Military Hill Issue AGAIN!

mrsrunningbear

mrsrunningbear

Active member
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ and HELP STOP THIS! Report this if you see this going on! Get sled #'s Hate to lose this trail

The message below is copied from the Michigan Snowmobile Association from the MDNR

"The Military Hill issue is coming up again.

Basically the guys with their mountain sleds (mostly) are leaving trail #3 and running up and down the slopes heading down to US-45. The4 Michigan Snowmobile Program has put up signs, & $8,000.00 worth of fencing, more signs - and we still have the issue. The land belongs to the USFS, MDOT, DNR, and some is private.

The long term issue here is that if this continues we could eventually lose Trail #3. The locals are upset as are the landowners. It’s been planted with seedlings for erosion control and they are getting mowed down.
I hate to see a few people ruin things for everyone else. Can you get something on your website and Facebook page about this? I would appreciate it. A little education might go a long way. If folks know that this behavior could lead to us losing this trail, maybe they’ll stay on the trail.

Your help is appreciated. If you have any questions let me know.……Ron"

Ron Yesney
Michigan DNR
West U.P. Recreation Specialist
1990 US-41 South
Marquette, MI 49855
yesneyr@michigan.gov
 
F

Firecatguy

New member
just like to point out that those hills where being ridden on back before 95 when mtn sleds started being produced.....If i remeber correct back in 1996 when driving in the truck around greenland and that area I rember seeing where the sleds would climb the sides of the road and think "wow thats a hill"

people need to learn where to ride or stay on the trail But I hate to see one type rider or sled sterotyped as a "bad apple" long before mtn sleds there was power lines being used I belive we need to change the policing of off trail....I like to put my name in the hat as one who will ride around and check the areas that no one should be in.....JK.....sad to see this sport going down this road we always had issues with "stay on trail" but its gotten way out hand
 
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mrsrunningbear

mrsrunningbear

Active member
I think "Mountain" sleds were spoke of because they have a video. I agree hate to see stereotyping

We need more CO's out on the trails really making a difference, JMO
 
S

snobuilder

Well-known member
Funny how come spring and summer no one posts pictures of the devastation you speak of now.
reread the "land belongs to" part again....LOL...thats the tax paying PUBLIC you is refering to....big gov bureaucracy is stewards, NOT owners.public gives them the power and can take it away despite what they want us to think.
 
E

ezra

Well-known member
if u are ridding a mountain sled and think that molehills along 41 are some kind of a challenge that is just sad.
 
K

kwikgren

Member
snobuilder said:
Funny how come spring and summer no one posts pictures of the devastation you speak of now.
reread the "land belongs to" part again....LOL...thats the tax paying PUBLIC you is refering to....big gov bureaucracy is stewards, NOT owners.public gives them the power and can take it away despite what they want us to think.
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The overall good of the many outweighs the greedy selfish interests of the few. Each and every time.

Military Hill is an extremely vulnerable river crossing from a soil erosion and hydrology standpoint. The worst case scenario is mudslide and washout which would require a major weather event, but is within the realm of possibilities. Sometimes lots of little problems, like trespassing and destruction of tree and grass cover, can add up to create vulnerabilities to potential bigger problems. Ruts become rills, rills become gullies, gullies become washouts.

If you think that closing the snowmachine trail would be catastrophic, think what closing M-26 for a few months would do for the economy. Hopefully it won't come to that.

A lot of people, including myself, do not like seeing our beautiful roadsides all tore up by sport riders. And yes, every spring I do observe the damage. Like near Lake Michigamme, where riders rutted up the seeded drainfields by using them as a jump right next to the "No Trespassing" sign. If its photos of trespassing and property damage you desire, maybe we need to start a thread for that. We could submit photos, and even share them with the landowners, regulatory agencies, and liability insurance companies while we are at it. I doubt it would go over very big around here though.

I would much rather post happy pictures of nice scenery and smiling faces. That's what we need more of in this world, not hatred.
 
scottiking

scottiking

Super Moderator
Staff member
It's not about mountain sleds! its about people lacking respect!
Sorry to hear about more disrespectful people!
It seems like everybody in the UP has mountain sleds these days anyways!

I guess I'm just old and lucked out with common sense because it sure seems to be lacking in a lot of the younger crowd now days!

New law: ya get caught where ya shouldn't be and your 153x3'' gets converted to a 121x1/2'' and your Xbox gets locked up for a month!

I'm sure that 95% of the people get it and its that 5% cause all this grief!
Let's use some common sense out there Snapchatters!


Scottiking
 
P

polarisman_98

Member
scottiking said:
It's not about mountain sleds! its about people lacking respect!
Sorry to hear about more disrespectful people!
It seems like everybody in the UP has mountain sleds these days anyways!

I guess I'm just old and lucked out with common sense because it sure seems to be lacking in a lot of the younger crowd now days!

New law: ya get caught where ya shouldn't be and your 153x3'' gets converted to a 121x1/2'' and your Xbox gets locked up for a month!

I'm sure that 95% of the people get it and its that 5% cause all this grief!
Let's use some common sense out there Snapchatters!


Scottiking
Click to expand...


Perfectly put.
 
S

sltlikdeercmp

New member
It's not about mountain sleds! its about people lacking respect!
Sorry to hear about more disrespectful people!
It seems like everybody in the UP has mountain sleds these days anyways!

I guess I'm just old and lucked out with common sense because it sure seems to be lacking in a lot of the younger crowd now days!

New law: ya get caught where ya shouldn't be and your 153x3'' gets converted to a 121x1/2'' and your Xbox gets locked up for a month!

I'm sure that 95% of the people get it and its that 5% cause all this grief!
Let's use some common sense out there Snapchatters!


Scottiking

Exactly!!!!!
 
cooksend

cooksend

Active member
I just wanted to add that I do agree it should have been stated as snowmobilers in general and not Mountain Sleds.
As responsible snowmobilers we can help educate fellow sledders! Be sure when you talk to young groups that you mention right from wrong! The Know Before you Go rule is key! If you get a chance to ride with new sledders be it boondockers or trail riders give them tips and advice! Tell them right from wrong! We can't fix them all but we sure can make a difference!
 
R

ridindirty800

Active member
scottiking said:
it's not about mountain sleds! Its about people lacking respect!
Sorry to hear about more disrespectful people!
It seems like everybody in the up has mountain sleds these days anyways!

I guess i'm just old and lucked out with common sense because it sure seems to be lacking in a lot of the younger crowd now days!

New law: Ya get caught where ya shouldn't be and your 153x3'' gets converted to a 121x1/2'' and your xbox gets locked up for a month!

I'm sure that 95% of the people get it and its that 5% cause all this grief!
Let's use some common sense out there snapchatters!


Scottiking
Click to expand...





bingo
 
K

kwikgren

Member
kwikgren said:
, think what closing M-26 for a few months would do for the economy. Hopefully it won't come to that.

Actually, if the Ontonagon River washes out at Military Hill, it would shut down US-45, not M-26. That would be the Fire Steel River. And, of course there are alternate routes. Just as there are for snowmachine trails. The point is that riders need to understand the reasons why it is so important to minimize their impact on these sensitive hillsides.

The problem with the popularization of these so-called mountain sleds is that it enables and encourages riders to seek out what they might think are challenging hills and ride well off established trails. When there is decent snow cover, the increased floatation might help to minimize potential damage, but when the snow cover is thin or tore up the deep lugs and high power might actually increase impact.
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T

Team Elkhorn

Guest
IMO, the sport is killing itself. Gone are the days when most riders stayed pretty much in one or two areas. There is no longer a kinship/connection with an area. Heck, in the old days if we cut across someone's property, either at home or our favorite riding location up north, our parents knew it before we got back. And we payed the price! I wish they would bring back the three inch registration numbers again.
Add the interwebs/instant information age, and many riders have become like locust. The "have trailer will travel," and "where's the closest good snow?" threads are proof. They'll use up an area and move on in their quest for untouched snow. All the less traveled riding areas, both down here and up north, have been discovered and over run.
And I'll go out on a limb and say its probably not the guys on the heavy Twin Spars and half ton Yamis riding off the trail in that area mentioned above. Just sayin. ;)
 
mrsrunningbear

mrsrunningbear

Active member
I spoke with Ron Yesney yesterday after reading this and seeing the reaction about "mountain sleds" I work with Ron often, ride with Ron and know him well he is very passionate about our sports and works so hard for us to have and keep the trails we do and I hated to see the reaction towards him. He is just human and I think he just shot out an email (like we all have done) with out checking to see if it was "politically correct" The guy was just reaching out for some help!

The email was sent to MSA for them to post about the problem because it has become a real BIG problem! There are people who live up here who don't want any kind of motorized sports anywhere! They go out of their way to find these problem areas and use them in their case of "motorized sports ruin our land" There are pictures from the latest "hill climbing" on December 28 that the non-motorized people took (yup they were there and saw) they put this on Ron's desk and now he needs to fix the problem!

I hate to say this, but, it is ruining some areas and we need to help stop this!

Everyone needs to look at the big picture, it builds a case against snowmobiling and ATV's and they are in jeopardy! Help stop it before we lose it!

There are videos and pictures from Youtube and Facebook where these riders of the "hill" posted them! Thank goodness sometimes friends of the posters see these videos and realize it is wrong and pass the info on to someone who might do something about it. Be that person! If you see it, help stop it, talk to the guys or girls, educate them, make a difference!

Ok off my soap box now :eek:
 
Admin

Admin

Administrator
Staff member
mrsrunningbear said:
I spoke with Ron Yesney yesterday after reading this and seeing the reaction about "mountain sleds" I work with Ron often, ride with Ron and know him well he is very passionate about our sports and works so hard for us to have and keep the trails we do and I hated to see the reaction towards him. He is just human and I think he just shot out an email (like we all have done) with out checking to see if it was "politically correct" The guy was just reaching out for some help!

The email was sent to MSA for them to post about the problem because it has become a real BIG problem! There are people who live up here who don't want any kind of motorized sports anywhere! They go out of their way to find these problem areas and use them in their case of "motorized sports ruin our land" There are pictures from the latest "hill climbing" on December 28 that the non-motorized people took (yup they were there and saw) they put this on Ron's desk and now he needs to fix the problem!

I hate to say this, but, it is ruining some areas and we need to help stop this!

Everyone needs to look at the big picture, it builds a case against snowmobiling and ATV's and they are in jeopardy! Help stop it before we lose it!

There are videos and pictures from Youtube and Facebook where these riders of the "hill" posted them! Thank goodness sometimes friends of the posters see these videos and realize it is wrong and pass the info on to someone who might do something about it. Be that person! If you see it, help stop it, talk to the guys or girls, educate them, make a difference!

Ok off my soap box now :eek:
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Linda- You should not have felt like you were on a soapbox. Kindergarden teacher, perhaps, but this one went in the wrong direction very quickly, in my opinion, and it's purpose was lost just as quickly. Thanks for bringing the real reason for the post back to the top.

I also have met Ron and worked with him and is a very good guy.

Sounds like a good spot for a little DNR check point for trail permits, just down the trail where the road and trail mix. Would be close enough to listen for the ones causing the trouble. Hopefully the Facebook and Youtube thing will get them busted.

-John
 
S

Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
No soap box Linda, not at all. Trust me, if I am driving by there and see somebody on that hill, I WILL stop and say something to them if I can. We cannot afford to lose that trail, or any trail for that matter.
 
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