TRAVERSE CITY -- Reni Dengel loves to ski.
He enjoys a good backcountry run, but when he wants to ski on groomed trails, he comes to the Vasa Pathway.
This season, he's visited the Acme Township trail about three times a week.
"It's the best shape it's been in in years," said Dengel, of Cedar, who spent Thursday afternoon on skis. "It's just excellent."
As of Thursday, the Vasa Pathway had been cleared 21 times since grooming started Dec. 1, one fewer to date than in 2006-07 and 2007-08 combined.
But the extra maintenance could take a toll on the operating budget for nonprofit TART Trails Inc. that maintains the grooming program -- expenses already are on pace to exceed previous winters.
The popular cross-country ski trail has retained much of its snow base this season, benefitting from an early, heavy snowfall and cold temperatures, said Missy Luyk, TART's trail program specialist.
"We have never lost snow, even with the couple thaws that we had," Luyk said. "When the snow started falling, it was winter, and it's stayed around and been pretty steady."
The decision to groom is based on accumulated snowfall, temperature and weather predictions, she said. Wet, heavy snow can clog some of the grooming machines, and separate tools can break up layers of ice that coat the snow.
Because winter weather is unpredictable, Luyk said it's difficult for staff to estimate by how much the organization could exceed the roughly $30,000 spent annually on grooming. But some increase is expected.
Extra clearing requires more money to be spent on fuel, machine maintenance and payroll.
TART Trails Inc. receives monthly reimbursement stipends from the state Department of Natural Resources, since Vasa occupies state land, but most of its revenue comes from donations, Luyk said.
People can contribute annually, or by dropping cash into a "fee pipe" at the trailhead off Bartlett Road. Online donations also are accepted.
About $18,000 has been raised since October, she said. The grooming season typically lasts through March.
A complete clearing of the Vasa trail takes more than four hours, said Paul Tata, the path's head groomer.
Workers hit the trails anytime between evening and early morning, depending on whether snow is expected overnight, Tata said. The paths almost always are done on weekends.
About four to five days each week is ideal, he said, because "it won't be as soft and nice to ski on if you keep grooming it every day."
By the numbers
The amount of times the Vasa Pathway in Acme Township was groomed from the start of the season Dec. 1 through Jan. 8:
2008-09: 21
2007-08: 17
2006-07: 5
Source: TART Trails Inc.
