Hi All, I just got back for a short 80 mile ride and was quite pleased. It was fairly busy over by Cadillac, but I expected that, because their festival is this weekend. All the guest this week have been having a ball, with smooth trails and light ot no traffic. This weekend will be a little different. Cadillac’s North American Snowmobile Festival is this weekend, so as traffic increases, so does the bumps and snirt. Cadillac is grooming daily. Benzie/Manistee Snowbirds groomed the northern section on 2-2-10 and the southern section 2-3-10 and again 2-5-10. Irons has groomed Trails 340 and 362 2-2-10 and Lincoln Hills and the McCarthy Lake area were groomed 2-1-10, and then groomed again 2-4-10 but more snow would be very nice. I have not heard the offical word about Baldwin and Wellston, but the guest that did ride there said it was nice. We did get an inch or so on 2-3-10 and the temp is forecasted to say cool until Saturday and then the temp drops again. Some trails are icy and have some snirt in them, but over all, are good to fair condition, except trail 344 is pretty thin and would advise to stay off of it. One thing that is nice around here, we are in the middle of 6 different grooming clubs, (which we are members of 4), if one isn’t grooming, one of the other Clubs are grooming and we have maps right in the Office. Plus there are tons of seasonal roads and two tracks to explore. But please stay off of private property. The forecast is for snow Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so conditions should get better and better.

We are running a Bed and Sled Special. Get a modern well maintained single passenger Snowmobile from 10am until 6pm and one of our small single Motel Rooms, Sunday through Thursday for $230, helmet and tax included or get a modern well maintained two passenger Snowmobile from 10am until 6pm and one of our small single Motel Rooms, Sunday through Thursday for $260, helmet and tax included. Weather permitting.

Also stay two days and get the third free, Sunday through Thursday. No Fridays and Saturdays. You must mention at the time of the reservation and of course this special is dependent on availability and can not be combined with any other offer.

Plus we are in the middle of one of the largest ORV trail systems in the state, so if the snow isn’t that great for snowmobiling, bring your ORV up and ride over 200 miles of ORV trails. PLEASE DON’T RIDE YOUR ORV ON THE GROOMED SNOWMOBILE TRAILS. There are plenty of open trails available for ORV riding. Don’t worry winter isn’t over for snowmobiling, but a winter ORV ride can be a blast too. If you don’t have a snowmobile or yours is broken, no problem, WE HAVE ON-SITE SNOWMOBILE RENTALS right here at the Resort. There is good snow in the woods, so two tracken and seasonal roads are a blast right now. (Which there are tons of). 231 745 4101 8am until 10pm

Rooms and ON-SITE Snowmobile Rentals are available.

We are members of the Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan, Baldwin Trailriders Snowmobile Club, Benzie/Manistee Snowbirds Snowmobile Club, Irons Area Tourist Association Snowmobile Club, Wellston Area Recreation and Tourist Bureau Snowmobile Club, Lake County ORV Club and the Michigan Snowmobile Association, which are the local grooming clubs. I can not thank these guys and gals enough, they do a lot of work for free, so we all can enjoy this sport. I would only think that if someone is complaining about a bumpy trail on Saturday afternoon, come to a couple club meetings and see just what these people do. They would never complain again. Thank you again.

Call 231 745 4101 8am until 10pm. See ya soon on the trails.

Benzie Visitor Bureau – 02/05

Hi all! We got a few inches of new snow over the last couple days and temps have been below freezing but not that super cold so its looking pretty good. Groomers were out on the south end last night. Should be an ok weekend for riding! Not super cold, but cold enough, not super snowy but snowy enough at least! Might see some snirty spots or coorners by the end of the days but cold is supposed to stay around and at least a chance of snow in the forecast for a few days coming. And mark your next weekends calendar fir our Winterfest 2010 here in Beulah, February 13th! Its a day packed with fun, food, fireworks, chili cook off, snowmobile poker run and lots more! Then the next weekend is the cool Shiver by the River including Sno Cross in Frankfort, February 19th – 21st! Keep up the snow dance! Groomers are out as I said and remember they are volunteers so if ya see one, get outta their way and give them a thumbs up. Hey thanks Fred, & Scott & Steven for the emails! I love hearing everyone’s stories and reports and seeing pics! Remember this report is all of us working it together! BE SAFE, BE SMART, and I’ll SEEYA on the trails! Carol

Benzie-Manistee Snowmobile Club – 02/05

Groomed reports: South & mid groomed wed-night. The whole trail will be groomed on Friday if the weather holds out. Mike (who is in charge of all grooming done) rode the trails and they were smooth; with a few riders out as well. He talked to them and they had said the trails were excellent for the amount of snow we have. Some were from southern states that read our report said lets try it and they truly enjoyed our trails also said they will be back soon for more enjoyment fun. Excellent from Copmish north to Maple City and very good from Copmish south to Highbridge. We have 4-5 inches of snow on the ground now. We are hoping for snow dance to work as you might sing LET IT SNOW** Let It Snow** let it snow** More info on our web about who to contact www.benziemanisteesnowbirds.com