State buys trail groomer for local snowmobile club

The Powder Players Snowmobile Club just received this Tucker-Terra Trail Groomer from the IDNR to groom 140 miles of trails that cross Plymouth County. The trails can be used by anyone whose snowmobile has a current registration. [Click to enlarge]

With a trail system that is 140 miles strong and connects Plymouth County to the rest of the state, the Powder Players Snowmobile Club is serious about winter recreation.

But for the last three years, they've been operating without their own trail groomer, having to borrow one from Sioux County to maintain the trails.

This winter, the Iowa DNR came through for them with a new trail groomer for the club, worth from $70,000-$100,000 total, delivering it to Remsen last week.

"The Department funds the purchase of trail grooming equipment through the Iowa Snowmobile Registration Fund," explained David Downing, Snowmobile and OHV Program Manager at the IDNR.

This revenue is generated by the registration that is required to operate snowmobiles on public land or ice in the state.

The Powder Players have been petitioning the IDNR for the equipment for five or six years, and now they're ready for some of the white stuff so they can start making trails.

"It's ready to go," said Mike Pottorf, president of the Powder Players. "Now it's just depending on snow conditions."

The trails, which are open to anyone with a snowmobile that has current registration, will be groomed by members of the snowmobile club using the new equipment.

After taking training through the Iowa DNR, six of the Powder Players are certified to operate the groomer -- a tractor-type vehicle with a 12-foot drag that is pulled behind the tractor. The drag packs the snow down and makes a path for riders to follow.

"It also keeps snowmobiles in the right area, and not on private property," Pottorf said. "In essence, it's like having a trail marker."

The Powder Players have trails around Le Mars, Remsen, Marcus, Germantown, Paulina and Merrill, and they also connect with a trail system to the north, groomed by snowmobile enthusiasts from Sheldon.

"Once someone gets on our trail system, they can ride all across Iowa," Pottorf said. "We've ridden from Remsen to the Lakes before. It's a good ride."

Maps of the snowmobile trails are available at the club's website, www.powder-players.com, by clicking on the Club News link.

The Powder Players are open to new members. They meet once a month, and host several poker runs throughout the winter. Members also have access to safety equipment like GPS monitors to check out from the club. For more information on the club, visit their website.