.
The state owns the
groomers operated by the
volunteers, reimburses
clubs for some diesel fuel
and repairs. IDNR collects
registration fees and trail
pass fees that keep the sys-
tem going. Riders without
Iowa trail passes are subject
to heavy fines.
“I’ve been stopped in
Bremer County by the DNR
to make sure I had my trail
pass,” Denny said.
Until the groomers pre-
pare the trails Happel said
he’s not likely to take out his
snowmobile. He and his
wife Jen both ride and at
$10,000 or more for a new
snowmobile they will not
go out on nearly bare, rough
ground. Often when there is
not enough snow on local
trails, club members “trailer
up and head north,” said
Happel.
But this year that’s not
even an option, said
Koehler. “There’s not a lot of
snow in Minnesota either.”
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COURTESY PHOTO
Above from left to right: Chuck Hinton of Cedar Falls, Jeremy Happel of Denver and Jeff Hart of Shell Rock, stand in front of the 2005 Tucker groomer used to maintain and
groom the trails. Below is a rear view angle of the same groomer actively grooming NE Waverly on its way to Denver.
• Persons under the age of 16 may operate their own snowmobile under the direct supervision of
a responsible person of at least 18 years of age experienced in snowmobile operation who pos-
sesses a valid driverʼs license or an education certificate issued or recognized by the DNR.
• Persons 12 through 17 must have a valid education certificate in their possession
when operating.
• Persons 16 to 17 may operate unsupervised, but must have a valid education cer-
tificate. Restrictions on operating a motor vehicle also apply to persons in this age group.
• Persons 18 and older may operate without an education certificate if their privilege to
operate a motor vehicle has not been barred or revoked.
For snowmobile clubs and events throughout the state visit
Iowa State Snowmobile Association www.iowasnowmobiler.com
The Bremer County Sno-Knights meet the second Wednesday of the month at various
locations throughout the county. The next meeting is 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at
Cliff s Place. Meetings are open to the public. Membership dues are $30/year. For
more information call Denny Koehler at 319-240-5756 or visit Bremer County Sno-
Knights on Facebook for up-to-date trail information or visit the club s website at www.
sno-knights.com/
Snowmobile registration fees fund Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides
grants to snowmobile clubs for trail development and maintenance. The IDNR also
offers snowmobile education. The following age restrictions apply to persons operating
a snowmobile on public land, public ice, designated riding trails or designated riding
areas in Iowa:
I just emphasize stay on the
marked trail. Itʼs safer, if youʼre
going to ride, ride safe — and pray for more
snow so we can get the groomers out.”
- JEREMY HAPPEL, SNOWMOBILER
Diehard
snowmobilers
anxious to get
on the trail
“Helping your financial
dreams come true”
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