My experience on the new signs

Lost Sheep

New member
I was more speaking in the terms of when we come across these "unmarked corners" we should somehow mark them.....ribbons on branches, reflective tape on trees and so on....maybe Im just thinking out loud??
 

russholio

Well-known member
Lost Sheep- If you have the time to stop by every 'unmarked' corner and put some ribbons or reflective tape on the trees, etc, then I say go for it!!! I think Russ was trying to say basically the same thing as you were.... just thinking on a larger scale of how to get them marked properly for the long haul.

One thing that is of concern to me is something that was mentioned above -that a 'corner' might be deemed 90* by one person and not by another person or group thus making it awfully subjective and even less consistent.

Lorna
 

Highflyer

Active member
Just got back from three days of riding trails and not once did anyone in our group go careening off the trail . Don't see what all the big fuss is about. The only signs needed are at trail intersections so the unfamiliar know which way to go.

Trails are not racetracks. Keep both hands on the bars and don't drink and ride.

Well said! Some people don't feel right if they are not complaining about something. This same person would probably try to sue the DNR and the land owner if they missed a turn.......

Sadly this country is turning into a weak bunch.
 
D

Deleted member 10829

Guest
Well said! Some people don't feel right if they are not complaining about something. This same person would probably try to sue the DNR and the land owner if they missed a turn.......

Sadly this country is turning into a weak bunch.

And some people can only complain about the complainers with no constructive comments or solutions. Are you saying you agree that the only signs we need are at trail intersections so people know which way to go? Does anyone really believe that? So no stop signs even? That has to be the most ridiculous statement on this thread. How many of you agree with that?
 

fusionfool

New member
Twin Lakes to LacLabelle

I was pleasantly surprised with the signage between Twin Lakes MI and Lac La belle. The 90 deg signs are well placed, and we did not miss the removal of the Chevron arrows. If no one had said anything, we would not have even known there was a change in signage. Now as far as the trail conditions that I am sure some one will ask: Excellent from Twin Lakes to Houghton, Good to Very good Houghton to Calumet. Lots of rock hits Calumet through Phoenix. They were out panning, and was improving as they were packing as much snow as available on top of rocks. Phoenix to trail 132 OK, trail 132 lots of rock hits to Lac La belle, not panning as of 3:00 PM Tuesday, but would expect they would have started now. Panning will help 132 once they start there is enough snow in most area's.
 

Highflyer

Active member
And some people can only complain about the complainers with no constructive comments or solutions. Are you saying you agree that the only signs we need are at trail intersections so people know which way to go? Does anyone really believe that? So no stop signs even? That has to be the most ridiculous statement on this thread. How many of you agree with that?

Mspease - read the original post. The OP was complaining about missing turn signs, not stop signs.

I don't expect every turn or really any turns to be marked. If you are riding so fast that you can' t navigate the trail then you should probably slow down. And that is coming from someone who enjoys getting after it on the trails. Never once would I solely depend on the turn signs for a safe ride. And I don't go out at 3am on Dec 1st to be first on the trails so I'm not worried about being the first through woods and not knowing the right path. I prefer to let the groomers handle that part of it.

I also don't have the time to volunteer to help the local clubs, hence I don't feel I have the right to bitch about the work of volunteers.
 

xcr440

Well-known member
I don't expect every turn or really any turns to be marked. If you are riding so fast that you can' t navigate the trail then you should probably slow down. And that is coming from someone who enjoys getting after it on the trails. Never once would I solely depend on the turn signs for a safe ride.

This is the point for us "anti-sign" posters. Is it going to slow down the idiots? No, but they will have to learn the hard way. I ride point about 99.99% of the time, and before you jump on the family angle, my kids will NEVER lead until they understand how to look out for the idiots.

Here is the problem, the "idiots". This isn't just a snowmobiling issue, this is Entitlement, and a complete lack of responsibility in our society. Nobody takes responsibility for their own actions anymore, and its sickening.
 

Highflyer

Active member
This is the point for us "anti-sign" posters. Is it going to slow down the idiots? No, but they will have to learn the hard way. I ride point about 99.99% of the time, and before you jump on the family angle, my kids will NEVER lead until they understand how to look out for the idiots.

Here is the problem, the "idiots". This isn't just a snowmobiling issue, this is Entitlement, and a complete lack of responsibility in our society. Nobody takes responsibility for their own actions anymore, and its sickening.

Well said XCR. The Entitlement and lack of responsibility in society is a complete joke.

People pay a $40 registration or trail permit and expect perfection. Next they will want rest stops along the trail to take a leak in.
 

Highflyer

Active member
I ride point about 99.99% of the time, and before you jump on the family angle, my kids will NEVER lead until they understand how to look out for the idiots.


X2 on this. Its the exact way I was taught how to ride.
 
D

Deleted member 10829

Guest
Mspease - read the original post. The OP was complaining about missing turn signs, not stop signs.

I re-read what he posted and I copied it here; "The only signs needed are at trail intersections so the unfamiliar know which way to go." I don't care what the original post was, I was commenting on that post.

If we were all as perfect riders as you are, then I guess we wouldn't need any signs. But as long as there are the crazies out there, the more signs, in the proper spots, the better. Again, we need to think of more than just our position, what about the less experienced riders out there? Don't we want this sport to grow or at least maintain?
 

Polarice

New member
Well said! Some people don't feel right if they are not complaining about something. This same person would probably try to sue the DNR and the land owner if they missed a turn.......

Sadly this country is turning into a weak bunch.

Here's the deal; if you miss a turn because of no 90 degree sign I'm sure you wouldn't think my post is complaining. Get a life. The rules state the 90 degree turns should be there and chevrons removed. As I said there are no 90 degree signs and there are chevrons going one way. This is not a volunteer club, it is a paid per hour group that is maintaining the trails via trail permit sales.

I like how everyone bashing people that are bashing folks that don't agree with how the trail signage feel they have a sense of entitlement. Where does this logic even come from? I'm concerned about someone running into a tree and getting killed. They don't have to be drunk or hammer happy to do this!
 

raceinsnow

New member
The people with 10 + years of experience and state of the art sleds and equipment are the ones that don't need the signs.What about the people with the old sleds with no studs and lots of snow dust and a old helmet and iced up shield?
 

xcr440

Well-known member
The people with 10 + years of experience and state of the art sleds and equipment are the ones that don't need the signs.What about the people with the old sleds with no studs and lots of snow dust and a old helmet and iced up shield?

Those people need to SLOW DOWN, no differently than the experienced rider on a $15k machine.

P.S. I ride an "old" 1999 machine, no studs, old helmet, but I have an electic shield. I slow down when I can't see far enough to see the trail in front of me.
 

miked

Member
I was just in Quebec this past week, and the signs are not NEARLY as prevalent up there as they are in either MI or WI. It took me about three turns to realize that where there WAS a sign, I had damn well be ready to turn...the "U-turn" signs were especially noteworthy! I figured it was a good introduction to what MI will be like when (and if) I get a chance to get up there.

Bottom line...don't let it harsh your buzz. YOU have to adapt, in my opinion. The gov't thinks they know best, we just have to play the hand we are dealt.
 

Highflyer

Active member
I re-read what he posted and I copied it here; "The only signs needed are at trail intersections so the unfamiliar know which way to go." I don't care what the original post was, I was commenting on that post.

If we were all as perfect riders as you are, then I guess we wouldn't need any signs. But as long as there are the crazies out there, the more signs, in the proper spots, the better. Again, we need to think of more than just our position, what about the less experienced riders out there? Don't we want this sport to grow or at least maintain?

Well mspease I never claimed to be a perfect rider, but I appreciate the compliment on my riding skills. Do you really think more signs are going to help the "crazies"? Define crazies.....drving to fast? all over the trail? riding drunk? riding above ones ability? Those are my definitions of crazies but if you have a much different definition please let me know. Regardless, more turn signs are not going to help those "crazies" out.
 

Highflyer

Active member
The people with 10 + years of experience and state of the art sleds and equipment are the ones that don't need the signs.What about the people with the old sleds with no studs and lots of snow dust and a old helmet and iced up shield?

I would argue the opposite. More signs is not going to help some guy on a 99 sled that has a helmet shield froze up and snow dust in the face. He just needs a new helmet or to pull off the trail until he can see.
 

Highflyer

Active member
Here's the deal; if you miss a turn because of no 90 degree sign I'm sure you wouldn't think my post is complaining. Get a life. The rules state the 90 degree turns should be there and chevrons removed. As I said there are no 90 degree signs and there are chevrons going one way. This is not a volunteer club, it is a paid per hour group that is maintaining the trails via trail permit sales.

I like how everyone bashing people that are bashing folks that don't agree with how the trail signage feel they have a sense of entitlement. Where does this logic even come from? I'm concerned about someone running into a tree and getting killed. They don't have to be drunk or hammer happy to do this!

When I miss a turn its not because the trail was poorly marked, its because I was riding to fast to navigate the trail. Stop blaming other people for your missteps.

If you truly are concerned about people getting hurt, stop complaining on a forum and contact the trail group that is responsible for marking the trails. Maybe you can even help marks trails or maybe they could use a donation for more signs. Either way, that would probably be more constructive.
 

whitedust

Well-known member
I would argue the opposite. More signs is not going to help some guy on a 99 sled that has a helmet shield froze up and snow dust in the face. He just needs a new helmet or to pull off the trail until he can see.

I don't agree with that!!... fogging shields & glasses are part of my day & every sign helps when that happens. Fogging comes & goes & gets worse if I stop so I keep right on riding & signs do help. If you are riding out there with 20/20 vision 100% of the time then you need to rethink your statement because that has never happend for me in my 30 years or so of riding. lol Get real snow dust & fogging all a part of a days ride & signs do help to let you know what is coming up regardless of speed.
 

longtrack

Member
a big fat YUP. Dec 1st 3 am heading out of Bruce we were the first tracks all the way up to Mass city. Made SEVERAL (probably 10) wrong turns because of no corner signs. Going thru a woods there's private trails and old logging roads that cross the trail and without the corner signs and untracked snow it gets VERY confusing. Other than that I had no problems with it being "unsafe".

The Signs seemed fine to me except no one from the Iron River Club bothers to open any of the Gates. I think they should have Gate ahead Signs south of Kenton and Sidnaw. Or Post the Trails closed at the Intersections.
 
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