Wawa-area snowmobile trails face brush battle amid heavy snow

Heavy snow downing trees is hindering trail maintenance in Wawa. Despite the challenges, most northern trails are open, with crews now clearing southern routes.

Too much snow appears to be keeping the Wawa Sno Riders busy these days.

The snowmobiling club, which works to maintain trails in and around the Wawa area, has been dealing with an influx of trees and brush coming down on some of its trails.

“We’re doing really well for snow this year; it came early, the only problem was we didn’t get much cold before, so we’re battling lots of snow,” said club president Kirk Brassard.

“It’s definitely a blessing, but it’s also a curse in a way. It’s insulating the ground and keeping things from freezing, but we’re getting there.”

“We’ve had a couple of warm spells with rain, switching to freezing rain, flash freezing and that sort of stuff going on and that’s produced a lot of brush throughout the whole region actually – especially down south,” Brassard added.

Brassard was referring to the club’s D-trail, which connects Wawa to Searchmont, Sault Ste. Marie, Chapleau and Black Creek going towards Elliot Lake. He told CTV News that the first 100 kilometres got hit pretty hard and club members are working away at it to try and clear the paths.

“We are definitely picking away at it, all our north trails are open – or most of them anyways – and a plan is in the works to get the south trail open,” said Brassard.

Wawa Sno Riders maintains one of the region’s arguably more popular system of trails, attracting riders from as far away as Michigan to the area.

The club posted some dramatic video of a fly-over of those trails hit the hardest and they are working with the community to find ways to clear the problem.

In the meantime, the president’s message to the snowmobile riders and the community is patience.

“We are working at it, this year the trails are going to be a little more ‘brushy’ than usual because of the conditions, but we will get there,” said Brassard.

“It’s just taking a little more longer than normal.”

Visit the Wawa Sno Riders’ Facebook page for more information on current trail conditions or maintenance efforts.