Traverse City -- John Heiam wanted a favored cross-country ski trail groomed, despite the state's financial woes.
Budget cuts forced the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment to dramatically scale back cross-country ski trail grooming this winter. Skiers were left to cut their own path through the snow on all but eight of 23 trails that normally would be groomed, though officials continued to plow parking lots.
Heiam decided to rally local cross-country skiers to pay for trail grooming, at least at Muncie Lakes Pathway, an 11.5-mile trail about 13 miles southeast of Traverse City off Rennie Lake Road.
"My main support has been from people who ski," he said.
Heiam sent e-mails to local skiers he knows and so far raised $845. Add $125 from the donation tube at the trailhead and that totals $970 to pay for state employees to groom the trail.
Sara Cockrell, of Grawn, is among the donors.
"I like to back-country ski. Once they quit grooming, the trails get snowshoed. It gets tough to ski because it gets rough," she said. "Once you get past the snowshoed area, I don't mind breaking trail, but it really limits who can ski the trail."
Cockrell said Muncie Lakes Pathway is a popular spot that draws skiers from across the state and Midwest. She hopes the donated money lasts through winter's end.
"Any money we have left over we'll set up for next year," Heiam said.
DNRE officials agreed to dedicate donation tube funds at Muncie Lake Pathway to grooming there, a change from how money placed in most such donation tubes goes to the department's general fund.
Cross-country skiers across the state rallied to pay for grooming on five other trails, bringing the total groomed state trails to 14, including Muncie Lakes Pathway. The DNRE also reached an agreement with a state employees' union to allow volunteers to groom otherwise unattended trails for the remainder of the season.
It's good for everyone that local skiers stepped up to provide the grooming service, said Todd Neiss, DNRE recreation specialist.
"I think it's wonderful they've done this. Cross-country skiing, especially in the Traverse City area, is an important recreational activity," he said.
For more information about Muncie Lakes Pathway or any other state trail, visit www.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails.
