Trail 109 thru Alston

ftroop4

New member
Haven't noticed anything talked about this trail yet so thought I would post something. The area of 109 that goes thru Alston should not be taken until Baraga county gets it cleaned out and groomed. North end of 109 is fine and the 109 reroute on south end is good, but the 20 some miles in between should not be taken unless you want to do off trail type riding or you want some tough riding. This is as of Monday night of the 16th. I would guess it will take them weeks to get it in shape once they decide to attempt it. Hopefully they are working on it now as it makes a great way to head south or north instead of #3.
 

old abe

Well-known member
Haven't noticed anything talked about this trail yet so thought I would post something. The area of 109 that goes thru Alston should not be taken until Baraga county gets it cleaned out and groomed. North end of 109 is fine and the 109 reroute on south end is good, but the 20 some miles in between should not be taken unless you want to do off trail type riding or you want some tough riding. This is as of Monday night of the 16th. I would guess it will take them weeks to get it in shape once they decide to attempt it. Hopefully they are working on it now as it makes a great way to head south or north instead of #3.

Don't hold your breath on this! Baraga Bureau of Tourism does a absolutely horrendous job of taking care of, and grooming this portion of trail even when conditions are great! Please, I ask everyone to call them and request they get their act together on this trail. There is no excuse for what they have not done in a competent manner for many, many years! Also ,call the DNR with your complaints on this issue!
 

wiharley02

Active member
Does anyone know where the Baraga groomer sheds are located? I only know of the one that is just south of Baraga/L'Anse, just a mile or two out of town.

Not trying to come up with excuses, as I know some stretches of 109 have been marginal in the past, between wet areas and tight areas a groomer can't get through easily......but I'm thinking that due to the washout closing the stretch of 109 that we all used to use, and the new stretch of 109 being re-routed from Sidnaw up towards Rousseau, that there are some grooming/trail maintenance contracts that are no longer valid/being reviewed/reallocated, this probably at the state/DNR level. With the new 109 re-route at the south end, it seems like it would be a lot tougher of a grooming run to make it up/past Alston to the turnaround where Baraga territory meets Superior Snow club territory. Unless Baraga stages groomer(s) near Sidnaw as well?

Seems to me the DNR needs to work with Superior Snowmobile Club and Baraga club on re-allocating who takes care of what miles.....but once tree falls are cleaned up, Superiors equipment might not be able to fit through the tight spots in the woods around Alston either?

Will be interesting to see how this plays out this winter, if it does at all? Hopefully, those can be nice trails to offer nice loops.
 

slimcake

Well-known member
Many a time I see the groom across the highway where the north end of 109 starts. Many time I went chasing down that 109 trail smiling from ear to ear only to be completely pissed off at what the south end is. How it can go that good and then go to absolute garbage. Really is a nice way to get south and east from up north. Its to bad. Was hoping from hearing about this re-route that maybe problem was solved. Guess not....
 

jime

Active member
same old same old. south end is very twisty and tight i'm sure a hard trail to groom, always seems to need more snow. 12/3 trails fast alternative.
 
There is usually a groomer parked behind the building (I think it's the L' Anse visitors center) next to the car lot that the trail crosses in town along the highway. I'm guessing that would be the one that grooms from L'Anse to Anderson corner where the Big Bay club groomer turns around on trail 14.
 

tjmaxx

Member
We took it last weekend and I don't recommend it. Trail was absolute garbage. We abandoned it about half way through and took the rode as it was getting dangerous.
 

old abe

Well-known member
Please call Baraga Bureau of tourism and complain of the lack of trail grooming/maintaining their portion of trail 109 north of Alston to the power line turn a round with Superior Snowmobile Club grooming. This goes on every year, and it's gone on way too long! Also voice your complaints to the DNR! Complaints on this issue are justified!

Baraga Co. Visitors Bureau 906-524-7444, or 800-743-4908

Baraga Chamber of Commerce 906-358-800-838-1563

Michigan DNR Baraga office 906-353-6651, or DNR State Law Enforcement Office 517-284-6000
 
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slimcake

Well-known member
I just called the visitors number and the nice fella didn't know a heck of a lot. Just that they are stretched thin with trail 14 to big bay having issues as well. I will try the DNR next.
 

old abe

Well-known member
I just called the visitors number and the nice fella didn't know a heck of a lot. Just that they are stretched thin with trail 14 to big bay having issues as well. I will try the DNR next.

This has been a on going poorly groomed/maintained trail for way too many years! The DNR needs to address this fact!
 

1fujifilm

Well-known member
I just called the visitors number and the nice fella didn't know a heck of a lot. Just that they are stretched thin with trail 14 to big bay having issues as well. I will try the DNR next.

Tell'Em to hurry up or we're bringing Abe up there.

Bear
 
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