By Kelley Kepler
Catholic Herald

Catholics are praying for snow this winter

SUPERIOR --It's the middle of January, and the not-so white winter for many parts of the diocese thus far has Sr. Virginia Schwartz, OSM, saying that people need to "think and pray snow" right now.

Schwartz, the parish director at St. Ann, said there have been a few snowflakes in the Cable area, but there's no significant accumulation yet, and this is the third year in a row that this pattern has continued.

While Telemark Resort is making snow for skiing, the other snowmobile and cross country trails remain closed.

With an economy that relies heavily on the tourists that come for snow, "everybody hurts; it has a trickle down effect," said Schwartz. "Often people can handle a year, but when it gets to be two or three years, people really suffer."

Though the year-round parishioners at St. Ann are mostly retired, Schwartz said, "I can feel the difference here at church. There's not as many skiers and snowmobilers" visiting this winter.

People in Eagle River can also feel the difference.

Like Cable, Eagle River's economy relies on winter tourism, skiing and especially snowmobiling. With only about an inch of snow on the trails, none of them are open.

Tom Jensen, a member of St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, is the co-owner of Trackside, a snowmobile rental, sales and service shop.

He said "pathetic" is the word to describe business so far this year. "We usually rent somewhere between 50 to 70 machines a day, and now it's only one or two," he said.

Another member of St. Peter, Marsha Lewis, owner of Arbor Supper Club, said her business has slowed as well.

She said the lack of snow is "economically devastating," effecting everyone from those who want to snowmobile to all those who work at rental shops, stores, hotels, restaurants and any business that relies on winter tourism.

The trails are usually open by early to mid-December, she said, so businesses have already missed over a month. "When those 10 to 12 days around Christmas and New Year's when everyone is on vacation are missed, you can't make that up," she said.

Chuck Decker, who also goes to St. Peter, is co-owner of Eagle River's Best Western Derby Inn.

He said 90 percent of his winter customers are snowmobilers and that the loss is "rather significant because winters are usually as busy as summers."

"It's snowmobiling that really drives the economy up here," he said. And "It takes like 12-16 inches of snow to get those trails open."

Normally Decker said the hotel would have about eight good weekends each winter. So far this year, there has been only one, and that took a lot of man-made snow to accomplish.

The 40th annual World Championshop Snowmobile derby Race took place in January. About 14,000 snowmobilers entered the race which also drew an estimated 30,000 spectators.

The Cable-Hayward area also has a big race coming up -- the 30th annual American Birkebeiner, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22. The 51 K ski race usually attracts nearly 9,000 skiers and 20,000 spectators, and is North America's largest cross country ski marathon.

All the more reason to think and pray snow.

Ramona Cook, who works at the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce, said "traditional winter sports of cross country skiing and snowmobiling can't always be relied on, so we're looking for creative ways to combat that."

The chamber of commerce came up with a list of "101 fun things to do in the north woods (with or without snow)!" and posted it on its Web sight www.cable4fun.com.

Though "pray for snow" falls at number six, the list provides ideas for other winter alternatives such as ice skating, ice fishing, winter camping, hiking and going to hockey games.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2003