Full Version: New trail update
The last I heard last month was that the committee established to create a Cheboygen-Indian river trial is looking at a bridge construction over I-75 and a route South of Mullett Lk....Anyone know anything?
I don't have personal knowledge, buy it would be easy to find out more info. Go to the MSA web site and find the clubs in the area. Better yet, join a club in the area and help out!
Try getting a hold of the folks at Burt Lake Marina in Indian River.
231-238-9315
info@burtlakemarina.com
231-238-9315
info@burtlakemarina.com
They do need somthing there . Went through indian river to mullet lake Tried to get to cheybogen. I will be happy to donate money to the cause.
I ride over there all the time - There was a proposed trail that the locals know about but I was told it'll be done by this winter
:banghead:
This was take from another forum.
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:55 pm Post subject: Michican - Pigeon River County State Forest News
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A group charged with finding a viable route for snowmobiliers heading from Gaylord to Cheboygan was denied access by the protectors of the Pigeon River Country State Forest on Friday.
Years ago, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources purchased the old railroad route that connects Gaylord to Cheboygan. The rail-trail concept is based on the state law that when a railroad is divesting of its property, the property be offered to the Michigan Department of Transportation for purchase. If MDOT is not interested, the property is then offered to the DNR, which converts the trails for recreational use.
There are slightly more than 1,000 miles of rail-trails currently in use in Michigan.
But a small portion of the Gaylord-to-Cheboygan trail has been closed to snowmobile use since its purchase in 2000. Nearly 12 miles along the western portion of Mullett Lake was purchased through a trust from the Natural Resources Commission with the condition that no motor vehicles be operated on it.
Reports state that snowmobile clubs agreed to the closure of the west Mullet Lake portion because the DNR said it would help find a alternate route for snowmobiliers.
Nearly four years later, an alternate route was still not determined, and snowmobile enthusiasts, local business owners and residents urged the DNR to re-open the trail.
Hence, the Gaylord to Cheboygan Trail Advisory Workgroup was formed in early 2003. The group's charge was to discuss, evaluate and recommend various recreational trail uses for the trail as well as to develop a recommendation for a snowmobile route that connects Indian River with Cheboygan.
Several routes were discussed and explored by the workgroup, and the group came up with few options because of issues such as land ownership, wetlands and highway crossings.
One route includes heading east out of Indian River towards Onaway and connecting with the Hawks trail, and cutting through a portion of the Pigeon River Country State Forest, state land which has been protected since 1974.
At a meeting of the Pigeon River Advisory Council late last week, members heard a Power Point presentation about the potential trial by workgroup member Gray Fisher.
Fisher outlined uses for the trail and went into specifics regarding the two-mile to four-mile portion that would cut through the Pigeon River Forest.
The proposed trail at nearly 30 miles is significantly longer than the original route.
After Fisher's presentation, Syl Mazella, member of the Gaylord Snowmobile Club, explained to the Council the daily maintenance that is done on the trail in Otsego County. He explained that heavy equipment is run six days a week to keep the trails in good condition, along with brushing, grooming and fill work.
Dennis Castleman, who lives along the trail in Otsego County, said "it should be all or nothing," referring to the Mullett portion of the trail.
"The trail is where the snowmobiles belong. I strongly recommend that you open up the Mullett Lake portion rather than disturb the Pigeon River Forest," Castleman stated.
Gordon Lett from the Indian River Snowmobile Club also spoke to the Council.
"We just want a trail. This has been a battle for too many years," he said.
Finally, members of the Council shared their views on disrupting the protected forest.
Arch Reeves, member of the Council's Standards and Limitations Committee, ultimately said that the proposal was "incompatible" with the management objectives set forth for the forest. He also noted that the proposed path would be a challenge for anyone who rides it.
"There is more wetland there than you realize," said Reeves, who said he snowshoed the route days earlier.
After learning that "eight or nine" of the workgroup members reside on the contested west Mullett Lake portion of the trail, Council member David Smethurst said that if the group pushed the Pigeon River route, it would be facing statewide opposition that would be much greater that that from the "special interest group," residing along Mullett Lake.
"This isn't a snowmobile vs. tree-hugger issue," he said, adding that living in Gaylord, he understands the tremendous impact to area economics that snowmobiliers have.
"I know what it's like for businesses when there's snow in December and when there's not," he said. "We couldn't just designate this trial for snowmobile usage, we'd have to open it up to all kinds of recreation."
Citing heavy equipment use, daily grooming and the management plan for the forest, Smethurst said, "we wish you well, I hope you do get a snowmobile trail ... But not here, not now, not ever."
DNR Chief of Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Mindy Koch told the group that although the Mullett Lake portion of the trail was purchased with the non-motor vehicle clause, "we can back out of those restrictions."
"The trust fund board can remove their restrictions on funding," she said. She also noted that the six other alternate routes were all denied.
"The Natural Resources Commission agrees that a connecting route must be made," she said. The NRC supplied the original funding for the purchase of the trial.
"The Pigeon River Forest route was the only positive one the Commission has seen so far," she added.
Koch said that the NRC has indicated that if the workgroup does not come up with a viable option, "we will open the Mullett Lake portion," although she added that that is "not yet in their power."
Council Chairman Peter Gustafson said "this proposal is the complete and utter opposite of the concept of management for this area."
He explained that the proposed route travels through the "outer zone" which "contains come of the most remote and secluded portions of the Pigeon River Country and is least used by people. Wildlife need it to remain this way."
He called the decision "one of the most obvious things I've seen come before this council in my 15 years."
The motion was ultimately taken from Reeves report to the NRC, which he cited the concept of management as well as the history of the area.
The Council unanimously denied the request.
This was take from another forum.
................................................................................
..................
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 10:55 pm Post subject: Michican - Pigeon River County State Forest News
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A group charged with finding a viable route for snowmobiliers heading from Gaylord to Cheboygan was denied access by the protectors of the Pigeon River Country State Forest on Friday.
Years ago, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources purchased the old railroad route that connects Gaylord to Cheboygan. The rail-trail concept is based on the state law that when a railroad is divesting of its property, the property be offered to the Michigan Department of Transportation for purchase. If MDOT is not interested, the property is then offered to the DNR, which converts the trails for recreational use.
There are slightly more than 1,000 miles of rail-trails currently in use in Michigan.
But a small portion of the Gaylord-to-Cheboygan trail has been closed to snowmobile use since its purchase in 2000. Nearly 12 miles along the western portion of Mullett Lake was purchased through a trust from the Natural Resources Commission with the condition that no motor vehicles be operated on it.
Reports state that snowmobile clubs agreed to the closure of the west Mullet Lake portion because the DNR said it would help find a alternate route for snowmobiliers.
Nearly four years later, an alternate route was still not determined, and snowmobile enthusiasts, local business owners and residents urged the DNR to re-open the trail.
Hence, the Gaylord to Cheboygan Trail Advisory Workgroup was formed in early 2003. The group's charge was to discuss, evaluate and recommend various recreational trail uses for the trail as well as to develop a recommendation for a snowmobile route that connects Indian River with Cheboygan.
Several routes were discussed and explored by the workgroup, and the group came up with few options because of issues such as land ownership, wetlands and highway crossings.
One route includes heading east out of Indian River towards Onaway and connecting with the Hawks trail, and cutting through a portion of the Pigeon River Country State Forest, state land which has been protected since 1974.
At a meeting of the Pigeon River Advisory Council late last week, members heard a Power Point presentation about the potential trial by workgroup member Gray Fisher.
Fisher outlined uses for the trail and went into specifics regarding the two-mile to four-mile portion that would cut through the Pigeon River Forest.
The proposed trail at nearly 30 miles is significantly longer than the original route.
After Fisher's presentation, Syl Mazella, member of the Gaylord Snowmobile Club, explained to the Council the daily maintenance that is done on the trail in Otsego County. He explained that heavy equipment is run six days a week to keep the trails in good condition, along with brushing, grooming and fill work.
Dennis Castleman, who lives along the trail in Otsego County, said "it should be all or nothing," referring to the Mullett portion of the trail.
"The trail is where the snowmobiles belong. I strongly recommend that you open up the Mullett Lake portion rather than disturb the Pigeon River Forest," Castleman stated.
Gordon Lett from the Indian River Snowmobile Club also spoke to the Council.
"We just want a trail. This has been a battle for too many years," he said.
Finally, members of the Council shared their views on disrupting the protected forest.
Arch Reeves, member of the Council's Standards and Limitations Committee, ultimately said that the proposal was "incompatible" with the management objectives set forth for the forest. He also noted that the proposed path would be a challenge for anyone who rides it.
"There is more wetland there than you realize," said Reeves, who said he snowshoed the route days earlier.
After learning that "eight or nine" of the workgroup members reside on the contested west Mullett Lake portion of the trail, Council member David Smethurst said that if the group pushed the Pigeon River route, it would be facing statewide opposition that would be much greater that that from the "special interest group," residing along Mullett Lake.
"This isn't a snowmobile vs. tree-hugger issue," he said, adding that living in Gaylord, he understands the tremendous impact to area economics that snowmobiliers have.
"I know what it's like for businesses when there's snow in December and when there's not," he said. "We couldn't just designate this trial for snowmobile usage, we'd have to open it up to all kinds of recreation."
Citing heavy equipment use, daily grooming and the management plan for the forest, Smethurst said, "we wish you well, I hope you do get a snowmobile trail ... But not here, not now, not ever."
DNR Chief of Forest, Mineral and Fire Management Mindy Koch told the group that although the Mullett Lake portion of the trail was purchased with the non-motor vehicle clause, "we can back out of those restrictions."
"The trust fund board can remove their restrictions on funding," she said. She also noted that the six other alternate routes were all denied.
"The Natural Resources Commission agrees that a connecting route must be made," she said. The NRC supplied the original funding for the purchase of the trial.
"The Pigeon River Forest route was the only positive one the Commission has seen so far," she added.
Koch said that the NRC has indicated that if the workgroup does not come up with a viable option, "we will open the Mullett Lake portion," although she added that that is "not yet in their power."
Council Chairman Peter Gustafson said "this proposal is the complete and utter opposite of the concept of management for this area."
He explained that the proposed route travels through the "outer zone" which "contains come of the most remote and secluded portions of the Pigeon River Country and is least used by people. Wildlife need it to remain this way."
He called the decision "one of the most obvious things I've seen come before this council in my 15 years."
The motion was ultimately taken from Reeves report to the NRC, which he cited the concept of management as well as the history of the area.
The Council unanimously denied the request.
that doesn't suprise me, they try to oppose everything :banghead:
tree hug 
gers
gers
Good Luck Guys. Sounds like you have a very narrow minded group to try to deal with. Unfortunately this type of story is becoming more and more common. We ask ourselves why are people like that. Maybe because there is a small percentage of sledders that have no respect for local residents and landowners. That's right, we don't have to look far to place blame: loud pipes and cans, high speed on mulit-use trails, littering, you know the list. We really need to try to educate, regulate and enforce our own, that is the only way. We are fighting the same battles here in Nova Scotia, and same as there a small percentage ruins things for the majority. I wish you sucessful negoiations. 
thanks for the info - I generally ride in the cheboygan area so that was very helpful info
If I remember correctly, that section of old RR grade runs right along the lake and is close to houses. There are a few places where people have built steps to get over the grade to the lakeshore. I don't think the DNR stepped in here fast enough on this issue. It's liable to be a long time before something is work out for that. I think it's ridiculous that they've got an old grade that makes a perfect trail and it's not in use, but that's just my opinion.
From what I understand, the people that own "summer" homes along the west side of Mullett lake are opposed to this trail and they spend the winter in Florida! WTF?
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