These snowmobilers were a part of the White Lake Area Snofari in 2004. They had just left the Montague VFW parking lot and are headed north on the Hart-Montague Trail. Snofari was discontinued because of inconsistent snow conditions during past festivals
On a map distributed by the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, it shows 175 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Muskegon and Oceana counties.
However, there is one small gap in the trail system. That’s the City of Whitehall which has banned snowmobiling since the mid-1970s after voters defeated proposals to allow usage in the city three times.
Supporters of snowmobiling hope a referendum to allow the winter sport in the city on the Nov. 6 ballot won’t have the same fate.
The issue, which is on the ballot as a result of a citizen referendum presented to the Whitehall city council in late August, will, if approved, direct the city council to amend Ord. 71.03 to allow for the lawful operation of snowmobiles in the city from Dec. 1 through April 1 between, at a minimum, the hours of 7 a.m. and 12 a.m. midnight on routes designated by the city council.
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