43 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NORTHERN OCONTO COUNTY 1968-2011
This site was updated on Thursday January 26th Packer Super Bowl Prints Raffle added...see below 1/25/12 January Newsletter & Minutes added 1/19/12 Fish A Ree Ticket and event info updated and Packer Autographed Football Raffle added...see below 1/18/12 Business Booster Tab updated 1/9/12 Trail information updated 1/26/12.. see more good news below Take a Friend Riding week...check tab with same name 1/2 "Snowmobile prototype from 1924"...see below 1/3 Bonfire in the Woods/Groomer Building Dedication this Saturday....see below Presidents Corner 1/26 Another great ride today!! Other area events added....1/10/12 Christmas Party recap and photos 1/17/12
February Club meeting Wednesday February 1st, 7PM at Mulligan's in Lakewood
Contact Club Secretary Mary Stehula at mjsteh@hotmail.com if you have any questions about club issues or events.
See club apparel tab for new order form and additional items
This Saturday the 25th is our big event at our new groomer storage building. See full information just below. Everyone is invited to attend!!
Breaking News!!!! Emily Bauer, AWSC Miss Snowflake will be attending our event. As soon as we find a timeframe when she will be there we will post it. Everyone is invited to attend this family event. Street clothes ok as we have a heated building thanks to the hard work of so many people!!
TRAIL REPORT
Thursday January 26th...Townsend Trails in great shape for the weekend!!
Both groomers will be out tonight (Thursday) and most trails will be groomed by Friday morning. We rate the Nicolet Trail and unplowed roads very good to excellent and forest trails very good at this time. There may be a few places where the ruts are not completely filled in so exercise caution. The forecast says 1-3 more inches of snow Friday...we will be grooming thru the weekend. Come on up....you will not be disappointed We will continue to groom on a regular basis.
Note: These trail reports are done thru groomer driver and club member input. They are not a guarantee but we try our best to be realistic. As always you ride at your own risk!!
2012 Red Arrow Fish A Ree and Vintage Snowmobile Show
Only 200 tickets will be sold for this autographed football donated by the Green Bay Packers. Each ticket is $5.00 for a chance to win the football plus the ticket will also be entered in the main raffle for a chance to win any or all of the prizes on the ticket below. Origional signatures were obtained from all players and coaching staff at the beginning of the the 2011 regular season. The origional signatures were then transfered to the football. Thanks to the Packers for donating this ball to help us with our fundraising for the Fish A Ree. Drawing will be at 4PM on Sunday February 12th at the same time as the other raffles take place.
To get tickets for the football send $5.00 per ticket to John Brantmeier, 17643 Bennett Lane, Townsend, Wi. 54175. Remember only 200 tickets will be sold so hurry while we still have some left. If you want regular tickets instead they are 3 for $5.00 and can be ordered in the same manner. Your tickets minus the stub for drawing will be returned to you. If you have them include address labels for us to put on the sitckers. Thanks for your support!!!
Raffle Ticket for 2012 Fish A Ree
Official Packer Photographer and Red Arrow club member Jim Biever has graciously donated two Packer Photos from the Super Bowl win. One is an offical team photo and the other is Aaron Rogers and Clay Matthews celebrating the victory. We will be selling 100 $2.00 chances for each of these historic photos. You can order tickets using the same information listed above for the Packer football. These are beautiful collectable prints...don't be put off by the low quality of photos of photos. You won't be disappointed.
Jim's father Vernon photographed the Packers for many years before passing away in October of 2010. As the patriarch of the family, he captured the achievements of some of the biggest names and greatest moments in sports history while teaching his sons to follow in his footsteps. Vernon was the long time staff photographer for the Green Bay Packers, a role passed on to Jim. His oldest son John, is a nationally recognized photographer for Sports Illustrated magazine. One special note of distinction for Vernon was that he had photographed every Super Bowl until his death. His son John is one of only 4 photographers nationwide who has who has photographed every Super Bowl to date.
Vintage Sled owners joined Anglers, Snowmobilers and lots of local residents at last years Fish A Ree
This quilt hand made by member Carol Renteria is the 2nd prize in the raffle. It is valued at $400.00
Check out this snow machine from 1924. We could all be zooming down the trails like this if the idea had caught hold. Thanks to club member Doug Van Handel for sending us the link. If you see anything historical or fun related to snowmobiling send it to jbrantmeier@athenet.net and we will consider it for posting on this site.
Over 75 members and guests attended our annual Christmas Party on Saturday January 14th at Waubee Lake Lodge. The group was treated to a great Chicken and Tips buffet dinner. Thanks Russ and Team for hosting us and providing a wonderful meal. Red Arrow provided two drink tickets to everyone who attended. Many members brought food items that will be donated to the local food pantry. It was a great time and members present talked about having another party next year but first we want to do some riding this winter.
Linda Brantmeier, Mary Stehula and her granddaughter pose during the registration process. Mary and Jim Weyers planned and let the party...thanks to both of them.
Matt Weyers worked the room getting support for th upcoming ATV/UTV legislation that is moving forward in Madison. Here he talks to Lyle Schmidt and his wife.
Dale & Kathy Ott attended with some of their family.
Trail Boss Jeff Kroll (2nd left), family and friends take a break from dinner to pose for this photo.
Members Ron Popp, Ron Viaene and Dale Ott enjoy a cocktail and conversation before dinner.
Club members take a break from dinner to pose for this photo. A great dessert table topped off a great buffet.
We need your help to Put Oconto County "on the map" for the great ATV/UTV trails that have been developed. You do not need to be a club member or even an active ATV rider to vote. Just go to the link below and vote for "Oconto County Trail System". Then choose the other categories that are your favorites. Those of you who are active snowmobilers can use your knowledge of our great businesses to choose your favorite. Vote Now!!!
It's time once again to vote for your favorite Dealer, Restaurant, Lodging, Trail System, and Event at the link:
And remember; you don't have to be a WATVA member to vote! But if you, or someone you know would like to become part of the WATVA, you can always join online at: http://www.watva.org/
Sometimes we take this great resource for granted. Word is that next winter we will be able to ride directly to Michigan across the Brule River
Red Arrow ATV/UTV Trail Report
All Oconto County ATV Trails are now closed for the season!!!
Most Town of Townsend town roads are open year round except for Hwy T & 64 and a few marked "No ATV" ....Other towns in the area closed their routes for the season on October 31st....know where you are riding!!! UTV's will be allowed in Oconto County next year. You must have your machine registered with the DNR and all ATV safety and age regulations apply. Most trails and routes open to ATV's will be UTV legal. A big exception is the Nicolet National Forest which has a 50 inch rule (standard width Razor is legal) but wider UTV's are not. Wildwood Trail and the route connecting Hwy 32 to the county line are exceptions and are wide UTV legal. Check with the Forest Service in other areas as they have made additional exceptions to the rule. See our UTV page for additional information and links for UTV use.
Check out our business booster page for some great places to stay and dine, drink (responsibly) and have fun. Many visitors say we "have the best trails in the state". Come check it out for yourself. We are only 90 miles north of Appleton and Green Bay on Wisconsin Highway 32.
Red Arrow is a long time 100% AWSC club and supports its efforts to promote safe, responsible snowmobiling
Red Arrow proudly supports the efforts of the Oconto County Tourism group to promote visitors to Oconto County
Red Arrow is a member of and supports the goals and objectives of the Wisconsin ATV Association
Townsend is one of the highest elevation areas in Wisconsin and that helps us keep our snow!!! The Carter hills between us and Carter are 1,781 feet above sea level vs Oconto at 530 feet...it does make a difference. The highest range is just northwest of us in Forest County at Sugerbush Hill...that area is 1,939 feet above sea level. Kent Tower Hill in Langlade County is 1,903 feet. Information from the new Wisconsin Blue Book published recently.
Photos needed. Send your photos of Snowmobiling and ATVing in the Townsend area to jbrantmeier@athenet.net and we will consider using them on this site. We can use scenery and people having fun while on the trail. Photo credit will be given if you ask for it.
Red Arrow Snowmobile ATV Club Inc. was founded 42 years ago in 1968 during the very early days of Snowmobiling. Early club founders established a trail system utilizing old logging roads and rail spurs in the Nicolet National Forest. These trails were connected by utilizing the old railroad grade (now Nicolet State Trail) that runs south to north thru Oconto County and provided winter snowmobile access to connecting trails in Langlade County and Forest County as well as all over the state of Wisconsin. Most of those same snowmobile trails are in place today and are maintained regularly by Red Arrow.
In 2007 Red Arrow voted to add ATV trail responsibility in the Townsend area. At that time the Town of Townsend made most town roads (not Hwy 32 or County T)legal year round for ATV travel and asked the club to help with safety training and help patrol the roads for "bonehead" riders. More recently the towns of Doty, Lakewood and Riverview have allowed ATV/UTV access on some roads during the summer ATV/UTV season. The club is currently working with the National Forest Service to add additional trails in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
Red Arrow welcomes all Snowmobile and ATV/UTV enthusiasts visiting our area and invites them to join our club. We understand that not everyone can be active but we need your financial support if you ride our trails. Townsend has become a year around hub for ATV/UTV and snowmobile activity. From our area you can literally ride anywhere in rural Wisconsin or the UP via snowmobile. The Nicolet State Trail thru Townsend is now legal for Snowmobiles and ATV's and UTV's (May 1st-Oct 31st) all the way from south of Gillett to the Michigan border and beyond.
Townsend is located on Hwy 32 about 90 miles north of Green Bay and the Fox Cities. You will pass thru Gillett, Suring, Chute Pond, Mountain and Lakewood as you head towards Townsend. Carter (home of the Potawatomi Carter Casino and Hotel) is located about 5 miles north of Townsend with Wabeno and Laona further north. Come visit us.....we are located right in the center of some of the best snowmobiling and ATV/UTV riding in Wisconsin.
Red Arrow Snowmobile ATV Club Inc. P. O. Box 248, Townsend, Wi. 54175
