In the mid 1960’s several small snowmobile clubs began operating in Forest County. It was only natural these clubs would establish trails for their members. Although, the trails were not long, nor did they meet today’s requirements, they were still trails and ride-able, (we had a lot of snow back then!).
It was evident by 1973 that there was an increase in popularity of recreational snowmobiling, and that clubs would need to groom the trails to keep them in rideable condition. It was also evident to each of these small clubs that they did not have the financial resources to purchase equipment and maintain these individual trails. The clubs first tried drags pulled behind snowmobiles; however they soon learned that this was a lesson in futility.
In January 1974 the Logrollers, Carter Brush Monkeys, Hill Toppers, Sugar Bush Snow-Mo-Wheelers, and Freedom Winter Weasels met and agreed to form and fund an organization to groom and take care of the approximately 100 miles of club trails. This meeting resulted in the birth of Lumberjack Memorial Trails Inc. The LMT has been in existence since 1974. The five small clubs turned all equipment over to the LMT. The trail system financing and operation functions fell under the direction of the LMT Board of Directors. All directors and groomers are volunteers. We are very proud of the 100 plus mile LMT trail system. It is our belief that this system offers the recreational snowmobiler one of the safest, best signed and groomed trail systems in Wisconsin.
Since the purchase of the original equipment, the LMT Club has updated equipment on a regular basis. Today we operate three groomers. A 2020 and a 2023 Tucker Terra 2000, and one New Holland tractor with tires. We groom seven days a week when possible, and based on snow conditions. We have two groomer barns, and a fully equipped work shop. The club members perform most of our equipment service and repairs. Groomers and brushing volunteers average 3,000 – 4,000 hours a year.
The LMT club is one of five clubs that make up the Forest County Snowmobile Council. We work cooperatively and in conjunction with the Forest County Forestry Department, as all state funding reimbursements flow through county coordinators. The five clubs in Forest County maintain over 400 miles of trails.