No snow? Make your own

   That's what the folks at the Huron-Clinton Metroparks are planning on doing. Huron Meadows Metropark located near Brighton will be the first park in southern Michigan to make snow for its cross-country ski trail system.
   Not only will casual skiers enjoy the man-made white stuff, but the plan is to have enough snow made for the annual REI Frosty Freestyle Cross Country Ski Race Jan. 14 and 15 even if the weather isn't helpful. Anew trail named Bucks Run will be developed with the help of a snow gun. The trail will have room for side-side classic and skate style skiing up to 1.5 kilometers long. The trail will be open, ski conditions permitting, Saturdays and Sundays, 10a.m.-6p.m. and Mon-Fri, noon-8p.m. The trail closes on Thursday for maintenance.
   Park employees are using a PoleCat snowgun to make enough snow to develop a new trail named Bucks Run with side-by-side classic and skate-style ski trails up to 1.5 kilometers long. The trail will be open, weather and ski conditions permitting, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm; and Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon to 8 pm. The trail will be closed Thursdays for trail maintenance.  To help offset the expense of the snow-making equipment, a fee of $5 per skier will be charged to ski Bucks Run.

   With sufficient snow, Huron Meadows Metropark offers 9 miles of trails groomed for classic-style skiing and 7 miles of trails groomed for skate-style skiing. These trails, when open, can be skied daily during the park hours of 7 am to 8 pm.

 Classic and skate-style skis, boots and poles are available to rent when the trails are open for $10, with the equipment due back to the ski center one hour before the trails close.  Rentals are available weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekdays noon to 7 p.m., snow and trail conditions permitting.  The weekday rentals are offered on a trial basis, and will continue if there is sufficient interest in weekday skiing.  .

 Huron Meadows Metropark is located off US 23, exit 55. For more information on Huron Meadows Metropark current snow/trail conditions, go to www.metroparks.com or call 734-426-8211 or 810-231-4084. Skiers are advised to check for current snow/trail conditions before visiting the park.