WSAW - Snowmobiling

Portions of Langlade Co. Snowmobile Trails Open Friday at 5 p.m.
Last Updated: 12:29 PM 01/13/12 - Section A of the snowmobile trails in Langlade County will open, with restrictions, effective at 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 13, 2012.
0 Comments
Lincoln County's Zone 1 Snowmobile Trails to Open Jan 5.
Last Updated: 12:51 PM 01/04/12 - Lincoln County’s Zone 1 state funded snowmobile trails will be open at noon on January 5. Zone 1 is the area north of County Highway J and State Highway 86.
0 Comments
Snow Helps Tourism in Minocqua
Last Updated: 10:57 PM 12/29/11 - Little snow has meant a slow start to the Winter tourism season. However, that's picking up.
0 Comments
Couple Donates Land: Winter Park Pines Nature Preserve
Last Updated: 10:54 PM 12/29/11 - It's being called the largest conservation easement ever donated in Wisconsin.
0 Comments
Oneida County Snowmobile Trails to Open Dec. 30
Last Updated: 12:52 PM 12/30/11 - According to a press release, from the Oneida County Recreation Coordinator, the state funded snowmobile trails will open Friday, December 30 at noon.
3 Comments
Vilas County Snowmobile Trails Will Open at Noon
Last Updated: 10:03 AM 12/12/11 - Vilas County will open their snowmobile trails Monday, December 12 at 12 p.m.
3 Comments
UPDATE: Victim ID'ed in Antigo Snowmobile Crash
Last Updated: 11:28 AM 03/15/11 - A man who died Saturday in a snowmobile crash has been identified as Andrew Aschauer, 39, of Kansasville.
0 Comments
Snowmobile Trails to Open in Vilas County Monday
Last Updated: 6:07 AM 12/11/11 - Get out your sleds and snowmobiles, the trails in Vilas County will open Monday.
0 Comments
UPDATE: Snowmobile Recovered from Lake, Rider Missing
Last Updated: 8:55 AM 03/14/11 - Winnebago County Sheriff's Lt. Lara Vendola-Messer says a passerby on U.S. Highway 41 saw the snowmobiler enter the water of Lake Butte des Morts around 6:45 a.m. The snowmobiler hit open water by a channel.
0 Comments
WI Man, 39, Killed in UP Snowmobile Crash
Last Updated: 4:57 PM 02/27/11 - State police say a 39-year-old Wisconsin man who apparently was speeding and high on drugs has died in a snowmobile crash in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
0 Comments
Illinois Man Killed in WI Snowmobile Crash
Last Updated: 6:33 PM 02/13/11 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says 24-year-old Adam J. Yates, of Winnebago, Ill., was pronounced dead at the scene in Willow Springs Township on Sunday morning.
1 Comment
Snowmobile Trail Conditions
Last Updated: 4:41 PM 03/18/11 - Here's snowmobile trail conditions for northcentral Wisconsin
8 Comments
Snowmobile Safety Vital After Fatal Accidents
Last Updated: 4:10 PM 05/25/11 - Safety has become a big priority on Wisconsin trails, with eleven fatal accidents this winter and four reported snowmobile accidents in the last week.
0 Comments
3 Die After Separate WI Snowmobile Crashes
Last Updated: 5:24 PM 02/12/11 - The crashes occurred in Juneau, Vilas and Oneida counties.
2 Comments
Pilot Rescued by Snowmobilers After Plane Crashes
Last Updated: 5:08 PM 02/06/11 - Authorities say the pilot of a small plane that made a crash landing on a frozen lake in southern Wisconsin has been rescued.
0 Comments
Vilas County Snowmobile Trails Open Friday
Last Updated: 11:53 AM 12/10/10 - The state funded snowmobile trail system in Vilas County will officially open at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 10.
0 Comments
Wood County Snowmobile Trails Closed
Last Updated: 5:55 PM 02/23/10 - The Wood County Park and Rec. department says all snowmobile trails are now closed because of deteriorating conditions.
Snowmobiler Dies in Chippewa County
Last Updated: 3:07 AM 02/02/10 - The DNR says an 81-year-old man died after his snowmobile crashed Monday afternoon.
0 Comments
Man in Hospital after Hitting Several Trees with his Snowmobile
Last Updated: 10:31 AM 02/01/10 - A man is in the hospital Sunday with head injuries after hitting several trees with his snowmobile Saturdayin Buffalo County.
0 Comments
Some Snowmobile Trails In Marathon County Scheduled To Open Up
Last Updated: 10:44 AM 01/05/10 - Some snowmobile trails in Marathon County are scheduled to open up on Wednesday, January 6th at 8 a.m.
0 Comments
Nightime Snowmobile Speed Limit Could Stay 55 MPH
Last Updated: 4:49 AM 01/04/10 - A proposal in the State Legislature could make the current 55 mile-per-hour nighttime speed limit permanent for snowmobile riders.
3 Comments
Man Thrown from Snowmobile, Hit by Truck, Killed
Last Updated: 4:01 PM 12/20/09 - SENECA, Wis. (AP) -- A Prairie du Chien man is dead after he was thrown from his snowmobile and then struck by a pickup.
0 Comments
Shawano Co. Man Hospitalized After Snowmobile Accident
Last Updated: 11:00 PM 12/19/09 - A 25-year-old Shawano County man is in the hospital after being thrown from his snowmobile late Friday night.
0 Comments
Snowmobile Trails In Vilas, Oneida, and Price Set To Open
Last Updated: 4:11 AM 12/16/09 - Winter enthusiasts looking to hit the trails have a growing list of options in the Northwoods.
0 Comments
DNR: 2/3 of Snowmobile Accident Victims this Winter were too Drunk to Drive
Last Updated: 11:44 AM 03/24/09 - The Department of Natural Resources says two-thirds of the 23 snowmobilers who died in crashes in Wisconsin this winter were too drunk to legally drive a car. The DNR reports 70% of the dead riders had been drinking, and speed was a factor in 74% of the deaths.
1 Comment
Season Snowmobile Fatalities Reaching Dangerously High Numbers
Last Updated: 11:12 PM 02/24/09 - 21 people have died this season while snowmobiling, and that number is getting dangerously close to season ending totals from the past two years.
0 Comments
Snowmobile Trails in Langlade, Lincoln and Marathon Counties Open Again
Last Updated: 4:22 PM 02/19/09 - Parks department workers tells NewsChannel 7 all the snowmobile trails in Langlade and Lincoln Counties will open again. Some of the trails in Marathon County will open again, as well.
0 Comments
Langlade County To Reopen Snowmobile Trails Thursday
Last Updated: 8:12 AM 02/19/09 - The Langlade County Forestry Department says all public trails will be open to snowmobilers and ATVers beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday.
0 Comments
Circle of Friends Bring Children Battling Cancer to See Snow
Last Updated: 6:44 AM 02/15/09 - Retired pro-football player brings children battling cancer to Wausau to experience snow.
1 Comment
Warm Weather Closes Wisconsin Snowmobile Trails in south-central Wisconsin
Last Updated: 3:02 PM 02/06/09 - Wisconsin snowmobilers might have to keep their machines in the garage this weekend. Last weekend's thaw and a forecast calling for warmer temperatures in the next few days are forcing counties to shut down snowmobile trails across south-central Wisconsin.
0 Comments
Plenty of Contenders for World Snowmobile Chmp.
Last Updated: 3:29 PM 01/21/09 - Defending Champ Brian Bewcyk hopes to fend off the competition this weekend.
0 Comments
Wisconsin DNR: 13 Snowmobile Deaths So Far this Winter
Last Updated: 1:48 AM 01/12/09 - MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's snowmobile trails have been more deadly this winter than last.
0 Comments
7 Killed so far in '09 Wis. Snowmobile Accidents
Last Updated: 10:35 AM 01/06/09 - A Racine County couple and a pair of college students from Minnesota are among seven people killed in Wisconsin snowmobile accidents so far in 2009.
0 Comments
More Area Snowmobile Trails Open
Last Updated: 4:05 PM 12/30/08 - All the snowmobile trails in Wood County and some of them in Langlade County will be opening on Christmas Eve day. Oneida and Vilas County trails are already open.
1 Comment
Counties Anticipate Opening Snowmobile Trails, Some Already Have
Last Updated: 4:04 PM 12/30/08 - It could be argued that Wisconsin has some of the best snowmobile trails in the world. One area county is anxious for the upcoming season. Langlade County is branded as 'The County of Trails,' and it's easy to see why.
0 Comments
Pretrial Conference Set in Snowmobile Crash Case
Last Updated: 4:03 PM 12/30/08 - A court date is scheduled this week for a man charged in a snowmobile crash in northern Wisconsin that killed a Chicago television journalist.
1 Comment
NEW INFO: Not Guilty Plea Entered for Snowmobiler in Crash That Killed Chicago TV News Anchor
Last Updated: 4:01 PM 12/30/08 - A Vilas County judge has entered a not guilty plea for the man accused of crashing a snowmobile in Vilas County, killing a Chicago television news anchor. Scott Hirschey waved his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday, then stood mute when asked to enter a plea.
1 Comment
DNR: 25 Snowmobilers Killed in Crashes During the Season
Last Updated: 4:00 PM 12/30/08 - Some places in extreme northern Wisconsin have up to 14 inches of new snow, but a state safety expert still says the snowmobiling season is officially over. Gary Eddy of the state Department of Natural Resources says 25 riders died in crashes this season.
1 Comment
Snowmobiler Airlifted to Hospital After Hitting Tree in Waupaca County
Last Updated: 3:59 PM 12/30/08 - Authorities are investigating an accident in rural Manawa that landed a 25-year-old New London man in the hospital with injuries.
Some Wis. Snowmobile Fees Would Nearly Double Under Bill
Last Updated: 3:57 PM 12/30/08 - Out-of-state residents would have to pay nearly double to ride a snowmobile on Wisconsin trails under a bill passed by the state Senate. The measure passed Thursday would increase the out-of-state trail sticker fee from $18 to $35 starting July 1.
DNR: 24 Snowmobilers Killed So Far This Winter in Wisconsin
Last Updated: 3:56 PM 12/30/08 - A state safety expert says snowmobile crashes on Wisconsin trails have killed 24 riders so far this winter, considerably more than a year ago. DNR records show Wisconsin has averaged 27 snowmobile deaths per season over the past 12 years.
3 Separate Snowmobile Crashes Reported, 2 Involving Deputies
Last Updated: 3:55 PM 12/30/08 - Three separate snowmobile accidents have been reported across the state within a 16-hour span. A total of six people have been injured.
NEW INFO: Hirschey Released on $25,000 Signature Bond Following Deadly Snowmobile Accident in Vilas County
Last Updated: 3:54 PM 12/30/08 - The man charged in a snowmobile crash that killed a television news anchor from Chicago has been released on a $25,000 signature bond.
Who's Responsible for Keeping Drunk Riders Off the Trails?
Last Updated: 3:53 PM 12/30/08 - Opinions differ, but it seems many are willing to share the responsibility of ensuring snowmobilers stay safe on Wisconsin's trails.
2 Snowmobile Deaths in Dodge County Over the Weekend
Last Updated: 3:51 PM 12/30/08 - Two women were killed this weekend while riding snowmobiles in Dodge County.
NEW INFO: Initial Appearance Monday for Man Charged in Anchor's Death
Last Updated: 3:49 PM 12/30/08 - An initial court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow for a man charged in a snowmobile crash that killed a Chicago TV anchor in Eagle River.
Council Says OWI Law Recommendation a Needed Step
Last Updated: 3:48 PM 12/30/08 - Wisconsin's snowmobile recreation council voted Friday morning to recommend new legislation to the Department of Natural Resources that would tie OWIs on a snowmobile, to the operator's driver's license.
DNR to Offer Snowmobile Safety Course
Last Updated: 3:46 PM 12/30/08 - The Department of Natural Resources will teach kids the basics of snowmobiling in hopes of preventing accidents, injuries and fatalities on Wisconsin's trails.
DNR Council Recommends New OWI Legislation for Snowmobiling
Last Updated: 3:45 PM 12/30/08 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Snowmobile Recreation Council has decided to recommend legislation that would tie drunk driving on a snowmobile to the operator's drivers license.
Minnesota Man Killed in Snowmobiling Crash in Ashland County
Last Updated: 3:43 PM 12/30/08 - A Minnesota man was killed when his snowmobile collided with a semitrailer in Ashland County.

Snowmobiling Home
Blog About Drinking and Snowmobiling
Wisconsin Winter Snow Report
Snowmobile Safety Tips
Wisconsin Snowmobile Regulations

Part 1: A Tragic Trend
Part 2: Undercover Report
Part 3: Laws and Snowmobile Deaths
Graph: Wis. Snowmobile Fatalities
Part 4: Heartbreaking Stories

Your State Representative or Senator
Department of Natural Resources
Tavern League of Wisconsin

Assoc. of Wis. Snowmobile Clubs
c/o Morris Nelson, Legislation Chairman
5497 Waterford La. Suite B
Appleton, WI 54913
(920) 734-5530
Fax: (920) 734-5528
E-mail: awsc@awsc.org