Riders pause along the snowmobile trail in Manistee County in 2019. Photo courtesy of the Benzie-Manistee Snowbirds.
By Stewart McFerran
There will be fewer snowmobiles in Maple City this winter, even if there is lots of snow, and trespassers are to blame.
Mark Coe, President of the Benzie-Manistee Snowbirds, a snowmobile club, estimates that there were thousands of snowmachines that rode the trail the club established. The trail crosses the Benzie County line into Leelanau County, near the Empire Airport, and continues across fields where volunteer Snowbirds marked the trail.
In addition to signs asking riders to stay on the trail, barriers were erected. Even so, riders of those powerful machines did not stay on the trail and unleashed their horsepower on private property. Coe heard from the upset property owner and had to close the trail link to Maple City.
The Snowbirds explained the situation in their Facebook post on Nov. 21.
“It only takes a few to wreck what we’ve been working for. The extra signs and snow fencing to keep people on the trail were all removed today. The land owner has finally had enough and has pulled their lease. This was a critical segment to Maple City. Now closed. We were working on reroutes and a loop but will not be able to get it approved for this season. Now the trail will end at the Empire Airport where there will be a staging area. What’s this mean? No trail to Maple City businesses and more importantly gas.”
Maple City businesses will miss the wintertime infusion of cash emanating from those in snowmobile suits. Pegtown Station and the Broomstack Kitchen and Taphouse will see fewer sleds parked out front. A sales clerk at Maple City Short Stop said lots of snowmobilers stop in to buy gas and other items from the convenience store.
Private land is key
“The Snowbirds maintain about 160 miles of trail in the three counties and work with 40 land owners,” Coe said. “While most of the trail is on state, federal and local land, the private crossings provide important connections for the trail riders.”
Coe explained the landowner who closed his land to riders had trouble with people going off the trail on his property.
“He’s got some nice big fields right there,” Coe said. “It’s been a constant battle to keep people on the trail. There were just a few that abused it. But the landowner said … he’s had enough.”
Club members installed additional posts to mark the property.
“Last year, the snowmobilers, the few abusers, ran down the posts and went out in the field … ,” Coe said.
He explained that the trail now will end at Pettengill Road, on the Benzie/Leelanau county line.
“But there will be no fuel north of Honor,” he said, adding, “and Honor is kinda hard to get to, so we’ve got a real issue there. There is gas available at Crystal Mountain (miles to the south in Thompsonville).”
One person weighed-in on the Benzie-Manistee Snowbirds’ Facebook page with a post that lamented the actions of irresponsible snowmobile riders — those who feel they can ride anywhere without taking responsibility for their actions — and his wish that those who ride would be required to complete a snowmobile safety course.
Others posted their feelings of sadness and irritation at the loss and also their sympathy for the landowner.
Another post from the Benzie-Manistee Snowbirds simply stated: “We have been out grading trails to get ready for this coming season. Please stay on the trail.”
Stewart McFerran illuminates current environmental issues in a historic context. He hopes readers will gain an understanding of and insight into ways people interact with their environment.
1 Comment
You left out the comments that address the landowner waited until a week before the trails open to make this Decision, leaving the club and DNR with no options for a route into town, purposely and miserably cutting the town off from much needed revenue.
The club already spent time and money, grading the trail thorough and putting up signs….
Anyone who would go about it the way this landowner did, and to punish a whole community for the actions of the few, is someone we are all better off not dealing with in the long run.
There has not been any snowmobile traffic since April , if this decision was based off that, and made with any respect, it would have been made then, and another route could have been procured!