I've got numbers to the county hotlines and will see who's open 1st. What's the usual lag between getting enough snow and trails being opened?
Varies incredibly, especially since trails in central and southern Wisconsin are almost always located on more wind prone drifting areas. If I remember correctly, two Decembers ago when we got a big storm (I think the storm happened on a Sunday), it took my dad (along with other club members) 3-4 weeknights working 6-8 hours each night to get our club's trails "openable" by Thursday at noon. All the signs were in place and ready to go, just took that long to get the snow moved around to be safe for riders.
Generally, if the snow comes in increments, clubs can work with it and once enough snow falls for the club's to deem rideable, trails can open within hours. However, when it just comes as one big blast, takes time to get out (take care of digging one's own property out) and check all the trails. Also, just as there is a point in which road travel is not advisable in a storm, so too is there a point in which work can't be done on the trails due to "bad" weather. I just talked to my dad, and while he is the ultimate forecast skeptic, he figures IF the predictions hold, he most likely won't be able to get out and do anything with the trails until Friday just due to how harsh tomorrow may be. Lastly, club members are as anxious to get out as any snowmobilers (especially after last year), but they have lives outside of the snowmobile trails as well, and Christmas is less than a week away.
With that said, I can't wait to get home Friday evening and start "working."
