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We need to do something about Trucks using the groomed trails. I've had enough of this!

#1 User is offline   MSA-Admin

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Post icon  Posted 05 February 2009 - 11:55 AM

We are struggling to keep the grooming program going and there are trucks driving on the trails that WE pay to have groomed.

Specifically trail #7 between the Park and Ride off Pine Rd north of Houghton Lake and the Muskegon River!

Guys driving up and down that trail hunting, parking right in the middle of the trail. I know we have to share because it is a "seasonal" road but something should be done for the safety of the snowmobile community.
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#2 User is offline   toivo1037

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Posted 05 February 2009 - 01:55 PM

This is one instance that I think some legislation would be in order. Groomed trails should be closed to wheeled vehicles (except for maintenance and emergencies) during the snowmobile season if #1 it is between Dec 1 and March 31, and #2 there is more then 6" of snow on the ground. I agree it is both a safety and maintenance issue. If those hunters need to hunt that area so bad, then they can use a sled like everybody else.
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#3 User is offline   30yrgrmr

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Posted 05 February 2009 - 02:21 PM

Ive talked to everyone from Lansing down and I guess we can't do a thing about it IF is a dedicated road, meaning county or twp owned.

We have the same problem here in Emmet County.
"10% of snowmobile club members do 90% of the work. That's O.K. as long as the other 90% don't complain about what the 10% do!"

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#4 User is offline   MSA-Admin

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Posted 05 February 2009 - 05:18 PM

QUOTE (30yrgrmr @ Feb 5 2009, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ive talked to everyone from Lansing down and I guess we can't do a thing about it IF is a dedicated road, meaning county or twp owned.

We have the same problem here in Emmet County.


So I guess we live with it, wait until someone dies because of it or be thankful we have the use of that road. sad.gif
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#5 User is offline   thefoolsbro

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Posted 05 February 2009 - 07:36 PM

don't run into that to often where I ride but it does make me mad.
I see more often trucks have rutted up forest service roads making
it hard to go straight,
On a lighter note was that you toivo1037 that the ogemaw county herald
had a picture of from the straits club? they had a nice article about a
day in the life of a groomer.
"SNIRT SUCKS !"
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#6 User is offline   toivo1037

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Posted 05 February 2009 - 11:11 PM

QUOTE (thefoolsbro @ Feb 5 2009, 07:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
On a lighter note was that you toivo1037 that the ogemaw county herald
had a picture of from the straits club? they had a nice article about a
day in the life of a groomer.

No idea. Didn't know there was something in there. Our local paper did a big writeup on us as month (that got us in trouble with Health dept) I was in that paper, but not in a groomer. I don't think there has been an official photo of me in a groomer. In fact, I am not sure anybody has ever 'caught' me in a machine!
-Neil
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#7 User is offline   30yrgrmr

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Posted 06 February 2009 - 08:58 AM

The mystery about that article, Neil, is how did my photos get in there? Those two photos were taken the year before by SnoSports. I sure didn't want to take anything away from you fellas, as the article was written about the St. Ignace Snowmobile Club. Wonders never cease.
"10% of snowmobile club members do 90% of the work. That's O.K. as long as the other 90% don't complain about what the 10% do!"

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#8 User is offline   Polaris4Me

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Posted 08 February 2009 - 08:49 AM

It happened to us in Jan.
A truck was on the right side of the trail, halfway off the trail(stuck) face us. It was dusk, but at lest they had their parking lights on. We stopped and they said another truck was coming to pull them out. We got a 1/2 mile down the trail and here is the other truck. And yes, they were stuck too. We stopped and they said they have a truck coming to get them out. I thought, what a bunch of dumba**'s. This trail will be all full of ruts. But we rode the way the next morning and it looked good.

It was a seasonal road. I just do not think it is fair for us as sledders or the clubs that groom to spend there time and money to fix the trail if any wheeled vehicles tear it up. Even if it is a seasonal road.
Like toivo1037 said, Closed to wheeled vehicles from Dec. till April.
Goverment doesn't work....return my taxes ! ! !
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#9 User is offline   TLB

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Posted 08 February 2009 - 08:57 AM

I know of a few spots in the Ogema / Oscoda County area that are listed as " Mxed Traffic " , and yes I have come across a truck on a ride.

Can be very dangerous if you are traveling at speed to come up on this, but what can you do because it is posted as such.
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#10 User is offline   *LawDog

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Posted 10 February 2009 - 03:42 PM





All the more reason to support MSA in buying up land .....
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#11 User is offline   BillGipson

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Post icon  Posted 12 February 2009 - 09:52 AM

Every once in awhile, we encounter trucks on 422 on the last leg of the trip to Miners Castle. Thing is, they have to jump a pretty big snow bank to get there.
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#12 User is offline   yamahauler

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Posted 17 February 2009 - 10:36 AM

Seasonal roads are roads first, trails second. Seasonal simply means they are not maintained in winter for vehicles. Though it does kinda suck, they have every right to be there. There is no safety issue, as any vehicles on those roads is traveling VERY slowly... and so should sleds. (That particular stretch of #7 is a dragstrip for sledders!) IMO they could stop grooming that road and it would not be a big deal.
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#13 User is offline   TLB

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Posted 17 February 2009 - 02:28 PM

QUOTE (yamahauler @ Feb 17 2009, 10:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Seasonal roads are roads first, trails second. Seasonal simply means they are not maintained in winter for vehicles.

When my wife & I were on a trail which was signed as such, ( Mixed Traffic ) I made sure that she understood what that stood for.
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#14 User is offline   trbomax

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Post icon  Posted 17 February 2009 - 11:04 PM

Back in the day,I heard that a knife to the tire or or solid round objects inserted in the rad worked well.Have seen some "lipstic graffitti" too. Of course no one here would do a dastardly deed such as that , would they??





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#15 User is offline   TLB

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Posted 17 February 2009 - 11:08 PM

QUOTE (trbomax @ Feb 17 2009, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Back in the day,I heard that a knife to the tire or or solid round objects inserted in the rad worked well.Have seen some "lipstic graffitti" too. Of course no one here would do a dastardly deed such as that , would they??

not me rolleyes.gif
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#16 User is offline   Jim

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Posted 19 February 2009 - 10:19 PM

I can remember a long time ago seeing a car stuck on a groomed trail and it was a hard top, but when I saw it, it was a semi-convertible as it had NO windows left in it!
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#17 User is offline   30yrgrmr

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 05:08 AM

I remember some twenty years ago seeing a Farmall "H" parked in the middle of a hilly section of trail. You would almost run in to it before you saw it. There were broken sled parts all around it and the tractor's plug wires and distributor cap were missing. A week later, the tractor was upside down over a bank with more sled parts in the trail. Probably not funny, but I never saw it in the trail again. unsure.gif
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#18 User is offline   TLB

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Posted 20 February 2009 - 08:14 PM

QUOTE (Jim @ Feb 19 2009, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I can remember a long time ago seeing a car stuck on a groomed trail and it was a hard top, but when I saw it, it was a semi-convertible as it had NO windows left in it!
Jim

I bet they never traveled that trail again wink.gif
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#19 User is offline   yamahauler

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Posted 07 April 2009 - 09:45 AM

QUOTE (MSA-Admin @ Feb 5 2009, 12:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We are struggling to keep the grooming program going and there are trucks driving on the trails ROADS that WE pay to have groomed.

Specifically trail #7 HIGGINS LAKE ROAD between the Park and Ride off Pine Rd north of Houghton Lake and the Muskegon River!

Guys driving up and down that trail hunting, parking right in the middle of the trail. I know we have to share because it is a "seasonal" road but something should be done for the safety of the snowmobile community.


Slight edit for correctness. IMO. As for safety, SLOW DOWN, and pass with caution. They should be parked to the side by law. Personally never seen anyone parked in the middle in riding that section for 10+ years.

Of course, we would NEVER advocate vandalism against someone who has every right to travel a designated roadway. thumbsup.gif
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#20 User is offline   TLB

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Posted 09 April 2009 - 09:55 PM

QUOTE (yamahauler @ Apr 7 2009, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Of course, we would NEVER advocate vandalism against someone who has every right to travel a designated roadway. thumbsup.gif

I agree, many trails use a section of road from time to time to complete the trail system.
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