They are the one segment of our state's population that is most likely to stand at the window cheering snowfall as if they were at a football game.

They are the die-hard snowmobilers who thirst for the open trail, riding the winding white highways that course through Michigan's forests and fields, over rivers and along the shores of ice-covered lakes.

In fact, riders from all over the country converge here each winter to celebrate the white gold we call snow. Michigan ranks first in the nation with over 380,000 registered snowmobiles and, in a good year, more than 100,000 snowmobile enthusiasts from out-of-state will bring their machines to our northern forest playground for a chance to ride and ride and ride.

Michigan is known nationwide for its unique combination of abundant and dependable snow, exciting terrain and extensive trail network. More than 6,500 miles of designated snowmobile trails are located throughout the state on state- and federally owned forests and many acres of private lands. Michigan is one of only three states that offer such a large system of interconnected signed and groomed snowmobile trails, and each year more miles are added to the system.

Such a big program requires a huge coordinated effort to support and operate. Many of those riders who appreciate what Michigan has to offer them do not know how things work behind the scenes. It's a complex and highly organized program that assures the trails are maintained and snowmobilers can always find riding conditions that are hard to beat anywhere else in the country.

"The trail grooming program in Michigan is completed through the issuance of grants funded through the DNR and carried out by locally based snowmobile organizations," said Steve DeBrabander, state trails operations and construction manager. "The DNR no longer does any trail grooming, so all of the on-the-ground work is being done by the local clubs and nonprofit groups who apply for and are awarded the grants."

Snowmobiling is very big business for Michigan. According to industry estimates, it has a $1 billion economic impact on our state and creates more than 6,400 jobs. More than 150 groomers and tractors, operated under grant agreements with 69 program sponsors groom, the trail system. These trail sponsors also brush out the trails and post signs and confidence markers.

This year, the clubs and other grant recipients will receive more than $7 million from the DNR to keep Michigan's snowmobile trails in tip-top shape. This huge chunk of money covers the club's costs from grooming equipment and repair, trail brushing, signing, grooming, parking lot plowing, insurance, land leases, portable toilets and even the utility costs incurred to keep the grooming equipment in heated storage when not out on the trails.

"A portion of that money comes from the $25 trail permit required of all riders on the state's trail system, but some of the money also comes from the state's gas tax," DeBrabander said. "The percentage is relatively small, but every time you fill up your vehicle with gas, a small amount of that gas tax money you pay at the pump goes into the snowmobile program to help pay for maintaining the trails."

Another contributor to the snowmobile trail improvement fund comes from a portion of the mandatory Michigan snowmobile registration fee which currently is $22 for a three-year registration.

"Not many snowmobilers are aware that the DNR pays for the equipment that the clubs use to groom the trails," DeBrabander said. "In the past, we required the clubs to pay a portion of the equipment costs, but starting last year that provision was eliminated."

Another recent change to the program, he said, is that clubs now are being reimbursed for their initial contribution for equipment when that used equipment is sold or traded-in.

The participating clubs get the machines they need from the DNR and then assume responsibility for a portion of the trail system. In all, the Upper Peninsula clubs will be granted $4,549,403 to maintain the 3,100 miles of trail north of the Mackinac Bridge and the Lower Peninsula clubs will receive $2,579,392 to take care of the rest.

The larger portion of money being given to the U.P. is because that region gets more snow and the trails need more grooming. A list of the trail sponsors and their grant totals is available on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Click on the Recreation and Camping link and then go to the Snowmobiling page.

Last year, the state handed over $7.3 million to trail grooming groups, and another $1.1 million in snowmobile law enforcement grants, which are awarded to local law enforcement agencies to help them purchase equipment and assist DNR Conservation Officers in patrolling the state's trail system.

DeBrabander said that if the clubs exceed their specified grant amount, they can request more money. All in all, it's a big business that requires a lot of coordination.

To assist snowmobilers even further, the DNR has placed Global Positioning System snowmobile trail maps online. The DNR intends to make these maps available in a format that can be downloaded on to handheld GPS units. These maps will accurately represent the current status of the trails system.

"As we move forward with this vital program, it is important to meet the needs of the snowmobiling community," DeBrabander said. "The goal of the DNR, with the cooperation of the clubs and other groups maintaining the trails, is to continue to position Michigan as a premiere destination for snowmobiling. This will take continued effort, coordination and a lot of money, but we feel our program is very capable of meeting that challenge and it all pays off when we hear from riders who tell us that they love our trails and just can't get enough of a Michigan winter."