Good reading on "why aren't the trails open?"

[jr37]

I signed about 8 miles of trail this week. You would be surprised at how little frost there is out there. I had only one stake that was hard to go in, the rest were no harder than an other year. Some areas had no frost. Snow is a good insulater.

Also, I waited this long to sign because I flat out did not have time sooner. I do have other things going on in my life. There are also crops that need to be taken off before signing, there is respect for landowners that hunt (so no signing until after hunting). The 8 miles that I signed has remained unchanged for the most part for 30 plus years because of a good relationship with landowners and just plain great landowners. For that reason alone, I will not change the way we do things here. It's easy to sit back and complain behind your screen name, but until you know exactly what goes on in that area, you have no right to gripe. Just be happy you have snow, and you will get to ride soon.

 

[tealracing16]

This is an interesting thread. I will always agree with the people who say if you don't like it, get involved. I mark trails for a club I don't belong to and last year we marked 12 miles, me and 2 other people. I'm sick and tired of hearing people complain about the quality or quantity of trails. Trails are NOT given to us. Do you know how hard it is to connect a mile of property when there is 6 different land owners? Some wait to take the corn off, some don't care and leave it up all winter, now what? I know the trails leaving Howard, WI aren't marked yet and I won't be able to help this year so that means 2 people left to mark it and we were supposed to build a new bridge due to the HWY 29 construction.

Please, don't complain on this website if you live in WI. Call a club and ask what you can do for them.

 

[momoney2123]

This is an interesting thread. I will always agree with the people who say if you don't like it, get involved. I mark trails for a club I don't belong to and last year we marked 12 miles, me and 2 other people. I'm sick and tired of hearing people complain about the quality or quantity of trails. Trails are NOT given to us. Do you know how hard it is to connect a mile of property when there is 6 different land owners? Some wait to take the corn off, some don't care and leave it up all winter, now what? I know the trails leaving Howard, WI aren't marked yet and I won't be able to help this year so that means 2 people left to mark it and we were supposed to build a new bridge due to the HWY 29 construction.

Please, don't complain on this website if you live in WI. Call a club and ask what you can do for them.

Ya I would completely agree. I think some people misunderstood my posts, like groomer driver. My main point was its hurting businesses the last 2 weeks not being open. So I thought that should be their #1 priority if they want to make money, obviously not the volunteers #1 priority. I have helped clear trees before when I am up there and thats it, so my knowledge of volunteer trail work is novice at best, i just understand it isnt easy. Didnt mean to offend anyone or what not. Always stinks when one of your favorite establishments has to close because they arent making ends meet, and i know many businesses can make there month or even year with one good week. Won't be long tho and all trails are open for the long haul.

 

[lesledhead]

Very well said post. There will always be people who don't understand how the "volunteer" thing works and will complain about the trail situation. It's best not to rip their heads off and just politely explain why you had to wait for the farmer, the rain, the hunter, the rain and your time schedule to come together to put the trail in. We still have two miles of unmarked fields that will be finished this weekend. Why? Our guy in charge of that section had other important matters to attend to and the other 5 guys that install 70 miles of trails are simply beat up and exhausted at this point.

Stuff happens. We do our darn best to get the trail in and want to ride MORE than the complainers out there. Sometime a little communication goes a long way.

 

[Banks93]

Raise the registration fees and the 225,000 non club members who are not in clubs will help pay for it, gas tax, booze tax, same way they pay for everything else tax the people. If I have to pay for everyone else they can help pay for my habbit snowmobiling.
I won't mind being charged double because I enjoy snowmobiling and I think the guys who are putting in the trails and grooming the trails should get paid.

 

[groomerdriver]

My main point was its hurting businesses the last 2 weeks not being open. So I thought that should be their #1 priority if they want to make money, obviously not the volunteers #1 priority.

Well it sounds as if it was the businesses that were the reason Vilas Cty. is opening tomorrow. Clubs didn't want to but they have to.

 

[whitedust]

Well it sounds as if it was the businesses that were the reason Vilas Cty. is opening tomorrow. Clubs didn't want to but they have to.

Right on follow the money got to please big $ contributors not about to lose this weekend revenue. Clubs worked very hard to make this happen. Stuff those donation jars when you see them!

 

[90s]

A few more words on opening. In our county, all clubs have to have their specific trails ready to open. At times the Antigo area is unable to open because of less snow. For some reason or other the "Antigo flats" receives less than the rest of the county. The rest of the county will open, with the Antigo area at a later date. Businessess put a lot of pressure to get the trails to open when it LOOKS like their is enough snow, and not surprisingly, most of them are not involved with or do not support the clubs when help is needed. In an earlier comment, someone was inquiring about how the word gets passed, the county director to the AWSC should be able to answer any questions that you have, how the trails are funded, projects approved , etc. All directors/reps are listed by county in the AWSC magazine. And then there are the whiners/complainers as to why the trails aren't open, there are many reasons why the trails appear to be ready to open, but are not open. The only answer I have is to JOIN A CLUB, you will then be informed and have a better understanding on what is involved in opening the trails, there is a little more to it then just having the DNR push the open button.

 

[deeplaker67]

deer close trails

I was told the trails in Washburn County have been closed because of late deer seasons. After the regular season, there was the muzzle load season, followed by an antlerless season. So far, we've missed three weekends of good snow. That's as much as we had total in some recent winters. Trails are supposed to open Dec. 16. There's a holiday bow season at the end of the month. Hope they don't close the trails for that.

 

[whitedust]

I was told the trails in Washburn County have been closed because of late deer seasons. After the regular season, there was the muzzle load season, followed by an antlerless season. So far, we've missed three weekends of good snow. That's as much as we had total in some recent winters. Trails are supposed to open Dec. 16. There's a holiday bow season at the end of the month. Hope they don't close the trails for that.

DNR more interested in user conflicts, saftey & law enforcement. Look to club & private land owners for your answer.

 

[misty_pines]

I was told the trails in Washburn County have been closed because of late deer seasons. After the regular season, there was the muzzle load season, followed by an antlerless season. So far, we've missed three weekends of good snow. That's as much as we had total in some recent winters. Trails are supposed to open Dec. 16. There's a holiday bow season at the end of the month. Hope they don't close the trails for that.

Holiday bow season?? Not sure what ya mean, but the bow season has been open in WI since Sept 14th and closes on January 5th. The later portion of the archery season doesn't have an impact on when they open the snowmobile trails…which is a good thing since I bow hunt and snowmobile. Just two more days and the trails will be open in Burnett Co and Washburn County. Get the sleds ready!

 

[POLARISDAN]

Omg so well said..the entitlers think this s*** is magic

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Wow....I'm not even going to bother to comment.

Yea..no s***

 

[POLARISDAN]

You are a better man than me "Groomerdriver". The one thing I do know is, "It's better off to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are stupid, than to open it, and remove all doubt'! I do appreciate all the sacrifices that all volunteers make even though some do not. I would bet that some who comment on this thread have never volunteered for anything, but yet, like to tell those that do what they are doing wrong.

First of all..groomerdriver did not write that..he posted it..second of all reread it..it is saying quit bitchin..trails take time..its the entitlers we r complaining about ..whether or not u volunteer..I try..but I travel for work..so I pay dues and stuff jars..all we r saying is it takes time..once again its not magic

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I don't understand, trails are not marked or not groomed? They certainly do not need to be groomed to be open. If there is a water hazard, crops still in, deer hunting, or other hazard just close that certain section and open up the rest of the county. I always thought it nuts that a small corner of a county had a small issue and they would close the entire county. All I can say is talk to the county president or run for county president.

U must be from wisco..we don't have that county closing bs in Minnesota..that's gotta suck

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Now, once the trails are open and groomed, the same ones that griped about them not being opened or groomed will be on here griping about the price of the trail stickers which some of the proceeds from the trail stickers of course go to the aid in opening and grooming trails, etc.....................

Here..here..take a bow for that bullseye

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I will just add this to this pot of trail stew. In our local County (Wood), we have one club that is dying due to lack of members. They have a very long portion of trail from the north end of the county to the middle. Yesterday, as I was driving, I noticed that their portion of trail isn't even marked yet! My question is, how in God's name will they ever get some conduit pounded into the terra VERY firma after this cold snap? We are truly about 5 inches from having enough to open the trails and they haven't begun doing things that should have been done three weeks ago. I would gladly help them even though I'm not a member. Think Snow!

Then call them and volunteer

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This is an interesting thread. I will always agree with the people who say if you don't like it, get involved. I mark trails for a club I don't belong to and last year we marked 12 miles, me and 2 other people. I'm sick and tired of hearing people complain about the quality or quantity of trails. Trails are NOT given to us. Do you know how hard it is to connect a mile of property when there is 6 different land owners? Some wait to take the corn off, some don't care and leave it up all winter, now what? I know the trails leaving Howard, WI aren't marked yet and I won't be able to help this year so that means 2 people left to mark it and we were supposed to build a new bridge due to the HWY 29 construction.

Please, don't complain on this website if you live in WI. Call a club and ask what you can do for them.

Well said..BRAVO!!!!!

 

[POLARISDAN]

Bout time we had a good thread..this mobile app rocks!!!

 

[russholio]

Sorry for the hijack.....but where did you get the mobile app? I don't see any mention of it.

 

[meathead]

Sorry for the hijack.....but where did you get the mobile app? I don't see any mention of it.

TO ALL: 0Just got this smarter than me phone.Cant ride this year {ROTATOR CUFF } BUT WILL FOLLOW ON THE SHOEPHONE..APP. PS GREAT JOB BY ALL GROOMERS Meathead

 

[Team Elkhorn]

Sorry for the hijack.....but where did you get the mobile app? I don't see any mention of it.

It does work well. You can access it from JD home page.

 

[russholio]

It does work well. You can access it from JD home page.

I thought I looked there and didn't see it, but maybe I didn't look hard enough.

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Duh, found it. Guess I didn't have enough caffeine on board when I looked earlier. Thanks!

 

[snowfreak56]

A few more words on opening. In our county, all clubs have to have their specific trails ready to open. At times the Antigo area is unable to open because of less snow. For some reason or other the "Antigo flats" receives less than the rest of the county. The rest of the county will open, with the Antigo area at a later date. Businessess put a lot of pressure to get the trails to open when it LOOKS like their is enough snow, and not surprisingly, most of them are not involved with or do not support the clubs when help is needed. In an earlier comment, someone was inquiring about how the word gets passed, the county director to the AWSC should be able to answer any questions that you have, how the trails are funded, projects approved , etc. All directors/reps are listed by county in the AWSC magazine. And then there are the whiners/complainers as to why the trails aren't open, there are many reasons why the trails appear to be ready to open, but are not open. The only answer I have is to JOIN A CLUB, you will then be informed and have a better understanding on what is involved in opening the trails, there is a little more to it then just having the DNR push the open button.

Looks to me like it is time for some new blood making calls in Langelade county,,to many are stuck in the rut of this is how we used to do it,,and cant or wont get out of that rut..Yes I am in a club and yes I have talked to groomer drivers,,land owners,,and business owners,,and the buck gets passed to the wrong place on why the Antigo flats are not open when they could be..Some of the clubs have even went so far as to drag the fields before they freeze to get rid of rough areas that would be a safety issue and they still will not let them open. Land owners also say they are not the issue.The new thing for next year is going to be move the north south devide back north to county J,,once again that is old school thinking.They have the boundry set up now that takes the flats out of the issue if needed so why go back to county J and hurt the local riders and businesses if they want to call it the County of Trails as they do,,they need to change some thoughts and actions in the process.I am shure I just steped on some toes and made some mad but facts are facts.

 

[deeplaker67]

I was told that the trails were closed because of deer seasons. This applied mainly to trails on county land. Yet people were allowed to ride ATV's on those same trails during the regular deer season when there were far more hunters. So why were those trails closed to snowmobiles during the later muzzle load and doe seasons when there was far less shooting going on?