Powder Players' keep 60 miles of trails safe

(Photo contributed) Members of the Powder Players Snowmobile Club maintain 60 miles of primary trail from Merrill to Germantown. Many also ride snowmobiles in western parts of the country. [Click to enlarge]

Each summer a group of volunteers from the Powder Players Snowmobile Club travels its trails on all-terrain vehicles to search for potentially dangerous pitfalls, said President D.J. Kellen.

"We'll actually follow the route and look for any hazards and try and put our safety cautions out on the trail," he said.

Currently club members stake, mark and groom about 60 miles of primary trail from Merrill to Germantown.

Volunteer members use the club's groomer, which was obtained through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources last year, to make its trail as safe as possible.

"After the winds blew last week so hard and all the drifts got hard, then that snow cat knocks the drifts down and processes a nice path you can ride on so you don't have to get beat to death when you're riding," Kellen said.

The club also maintains another about 30 to 40 miles on a secondary trail, but not all the hazards are marked. It is not fit for someone who hasn't ridden it before, Kellen said.

"That is partially marked due to lack of time and volunteers," Kellen said.

Members volunteer their time to operate the trail groomer, do maintenance and stake the trails, he said, so more members are always needed to ensure upkeep.

"We would love to have more members, even silent members that don't come to a club meeting," Kellen said.

The club usually meets the first Wednesday of each month, except this month. They will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Avalon Ballroom in Remsen.

Members are always sought because the amount of money the Powder Players receive from the state registration dollars is based on membership, Kellen said.

"If we don't keep our membership up, then they will put a cap and give that money to other clubs with more members," he said.

A lot of the Powder Players trail system travels over private land, which once again means safety for riders because they don't have to travel through ditches.

"We really appreciate the homeowners who have signed off and given us permission to cross their property," Kellen said.

Another way the Powder Players, with about 50 family memberships, promote safety is providing a Snowmobile Safety Course for youth ages 12 to 16.

That age group is required to take the course to be able to ride with an adult.

"It's kind of like a learner's permit," Kellen said. "They are not technically allowed to operate a snowmobile by themselves until after 16."

The course is usually done at the Boat Farm and eight to 10 kids participate, he said.

"It's hands-on. We have an obstacle course that they ride through. We show them how to change the belt and some safety features," Kellen said. "It's just a general hands-on training for them."

Kellen said Powder Players club members don't only stake their trails for themselves, but also for other riders who may be on the same path.

That's also the case for other clubs across the state whose trails make it possible for a track stretching from Merrill through Okoboji heading through various towns.

"We're all trying to promote it (snowmobiling) and safety," Kellen said. "That's where the staking comes in, avoiding driveways and cricks and stuff like that."

And although Powder Players members are reminded to respect people when and where they ride so as not to mess up lawns or become hazards, not all snowmobile riders follow those guidelines.

"The biggest thing that I cringe to see, and it comes a lot from the young kids is when we get that snow and they want to get out and play and they are crossing people's sidewalks, riding in parking," Kellen said. "A handful of kids can make a big mess and give a bad name for the whole sport."

It's not all about rules with the Powder Players. The club also holds one or two Fun Runs a year, where each rider, members or nonmembers, pay a small fee to ride the trails.

"It's a fundraiser for our club," Kellen said. "Last year we did two and had 66 riders on one and 32 on the other."

Powder Players Snowmobile Club has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception in 1994, Kellen said, and he encourages anyone interested to come be a part of it.

Memberships are either $15 or $30 depending on whether you want to be registered with the Iowa State Snowmobile Association, which is not required by law, Kellen said.

"They are like our political action team," he said. "They protect us through the legislature."

Next year Kellen said club members plan to expand their trail along K-42 south from Merrill down C-60 to Hinton. With the early snowstorms they were unable to get it staked.

"We're hoping to get some volunteers and expand that trail system further south so the guys from Sioux City can unload in Hinton," Kellen said.

Those interested in becoming members can log onto the Powder Players website at www.powder-players.com for more information.