Alger County Sorva - Whats going on...

[snocrazy]

The Snowmobile Season's Coming Quick!
It's been a bit quiet with our posts. Everyone's been really busy trying to get ready. Here's what has been going on:
The Snowmobile & ORV Association (SORVA) of Alger County is proud to be the new grant holder for the Munising area snowmobile trails.
Last season we worked real hard at building a great team of area volunteers dedicated to providing the best riding possible.
The MI DNR has been working closely with SORVA of Alger County and the Munising Area Visitors Bureau (previous grant holder) to ensure a smooth transition.
This Grant Holder transition simplifies management of the four season trail systems for SORVA of Alger County and the Munising Area Visitors Bureau will continue to provide substantial financial support.
As a Multi-use Trail Grant Sponsor, SORVA of Alger County is able to tap into both sides of trail grant funding, ORV and Snowmobile, to get larger amounts of restoration work done.
For 2017, in addition to the Grant funding for seasonal Grooming Operations, we have obtained five trail restoration grants totaling $72,500. The most involved project is $30,000 in Snowmobile Grant funds for restoration of Trail 419’s Frog Hollow including steel culverts, rock and gravel. The land owners are also stepping in with a partial donation of material and culverts. Next is ORV Restoration Grant funding of $10,000 going into gravel and grading of Trail 7 from Christmas to Ridge Road and third is a ½ mile section of Trail 422 will be re-routed off of and around Timber Products Property, at their request.
Working closely with the DNR, DEQ and new Land Owners, we are expecting all three projects to be completed before the December 1 season start. Finger's crossed on getting the Frog Hollow (419) DEQ permits in time.
The remaining projects are ORV Restoration Grant funding to be used on the Marquette to Manistique ORV Trail (Trail 8) and incorporated next spring/summer. Of this, the fourth project is another $30,000 for gravel and grading from near Shingleton to the Doty Bridge. The fifth smaller project is a $2,500 for gravel and grading from the AuTrain River Bridge East a few hundred yards. This last section is part of our ORV Trail and NOT an area we groom in the winter.
Other trail news: Trail 422 to Miners Castle will continue to run as previous years for the 2016/17 riding season. Details are being worked out on a re-route making a direct crossing of H-58 onto the North leg of 422.
The serious safety issues of Frog Hollow, in conjunction with a land owner change, have forced this into the 2017/18 grant cycle. Provided Grant requests and permitting go properly the re-route is expected to be completed this time next year.
The Trail 419 connector between Munising and Wetmore is currently being finalized and close to approval with the County Road Commission and MDOT. Thanks to Munising Mini Golf and Renze Power Sports for working with us on a safe, community friendly solution.
Trenary Northern Trails (T.N.T.) snowmobile club have also been a great big help with joining in on brushing along Trail 7 & 7/8. Riders are going to notice some great improvements this year.
We can always use help with projects. Next is the 422 re-route near Timber Products. 1/3 mile of tree cutting and clearing. Meeting at the Wetmore Groomer Building at 9:00 am Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016 please join us.

 

[old abe]

I wish all involved in this all the best. You have such beautiful areas, with so much to offer. I'm sad to say that we had given up riding there due to such poor trails conditions. But I'm happy to say that we will return now. You people sound very committed to do what is needed, you will succeed!!!! Go for it snocrazy!!!

 

[polaris62]

This is great news. Huge thank you for stepping up and making the Munising area trails the best to ride.

 

[heckler56]

Snocrazy- thank you for the update. If it would be warm enough to sleep in my truck bed, I would consider coming up this weekend.

 

[snocrazy]

We spent the entire day yesterday out in this storm hacking more than a quarter mile of woods to re-route trail 422 around Timber Products. They were bought by a company that told us to get the trail off of their land. No discussion... Just no trail on our property.
5 people. All day. We cut and cleared more trees than can be counted. We still have to remove stumps and grade a bit but now snow keeps coming down. Going to be interesting. If snow holds off this is what a couple of us will be doing for Thanksgiving.

We also still struggle to get the trail from Munising to Wetmore routed and approved. No one wants it on their land. Even hotels who are filled with Snowmobiles. When this all blows over Im personally going to expose these people. It is wrong on so many levels how people operate. Hands out expecting to be paid off like the club has never ending $$$.

If you had a snowmobile dealership the UP and had the opportunity to work with a club to have a trail thru your property would you not jump at the chance? It makes sense for the trail and the dealer. People see this as an opportunity for $$$. Sure you can do that but........

Im beyond frustrated with the attitude of business owners who benefit from these trails. We work out one issue just to have 5 more pop up.
Its frustrating. We are doing all we can to make this area great again.

 

[EXCESSIVE FORCE]

Thanks to all of you for all your hard work !!

 

[Pizza Man]

I would like to see pics of the groomer shop, ect, you were putting up a while back

 

[snocrazy]

Last Saturday we removed all the stumps, graded, and signed the reroute on 422 (miners castle trail) Still going to take the snow drag thru there and make it real nice before snow.
Family from Illinois came up with their new holland skid steer to help remove stumps and grade. We also rented mini excavator we got the job done cheap. Good thing because we had 0 funding for this effort. All volunteer work with 250$ of rental for the excavator. The first weekend George Whitehead from White Fawn Lodge was out there with his bobcat w/ grapple bucked when we cut all the trees. 2nd weekend when we removed all the stumps and graded George was out of town and let us use his truck and trailer so we could get the rented excavator to the trail. (all kinds of pics on facebook site AlgerCountySorva) .3 mile trail blazed thru solid woods completed in 2 Saturdays... pretty amazing 5 people 16 hours

Had a club meeting tonight. Lots of progress. We have the trail worked out between Munising and Wetmore 419E. Just need MDOT approval and signing will be done immediately following.

Got a bank loan from Peoples State Bank in Munising to purchase a brand new Arctic Cat from the local dealer at cost for a fund raising raffle.
Also vouchers for hotel weekend get a way with sled rentals.
Still working on other options for additional raffle prizes. (happy to accept donations)

Trail work from Christmas where the race track is South (ridge rd) has all been bdozed wider and flatter. This is a huge improvement. This was a nightmare area. So much dirt work still needed in the trail system. So much has been done in one year it is amazing. Neglected for so long. Bull Dozing 80+ miles of trail financially could not happen in one year.

Seems we have a pretty good group of groomer operators. More and more people are getting involved. It is nice to see.

Plowing ahead making lots of progress. Bring on the snow.... after we finish a few more projects btw...Been raining here last 2 days. No snow or frost.

- - - Updated - - -

I would like to see pics of the groomer shop, ect, you were putting up a while back

keep forgetting to take a picture. There is a video on the club facebook site showing it done. Funny how we had taken pictures all along the construction but not really the completed pics. We were all pretty sick of looking at the thing by then It is a big grey blob u cant miss. The party store on the corner is gone.

 

[blkhwkbob]

Thanks for all the hard work you guys do. Really sad to see that businesses aren't cooperating, especially knowing that sledding is their winter bread and butter.

 

[slowsi00]

i am excited to hear about what business did not want the trail running through their property, or which ones gave you a hard time. my dollars and my group of 8-12 couples will not go to those places.

Munising in 2014/2015 ruined our couples snowmobile trip

we did not return in 2015/2016

we booked else where in 2016/2017

I will make another test trip to munising to see/feel the improvements and see if we cant give it another go. It was awesome views/scenery but the trails made you want to pack up and head out.


Bergland / Gogebic County better figure their **** out this year. They are on the warning list for sure.

 

[polaris62]

Slowsi00 you will be very impressed. The trails last year were as close to perfect as possible. I too have been there previous years wondering why the **** we were there by mid afternoon the trails couldn't of been any rougher. I assure you that isn't a problem anymore. Snocrazy I'm assuming you're the groomer boss if so we talked at the Buckhorn thank you for the amazing improvement to the trails.

 

[snocrazy]

I am not a groomer boss. George Whitehead is boss of John Deere and Roger B. is for the Bully.
It is going to be much better this year than it was last year. We have made so many process improvements.
Not to mention all of the improvements to the trail system... (grading and brushing tree removal)

 

[durphee]

Thanks for the update. Just from reading posts Munising was getting a bad rap for rough trails in the past. A good friend of mine road there last year and had nothing but positive remarks about it. Because of his experience we are definitely going to try and make it there and ride. Keep up the good work!

 

[Pizza Man]

SnoCrazy, I've been sledding Munising since 1980. Use to stay at Ricks but stay at Magnusans now.

 

[snocrazy]

SnoCrazy, I've been sledding Munising since 1980. Use to stay at Ricks but stay at Magnusans now.

They changed their name again..... North Star Hotel - http://northstarhotelpicturedrocks.com/
Joe and Marie are the owners. They are really good people. They have done a lot to help us. Joe spent days with us and his bucket truck building our glorified tent.
He also was out there with his bad back when we were digging and pouring concrete for it. They also happen to own the land we have our tent on. Talk about supporters.

I was out there tonight with the owner of the Tanglewood which is located in SHingleton. He has a loader (old case w-20)and we used it to move our semi container we use for storage.
He is another one who has been doing a ton to help us. Welding, Heated garage use for painting drag and maintenance.

Tomorrow George from Whitefawn is picking up all the culverts which are going in to 419 frog hollow. We just got the EDQ permit today! THis is a real bad area we are trying to get done before winter really hits. We really need a couple more weeks and we will be in great shape. We hit a lot of our big problem areas this year.

Saturday George from Whitefawn is planning to grade trail 7 south of buckhorn with a bulldozer. Then 419 behind the road comission.

We do have local business support. Things here have changed. Some people are trying to hang on to the past. We wont tolerate it.

 

[old abe]

snocrazy full speed ahead. Don't let the old way drag you down. What you are doing, you "new" guys, and the business's will all be well rewarded. I wish to personally reward those who have put into your efforts. You have such a great area, with so much to offer, it was very hard for us to stop sledding there. But with 3 consecutive bad trips, cut short due to very, very poor trail conditions, it was over. How ever, you have convinced us that we need to return. Our last trip there, the people where we stayed, felt so terrible, and were very gracious to us. They gained a lot of respect, and we will be staying with them again. So we know you have great people there. Tons of KUDOS to you all!!!!!!

 

[josh_4184]

Snocrazy, I wanted to personally think you and your team for all your hard work. We sued to head to munising area for years dealing with the horrible conditions due to no club support and contracted grooming/maintaining operations similar to what we have in Gaylord where I live. Last year when we returned Munising and surrounding areas felt like we were in a different state. Trails were good to great in most areas, I lost count on how many times I saw the groomers which in years past we could go a whole week and see them once or twice.

Keep up the good work, I understand the business side as well especially without having any cooperation. They want the money but don't want to be part of the solution same problem as in Gaylord.

Well done!

 

[twodeere]

After a few years away from the Munising area I am planning a trip Feb 2017. Really looking forward to getting back to this area as I have always enjoyed Munising. Thank you Snocrazy and SORVA for your hard work. Can't wait for Feb.

 

[Pizza Man]

Joe and Marie are great people and we always enjoy staying there.
I would like to see a nice web cam setup in Munising. The one at the dealer really doesn't show much at all.
Keep up the great work and we'll be up there after the first of the new year.

 

[snocrazy]

Joe and Marie are great people and we always enjoy staying there.
I would like to see a nice web cam setup in Munising. The one at the dealer really doesn't show much at all.
Keep up the great work and we'll be up there after the first of the new year.

Revamp of our website is in the works. Been focused on trails. Once winter hits, I will be able to spend some time on it.
Plans for local web cams. I set up the one at Whitefawn. Next is the Tanglewood in Singleton.