TRAVERSE CITY -- The way John Heiam sees it, things could be worse.
Budget cuts forced the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to drastically cut back grooming of cross-country ski trails across the state. Just eight of 23 trails will be fully groomed this winter, leaving skiers to carve their own paths through the snow.
But officials have enough money to keep parking lots at all trailheads plowed, so skiers and snowshoers shouldn't have a problem finding a place to park.
"That's a huge difference, because it means the trails are still accessible," said Heiam, a Williamsburg resident and avid cross-country skier.
Trails scheduled to be fully groomed this winter are the VASA in Grand Traverse County, Blueberry Ridge in Marquette County, Paradise in Chippewa County, Chippewa Hills and Norway Ridge in Alpena County, Ogemaw Hills in Ogemaw County, Black Mountain in Presque Isle County and Cadillac in Wexford County.
State parks and recreation areas receive separate funding, and trail grooming there will be maintained as in years past, officials said.
DNR spokeswoman Mary Dettloff said last-minute general fund cuts meant "something had to fall off the plate," and officials looked to programs that aren't supported by fees.
"It's never a good thing when we have to close off recreation opportunities, but in this case, it's simply a matter of economics," she said.
Officials two winters ago cut back on grooming and parking lot plowing after budget shortfalls, and Heiam is troubled that it's happened again. He wonders why the state doesn't institute a small fee for cross-country trail use to ensure a regular funding stream for trail maintenance.
Fees assessed to snowmobilers are used to help maintain snowmobile trails.
Dettloff said the idea's been discussed, but it's unclear if imposing a fee would make a difference, she said.
"Would it be cost-effective? We would have to have someone there to collect the fee ... I don't know if we'd make enough revenue on it to sustain the program," she said.
Though Heiam would like a freshly groomed trail every winter, he said skiers understand that budget woes mean tough choices.
"If it's giving someone medicine to stay alive or cross country ski trail grooming, you can tell what they're going to pick," he said.
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