Was out on the trail in Antrim/Kalkaska area yesterday and a HUGE SECTION of the Jordan Valley Trail Council trail has been leveled with a ROAD GRADER!!! It is PERFECT!!!! That stretch from Mancelona RD to Starvation Lake really needed it and I CANT BELIEVE HOW FLAT IT IS!!!!! You need flat ground for a smooth trail!!!! Big thanks to whoever made sure that got done!!!!!


P.S. When will the Gaylord Trails Council do the same???? They have some sections out this way that need GRADING BIG TIME!!!!

Thats sweet, i was on their a couple weeks ago and it was pretty bumpy.

Sweet i live in Waters and head out that wall all the time......Makes for an awesome day having level ground to start the trail on

awesome. that section was outrageously rough.

that was my favorite piece of trail... gonna miss that one. all those deep whoops...

Well ,if people know its so flat,that means they have been on it illeagaly with an orv,so it wont stay flat long. That gradeing cost us (jvtc) about 1800 bucks btw,and it'll be a long time before it gets done again.

We are grading the RR Grade from St. Ignace to Trout Lake in a few weeks too. Coming out of our own pockets, but it needs to be done. If we can get the brushing done on that trail that I want to do, it will be a great ride again. Thumbs up to JVTC for doing the grading. Another club doing what needs to be done to make great riding.

I have my own project lined up as well. The entire blue bear and cranberry lake trail.Jerry and I plan to brush hog it out to 16' or so,then grade the whole 56 miles both ways.We already know we are in over our heads,but at least we have the blessing of the kalkaska dnr chief.Actually, it was he who brought up the possibility of getting it done when we took our pre-inspection ride last week.So, as I have said before, dont shoot at ALL the dnr guys,most of the ones at the local level are ok and try.

Why wouldnt the trail fund cover something like this??

I recently purchased a "drag box" or "grading box" for my tractor. It seems to do a pretty good job so far. Would one of these work to get the trails smoothed out pre-season? Would it be cheaper?

Repair of trails in the fall is considered the result of orv use,not snowmobiles.We can apply for "trail improvement money", but usually by the time we would get it (if we get it ) its late enough in the fall that the leaf fall has taken place,then all the grader does is make leaf balls that freeze and break things later.Then there are the hunters that drive around on the trails during the fall rainy season,get stuck and tear it up.You need something more hd than a box blade. We need to make a cut 10' wide at a shot,and go both ways on the trail.A 10' grader requires at least 120hp, so we must use a groomer tractor.We have a grader,but only two of use know how to use it,and with 150 or so miles of trail,that would be pretty intense.

Thanks for the comeback. Wonder how the orv trail permit fund is doing? Turbo, if I could get up there and help you with the driving assistance you posted about I would. Hopefully things will turn around in my world in the near future. Just cant catch a break right now.

I really didnt put that correctly. The correct tern that the dnr uses is "orv use/abuse". Dont know about the orv fund,but if its like the snowmobile fund, its down quit a bit.Snow funding is at about 75% of last year,low enough that I dont think any new grooming equipment is being funded this year.Total snowmobile registrations last year was 366,098. I dont have the total on trail permits sold last year but I know they were down 30,000 from 05/06,so do the math.Always looking for a driver ,I appreciate the attitude!

Hey Trbo,
Is the new trail to Kaski you were working on going to be open this season?

-Duane

The kaski - antrim trail is haveing problems with row.We are useing part of the shore to shore horse trail over by valley rd and old 72.We will need to doze down a steep hill and build a sidehill rd to get across. There is some resistance to this landscape work, but we can overcome it.

The manci to hideaway trail is done.It is awaiting fundingfrom lansing that may never come untill the trail fund fattens up a bit.

On another note,when were you planning to bring your sno cam over and hook it up on my back porch ??????

Thanks for the info.

I would set up the cam but I sold that a long time ago after loosing the house.

-Duane

I used to ride at Fife Lake a lot and was a member of the club there. I remember years ago, maybe 15, the club president (Tom Chartier) showed me a letter they got from the DNR. It said they were making the trails too wide and smooth, promoting high speed riding. I hope the DNR does not carry that same philosophy today.

Different dnr field offices have different ideas.Fife lake is Manton,I dont know them. The guys we work with dont want them more than 10 - 12 ' wide,but they do want them safe,so we have a pretty loose margin to work with.

Thinking back,I remember when I was up in Indian River 20 years or so ago,when ALL trails were dnr maintained, that was mentioned more than once.Today, with suspension what it is,everyone is going to go too fast anyway,so it should be as safe (?) as possible.

That's awesome.

Actually PLATED (street legal) motorcycles are allowed on much of the Kalkaska/Antrim trail and I was NOT there ILLEGALLY! And as everyone knows, a dirt bike on the trail does not ruin it, BRAIN DEAD HUNTERS IN PICKUP TRUCKS RUIN THAT SECTION OF TRAIL. I swear if I see another pickup truck ruining our section of trail SOMEONE IS GETTING A BEAT DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!

Give em this

Damn straight hoeve - it's time us true Hardcore Sledders protect our trails - at all cost!!!!

That's awesome news! Anyone heard about the Blue Bear loop? That needs some work as well. I suppose I could toodle around it on a quad and a rake, but I doubt that would be effective...lol Can't wait for snow.

AllVipedUp,

You may want to look at the info in TrboMax's signature in his post. In case you do not want to scroll up, he is the "trail boss" for the blue bear.

Relax,it was a GENERAL statement,not a personal one. But I will tell you that we were on it this w/e with the horses/mules, and in an hour or so there were about 20 quads and pickups.\,just tearing the f*&%k out of it. I personally am starting to not give a shit anymore. And in responce to part of your statement, the "BRAIN DEAD HUNTERS IN PICKUP TRUCKS " are plated vehicles arnt they ? My point has been made.

Hey Mike are you still riding? Just wondering what the edicate (sp) is on dirt biking and hunting up there, I have never been a trail rider

The hunters take over NOV 15th. Before that just keep an eye out for for a bow hunter walking down a trail...

We are on the same side Turbo, those plated Trucks are the ones that could wipe out your hard work and all I am saying is they better WATCH OUT. I FIND ANY PICKUPS RIPPING UP THAT TRAIL AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN A WORLD OF HURT. I HAVE THE ABILITY TO CATCH THEM IN THE ACT AND THEY WILL BE SORRY. NO JOKE.