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Trail Closure Wakefield Trail 2


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It's too bad there weren't more public lands. This will become more of an issue if public lands are sold off. Hopefully BLM will remain in federal ownership for camping and recreation. 

Edited by spin_dry
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2 hours ago, Doug said:

The previous owner is a very successful developer from here in town.  Guys in our snowmobile club has worked with him before and he is a very detailed guy.  If there was an insurance issue with a snowmobile trail running through the resort his Risk Management team would have reviewed this and raised a red flag.

The new owner of the resort don't like motorized recreational vehicles and kept on throwing road blocks up to give the appearance he's working with the club with really no intent to let the trail run through.

If you read the full article the club including the Michigan DNR offered to buy an outside sliver of land to put the on but he refused.  This would have fully released any liability that the resort would have had.

it's not an insurance issues.  He don't like snowmobilers     

 

2 hours ago, Doug said:

The previous owner is a very successful developer from here in town.  Guys in our snowmobile club has worked with him before and he is a very detailed guy.  If there was an insurance issue with a snowmobile trail running through the resort his Risk Management team would have reviewed this and raised a red flag.

The new owner of the resort don't like motorized recreational vehicles and kept on throwing road blocks up to give the appearance he's working with the club with really no intent to let the trail run through.

If you read the full article the club including the Michigan DNR offered to buy an outside sliver of land to put the on but he refused.  This would have fully released any liability that the resort would have had.

it's not an insurance issues.  He don't like snowmobilers     

 

Eminent Domain....  A nice way to buy the  exterior sliver of land for commerce and to guarantee snowmobile access . . . . 

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7 hours ago, Doug said:

Update

Trail will remain closed

The GRTA regrets to confirm that Michigan snowmobile trail 2 in far western Gogebic County will be closed this season from Sunday Lake in Wakefield to Ramsay Crossing in Bessemer Township.
Snowmobile trail 2 is the western most gateway to thousands of miles of world-renowned snowmobile trails in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. On peak holiday weekends nearly 3,000 snowmobiles a day travel the route. Currently there is no agreed upon road route or other option with any township or other governmental entity to re-connect the trail. The club is starting those efforts and seeks community support.
We sincerely thank the City of Wakefield’s Robert Brown & Mike Zeckovich, Bessemer and Wakefield Township Supervisors Jeff Randall and Mandy Lake, Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Officer Jennifer Hanson, Rep. Greg Markkanen, and the Michigan DNR for standing by the GRTA as we wade through this economically catastrophic situation.
In our first in-person meeting with Midwest Family Ski Resorts (owner of SnowRiver Mountain Resort) September 28th, they made it clear their interests were preventing snowmobilers from entering their property. Midwest Family Ski Resorts stated they do not view snowmobiling as a family friendly sport compatible with “their style of family-friendly” business. Midwest Family Ski Resorts outlined three ultimatums to achieve a one year temporary trail. Firstly they requested local stakeholders provide a $12 million excess layer liability policy in addition to the $2 million already provided; the city of Wakefield, Townships of Wakefield and Bessemer, and the Michigan DNR indemnify Midwest Family Ski Resorts; and finally a modest reroute of the trail around the old Indianhead summit. Midwest’s owner Charles Skinner expected all costs be the responsibility of local governments or other various stakeholders but suggested they would donate $5k towards the costs.
Within a few days after that meeting it was relayed back to Midwest Family Ski Resorts that indemnification wasn’t something local governments could lawfully provide. Additionally, no local government was able to get anywhere with their insurance providers. The feedback from insurance providers was the request lacked precedence and risk due to stout Michigan landowner liability protections. Insuring snowmobiles beyond that as a governmental entity would be uncharted territory and cost prohibitive. As communications continued Midwest Family Ski Resorts reduced their insurance coverage request down to $5 million and said they’d ask their insurance provider for a quote since all other sources returned no-quotes. During the wait for feedback on their investigative efforts our partners at the MDNR requested the state’s Attorney General’s office to offer a one-on-one meeting with Midwest Family Ski Resort’s team. On October 14th GRTA followed MDNR communication with an offer to purchase a small sliver of land around the exterior of their property to fully vacate any perceived liability exposure. Midwest’s concern centered on safety and liability and these solutions resolved both. The club was only able to offer that purchase gesture after being approached by regional donors looking to solve the issue and provide access.
On the evening of October 18th during a GRTA board meeting Mr. Skinner issued a statement to the GRTA expressing the conclusion of their efforts working with GRTA, our communities, and the MDNR to save Snowmobile Trail 2. Skinner’s team said on the phone the primary hurdle was their insurance company allegedly now just becoming aware of the snowmobile trail on their property. Skinner’s team elaborated further that their insurance provider, Safehold Insurance, would not insure them going forward if they engaged in snowmobile activities across the property. Safehold is the same vendor the previous owners utilized the last 7-years the trail ran on the property. This was shocking news as the previous ownership advertised and offered snowmobile rentals from their Indianhead location. Complicating our understanding is that Safehold also insures another U.P. ski hill that advertises and markets to snowmobilers, Ski-Brule of Iron River, MI.
We call on businesses across the Midwest who support Midwest snowmobiling to start drafting your letter of support and impact. We ask you – the snowmobilers and skiers – to draft your letters of support and impact. You can mail them to GRTA, 708 W Longyear ST, Bessemer, MI 49911. You can email them to info@gogebicrangeta.org. Please, contact your local representative and senator and demand their action in saving snowmobile trail 2 and building phase 3 of the Iron Belle Trail through this difficult area. It’s time the Western U.P. permanently connects its tremendous trails for the benefit of all.
Pictured is Ramsay Crossing, 10/19/22
-GRTA Board of Directors

I hope other businesses local and not to his pay attention to this and the dealings that have gone down.

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6 hours ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

great

before it went through the ski resort, it operated on the rail grade, a section of which is apparently closed.  Wondering how they lost access to that section of the grade after so many years.

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1 hour ago, ICG said:

 

 

Eminent Domain....  A nice way to buy the  exterior sliver of land for commerce and to guarantee snowmobile access . . . . 

That could possibly work but (don't know for sure) that is not where the trail went so that sliver of land was not previously use for the trail.  

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1 hour ago, Doug said:

That could possibly work but (don't know for sure) that is not where the trail went so that sliver of land was not previously use for the trail.  

Wouldn't matter ... It could be taken..... Just like property for a new road, or project.

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13 hours ago, spin_dry said:

It's too bad there weren't more public lands. This will become more of an issue if public lands are sold off. Hopefully BLM will remain in federal ownership for camping and recreation. 

Govt ownership is no guarantee for access.   I think the govt both fed and state have enough.

 

download - 2022-10-27T064058.030.jpg

fed-owned-land-map.png

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24 minutes ago, Highmark said:

Govt ownership is no guarantee for access.   I think the govt both fed and state have enough.

 

download - 2022-10-27T064058.030.jpg

fed-owned-land-map.png

The GOP thinks that government owns too much or shouldn't own any at all. Should be sold to billionaires. 

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14 hours ago, spin_dry said:

It's too bad there weren't more public lands. This will become more of an issue if public lands are sold off. Hopefully BLM will remain in federal ownership for camping and recreation. 

Public lands won't necessarily help with snowmobile trails. Right now bayfield co is re mapping every single trail in the county from 2 track logging rds to single atv width un marked back country trails. They are closing large sections of land to any motorized use and berming up logging trails that have been used by trucks atvs and sleds for decades. 

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52 minutes ago, spin_dry said:

The GOP thinks that government owns too much or shouldn't own any at all. Should be sold to billionaires. 

Got lots of GOP friends and you couldn't be more wrong.   Most are outdoorsman, many own hunting land and all like the idea of plenty of public hunting/OHV access.   You can't comprehend that might be true and that it might be possible to think some govt is good too much is not.   Carry on with your broad brush inaccurate assessment.    

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All i can say is the local government,locals themselves and local businesses can make life difficult for him!!

What did ever happen with old trail from back in early 2000's ?never remember going through there?

We moved to riding out of presque isle do to trail 2 being so bad out of ironwood!!

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7 minutes ago, X2700 said:

looking north of bessemer seems like alot of federal land.

seems like you could head north and across to trail 11?

even forest roads through there?

logging dictates everything up there, along with mining.

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12 hours ago, Crnr2Crnr said:

embellished it for you 

Not everyone. 

 

12 hours ago, Cat45 said:

Public lands won't necessarily help with snowmobile trails. Right now bayfield co is re mapping every single trail in the county from 2 track logging rds to single atv width un marked back country trails. They are closing large sections of land to any motorized use and berming up logging trails that have been used by trucks atvs and sleds for decades. 

Exactly.  There is some state land by my parents house that the MN DNR changed the designation to aquatic management area and is now non motorized.

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Ultimately snowmobilers need to get of there wallets and pool their money and buy these private properties when they come up for sale.  Imagine if a snowmobile club bought this ski hill.  Make money from skiers to buy more land as it becomes available

Edited by BOHICA
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On 10/26/2022 at 5:07 PM, spin_dry said:

It's too bad there weren't more public lands. This will become more of an issue if public lands are sold off. Hopefully BLM will remain in federal ownership for camping and recreation. 

Dose nat matter liberal cunts are constantly fighting to ban motorized use on fed ans state lands . 

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4 minutes ago, spin_dry said:

BLM land has been absolutely fantastic for camping, hiking, fishing, and hunting. 

If you have an AWD high clearance van you should do the magruder corridor.  Also a float through the Frank Church on the Salmon is pretty epic….  Coworker did it and said it was pretty damn awesome.  Not a single motor to be heard in the frank church.

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