Milatary Hill Area

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snowdreamin

New member
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
 
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cuzzinolaf

Active member
Ummmmm, you don't need a mountain sled to make it up Military Hill. I used to play on that hill back in the day when I had a trail sled. Key words in the previous sentence is 'used to' if you didn't catch it. That said, I don't think it is fair to come on here and point fingers at people with mountain sleds even if you include mostly in parenthesis.
 
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cuzzinolaf

Active member
I dunno, I drove through there yesterday and don't recall seeing tracks. I didn't look at the hill where the trail runs through it (with the fence) but looked at a hill south of it and know there were no tracks.
 
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steve_in_il

Member
Soooooooo....a fairly prominent Michigan DNR person comes on here and posts an entirely reasonable request, trying to actually COMMUNICATE with the snowmobile community versus dictating to us? MAJOR KUDOS to Ron Yesney. Thank you for your effort!
 
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cuzzinolaf

Active member
All I was saying is that I don't think this is an issue from this past weekend. I know it is an issue and stopped playing on that hill when I spoke to a DNR officer while I was sitting at the bottom many years ago. He was cool with me and it hasn't crossed my mind to go there since.
 
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Firecatguy

New member
I guess we need to ask is snodremin, Ron Y? and like Keith said pointing this at one set rider and sled by someone so high up in the Dnr concerns me......not trying to take away from the this "stay on trail" issue but pointing fingers at a type sled will get us no place with the real issue at hand!!!it will give people a reason to damage,hurt or plain harassment of riders.....I seen more trail sleds on that hill over the years then mt sleds.....i only see this going to argument "who does more for trails" becuse I do know the few times I made trail clean up it was real clear who was there and who was not!!!!
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
I too am a little annoyed that they worded it as "mountain sleds, mostly" because people have been climbing that hill since the day the trail was put in. I USE to climb it on my trail sleds, dating back to 1992, I have NEVER climbed it on ANY of my "mountain sleds". Matter of fact it has been probably 10 years since I have even been down in that area.

THAT BEING SAID, it is a problem, and we ALL need to help prevent this from happening. There is a reason there is a fence there people!!
 
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timo

Well-known member
you guys with your mountain sleds sure got some thin skin. mountain - short track whats the diff. blue sled black sled no diff. what diff how long the sled is...chill out.
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
timo said:
you guys with your mountain sleds sure got some thin skin. mountain - short track whats the diff. blue sled black sled no diff. what diff how long the sled is...chill out.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY!! There is no difference, and should be reported that way. :D
 
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cuzzinolaf

Active member
timo said:
you guys with your mountain sleds sure got some thin skin. mountain - short track whats the diff. blue sled black sled no diff. what diff how long the sled is...chill out.
Click to expand...

I don't really care what kind of sled it is... but care when mountain sled riders are stereotyped or always made to look like the bad guys. Abusing private property is definitely an issue and this needs to be dealt with. I'm happy about the fact that Ron came on here to bring it everyone's attention and think this could be a good start to some meaningful conversation. I think meeting minutes from a DNR or local club meeting would also help make people aware. It is easy to say we need to police each other but conversation needs to go smoothly and can see someone feeling threatened or it getting ugly.
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
Now the MSA has changed it to "long tracked sleds". I see Ron has an e-mail, I guess I will let him know people have been climbing that hill, and helping with the erosion problem before "long tracks" were even out.

The Military Hill issue is coming up again.
Basically the guys with their long track sleds (mostly) are leaving trail #3 and running up and down the slopes heading down to US-45. The 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


 
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steve_in_il

Member
Skylar said:
Now the MSA has changed it to "long tracked sleds". I see Ron has an e-mail, I guess I will let him know people have been climbing that hill, and helping with the erosion problem before "long tracks" were even out.

The Military Hill issue is coming up again.
Basically the guys with their long track sleds (mostly) are leaving trail #3 and running up and down the slopes heading down to US-45. The 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
Click to expand...

Skylar....no offense, but, why not simply write him to let him know that as a snowmobilier you are concerned?? Do any of you think that JOhn Q Public really knows...or CARES about the nuances of OUR sport?
 
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snowdreamin

New member
No im not Ron Y. I am however the president of my local club and I know how hard it is to keep some trails open because of people that think they have the wright to ride where ever they want and have no regaurd for private property. I saw this post on MSA and reposted it to help make people aware of the possable closure of the trail. I also was not picking on mountain sleds just coppied and pasted the article. I am however picking on people who ride where they shouldn't.

http://www.msasnow.org/
 
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